Melee Sorceress [1.3]

[Solfege]

Do you still use

Khany

Khany
Sorceress Crystal Swords
'On'
Runeword Level: 100
5% Chance to cast level 29 Shuriken Flurry on Melee Attack
+(1 to 2) to Sorceress Skill Levels
50% Cast Speed
50% Attack Speed
+(115 to 143)% Enhanced Damage
+(0.5 per level) to Maximum Damage (Based on Character Level)
Adds 1-750 lightning damage
+(16 to 20)% to Spell Damage
Total Character Defense 5%

even though Stormblast is gone?

I haven't got to Melee Sorc testing yet, but right now, I don't see a reason to. I never used

Khany

Khany
Sorceress Crystal Swords
'On'
Runeword Level: 100
5% Chance to cast level 29 Shuriken Flurry on Melee Attack
+(1 to 2) to Sorceress Skill Levels
50% Cast Speed
50% Attack Speed
+(115 to 143)% Enhanced Damage
+(0.5 per level) to Maximum Damage (Based on Character Level)
Adds 1-750 lightning damage
+(16 to 20)% to Spell Damage
Total Character Defense 5%

as a main weapon, only for some Uber bosses and sometimes Necrobots. It may still offer some marginal damage boost over

The Warped Blade

The Warped Blade
Warp Blade (4)
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 12
Required Dexterity: (39-41)
One-Hand Damage: (11-13) to (30-45)
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (25/256 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
5% Chance to cast level 12 Energy Beam on Melee Attack
15% Attack Speed
+(24 to 46)% Enhanced Damage
+(13 to 25) to Maximum Damage
+(16 to 25) to Dexterity
(3 to 4)% Reanimate as: Soul Flayer
Requirements -(15 to 11)%
Socketed (2)
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 33
Required Dexterity: (53-56)
One-Hand Damage: (27-30) to (85-103)
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (25/256 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
10% Chance to cast level 20 Energy Beam on Melee Attack
25% Attack Speed
+(69 to 92)% Enhanced Damage
+(38 to 50) to Maximum Damage
+(36 to 45) to Dexterity
(5 to 6)% Reanimate as: Soul Flayer
Requirements -(25 to 21)%
Socketed (4)
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 52
Required Dexterity: (91-96)
One-Hand Damage: (49-54) to (157-179)
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (25/256 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
15% Chance to cast level 28 Energy Beam on Melee Attack
35% Attack Speed
+(115 to 137)% Enhanced Damage
+(63 to 75) to Maximum Damage
+(56 to 65) to Dexterity
(7 to 8)% Reanimate as: Soul Flayer
Requirements -(35 to 31)%
Socketed (5)
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 62
Required Dexterity: (166-177)
One-Hand Damage: (69-75) to (202-225)
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (25/256 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
20% Chance to cast level 36 Energy Beam on Melee Attack
40% Attack Speed
+(138 to 160)% Enhanced Damage
+(76 to 88) to Maximum Damage
+(66 to 75) to Dexterity
(9 to 10)% Reanimate as: Soul Flayer
Requirements -(40 to 36)%
Socketed (6)

, but I'd probably just stick with TU Warp Blade in the interim. I have used

Gehenna

Gehenna
Weapons
'Xar'
Runeword Level: 100
20% Chance to cast level 32 Frozen Crown on Melee Attack
+(144 to 171)% Enhanced Damage
Adds 188-250 cold damage
Adds 750-1000 poison damage over 5 seconds
+25% to Cold Spell Damage
+25% to Poison Spell Damage
-25% to Enemy Cold Resistance
-25% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Increase Maximum Life and Mana 25%
Requirements -33%

as a main in the past, so you could try that.

[Majsgaard]

I have used

Gehenna

Gehenna
Weapons
'Xar'
Runeword Level: 100
20% Chance to cast level 32 Frozen Crown on Melee Attack
+(144 to 171)% Enhanced Damage
Adds 188-250 cold damage
Adds 750-1000 poison damage over 5 seconds
+25% to Cold Spell Damage
+25% to Poison Spell Damage
-25% to Enemy Cold Resistance
-25% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Increase Maximum Life and Mana 25%
Requirements -33%

as a main in the past, so you could try that.

I'll try that. Thank you very much

[Solfege]

I'll start posting updates to the guide in the next few days. Here are my thoughts from my playthrough so far.

Overview:
Melee skills got a slight boost, but Melee Sorc lost her big gun when Stormblast was removed. She's still decent, but Stormblast was the best single-target skill she had access to. Her boss-killing game really took a hit without it. Sad, but better to have loved and lost, n'est-ce pas?

Build:
The build will likely undergo only minor tweaks.

Skills:
I'm recommending using Wraithsword as a main and Bladestorm for Phys-immunes. Bladestorm's seek range was nerfed for some reason. It's now basically a Magic-based Wraithsword clone with a slightly larger radius and ND. There's still no need to put more than 1 point into either skill.

Melee Sorc is basically sol against Phys/Magic-immunes. There's still PoF, Hailstorm spamming, and using the old standard proc-based gear setup, but all these options are slow and/or inconvenient. I'll try to figure something out.

So far, Moonstrike doesn't cut it as a single-target skill. For now, stick with Wraithsword+Fusillade. I'll keep looking for something better.

Dark Portal cannot be used with Baneblade active.

Gear:
I'm recommending

Grace

Grace
Sorceress Crystal Swords
'Kur'
Runeword Level: 78
+(1 to 2) to Sorceress Skill Levels
45% Attack Speed
30% Block Speed
+(115 to 143)% Enhanced Damage
+(13 to 25) to Minimum Damage
+(21 to 40) to Strength
+(21 to 40) to Dexterity
+(21 to 40) to Vitality
Maximum Mana 3%
10% Chance to Avoid Damage

as a transitional mid-game weapon between

The Warped Blade

The Warped Blade
Warp Blade (4)
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 12
Required Dexterity: (39-41)
One-Hand Damage: (11-13) to (30-45)
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (25/256 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
5% Chance to cast level 12 Energy Beam on Melee Attack
15% Attack Speed
+(24 to 46)% Enhanced Damage
+(13 to 25) to Maximum Damage
+(16 to 25) to Dexterity
(3 to 4)% Reanimate as: Soul Flayer
Requirements -(15 to 11)%
Socketed (2)
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 33
Required Dexterity: (53-56)
One-Hand Damage: (27-30) to (85-103)
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (25/256 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
10% Chance to cast level 20 Energy Beam on Melee Attack
25% Attack Speed
+(69 to 92)% Enhanced Damage
+(38 to 50) to Maximum Damage
+(36 to 45) to Dexterity
(5 to 6)% Reanimate as: Soul Flayer
Requirements -(25 to 21)%
Socketed (4)
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 52
Required Dexterity: (91-96)
One-Hand Damage: (49-54) to (157-179)
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (25/256 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
15% Chance to cast level 28 Energy Beam on Melee Attack
35% Attack Speed
+(115 to 137)% Enhanced Damage
+(63 to 75) to Maximum Damage
+(56 to 65) to Dexterity
(7 to 8)% Reanimate as: Soul Flayer
Requirements -(35 to 31)%
Socketed (5)
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 62
Required Dexterity: (166-177)
One-Hand Damage: (69-75) to (202-225)
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (25/256 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
20% Chance to cast level 36 Energy Beam on Melee Attack
40% Attack Speed
+(138 to 160)% Enhanced Damage
+(76 to 88) to Maximum Damage
+(66 to 75) to Dexterity
(9 to 10)% Reanimate as: Soul Flayer
Requirements -(40 to 36)%
Socketed (6)

and

Witchblade

Witchblade
The Mysteries Set
Warp Blade (Sacred)
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 400
One-Hand Damage: (183-197) to (333-358)
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (25/256 per Dexterity)%
Area Effect Attack
1% Chance to cast level 25 Hymn on Melee Attack
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Damage
Adds 50-100 damage
Stun Attack
+100 Life Regenerated per Second
+(51 to 100) Life on Attack
Socketed (6)

.

Khany

Khany
Sorceress Crystal Swords
'On'
Runeword Level: 100
5% Chance to cast level 29 Shuriken Flurry on Melee Attack
+(1 to 2) to Sorceress Skill Levels
50% Cast Speed
50% Attack Speed
+(115 to 143)% Enhanced Damage
+(0.5 per level) to Maximum Damage (Based on Character Level)
Adds 1-750 lightning damage
+(16 to 20)% to Spell Damage
Total Character Defense 5%

is still decent on it's own as a mid-game option, despite the loss of Stormblast--and

Gehenna

Gehenna
Weapons
'Xar'
Runeword Level: 100
20% Chance to cast level 32 Frozen Crown on Melee Attack
+(144 to 171)% Enhanced Damage
Adds 188-250 cold damage
Adds 750-1000 poison damage over 5 seconds
+25% to Cold Spell Damage
+25% to Poison Spell Damage
-25% to Enemy Cold Resistance
-25% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Increase Maximum Life and Mana 25%
Requirements -33%

is also decent, but it's killspeed suffers due to a lack of native IAS. Though none of these options offer huge improvements over TU Warp Blade, I think the defensive nature of Grace is better suited to mid-game play, especially when doing Ubers. And the additional MO space for ED and Max Damage brings its killspeed close enough to Khany.

As for the Set, good luck completing it. Sacred Warp Blades are still rare af and I haven't yet found any place that's amazing for Set farming. TA drops overall are garbage now. And K3KBA Set drops are still garbage, despite supposedly getting a Set drop bias increase. That said, I've personally had decent luck finding Sets in Khalimgrad. The unkillable, Punisher-spamming Totems make farming it a huge pita, though. I'd recommend using crafts in the meantime, but...

Crafting will also be a major pain now. T-Fauzt Shrine drops seem to have been nerfed, and I haven't yet found any good places to farm for Shrines, nor have I heard of any.

Conclusion:
I know a lot of this sounds doom-and-gloom, but it'll be fine. Melee Sorc has survived tougher times. She'll survive this.

[MadeLaidMan]

Thoughts on using The Cow Level for farming Mid-Endgame items? I've found some pretty good SUs in the past and far more sets then I every would in a normal run compared to K3000's supposed set bias (as of 2017 1.0-1.1 values).

[Solfege]

Thoughts on using The Cow Level for farming Mid-Endgame items? I've found some pretty good SUs in the past and far more sets then I every would in a normal run compared to K3000's supposed set bias (as of 2017 1.0-1.1 values).

Yeah, definitely been finding more Sets and SUs in D-Cows than D-K3K for sure. Still haven't found an amazing place for SUs yet. Dunc drops nothing for me in SP (haven't made it that far in TSW). TA has also been pretty poor. Strangely enough, I've had really good luck with Set drops just running the overworld areas in Act 4 Dest (Plains of Despair and City of the Damned). Even get a few SUs from time to time. Could just be weird luck though.

----------

Will also use this post for a quick guide update.

Everything up to Part V of the End-Game section should be up-to-date (except for boss-killer gear. Still trying to find something good to replace Stormblast). That includes skillplans, gear, walkthroughs, Challenges, and all Ubers associated with those sections. For Part V, all but 3 updated Uber strats are written and will be posted in the guide shortly.

[Tokii]

Thoughts on using The Cow Level for farming Mid-Endgame items? I've found some pretty good SUs in the past and far more sets then I every would in a normal run compared to K3000's supposed set bias (as of 2017 1.0-1.1 values).

Yeah, definitely been finding more Sets and SUs in D-Cows than D-K3K for sure. Still haven't found an amazing place for SUs yet. Dunc drops nothing for me in SP (haven't made it that far in TSW). TA has also been pretty poor. Strangely enough, I've had really good luck with Set drops just running the overworld areas in Act 4 Dest (Plains of Despair and City of the Damned). Even get a few SUs from time to time. Could just be weird luck though.

----------

Will also use this post for a quick guide update.

Everything up to Part V of the End-Game section should be up-to-date (except for boss-killer gear. Still trying to find something good to replace Stormblast). That includes skillplans, gear, walkthroughs, Challenges, and all Ubers associated with those sections. For Part V, all but 3 updated Uber strats are written and will be posted in the guide shortly.

TA gives me up to 20 sets/sus per run, only rushing the boss rooms, how is that not decent O o
Duncraig also seems to have gotten a nice buff and generally has higher quality items then TA (got a full cube from almost full clear)
Dcows.. occasional 1-3 drops / run mostly shitty sets

[HechtHeftig]

K3K in Terror usually gives me 6-10 shrines per complete run. It's definitely faster than TFauzt. You should give that uber a try.

[Solfege]

TA gives me up to 20 sets/sus per run, only rushing the boss rooms, how is that not decent O o
Duncraig also seems to have gotten a nice buff and generally has higher quality items then TA (got a full cube from almost full clear)
Dcows.. occasional 1-3 drops / run mostly shitty sets

20 Sets/SUs per run with this build, or some other build with high MF? B/c there's a difference. Maybe Dunc is good in TSW, but as I said, for me personally with this build in SP, Dunc drops nothing.

K3K in Terror usually gives me 6-10 shrines per complete run. It's definitely faster than TFauzt. You should give that uber a try.

Yes. K3K is recommended in the guide as a Shrine farming option.

[Tokii]

Well drops are heightened by a factor of 3-5ish whether you believe it or not ^^ ive had bad streaks in duncraig aswell, but it´s definitely the best farming place, atleast until they change sacred bias

[Solfege]

The guide should be up-to-date now.

I'll probably tweak the farming locations from time to time as new info becomes available. I'll also keep trying to find a new boss-killer setup.