Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred (D4)

Sorcerer Ball Lightning Endgame Build (Season 7)

★ NEW: Season 7 Release Date and New Features
Season 7 Guide (Season of Witchcraft)
┗ Seasonal Content: Headhunt Explained | Rootholds Dungeon Guide
┗ Seasonal Mechanic: List of All Occult Gems and Witchraft Powers
★ Learn more about our best Builds!
★ Check out our Vessel of Hatred expansion guide

This is the Ball Lightning endgame build and guide for Season 7 of Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred (D4). Read on to learn more about the Ball Lightning build as well as its playstyle in the Season of Witchcraft!

All Sorcerer Guides
Diablo 4 - SorcererClass Guide Diablo 4 - Best BuildsBest Builds Diablo 4 - Sorcerer IconEnchantments

Ball Lightning Sorcerer Build

Ball Lightning Build Summary

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
SummarySummary Ball Lightning Skills and Passives WitchcraftWitchcraft Aspects and AffixesAspects and Affixes
GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Spiritborn ParagonParagon Sorcerer Playstyle

This Ball Lightning sorcerer build is based on Lurkin's Zeus Tank sorcerer. The video includes details on how to gear up to get the build online. You can check Lurkin on Youtube for more Diablo 4 content, or on Twitch to ask questions about the build!

Build Summary
Sorcerer Class ViewBall Lightning Endgame Build
Flame Shield Teleport Ice Armor Ice Blades Ball Lightning Unstable Currents
Focus: AoE DPS, Endgame Dungeons
Diablo 4 Build - Pro Multiple Defensive Skills

Diablo 4 Build - Pro High Mobility due to Teleport

This build primarily relies on Ball Lightning to efficiently eliminate all nearby and approaching enemies. To increase the damage of Ball Lightning, the build uses the Storm Swell Aspect with Ice Blades, Ice Armor, and Thul rune to cast Frost Nova to increase damage against Frozen enemies.

Ball Lightning Build Skills and Passives

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
SummarySummary Ball LightningSkills and Passives WitchcraftWitchcraft Aspects and AffixesAspects and Affixes
GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Spiritborn ParagonParagon Sorcerer Playstyle
Back to the top ▲

※ More skills can be seen by scrolling vertically.

Active Skills
necro basicBasic Skill Tree

Fire Bolt Fire Bolt (2/5)
necro coreCore Skill Tree

Charged Bolts Charged Bolts (1/5)
 ┗ Enhanced Charged BoltsEnhanced Charged Bolts
  ┗ Destructive Charged BoltsDestructive Charged Bolts
Defensive Skill TreeDefensive Skill Tree

Flame Shield Flame Shield (1/5)
Teleport Teleport (4/5)
 ┗ Enhanced TeleportEnhanced Teleport
  ┗ Shimmering TeleportShimmering Teleport
Ice Armor Ice Armor (1/5)
 ┗ Enhanced Ice ArmorEnhanced Ice Armor
  ┗ Shimmering Ice ArmorShimmering Ice Armor
Glass Cannon Glass Cannon (1/3)
Conjuration Skill TreeConjuration Skill Tree

Familiar Familiar (1/5)
 ┗ Enhanced FamiliarEnhanced Familiar
  ┗ Invoked FamiliarInvoked Familiar
Ice Blades Ice Blades (1/5)
 ┗ Enhanced Ice BladesEnhanced Ice Blades
  ┗
 ┗ Enhanced Lightning SpearEnhanced Lightning Spear
  ┗ Invoked Lightning SpearInvoked Lightning Spear
 ┗ Protection Protection (3/3)
Primordial Binding Primordial Binding (3/3)
Mana Shield Mana Shield (3/3)
Mastery Skill TreeMastery Skill Tree

Ball Lightning Ball Lightning (5/5)
 ┗ Enhanced Ball LightningEnhanced Ball Lightning
  ┗ WizardWizard's Ball Lightning
Inner Flames Inner Flames (3/3)
Icy Veil Icy Veil (2/3)
Diablo 4 - Ultimate Skill TreeUltimate Skill Tree

 ┗ Prime Unstable CurrentsPrime Unstable Currents
Permafrost Permafrost (3/3)
 ┗ Icy Touch Icy Touch (3/3)
 ┗ Hoarfrost Hoarfrost (3/3)
Evocation Evocation (3/3)
Diablo 4 - Key Passive Skill TreeKey Passive

Ball Lightning Build Enchantment

Fireball Enchantment Slots
Ice BladesIce Blades
(Level 15)
TeleportTeleport
(Level 30)

Select Ice Blades as your first enchantment. This will allow you to cast Ice Blades automatically launch every 40 seconds of cooldowns you spend. Your second enchantment will be Teleport for added mobility, replacing your evade with Teleport.

Enchantment Slots Explained

Ball Lightning Build Witchcraft Powers

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
SummarySummary Ball LightningSkills and Passives WitchcraftWitchcraft Aspects and AffixesAspects and Affixes
GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Spiritborn ParagonParagon Sorcerer Playstyle
Back to the top ▲
Witchcraft Effect
Rank Up Bonus
Hex of Flames Icon Hex of Flames Lucky Hit: You have up to an X chance to apply Hex of Flames. Hex of Flames deals 40% additional Fire damage each time you deal damage to the target.
Rank 7: Hex of Flames explodes dealing damage to all nearby enemies when you land a Critical Strike.
Hex of Shattering Icon Hex of Shattering Damage done by your Witchcraft Effects afflicts enemies with Hex of Shattering causing them to deal X reduced damage for 5 seconds.
Rank 8: When any Hex Effect is applied to Headrotten, all damage will be guaranteed Critical Strikes for 5 seconds.
Soul Harvest Icon Soul Harvest Feed upon the life force of nearby enemies whenever you use a skill with a cooldown, increasing your primary stat by 3% per monster for X seconds.
Rank 9: Soul Harvest does not lose duration so long as enemies are nearby.
Aura of Siphoning Icon Aura of Siphoning Conjure an aura of decay that deals 80% Poison damage to enemies every second.
Rank 10: Each time Aura of Siphoning deals damage, you are healed for 1% of Maximum Life.
The Cycle Icon The Cycle Dealing any damage with your skills has a 15% chance to grow a flower from the ground. When an enemy is near, the flower deals X Poison damage to that enemy over 5 seconds. If an ally is near, the flower Heals for 6% Maximum Life. The flower withers away after use. A flower may grow once every 2 seconds per enemy.
Rank 5: The damage and healing affects all enemies or allies near the flower.
Aura Specialization Icon Aura Specialization The size of your Aura Effects are increased by X.
Rank 10: Increase the Critical Strike Damage by 50% against enemies inside your Aura Effects.

The Witchcraft Power setup is designed for close combat engagement through Auras and Hexes. Hex of Flames, Hex of Shattering, Soul Harvest, Aura Siphoning, and Aura Specialization allow the build to deal more damage against close enemies while also offering huge survivability.

The Cycle is used for dual purposes, it provides the build some sustainability through its healing, while also offering an offensive value through poisoning.

List of All Witchcraft Powers

Ball Lightning Build Aspects and Affixes

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
SummarySummary Ball LightningSkills and Passives WitchcraftWitchcraft Aspects and AffixesAspects and Affixes
GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Spiritborn ParagonParagon Sorcerer Playstyle
Back to the top ▲
Blacksmith Icon Masterwork Priority Affixes marked with ★ are the ones you should aim to upgrade when masterworking.

※ More gear Aspects can be seen by scrolling vertically.

Gear Aspect and Affixes
Head
Stats:
・Critical Strike Chance ★
・Lucky Hit Chance
・Movement Speed
・Ranks to Core Skills ★★
Chest
Stats:
・All Stats
・Damage on Next Attack After Entering Stealth
・Maximum Life ★★★
・Resource Generation.
Gloves
Stats:
・Ranks to Core Skills ★★★
・Attack Speed
・Critical Strike Chance Temper:
・Offensive - Worldly Finesse
 ┗ Critical Strike Damage
・Utility - Sorcerer Innovation
 ┗ Frost Nova Size
Pants
Stats:
・Maximum Life
・Intelligence ★★★
・Armor Temper:
・Defensive - Worldly Endurance
 ┗ Total Armor
・Utility - Worldly Fortune
 ┗ Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze for 2 Seconds
Boots
Stats:
・Ranks to Ball Lightning
・Intelligence
・Mana per Second Temper:
・Mobility - Natural Motion
 ┗ Evade Cooldown Reduction
・Utility - Sorcerer Innovation
 ┗ Frost Nova Size
Amulet
Stats:
・Ranks to Permafrost ★★★
・Ranks to Inner Flames
・Intelligence
Temper:
・Mobility - Natural Motion
 ┗ Evade Cooldown Reduction
・Resource - Ultimate Efficiency
 ┗ Unstable Currents Cooldown Reduction
Ring
Stats:
・Non-Physical Damage
・Cooldown Reduction ★★★
・Lucky Hit Chance
・Ranks to Potent Warding
Ring
Stats:
・Attack Speed ★★★
・Critical Strike Chance
・Lucky Hit Chance
・Ranks to Core Skills
Weapon
(Wand)

Stats:
・Intelligence ★★★
・Maximum Life
・Critical Strike Damage
Temper:
・Offensive - Worldly Finesse
 ┗ Critical Strike Damage
・Weapon - Shock Augments - Surge
 ┗ Chance for Ball Lightning Projectiles to Cast Twice
Weapon
(Catalyst)

Stats:
・Attack Speed for 5 Seconds After Casting a Defensive Skill
・Damage Reduction for Each Ball Lightning
・Ranks to Ball Lightning
・Chance for Ball Lightning Projectiles to Cast Twice ★★★

Ball Lightning Build Gems and Runewords

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
SummarySummary Ball LightningSkills and Passives WitchcraftWitchcraft Aspects and AffixesAspects and Affixes
GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Spiritborn ParagonParagon Sorcerer Playstyle
Back to the top ▲
Weapon Armor
EmeraldEmerald TopazTopaz

For Gems, it's best to slot in Topaz in your armor to increase your Intelligence and skill damage. For your weapons, Emerald is the best choice as it increases your Critical Strike Damage.

List of All Gems

Ball Lightning Build Best Occult Gems

Amulet Ring Ring
Elder SigilElder Sigil Friend of the BogFriend of the Bog Dust StoneDust Stone

The Occult Gem setup is built around to support the build's Witchcraft Powers. Elder Sigil and Dust Stone allow you to deal more damage to enemies affected by your Auras and Hexes.

The survivability and damage bonuses of Friend of the Bog come from Soul Harvest, Aura of Siphoning, and The Cycle.

List of All Occult Gems

Ball Lightning Build Runewords

Runeword 1 Runeword 2
TamTam OhmOhm IgniIgni ThulThul

Tam + Ohm is used to gain more damage through the Barbarian's War Cry as you spam Charged Bolts. While Igni + Thul is used to cast Frost Nova, freezing enemies and making them vulnerable.

List of All Runewords

Ball Lightning Build Mercenaries

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
SummarySummary Ball LightningSkills and Passives WitchcraftWitchcraft Aspects and AffixesAspects and Affixes
GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Spiritborn ParagonParagon Sorcerer Playstyle
Back to the top ▲
Mercenary Reinforcement
Subo Subo Spiritborn Mercenary RaheirRaheir

Use Subo as the Main Mercenary

Subo is used as the main mercenary for marking enemies and regaining mana. Take Subo's Cover Fire and Opening Fire to gain more Critical Strike Damage, ultimately allowing the build to deal more damage over a time interval.

Equip Raheir as a Reinforcement

Use Raheir as your reinforcement for your survivability. It's best to use his Bastion skill whenever you become injured, so you can avoid damage and become unstoppable.

List of All Mercenaries

Ball Lightning Build Paragon Boards

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
SummarySummary Ball LightningSkills and Passives WitchcraftWitchcraft Aspects and AffixesAspects and Affixes
GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Spiritborn ParagonParagon Sorcerer Playstyle
Back to the top ▲
Paragon Boards
1. Starting Board (Tactician)
2. Frigid Fate (Elementalist)
3. Fundamental Release (Unleash)
4. Static Surge (Adept)
5. Ceaseless Conduit (Destruction)

The Paragon Boards and Glyphs for the build focus on enhancing damage scaling and sustaining mana. Tactician will be activated by Flame Shield and Ice Armor, while Elementalist is activated by all skills and Witchcraft that deal damage, with Destruction activating whenever you deal a critical strike.

Other Glyphs such as Unleash and Adept offer the build some utility such as mana sustain and increased AoE, with Unleash also offering damage scaling after spending 50 mana.

Ball Lightning Build Playstyle and Tips

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
SummarySummary Ball LightningSkills and Passives WitchcraftWitchcraft Aspects and AffixesAspects and Affixes
GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Spiritborn ParagonParagon Sorcerer Playstyle
Back to the top ▲

This build's playstyle revolves around engaging in close combat by spamming Ball Lightning with the help of defensive skills for survivability. The playstyle rotation follows:

  1. Always keep Familiars and Ice Blades active to maximize the bonuses from the Primordial Binding passive.
  2. With the help of Okun's Catalyst, Ring of Starless Skies, and Invigorating Conduit, you can spam Ball Lightning without any mana issues while consistently triggering the effects of the Gravitational Aspect.
  3. Since you will be taking the Shimmering Ice Armor passive, you will always have a barrier without worrying about cooldowns. This grants additional survivability and provides a massive boost to your damage due to the effects of Conceited Aspect and Stormswell Aspect.
  4. Use Flame Shield as a panic button or to escape crowd control effects when your Teleport is on cooldown.
  5. Cast Unstable Currents whenever it is available. With Orange Herald reducing your Ultimate Ability's cooldown, paired with the Cooldown Reduction from Tal Rasha's Iridescent Loop and Ice Blades Enhancement, you can use the skill as much as you want.

Diablo 4 Related Guides

Diablo 4 - Builds

Build Guides and Tier List

All Class Builds

All Classes
BarbarianBarbarian DruidDruid SorcererSorcerer
RogueRogue NecromancerNecromancer SpiritbornSpiritborn

Author

    All rights reserved

    Guide Index