Recently, I've attempted what I believe to be a viable melee Wizard style. It could probably use a few changes once I've gotten to level 60, and I also think that it is capable of being flexible for different play styles. So far, I can tank better than most Barbarian classes that I know of and I can solo every boss on nightmare with it. And please note, I've only tested this through nightmare and I have no idea how it will work out in hell mode. Here are the specs.
Now, some of this I already plan on changing myself. Ever since I've grabbed gear which aids my total AP and the fact that Energy Armor + Energy Tap no longer lowers my total AP, I'm probably going to replace Astral Presence with Blur. Glass Canon, even though it lowers resistance, doesn't seem to be too much of a problem so far. Galvanizing Ward, why not?
As for abilities, I chose Spectral Blades + Deep Cuts because it is basically the most appealing ability to choose for close range, melee Wizards. I picked it mainly for taste for this build, but it works surprisingly well. In the future, I might apply the Healing Blades rune, but till then, this works just fine. As for the secondary, Ray of Frost + Sleet Storm was picked for the same reason, flavor. However, it offers an impressive close range, AoE affect. I can take out entire mobs that surround me and it does impressive damage, plus offers a slow effect which can help. Along with that, it's cost efficient.
Energy Armor and Diamond Skin are obvious choices for their defensive capabilities. My enhanced armor and AP from Energy Armor + Energy Tap keeps me from being killed quickly and it helps with casting, since the increased amount of AP can prove useful. Diamond Skin + Crystal Shell lets me tank and take all the damage I want (At least to it's maximum potential) before I even start to lose HP. I've found that Diamond Skin is what saves me the most, especially from boss or champion encounters.
Magic Weapon + Force Weapon should be self explanatory, it makes my damage much larger than it's default. However, some would disagree with Explosive Blast + Short Fuse. I can understand that, there is much better things to choose. That is why it's flexible, you can alter that to be pretty much whatever. I change it for boss fights to Teleport, and sometimes when I'm feeling up to it; I'll change it to Archon or Blizzard.
Long story short though, this set up has proven itself against the Butcher, Belial, Azmodan, Diablo, and several elite mobs and champions in nightmare mode. I'm open to suggestions and criticism, but remember; this style is still in it's "beta" stage, and it's from a lvl 50 Wizard on nightmare that is just now being taken it into hell.
I used a very similar build/strategy, and it was working fine. Then I hit middle/end of act 2 hell, and started dying to pretty much all elite packs I met. Things simply start to do so much dmg. Diamond skin can disappear in a couple of seconds.
I used a very similar build/strategy, and it was working fine. Then I hit middle/end of act 2 hell, and started dying to pretty much all elite packs I met. Things simply start to do so much dmg. Diamond skin can disappear in a couple of seconds.
Yea, I've already come across this problem. I'm trying out the critical mass build now and it seems to be working better for the more difficult mobs.
Im also working on a melee build for a wizard, currently going to SK on hell. my stats are as follows:
Wizard: Level 52
Stats
Strength: 226
Dexterity: 187
Intelligence: 796
Vitality: 853
Armor: 3474 [Energy Armor + Energy Tap Buff] (also have 166 Physical resist.)
DPS: 3046 [Magic Weapon + Force Weapon Buff] - 1.32 Attack Speed
HP: 28163 w/ 368.25 HP per second
AP: 120
Primary: Spectral Blades + Healing blades
Secondary: Ray of Frost + Sleet Storm
1 - Energy armor + Energy Tap
2 - Magic weapon + Force weapon
3 - Hydra + Arcane hydra
4 - Blizzard + Frozen Solid
Passives
Blur
Galvanizing Ward
Cold Blooded
In short, pretty much the build that you talked about possibly switching too. (minus cold blooded/glass cannon)
I use arcane hydra as extra AoE + range for monster that run. Also the arcane orbs can stagger some monsters meaning less hits. Blizzard + freezing is along the same lines if something is frozen, its not hitting me, and if i REALLY need to kite something, i can just use blizz and hydra to slow kill it or weaking it until i can get in close.
Spectral blades with healing is pretty amazing honestly, it might not seem like much at first, but it really adds up considering spectral blade actually does multiple hits and not just one strike (at least from what i can see) thus giving you more chances to crit. And I really think cold blooded works much better than glass cannon with this build. your main damage comes from sleet storm, with secondary damage from blizzard, and increasing both of those by 20% is a huge gain.
Also, I do not find much use for diamon skin atm, but it will most likely be switched it at some point im sure. Between healing blades, Life per hit, and damage % converted to life i dont find myself that low too often, and considering you are melee, most of the times your going to be standing on dropped life orbs regardless.
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Wizard: Level 50
Stats
Strength: 244
Dexterity: 328
Intelligence: 919
Vitality: 728
Armor: 2187 [Energy Armor + Energy Tap Buff]
DPS: 3513.18 [Magic Weapon + Force Weapon Buff] - 1.57 Attack Speed
HP: 20091 w/ 191.38 HP per second - Health Globe Bonus of 1371
AP: 157 w/ 12 AP per second [Aided with Energy Armor + Energy Tap - Astral Presence]
Abilities
Primary: Spectral Blades + Deep Cuts
Secondary: Ray of Frost + Sleet Storm
1 - Diamond Skin + Crystal Shell
2 - Explosive Blast + Short Fuse
3 - Energy Armor + Energy Tap
4 - Magic Weapon + Force Weapon
Passives
Glass Canon
Astral Presence
Galvanizing Ward
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Now, some of this I already plan on changing myself. Ever since I've grabbed gear which aids my total AP and the fact that Energy Armor + Energy Tap no longer lowers my total AP, I'm probably going to replace Astral Presence with Blur. Glass Canon, even though it lowers resistance, doesn't seem to be too much of a problem so far. Galvanizing Ward, why not?
As for abilities, I chose Spectral Blades + Deep Cuts because it is basically the most appealing ability to choose for close range, melee Wizards. I picked it mainly for taste for this build, but it works surprisingly well. In the future, I might apply the Healing Blades rune, but till then, this works just fine. As for the secondary, Ray of Frost + Sleet Storm was picked for the same reason, flavor. However, it offers an impressive close range, AoE affect. I can take out entire mobs that surround me and it does impressive damage, plus offers a slow effect which can help. Along with that, it's cost efficient.
Energy Armor and Diamond Skin are obvious choices for their defensive capabilities. My enhanced armor and AP from Energy Armor + Energy Tap keeps me from being killed quickly and it helps with casting, since the increased amount of AP can prove useful. Diamond Skin + Crystal Shell lets me tank and take all the damage I want (At least to it's maximum potential) before I even start to lose HP. I've found that Diamond Skin is what saves me the most, especially from boss or champion encounters.
Magic Weapon + Force Weapon should be self explanatory, it makes my damage much larger than it's default. However, some would disagree with Explosive Blast + Short Fuse. I can understand that, there is much better things to choose. That is why it's flexible, you can alter that to be pretty much whatever. I change it for boss fights to Teleport, and sometimes when I'm feeling up to it; I'll change it to Archon or Blizzard.
Long story short though, this set up has proven itself against the Butcher, Belial, Azmodan, Diablo, and several elite mobs and champions in nightmare mode. I'm open to suggestions and criticism, but remember; this style is still in it's "beta" stage, and it's from a lvl 50 Wizard on nightmare that is just now being taken it into hell.
Yea, I've already come across this problem. I'm trying out the critical mass build now and it seems to be working better for the more difficult mobs.
Wizard: Level 52
Stats
Strength: 226
Dexterity: 187
Intelligence: 796
Vitality: 853
Armor: 3474 [Energy Armor + Energy Tap Buff] (also have 166 Physical resist.)
DPS: 3046 [Magic Weapon + Force Weapon Buff] - 1.32 Attack Speed
HP: 28163 w/ 368.25 HP per second
AP: 120
Primary: Spectral Blades + Healing blades
Secondary: Ray of Frost + Sleet Storm
1 - Energy armor + Energy Tap
2 - Magic weapon + Force weapon
3 - Hydra + Arcane hydra
4 - Blizzard + Frozen Solid
Passives
Blur
Galvanizing Ward
Cold Blooded
In short, pretty much the build that you talked about possibly switching too. (minus cold blooded/glass cannon)
I use arcane hydra as extra AoE + range for monster that run. Also the arcane orbs can stagger some monsters meaning less hits. Blizzard + freezing is along the same lines if something is frozen, its not hitting me, and if i REALLY need to kite something, i can just use blizz and hydra to slow kill it or weaking it until i can get in close.
Spectral blades with healing is pretty amazing honestly, it might not seem like much at first, but it really adds up considering spectral blade actually does multiple hits and not just one strike (at least from what i can see) thus giving you more chances to crit. And I really think cold blooded works much better than glass cannon with this build. your main damage comes from sleet storm, with secondary damage from blizzard, and increasing both of those by 20% is a huge gain.
Also, I do not find much use for diamon skin atm, but it will most likely be switched it at some point im sure. Between healing blades, Life per hit, and damage % converted to life i dont find myself that low too often, and considering you are melee, most of the times your going to be standing on dropped life orbs regardless.