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Diablo 4 Season 1 best Sorcerer leveling builds | Chain Lightning and Ice Shards

Here are all the best Sorcerer leveling builds in Diablo 4.

Noah Nelson

Published: Jul 21, 2023 04:45 pm

Leveling is a major component in Diablo 4 and some Sorcerer builds are a lot better at leveling than others. The slower DPS builds that are best suited for endgame don’t work here — to create the best Sorcerer leveling builds in Diablo 4 Season 1, you need to focus on builds that are fast and deal a lot of AoE damage.

What is the best Sorcerer leveling build in Diablo 4 Season 1?

Sorcerers notoriously got hit with some major bug fixes and nerfs that completely changed their winning builds in Diablo 4 Season 1. However, they also received a lot of general buffs and every class got some buffs, so in general, Sorcerers are not in a bad spot.

Before we dive into the three best leveling builds for Sorcerer, for the readers who want a quick answer, in my opinion, the best Sorcerer leveling build is the Chain Lightning build. Chain Lightning might not be the best endgame Sorcerer build, but it will allow you to decimate swaths of early-level enemies which will allow you to have quicker access to XP through defeated enemies, Quest completion, and Dungeon clearing.

Best Sorcerer leveling builds in Diablo 4 Season 1 tier list

Chain Lightning
Ice Shards
Firewall

Chain Lightning is the best Sorcerer leveling build because it grants great survivability since you can quickly eliminate groups of enemies which ultimately leads to gaining more XP. Ice Shards is the second-best Sorcerer leveling build, but if you’re looking for a build to take all the way, go with Ice Shards as it’s the best for endgame. In last place is Firewall since it isn’t nearly as effective as Chain Lightning or Ice Shards, but is still worth experimenting with and trying for fun.

Note: For a detailed breakdown of all Sorcerer Diablo 4 Season 1 buffs, nerfs, and changes, check out our guide.

Sorcerer Chain Lightning leveling build

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The Chain Lightning Sorcerer build is the best for leveling because of its ability to deal incredible AoE damage. We’ll use Chain Lightning for our main AoE attack and Arc Lash for more single-target moments. For defense, which is necessary for any Sorcerer build to increase survivability, we’ll use Frost Nova, Ice Armor, and Teleport. Top it off with Unstable Currents and you’re good to go.

Aspect of Control is a must-have for the Chain Lightning Sorcerer leveling build and will definitely help you deal more damage. Aspect of Unbroken Tether is also great to make Chain Lightning more powerful, and Recharging Aspect helps to solve our mana issues.

Since it is Season of the Malignant, you can also look for Caged Heart of the Picana to deal extra lightning damage and Caged Heart of Determination to consistently get more Resource generation. If you’re having trouble finding Caged Hearts, check out our guide.

Best Sorcerer Chain Lightning leveling build skills

Level 1 – Arc Lash
Level 2 – Enhanced Arc Lash
Level 3 – Chain Lightning
Level 4 – Enhanced Chain Lightning
Level 5 – Greater Chain Lightning
Level 6 – Flickering Arc Lash
Level 7 – Teleport
Level 8 – Ice Armor
Level 9 – Frost Nova
Level 10-13 – Chain Lightning

Level 14-17 – Arc Lash
Level 18 – Enhanced Frost Nova
Level 19 – Mystical Frost Nova
Level 20 – Enhanced Teleport
Level 21 – Shimmering Teleport
Level 22 – Enhanced Ice Armor
Level 23 – Align the Elements
Level 24 – Unstable Currents
Level 25 – Prime Unstable Currents
Level 26 – Protection

Level 27-29 – Glass Cannon
Level 30 – Ball Lightning
Level 31 – Enhanced Ball Lightning
Level 32 – Static Discharge
Level 34 – Vyr’s Mastery
Level 35 – Coursing Currents
Level 36-37 – Electrocution
Level 38-40 – Shocking Impact
Level 41-43 – Convulsions
Level 44-45 – Coursing Currents
Level 46-47 – Electrocution
Level 48 – Devastation
Level 49 – Protection
Level 50 – Mana Shield

Your key damage-dealing skills for the Chain Lightning Sorcerer leveling build are Arc Lash, Chain Lightning, and Ball Lightning. Use Chain Lightning at all times, especially before unlocking Ball Lightning, to deal high AoE damage. You’ll later rely on lightning buffs like Coursing Currents and Static Discharge which will help you regain Mana, deal more damage, and be able to take more hits without dying.

You’ll use Teleport, Frost Nova, and Ice Armor for defense. Frost Nova and Teleport help you escape a sticky situation, while Frost Nova doubles as a damage dealer to keep your enemies in one place while you use Chain Lightning. Lastly, Unstable Currents is used to defeat large amounts of enemies and bosses.

Best Sorcerer Chain Lightning leveling build Aspects and how to get them

Aspect of Control – You deal 25-35% more damage to Immobilized, Stunned, or Frozen enemies.
- Location – Sunken Library Dungeon found in Kehjistan directly west of Alcarnus in Amber Sands.
Aspect of Unbroken Tether – Chain Lightning has a 30-40% chain to chain two additional times.
- Location – Found at random attached to Legendary gear.
Recharging Aspect – Each time Chain Lightning bounces off you, gain 4-6 Mana.
- Location – Zenith Dungeon found in Fractured Peaks directly below Kor Valar.

The three Aspects that will really make the Chain Lightning Sorcerer build sing are Aspect of Control Aspect of Unbroken Tether, and Recharging Aspect. Aspect of Control you can get from a Dungeon and it is necessary to deal a lot more damage since you’ll be freezing and stunning enemies often. Recharging Aspect is also found in a Dungeon and is great to help you keep your Mana full.

Aspect of Unbroken Tether is found at random from chests, random boss rewards, and enemy drops, but it is incredible. If you can find it, Aspect of Unbroken Tether really helped your Chain Lightning deal even more damage.

Note: If you wanna try a different class, check out the best Druid leveling builds.

Sorcerer Ice Shards leveling build

Diablo 4 Ice Shards Sorcerer Leveling Build

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The Sorcerer Ice Shards leveling build is definitely one to consider, especially if you are looking to stick to a build you can use for the rest of the game. The Sorcerer Ice Shards build is the best endgame build in Diablo 4 Season 1, and while it isn’t the best Sorcerer leveling build, you can stick with Ice Shards because it dominates in the endgame.

The Sorcerer Ice Shards leveling build equips you with Ice Shards for damage, Fireball and Frost Nova for AoE, Fire Shield and Ice Armor for defense, and Blizzard for ultimate destruction. In general, you’ll struggle to deal big AoE damage at first, but your high single-target DPS will always be strong and the AoE options will come later.

For Aspects, you need Aspect of Control and Aspect of Piercing Cold and, in Season of the Malignant, you’d benefit greatly from getting Caged Heart of Creeping Death because your frost damage will deal even more damage and Unstoppable monsters take 125-135% more damage from damage over time effects. Caged Heart of Tal’Rasha will help too; you get a 7-12% damage increase for 2-8 seconds for each unique element you deal damage with.

Best Ice Shards leveling build skills

Level 1 – Ice Shards
Level 2 – Enhanced Ice Shards
Level 3 – Greater Ice Shards
Level 4-6 – Ice Shards
Level 7 – Teleport
Level 8 – Flickering Arc Lash
Level 9 – Teleport
Level 10 – Ice Armor
Level 11 – Enhanced Ice Armor
Level 12 – Frost Nova

Level 13 – Enhanced Frost Nova
Level 14 – Mystical Frost Nova
Level 15 – Flame Shield
Level 16-18 – Fireball
Level 19 – Elemental Attunement
Level 20-22 – Glass Cannon
Level 23 – Align the Elements
Level 24 – Protection
Level 25-28 – Frost Nova
Level 29 – Permafrost

Level 30 – Hoarfrost
Level 31-33 – Frigid Breeze
Level 34 – Blizzard
Level 35 – Avalanche
Level 36 – Icy Veil
Level 37-38 – Protection
Level 39-40 – Protection
Level 41-43 – Precision Magic
Level 44-45 – Hoarfrost
Level 46-47 – Permafrost
Level 48-50 – Icy Touch

Ice Shards is our main damage dealer for the entirety of the build. We’ll use Fireball and eventually Frost Nova to deal AoE damage which will be vital for leveling fast. Flame Shield will primarily be used to cause damage and for healing. Ice Armor will be used as Mana regeneration and damage reduction.

Lastly, we’ll use Blizzard to deal massive AoE damage and then spec entirely into all the frost buffs to make all of our attacks much stronger.

Best Ice Shards leveling build Aspects and how to get them

Aspect of Control – You deal 25-35% more damage to Immobilized, Stunned, or Frozen enemies.
- Location – Sunken Library Dungeon found in Kehjistan directly west of Alcarnus in Amber Sands.
Aspect of Piercing Cold – Ice Shards pierce three times, dealing 25% less damage per subsequent enemy hit.
- Location – Dead Man’s Dredge Dungeon found in Fractured Peaks in Gale Valley.

Of course, Aspect of Control is a necessary Aspect for the Ice Shards Sorcerer because you’ll deal much more damage to frozen enemies, and the goal is that every enemy will be frozen. On top of that, Aspect of Piercing Cold is an amazing Aspect you can get early on that allows your Ice Shards to pierce through enemies which will help deal more AoE damage.

Sorcerer Firewall leveling build

15 Best Aspects For Sorcerer In Diablo 4 Locations Builds And More Fire

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Though lightning and ice received a few minor buffs, critical strike on fire and burning enemies was nerfed pretty hard. Because of that, Firewall is the least-best Sorcerer leveling build, but if you are determined to play a fire Sorcerer, you can still do so.

I don’t recommend building a Firewall Sorcerer for your leveling build because Chain Lightning and Ice Shards do everything better. However, fire Sorcerer builds are still really effective thanks to impressive endgame buffs like Endless Pyre, Warmth, and Devouring Blaze. If you really want to go the fire route, I would recommend pairing it with another element like ice or lightning.

Hopefully, you pick either Chaining Lightning or Ice Shards as your Sorcerer leveling build. If you need it, check out our Diablo 4 Season 1 battle pass leveling guide because I find progressing the battle pass to be confusing and you might too.

Blizzard

Diablo 4

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Author

Noah Nelson

From his early days of blog-style music, movie, and game reviews to working as the Esports Writer at Coastline Community College, Noah Nelson now works fulltime as a Staff Writer for Attack of the Fanboy and PC Invasion. He has been helping gamers everywhere with Destiny 2 god rolls, Warzone 2 DMZ missions, and collectibles in any indie game for over a year and a half. His Bachelor's Degree in English Rhetoric and Composition with a minor in Journalism from CSULB has shaped him to be a strong writer and editor. His fondest gaming memory is playing Sly Cooper 2 after begging his mom (for hours) to play it before his birthday and he still cries myself to sleep remembering the time he accidentally saved over his 99% completion save file in Kingdom Hearts 2.