The Wizard in Diablo 3 can dish out incredible amounts of damage, but it struggles when it comes to surviving big hits. Many players find it difficult to solo with a Wizard, especially when compared to tankier classes.
But this doesn’t mean the Wizard is weak — far from it! Experienced players know that if you play it right, enemies won’t even get close to hitting you.
This guide covers some of the most popular Wizard builds that can help you clear high-level Greater Rifts effectively, whether you’re playing solo or in a group.
1. Delsere’s Magnum Opus Frozen Orb Build
Purpose: A great starting build for new players that can handle Greater Rift 136+ with enough gear upgrades.
Active Skills:
- Shock Pulse (Piercing Orb)
- Arcane Orb (Frozen Orb)
- Teleport (Safe Passage)
- Slow Time (Exhaustion)
- Magic Weapon (Deflection)
- Storm Armor (Power of the Storm)
Passive Skills: Illusionist, Galvanizing Ward, Power Hungry, Unstable Anomaly
Key Gear:
- Armor: Shrouded Mask, Dashing Pauldrons of Despair, Harness of Truth
- Jewelry: Squirt’s Necklace, Halo of Karini, Convention of Elements
- Weapons: Unstable Scepter, Triumvirate
Legendary Gems: Zei’s Stone of Vengeance, Bane of the Stricken, Bane of the Trapped
Gameplay: This build focuses on slowing enemies down with Slow Time and blasting them with Frozen Orb. The high damage output, combined with crowd control, makes it perfect for clearing mobs and kiting bosses.
2. Typhon Hydra Build
Purpose: A versatile build that performs well solo or in groups, capable of clearing Greater Rift 136.
Active Skills:
- Spectral Blade (Barrier Blades)
- Hydra (Frost Hydra)
- Blizzard (Apocalypse)
- Black Hole (Absolute Zero)
- Teleport (Safe Passage)
- Storm Armor (Scramble)
Passive Skills: Arcane Dynamo, Audacity, Galvanizing Ward, Illusionist
Key Gear:
- Armor: Typhon’s Frons, Tasker and Theo, Ashnagarr’s Blood Bracer
- Jewelry: Squirt’s Necklace, Halo of Karini, Convention of Elements
- Weapons: Fragment of Destiny, Winter Flurry
Legendary Gems: Enforcer, Bane of the Stricken, Bane of the Trapped
Gameplay: The Frost Hydra is a powerful damage dealer that you can deploy and move around while it attacks. Paired with Black Hole for grouping enemies, this build excels in both single-target and area damage.
3. Vyr-Chantodo Archon Build
Purpose: Best for players who love staying in Archon Form for extended periods. Can clear Greater Rift 138+.
Active Skills:
- Magic Weapon (Deflection)
- Arcane Torrent (Static Discharge)
- Archon (Slow Time)
- Storm Armor (Power of the Storm)
- Slow Time (Time Warp)
- Black Hole (Absolute Zero)
Passive Skills: Galvanizing Ward, Evocation, Elemental Exposure, Audacity
Key Gear:
- Armor: Vyr’s Amazing Arcana Set, Fazula’s Improbable Chain
- Jewelry: Squirt’s Necklace, Convention of Elements, Halo of Karini
- Weapons: Chantodo’s Will, Chantodo’s Force
Legendary Gems: Zei’s Stone of Vengeance, Bane of the Trapped, Bane of the Stricken
Gameplay: This build is all about maximizing your time in Archon Form, stacking damage boosts, and melting bosses. It’s a bit tricky to master but pays off with incredible burst damage.
4. Legacy of Dreams Twister Build
Purpose: The go-to build for clearing trash mobs in groups, also effective for solo play, clearing Greater Rift 143+.
Active Skills:
- Arcane Torrent (Static Discharge)
- Energy Twister (Wicked Wind)
- Wave of Force (Arcane Attunement)
- Archon (Teleport)
- Magic Weapon (Deflection)
- Ice Armor (Crystallize)
Passive Skills: Galvanizing Ward, Evocation, Unstable Anomaly, Audacity
Key Gear:
- Armor: The Swami, Mantle of Channeling, Aquila Cuirass
- Jewelry: Squirt’s Necklace, Convention of Elements, Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac
- Weapons: The Twisted Sword, Etched Sigil
Legendary Gems: Legacy of Dreams, Bane of the Trapped, Bane of the Stricken
Gameplay: This build uses Energy Twisters to deal massive area damage, perfect for clearing large groups of enemies. The dual shields provide some much-needed survivability.
5. Firebird’s Mirror Image Build
Purpose: Currently the top Wizard build, capable of solo clearing Greater Rift 150.
Active Skills:
- Spectral Blade (Flame Blades)
- Disintegrate (Chaos Nexus)
- Explosive Blast (Chain Reaction)
- Teleport (Safe Passage)
- Mirror Image (Duplicates)
- Slow Time (Stretch Time)
Passive Skills: Unwavering Will, Audacity, Elemental Exposure, Evocation
Key Gear:
- Armor: Firebird’s Finery Set, Aughild’s Power, Captain Crimson’s Silk Girdle
- Jewelry: The Traveler’s Pledge, The Compass Rose, Convention of Elements
- Weapons: Deathwish, Firebird’s Eye
Legendary Gems: Taeguk, Enforcer, Bane of the Trapped
Gameplay: This build leverages Mirror Images to spread Firebird’s damage bonus, which clears out both bosses and mobs effectively. It’s not the best at single-target damage, but it shines in mixed fights.
