Compass to Carnage event, originally scheduled for November 4th, was postponed to November 25th, and now it's just one day away! If you're unsure how to proceed, it's not too late to start preparing!
Since this event is based on Infernal Hordes, you'll need to understand all the event mechanics and choose a build that can quickly clear out enemies in Infernal Hordes.
Therefore, we'll recommend and introduce Hydra Fireball Build, a Sorcerer-class build, to help you maximize its value in Compass to Carnage event.
Hydra Fireball Build Overview
Hydra-oriented Sorcerer builds shone brightly in Season 9, but their effectiveness diminished after Season 10, until we discovered that combining Hydra with Fireball is incredibly effective at clearing enemy hordes.
This isn't hard to understand. As primary Sorcerer skills, Hydra and Fireball both offer significant AoE damage output. Their effectiveness is amplified when stacked with core skills and rare gear, especially in Infernal Hordes (where enemies always appear in groups).
First, Hydra allows you to summon a three-headed hydra that lasts for 10 seconds, each head dealing fire damage to enemies within its area of effect. Fireball, on the other hand, throws explosive fireballs at enemies.
It's important to note that to maximize Hydra Fireball build's effectiveness, you must unlock Fireball enchantment, which generates an additional fireball when you kill an enemy with any skill, dealing damage to even more enemies upon explosion.
This enchantment is the biggest reason this build surpasses other standard Hydra or Fireball builds, and it's also the main reason for its astonishing mob-clearing speed.
Skill Usage Strategy
Frankly, Hydra and Fireball are basically sufficient for this build. The principle for combining other skills is to maximize the effectiveness of key skills.
Generally, you should first use Hydra, then hold down Fireball key to ensure it remains active as long as Hydra count isn't at its maximum, thus consistently dealing enough fire damage to clear enemies.
If you want a damage multiplier increase, you can unlock Inferno. It's also a fire-summoning skill, but adding it isn't mandatory, so you can use other similar skills for higher output if desired.
Another recommended skill setup is to use Teleport. This skill puts you in an Unstoppable state, allowing you to dash to a target location and deal damage upon arrival.
While choosing Teleport means you need to constantly press it, it does significantly increase the build's speed, allowing you to reach the next enemy gathering point faster in Infernal Hordes, improving event completion efficiency.
Skill Tree Configuration
After adding skills, the next step is to configure the skill tree. First, you need to max out Fireball skill points, then increase mana for additional damage.
Next, you can decide whether to select Teleport based on your needs, and then max out Hydra for more critical strike damage. Also, don't forget Primordial Binding, which provides the following buffs:
- +2% Summon Damage
- +2% Movement Speed
- +4% Mana Regeneration
These buffs stack based on summons, adding one stack per summon, up to a maximum of 10 stacks.
Additionally, Sorcerers can use NaguCeh Runewords to summon a pack of wolves like Druids, then trigger a vulnerability effect and apply a freeze effect to enemies, dealing more damage to them.
What Are The Best Gear Options?
If you have the ability to acquire mythic items, we recommend equipping Heir of Perdition with the greater affix. Its main effects are as follows:
- + 200% Damage to Angels and Demons
- + 20% Critical Strike Chance
- + 20% Lucky Hit Chance
- + 20% Movement Speed
- + 2 to Core Skills
- + 60% Damage Output
If you have to settle for unique items, Crown of Lucion is the best choice, and it's best to take advantage of the season's advantages and equip Chaos Armor version. Its combat effects include:
- + 489-526 Maximum Life
- + 8.1-8.8% Cooldown Reduction
- + 7.0-8.0% Lucky Hit Chance
- + 40.0-50.0% Shadow Resistance
- When using skills that consume resources, increasing consumption increases damage output
After choosing your first gear based on your needs, you should then add Aspect of Shredding Blades, Banished Lord's Talisman, and Locran's Talisman. It's worth noting that, except for the gloves, it's best to choose Chaos Armor version for all other gear.
Best Chaos Perks
As one of the most popular mechanics in Season 10, Chaos Perks have given many builds a new lease on life this season. For Hydra Fireball Build, suitable perks include:
- Erupting Chaos: Chaotic Bursts randomly erupt and deal damage, adding a 4-second damage over time effect on top of the initial damage.
- Power Siphon: Increases core ability damage, but reduces maximum current resource consumption for 6 seconds.
- Erupting Chaos: Killing enemies grants stacks of Chaos, which unleash a powerful Chaos Burst to increase critical strike chance and damage.
- Brawn Over Brains: Significantly increases maximum health, healing received, and suppression damage, but reduces maximum resistances and armor damage reduction caps.
That concludes our overview. If you want to earn more loot in the upcoming week-long Compass to Carnage event, give this build a try!
