Incinerate Sorcerer Endgame Build Guide for Diablo 4 (Season 4) - Icy Veins (2024)

Build Introduction

The Incinerate Sorcerer build features an easy playstyle with minimum requirements, making it the perfect starter build for new players. Incinerate pierces through all enemies to kill entire packs, while Flamethrower’s Aspect shotguns tougher elites and bosses with 3 beams at once. This build is highly recommended to start Season 4 of Diablo 4!

The only starting requirement for this endgame build guide is a character around Level 50 in World Tier 3. Use the leveling guide for the Incinerate Sorcerer to start a new character.

Strengths and Weaknesses

To see how this build compares to the other builds on our site, you can check out our build tier lists.

Skill Tree Points and Skill Bar

The Skill Tree above shows the full allocation of 58 Skill Points for the Incinerate Sorceress build. Make sure you obtain the 10 Skill Points available from Renown.

Enchantment Slots

Non-Ultimate Skills can be equipped in two available Enchantment Slots. A skill must have at least one skill point allocated to it in order to be used in the Enchantment Slot. Skill points that have been granted through gear work as well.

Slot Fireball in the first Enchantment Slot for explosions to help against groups of enemies.

Slot Teleport in the second Enchantment Slot to enable an Evade Teleport. Follow the Telestomp setup to further increase mobility to efficiently speed-farm content.

Paragon Board

Paragon unlocks after reaching Level 50, and the progression system offers a considerable boost to character power. The images below provide a visual of each Paragon Board setup for the Incinerate Sorcerer.

Important Notes:

• Make sure you select the correct Legendary Boards and rotate them into the correct orientation.
• Attach Legendary Boards in the correct order, as bonus requirements of Rare Nodes increase with their placement order.
• Additional bonus requirements on Rare Glyphs may not be obtainable until they gain increased radius range at Level 15.

1. Starting Board (Territorial)

Socket Territorial in the starting board for some valuable Damage Reduction.

2. Burning Instinct (Reinforced)

Attach the Burning Instinct board without any rotations. Socket Reinforced for another source of valuable Damage Reduction. Tactician is another viable choice if you prefer a damage multiplier. Obtain the Legendary Node to enable a Burning damage multiplier that scales with Critical Strike Damage and Intelligence.

3. Searing Heat (Destruction)

Rotate the Searing Heat board 2 times before attachment. Socket Destruction for increased Critical Strike Damage to scale the bonus damage multiplier on Burning Instinct. The Legendary node on this board is not utilized.

4. Elemental Summoner (Control)

Rotate the Elemental Summoner board 1 time before attachment. Socket Control and prioritize leveling it to 15 to obtain the additional bonus. The Legendary Node on this board is not utilized.

5. Enchantment Master (Torch)

Rotate the Enchantment Master board 1 time before attachment. Socket Torch for 2 sources of increased Burning damage The Legendary node on this board is not utilized.

Paragon Board images courtesy of d4builds.gg. Click this link for the Paragon planner.

Gear, Gems, Elixirs, and Stats

Season 4 brings an incredible shift in character progression systems. The major rework to itemization and crafting in Patch 1.4.0 changes the core mechanics of Diablo 4, and the changes will remain in effect beyond Season 4. For further details, read the overview in the Tempering and Masterworking section.

Legendary Aspects

Listed below are all the best-in-slot Aspects for the Incinerate Sorcerer build. Salvage Legendary Items with higher Aspect values to unlock them in the Codex of Power, and then imprint them onto Legendary Items with the preferred affixes.

Gems

Listed below are the best Gems to socket into gear for each item type.

Elixirs

Visit the Alchemist in any main town to craft helpful Elixirs that increase stats and experience gain for 30 minutes. Make sure to forage plants and pick up the necessary crafting materials during your adventures; they randomly spawn around the world. Elixirs can also drop randomly from enemies and chests during many activities in Diablo 4. Listed below are the best Elixirs to consume, ranked by importance.

1. Elixir of Resource helps with Mana issues, if you do not already have the appropriate Mana gear. This elixir is highly recommended for starting characters to maintain constant channeling of Incinerate.
2. Elixir of Fortitude is the best general purpose option for survivability. Increased Maximum Life grants larger Barriers from Protection and Ice Armor.
3. Elixir of Iron Barbs can provide a high amount of Physical Damage Reduction. Armor becomes more effective as you approach the Armor cap (9,320 against monster level 100 and above).
4. Specific Resistance Elixirs can be utilized to survive against Uber Bosses with elemental attacks.

Return to the Alchemist again when you reach Level 20, 30, 45, 60, 70, 80 and 90, to upgrade your potion. The extra healing is essential to survival.

Stat Priority and Tempering Affixes

Listed below are the affixes to prioritize on gear for Incinerate Sorcerers. Each line of affixes is listed in order of importance. Affixes on the same line are considered to be equally important, but their benefits may vary depending on how much is stacked or other character stats. Bolded affixes are the most important targets for Masterworking upgrades.

When comparing weapons of similar item levels, One-Handed Weapons are preferred over Two-Handed Weapons, as a Focus provides more beneficial utility affixes. A Wand is preferred over a Dagger for the Lucky Hit Chance implicit stat.

Critical Strike Damage is beneficial due to it increasing the bonus multiplier on Burning Instinct.

The priority order of Resistances is Lightning > Poison > Fire > Cold > Shadow. Maximum Resistance is 70% by default for each element and can be increased to 85% by various sources.

If you are using a speed setup with Teleport Enchantment, temper the Evade Cooldown Reduction affix from the Natural Motion Manual onto your Boots and Amulet. Otherwise, temper the Movement Speed or Teleport Cooldown Reduction affixes.

Check the Tempering and Masterworking section for more details on Blacksmith upgrading.

Rotation and Playstyle

Optimize DPS with the following rotation.

1. If you have Raiment of the Infinite, teleport on enemies to group and stun them.
2. Cast Frost Nova to Freeze and apply Vulnerable to groups of enemies. Alternate casts of Frost Nova and Ice Blades to maintain Vulnerable against Bosses.
3. Channel Incinerate as long as possible to ramp up damage.
4. Cast Flame Shield or Ice Armor for protection and Unstoppable when needed.

Unique Items

Listed below are the recommended and optional Unique Items for the Incinerate Sorcerer build. Each item description includes the most important affix to target for Masterworking upgrades. Check the Uber Unique Farming guide for information on target-farming them.

• Raiment of the Infinite (highly recommended) enables the Telestomp playstyle to group and Stun enemies.
  • Masterworking Priority: Ranks of the Glass Cannon Passive
• Tal Rasha’s Iridescent Loop (recommended) can provide up to a 45% damage multiplier with 3 elemental stacks.
  • Masterworking Priority: Cooldown Reduction
• Ring of Starless Skies (recommended) is the best Uber Unique Item for the Incinerate Sorcerer. The unique effect provides a 40% damage multiplier and solves any Mana issues.
  • Masterworking Priority: Critical Strike Chance
• Harlequin Crest (recommended) provides additional Ranks to Incinerate, Ranks to All Defensive Skills, and 20% Damage Reduction, if you are lucky enough to find this Uber Unique Item.
  • Masterworking Priority: Cooldown Reduction
• Tibault’s Will (recommended) provides a damage multiplier effect and a Damage Reduction from Close Enemies affix that is not usually obtainable in the Pants slot, in addition to Mana generation. Alternate activations of the damage buff with Teleport, Flame Shield, and Ice Armor (with Snowveiled Aspect).
  • Masterworking Priority: Damage Reduction from Close Enemies

Season 4: Loot Reborn

The following list details the changes in the Season 4 Update (Patch 1.4.0) that may pertain to Incinerate Sorcerers. Check the Changelog for all the other guide updates.

• Mastery Skills are now also considered Core Skills.
• Tal Rasha’s Iridescent Loop
  • Maximum stacks now capped at four.
  • All Resistance variants increased from 8%/3% to 10%/4%.
• Tibault’s Will
  • Damage increase while Unstoppable reduced from 20-40% to 10-20%.
  • Damage increase persists for 1 second longer after being Unstoppable.
• Incinerate
  • New Functionality: Gain 15% baseline Damage Reduction while channeling.
  • Damage increased by 10% (.76 to .84).
• Ice Armor
  • Enhanced Ice Armor
    • Mana Regeneration increased from 25% to 30%.
  • Shimmering Ice Armor
    • Previous – Enemies that hit you while Ice Armor is active have a 15% chance to become Frozen for 3.23 seconds.
    • Now – While Ice Armor is active, you reduce its Cooldown by 1 second for every 50 Mana you spend.
  • Mystical Ice Armor
    • Previous – Damage against Vulnerable enemies contributes 50% more to Ice Armor’s Barrier.
    • Now – While Ice Armor is active, you periodically Chill Close enemies for 20% and deal 15% increased damage to Frozen enemies.
• Shimmering Frost Nova
  • Previous – Frost Nova generates 4 Mana per enemy hit.
  • Now – Frost Nova grants 3% Dodge Chance per enemy hit, up to 15%. Hitting a Boss gives the maximum amount. For the next 8 seconds, you keep this effect, and successful Dodges generate 20 Mana.
• Flame Shield
  • Enhanced Flame Shield
    • Previous – Flame Shield grants 25% increased Movement Speed while active.
    • Now – Flame Shield has a 50% larger burn radius.
  • Mystical Flame Shield
    • Previous – You gain 25% Mana Cost Reduction while Flame Shield is active.
    • Now – After Flame Shield ends, surrounding enemies are Stunned for 3 seconds and your next Skill within 10 seconds is a guaranteed Critical Strike.
• Teleport
  • Enhanced Teleport
    • Previous – Teleport’s Cooldown is decreased by 0.5 seconds per enemy hit, up to 3 seconds.
    • Now – You gain 30% Movement Speed for 3 seconds after Teleporting.
  • Mystical Teleport
    • Previous – For 4 seconds after Teleporting, Crackling Energy hits 2 additional enemies.
    • Now – Teleport deals 500% increased damage. It also forms a Crackling Energy for each enemy it hits, up to 3.
• Elemental Attunement
  • Cooldown reset chance increased from 5% to 7%.
• Mana Shield
  • Damage Reduction increased from 7% to 8%.
• Devouring Blaze
  • Crowd Controlled enemies now provide the damage bonus instead of Immobilized.
• Elemental Dominance
  • Damage increased from 3% to 4%.
• Flamethrower’s Aspect
  • Incinerate splits into 3 beams, each dealing 70-85% of normal damage.
• Aspect of Conflagration
  • Previous – While channeling Incinerate, your Burning damage is increased by 25-40%.
  • Now – While channeling Incinerate, your Burning damage is increased by 25-40%. Enemies hit by Incinerate explode, Burning all surrounding enemies for over 6 seconds. This effect occurs once per 3 seconds.
• Hectic Aspect
  • Cooldown Reduction reduced from 2-4 seconds to 1-2 seconds.
• Aspect of Disobedience
  • Armor stacks no longer fall off independently. They now refresh or reset at the same time.
  • Armor gain changed to 25-40%.
• Aspect of the Bounding Conduit
  • Previous – Gain 15-30% Movement Speed for 3 seconds after Teleporting.
  • Now – Teleport’s Cooldown is reduced by 1.0-2.5 seconds. After Teleporting, Crackling Energy hits 2 additional enemies for 5 seconds.
• Tactician
  • New Functionality: Now lasts 4 seconds longer for each Defensive Skill not on your Action Bar.

Advanced Information

Additional details are provided in the following sections for a more in-depth explanation of the Incinerate Sorcerer. Read this advanced information after understanding the basic overview of the build in the previous sections.

Build Mechanics

Incinerate deals high Fire Damage Over Time by Burning enemies with a beam that ramps up damage over 2 seconds. The piercing beam makes it easy to clear groups of enemies that are lined up. Flamethrower’s Aspect is important to enable the Incinerate Sorcerer to deal high single-target damage against bosses. All 3 beams can shotgun an individual target, outputting some of the highest damage possible for a Sorcerer in the early stages of the game.

Vulnerable status is applied to groups of enemies with Mystical Frost Nova, while Ice Blades is used against bosses for more uptime. Ice Blades deals Cold damage to grant a third buff stack from Tal Rasha’s Iridescent Loop.

Critical Strike Damage is applied to Burning Damage with Burning Instinct from Paragon. This allows us to benefit from Critical Strike Damage on gear.

Telestomp with Raiment of the Infinite

Raiment of the Infinite allows the Incinerate Sorcerer to use 2 sources of Teleport offensively. Teleporting on top of enemies to Stun and group them up is called “Telestomping”. This playstyle can quickly clear groups of enemies and keep them Crowd Controlled (CC) for safety, perfect for speed-farming Helltides, Nightmare Dungeons, and The Pit!

Use the following setup for the Telestomp Sorcerer.

• Equip Raiment of the Infinite to enable Telestomps. Target-farm Raiment of the Infinite from Varshan or Lord Zir for the best chances of it dropping.
• Slot Teleport into an Enchantment Slot.
• Equip Boots with the implicit effect, Attacks Reduce Evade’s Cooldown, which work with the Evade Teleport.

Tempering and Masterworking

The Season 4 update (Patch 1.4.0) introduces a rework for itemization. Tempering and Masterworking brings the biggest change to itemization since the release of Diablo 4, so make sure you understand the new systems explained in this section.

The amount of affixes on items has been changed to reflect its rarity: Normal Items have no affixes, Magic Items have 1 affix, Rare Items have 2 affixes, Legendary Items have 3 affixes, and Unique Items have 4 affixes. Upgrading a Rare Item to a Legendary Item by imprinting a Legendary Aspect from the Codex of Power will not add a third affix. Therefore, Legendary Items are superior to lower rarity items for a min-maxed character.

Greater Affixes are a newly added mechanic that increases the value of an affix by 50%. Ancestral Legendary Items and Unique Items can now drop with up to 4 Greater Affixes! Search for items with your preferred Greater Affixes to upgrade with Tempering and Masterworking.

Tempering and Masterworking is an important system, even mandatory in the endgame, for character progression. You are able to add 2 additional affixes on any Rare Item or Legendary Item, exclusive to the Tempering System. An Ancestral Legendary Item can have up to 5 total affixes! Unfortunately, Unique Items cannot be tempered to add affixes.

Masterworking uses new crafting materials found in The Pit to further enhance the stats of an item. These upgrades can be applied on an Ancestral Legendary Item that has its Tempering Slots filled out. Unique Items can be upgraded with Masterworking right away, as tempering does not apply to them. Each item has 12 upgrade slots. On upgrade Ranks 4, 8, and 12, a random affix is increased in value by 25%. Every other upgrade Rank applies a 5% increase to all affixes on an item. Attempt to apply the bonus 25% upgrade to your preferred affix multiple times by resetting the Masterworking Ranks to repeat the process.

Obol Gambling

Obol gambling is a great way to potentially find item upgrades or items missing from your build. Use Obols on your target equipment for a chance to receive Greater Affixes. Check out the new tool from Icy Veins for gambling Obols in the link below.

Changelog

• May 19th, 2024: Slight adjustments made to improve Paragon setup.
• May 18th, 2024: Guide created for Season 4 (Patch 1.4.0).