There are many endgame setups in Diablo 2: Resurrected, and with the Sundering Charms added in Ladder Season 2, some of the builds have shifted. More unique builds have become possible, while some builds remained strong or have become even stronger. Here is the endgame for the Frost Nova Sorceress.

Frost Nova Build

Basically, the Frost Nova build requires at least 92 skill points, so you’ll be done by Lv. 80. However, it’s not over, as you’ll need to distribute additional skill points on Cold Mastery depending on how many additional skills you have from your equipment. If you’ve made -195% to enemy cold resistance, use your remaining skill points on Energy Shield or Warmth. The reason you master Telekinesis is that it’s a valuable synergy skill for the Energy Shield.

Energy Shield is a unique skill in Diablo 2. When the Energy Shield is activated, all damage is filtered through your mana. Some damage will be absorbed, and only a portion of the damage will affect your health. This is a great advantage for the Sorceress as she isn’t as tanky as other characters, but the biggest advantage of the Energy Shield is that you don’t need to think about all the resist stats. The only resist stat that matters is Poison Resist, which drains your HP slowly.

Equipment

Helm: Nightwing’s Veil / Harlequin Crest

Weapon: Death Fathom / Heart of the Oak (KoVexPulThul) / Doom (HelOhmLumLoCham)

Shield: Spirit (TalThulOrtAmn)

Armor: Chains of Honor (DolUmBerIst) / Skin of the Vipermagi / Ormus’ Robe

Gloves: Magefist / Trang-Oul’s Claws / Frostburn

Belt: Arachnid Mesh / Snowclash

Boots: War Traveler / Rare resist boots w/ poison length reduction

Amulet: Mara’s Kaleidoscope / Magic +3 Cold skill+FCR(+10%) amulet / Crafted FCR(+20%) +2 skill amulet

Rings: Stone of Jordan / Bul-Kathos’ Wedding Band / Rare FCR ring

Swap: Call to Arms (AmnRalMalIstOhm) & Spirit (TalThulOrtAmn)

Cold spell Sorceresses share the same equipment build, as their goal is to maximize the damage of their spells. As the Cold Mastery skill reduces enemy cold resistances, it goes perfectly with the Sundered Charm: Cold Rupture. Due to Cold Mastery and Cold Rupture, the build is powerful even without the aforementioned equipment, but it is quite expensive to set up the endgame builds as the items’ supply doesn’t meet the demand.

The main attribute for cold Sorceresses is +x% to cold skill damage. That being said, the key equipment is the Nightwing’s Veil and the Death Fathom. Death Fathom raises the damage of cold skills by 15-30%, and Nightwing’s Veil raises cold damage by 8-15%. Ormus’ Robe grants 10-15% cold skill damage and has +3 to a random Sorceress spell. If you can find one with Frost Nova, it will give you a good boost. Also, you should insert Rainbow Facet jewels that grant additional cold skill damage and cold resistance reduction in all sockets possible.

Sorceresses need to reach the breakpoint of 105% FCR for their spells. Unlike Blizzard or Frozen Orb, Frost Nova is affected by FCR. It is recommended to have at least 105%, but if you are happy with the 9-frame casting, you can add more diversity to your equipment build, as 63% is an easy breakpoint to breach. 

Also, as the Frost Nova build uses Energy Shield, you don’t need to think about all resists. Just keep your Poison Resist to a good level. If you can find boots with a decent poison resist and poison length reduction, that will be the best.

Stats

All stats should go to Energy as long as you can wear all the equipment. Since you’ll need to equip the Spirit Monarch on your off-hand, you’ll need 156 Strength, including all the additional stats from Hellfire Torch, Annihilus, and other equipment. You can invest some stats on Vitality for more stability, but keep it to a minimum.

Mercenaries

Act 2 Holy Freeze / Prayer

Helm: Andariel’s Visage / Tal Rasha’s Horadric Crest / Vampire Gaze / Crown of Thieves

Armor: Fortitude (ElSolDolLo) / Treachery (ShaelThulLem) / Gloom (FalUmPul)

Weapon: Insight (RalTirTalSol on Polearm)

*Since the durability of the equipment mercenaries use doesn’t wear out, you always want to use Ethereal equipment on your mercenaries.

Since you have Cold Mastery, you won’t need to use Infinity on your mercenaries, so you’ll want to equip Insight. Insight grants Lv. 12-17 Meditation, which will be your supply of mana. Find a good elite ethereal polearm to work your Insight.

There are several choices for the helms and armors, but Andariel’s Visage and Fortitude should always be your no.1 choice. The additional attack speed and life steal from Andariel’s Visage, and the enhanced damage from Fortitude is too big to ignore. Make sure you make a socket on Andariel’s Visage to equip a Ral rune or a jewel with +30% fire resist and 15% attack speed to make up for the -30% fire resist.