Diablo 2: The Brother (And Sister)hood of EoFF

[Nominus Experse]

What I would use:

HELM

Harlequin Crest Shako

Defense: 98-141 (varies)
Required Level: 62
Required Strength: 50
Durability: 12
+2 To All Skills
+ (1.5 Per Character Level) 1-148 To Life (Based On Character Level)
+ (1.5 Per Character Level) 1-148 To Mana (Based On Character Level)
Damage Reduced By 10%
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 To All Attributes

OR

Rare circlet with +10-20 FCR, +2/3 Fire/Sorc Skills

To get resists out of the Shako, Um it. The Shako is really quite hard to beat, and the only thing missing from it is the FCR mod.


WEAPON

Eschuta's Temper Eldritch Orb

One-Hand Damage: 18 To 50 (34 Avg)
Required Level: 72
Durability: 30
Base Weapon Speed: [-10]
(Sorceress Only)
+1-3 To Sorceress Skill Levels (varies)
+40% Faster Cast Rate
+10-20% To Fire Skill Damage (varies)
+10-20% To Lightning Skill Damage (varies)
+20-30 To Energy (varies)

If you find one with +3, 20%, 30, you're smurfing lucky, and a killing machine.

BELT

Arachnid Mesh Spiderweb Sash

Defense: 119-138 (varies)(Base Defense: 55-62)
Required Level: 80
Required Strength: 50
Durability: 12
16 Boxes
+90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies)
Slows Target By 10%
+1 To All Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
Increases Maximum Mana 5%
Level 3 Venom (11 Charges)

No contest.


Mara's Kaleidoscope Amulet

Required Level: 67
+2 To All Skills
All Resistances +20-30 (varies)
+5 To All Attributes

OR

Rare or Crafted Amulet with FCR, 10-20+% All Res, and +2/3 Fire/Sorc Skills

The only thing that Mara's is missing that can be found elsewhere is a FCR and a higher +skill mod. However, a Crafted or Rare amulet of that type is exceedingly difficult to find.


RINGS

Stone of Jordan Ring

Required Level: 29
+1 To All Skills
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
Adds 1-12 Lightning Damage
+20 To Mana

OR

Rare ring with FCR, Resists, etc...

As Tav pointed out, Sorcs do not generally need life. You will benefit more from increased Mana than Life. The Shako gives you more Life than a BK ring does anyways.

A Rare ring with FCR may mean more damage, since you'll get in more spells of perhaps lesser damage than a slower cast rate of higher damage spells.

But the choice is yours. You don't need to hit the 200% breakpoint, but it's a lovely thing when you do.


SHIELD

Spirit

+2 To All Skills
+25-35% Faster Cast Rate (varies)
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+250 Defense Vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana (varies)
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
+3-8 Magic Absorb (varies)
Attacker Takes Damage of 14

You need one with +35% FCR. NEED.


ARMOUR

Chains of Honour

+2 To All Skills
+200% Damage To Demons
+100% Damage To Undead
8% Life Stolen Per Hit
+70% Enhanced Defense
+20 To Strength
Replenish Life +7
All Resistances +65
Damage Reduced By 8%
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

OR

Ormus' Robes Dusk Shroud

Defense: 371-487 (varies)(Base Defense: 361-467)
Required Level: 75
Required Strength: 77
Durability: 20
+10-20 Defense (varies)
+20% Faster Cast Rate
+10-15% To Cold Skill Damage (varies)
+10-15% To Fire Skill Damage (varies)
+10-15% To Lightning Skill Damage (varies)
+3 bonus to a random Sorceress skill (Sorceress Only)*
Regenerate Mana 10-15% (varies)

OR

Skin of the Vipermagi Serpentskin Armor

+120% Enhanced Defense
+1 To All Skills
30% Faster Cast Rate
Magic Damage Reduced By 9-13 (varies)
All Resistances +20-35 (varies)

Ormus' Robes is better than CoH, but only if it has the correct attributes, which is completely variable and up to an insane amount of chance. CoH is much more secure, offers more defense and resists, and is not given to random skills and variables.

Skin of the Vipermagi is a nice armour for sorcs if they are poor, or can afford sacrificing skills and defense for FCR.

BOOTS

Whatever is needed to cover your weak spots (resists, Life, Mana, etc)

The only boots with FCR and resists are... well, they are only rare drops, and they are only fairy tales in all reality.


GLOVES

Magefist Light Gauntlets

Defense: 24-25 (varies)(Base Defense: 9-11)
Required Level: 23
Required Strength: 45
Durability: 18
+20-30% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+10 Defense
+1 To Fire Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
Regenerate Mana 25%
Adds 1-6 Fire Damage

Alternatively, a rare set of gloves with +2 Sorc/Fire skills, FCR would be best, but again, such rare items are nigh impossible to find.

At least with this pair of gloves, it's always going to grant you bonuses that you - being a Fire Sorc - can definitely use.

The only thing it's missing is resists/life/defense.


Any Vita/Serpent's Charms, FHR small charms, Shimmering charms, Fire Skillers, etc..


SWITCH

Call to Arms and a Spirit Shield

5 Socket Melee Weapons (Use a flail) *Thanks Tav

+1 To All Skills
+40% Increased Attack Speed
+250-290% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+2-6 To Battle Command (varies)
+1-6 To Battle Orders (varies)
+1-4 To Battle Cry (varies)
Prevent Monster Heal
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

This makes living in Hell much, much easier, as it grants you and your merc a very large increase in Life and Mana.

Use a crap/any Spirit with the CtA, as you only want the Spirit for the +2 All Skills bonus.

MERC

Infinity/Insight
Fort/CoH
Dream/Delirium/Andy's/Vampire Gaze
Freeze Aura (Nightmare - Defensive)

You need crowd control. Slowing enemies down with a Holy Freeze aura and having a chance to cast Confuse/Mindblast is one of the best methods of doing so. Additionally, having a pulsing damage aura will cause the enemy to initially engage the merc, not you.



With this list, you could end up with quite a number of skills and bonuses to various attributes, but you haven't hit the high FHR or FCR breakpoint. However, you do have a lot of skills, and plenty of resists to survive almost without worry.

But this is only my opinion. I hope it helps.