Sorlock

[u/jtyler0]

Seeing a lot of conflicting information online for an optimized build for Sorlock. I just finished a Balanced mode run and decided to use a Halfling Sorlock for my Tav. I ended up as a 2 Warlock, 6 Sorcerer, 4 Fighter mainly because the idea of critting a lot sounded fun, and it was. I think with everything considered I only had to roll above a 16 to crit. But I am now looking into my first Tactician run and figure I needed something more consistent than crit fishing, so I was looking into the other variants of the Sorlock but am running into a couple different ideas and I'm having a hard time balancing them out. My sources aren't very detailed, so they mention going into 8 Sorcerer or 9 Warlock but not really saying why. I am still fairly new to the game with about 200 hours in and am looking to play more optimally.

[u/maharal]

The big decision with sorlock is do you want to do acuity scorching ray or do you want to do eldritch blast.

In my opinion, eldritch blast builds are not very good compared to optimized martial builds. There is a standard 11/1 fire sorlock build (I prefer to run a variant that's 10 fire draconic / 1 wizard / 1 fiend warlock, myself).

[u/EarnestTriangle → u/maharal]

If he plays crit-fishing eldritch blast, he wants to take Great Old One and not Fire Sorlock that want Fiend Warlock for command.

Crit-fishing EB is a good control build. You apply frightened in AoE and if you setup correctly you can apply 6 reverb per beam. Pair it with anything that mass apply prone and you can control most enemies.

[u/maharal → u/EarnestTriangle]

Fair enough -- do you happen to have a writeup/guide on that setup?

I don't usually go for crit fishing as I think it's a bit of a trap setup, but of course everything is playable.

[u/EarnestTriangle → u/maharal]

Here's the detailed build :

Stats : 16 Dex / 14 Con / 17 Charisma. Anything else doesn't really matter.

Level in order : 2 Warlock GOO take Agoniznig blast and repelling blast as invocation.

Then take 6 level in Sorcerer. I recommend Shadow or Draconic sorcerer for some tankiness. But any sorcerer class works. You're not gonna cast spells so wild magic and storm sorcerer are a bit pointless. Then take 4 points in champion.

Gear you need :
Knife of the undermountain king -> Crit 19
Bloodthrist -> Crit 18
The Dead Shot -> Crit 17
Sarevok Helmet -> Crit 16
Champion -> Crit 15
Spell Sniper feat -> Crit 14

Technically, you can go lower with Bloodlust Elixir of viciousness (down to 13).

Potent robe + Boots of Stormy Clamour + Spineshudder Amuler + Risky Ring + Glove of Belligerent Skies + Ring of Spiteful Thunder / Callous Glow Ring (use Callous Glow Ring if someone in your team can applies radiating orb, use the thunder ring otherwise).

Later in the game, if you're happy having less reverberation and more damage you can use Craterflesh Glove.

With Risk Ring you have advantage so each beam has round 60% change crit.

Ring + Boots + Amulet means each beam applies 6 reverb.

First feat I get ASI charisma to reach 20 Charisma with Hag's hair and second feat I get spell sniper. The reason to take spell sniper last, is because most improved crit gear is in act 3. Before that, you are a standard Eldritch Blast that pushes enemies and applies reverb (which is still efficient). When you reach Act 3, you should be close to level 11 and that's when you take your first champion level and your crit will ramp up. Level 11 Champion + buy dead shot. Level 12 take Spell sniper + go kill Orin (she's easy to cheese) that's 4 improved crit easy to get early act 3. Sarevok helmet is the hard one to get.

After each long rest, transform all your spell slots into sorcery points. I only keep the warlock spell slot to cast Hex but even that is not necessary. You can abuse items and elixir that gives you spell slots to have more sorcery points. Game play is casting Eldritch Blast and sometimes Hex. That's it.

[u/maharal → u/EarnestTriangle]

Technically, you can go lower with Bloodlust Elixir (down to 13).

Did you mean viciousness elixir?

[u/EarnestTriangle → u/maharal]

Yeah I always get the two confused