Wizard Lightning Archon Build With Manald Heal and Tal Rasha/Vyr Sets
Welcome to our build guide for Lightning Archon Wizard in Diablo 3. Here, you will learn everything you need to know to play this build at the highest level. This build is updated for patch 2.6.4 and Season 16.
General InformationFor more information regarding followers, we advise you to read our follower guide, which contains detailed advice on choosing the skills and the gear of your companion.
1. Introduction
Gradually emerging from several targeted buffs and reworks over the course of Patch 2.4's lifecycle, the Lightning Archon build finally takes an endgame form. This long range, high skillcap build is provided in a Speed Farming, a Greater Rift solo progression and a Greater Rift Group progression variations, explained in that order.
2. Video Guide
The following video guide was created to accompany the present written guide and demonstrate how to play the build in-game.
3. Quick Reference
3.1. Skill Setup
The basic farming skill setup of the Tal Vyr Lightning Archon is displayed below. Read the dedicated Skills page for detailed information on choices, alternatives and build customization.
4. Builds
Active Skills |
---|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Passive Skills |
Active Skills |
---|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Passive Skills |
Active Skills |
---|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Passive Skills |
4.1. Gear Setup
The required gear setup for the Tal Vyr Lightning Archon is listed below. Check the Gear page for detailed information on choices, alternatives, gemming, Kanai's Cube and Paragon distribution. It also includes detailed explanations for Season 16 adjustments.
- Helm:
Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom or
Vyr's Sightless Skull
- Shoulders:
Vyr's Proud Pauldrons
- Gloves:
Tal Rasha's Grasp or
Vyr's Grasping Gauntlets
- Chest:
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit or
Vyr's Astonishing Aura
- Belt:
Fazula's Improbable Chain
- Pants:
Tal Rasha's Stride or
Vyr's Fantastic Finery
- Boots:
Vyr's Swaggering Stance
- Bracers:
Nemesis Bracers
- Amulet:
Tal Rasha's Allegiance
- Ring 1:
Ring of Royal Grandeur (or
Halo of Karini in Season 16)
- Ring 2:
Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac
- Weapon:
Starfire
- Offhand:
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
4.2. Legendary Gems
- Legendary Gem 1:
Zei's Stone of Vengeance
- Legendary Gem 2:
Bane of the Trapped
- Legendary Gem 3:
Gogok of Swiftness
4.3. Kanai's Cube
- Weapon Slot:
In-geom
- Armor Slot:
The Swami
- Jewelry Slot:
Manald Heal
5. Role in the Current Meta
This build is ranked as a High Tier solo pushing build for its class in the current Season. If high leaderboard position without strict adherence to the meta is attractive to you, consider using this build.
This is a versatile build, able to handle all three major activities in the game (Greater Rifts, Normal Rifts and Bounties) with the adjustments outlined in this guide. With proper adaptation outlined on the Group variant page, it is also recommended as a DPS option in groups.
6. Changelog
- 18 Jan. 2019 (gear page): Added suggestions for the baseline Ring of Royal Grandeur for Seasonal characters.
- 18 Jan. 2019 (skills page): Information was reviewed and approved for Season 16 with no changes required.
- 18 Jan. 2019 (this page): Guide was revised with additional recommendations for Season 16.
- 20 Sep. 2018 (this page): Guide was reviewed and approved for Season 15.
- 14 Jun. 2018 (this page): Guide was reviewed and approved for Season 14.
- 27 Oct. 2017 (this page): No changes necessary for Patch 2.6.1.
- 27 Jun. 2017 (this page): Guide updated for 2.6 and moved to new format.
More Wizard Guides
Builds from Other Classes
Farming Guides
This build is presented to you by Deadset, one of the very few professional Diablo 3 players. Deadset regularly publishes video guides on Youtube and streams on Twitch, where you can see how this and other builds play out in practice.

- Activision Blizzard Q4 2018 Earnings Call & Layoffs
- Activision Blizzard Layoffs to Be Announced Soon?
- Icy Veins Podcast Episode #35
- Icy Veins Podcast Episode #34
- Deadset's Guide Compendium for Season 16 / Patch 2.6.4
- Four New Collectible Blizzard Books Coming This Fall
- 2.6.4 Is Now Live + Patch Notes
- Icy Veins Podcast Episode 33


- Soul Harvest Witch Doctor (Patch 2.6.4)
- Necromancer Pestilence Set Dungeon
- Zunimassa and williken's fetish army
- WoL Monk (Patch 2.6.4)
- Why no Litany of the Undaunted Builds? (patch 2.6.4)
- Thorns Crusader (Patch 2.6.4)
- Above Paragon level 397 (when you have 50 Core points), is Movement Speed on boots always sub-optimal?
- Meteor Wizard (Patch 2.6.4)
