Build Introduction
The Incinerate Sorcerer leveling build roasts foes with a penetrating beam of burning fire. 
Incinerate excels at clearing groups of enemies when lined up, and it can be channeled to ramp up devasting damage against bosses.
Check the Sorcerer Leveling Guide Overview for a comparison of all the starter builds on Icy Veins.
Once your Sorcerer character reaches Level 60, switch to the Endgame Guide for the Incinerate Sorcerer to continue this build.
Quick Navigation
Want to skip ahead? Use the table below to jump to sections.
Allocation of Skill Points
The following table shows the order in which to allocate your Skill Points while leveling with the Incinerate Sorcerer build. You gain 59 points at Level 60 and 12 points from Renown, for a total of 71.
Skill Bar and Skill Tree Points
Incinerate
Fire Bolt
Inferno
Familiar
Frost Nova
TeleportIf you are unsure on how to use these Skills, read the Build Mechanics section after setting up your Skill Bar.
Wondering what comes after Level 60 or which Paragon boards to pick? Head to the Sorcerer Builds page and choose an endgame build to continue your character progression.
Sorcerer Class Mechanic — Enchantments
The Specialization of the Sorcerer can be unlocked at Level 15. Complete the Legacy of the Magi questline as soon as possible to gain access to your first Enchantment Slot, and then assign 
Fireball for group clearing. Once you unlock the second slot at Level 30, assign Incinerate to it.
Gear, Stats, Gems, and Runes
The following sections cover the important systems that are essential to improving the power of your character during the leveling process. Higher Item Power generally indicates stronger gear, but you should also consider the affixes and effects that are relevant to your class and build.
Legendary Aspects
Aspect of Conflagration is the most beneficial Offensive Aspect while leveling an Incinerate Sorcerer. Unlock the Aspect in the Codex of Power by completing the Light’s Watch dungeon in Fractured Peaks. This dungeon is near the first main town of Kyovashad, so clear it as soon as possible. Afterwards, visit the Occultist to imprint Aspect of Conflagration onto a Rare Item. An Amulet is recommended for imprinting important Aspects for a +50% bonus effect, and it doesn’t need to be replaced as often as weapons.
Higher Tier Aspects with more potent effects can be found on dropped Legendary Items. Salvage unwanted Legendary Items at the Blacksmith to unlock these Aspects in the Codex of Power, and then imprint them onto well-rolled Rare or Legendary Items. Check the in-depth Aspect and Codex of Power guide for more information.
Aspect of Elemental Constellation is the most beneficial aspect that can be found on Legendary Item drops. If you are lucky enough to find the aspect with a decently rolled value, imprint it onto a Staff to double the dagger damage.
Listed below are the Aspects found on Legendary Items that are beneficial for the build while leveling, in order of importance. Check the endgame guide for the Incinerate Sorcerer for the best-in-slot Aspect setup.
| Aspect Name | Legendary Aspect Power | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect of Elemental Constellation | Casting Pyromancy, Shock, and Frost Skills conjures a matching Elemental Dagger around you that pierces through enemies dealing [X] damage after 3 seconds. The damage increases by 100% per matching elemental skill you cast. | Random Drop |
| Flamethrower’s Aspect | Incinerate splits into 3 beams, each dealing [70 – 85%] of normal damage. | Random Drop |
| Aspect of Engulfing Flames | You deal x6% increased Burning damage to enemies for each second they remain Burning, up to x30% after 5 seconds. Additionally, you deal x [10 – 30%] increased Burning damage to enemies that are not Healthy. | Random Drop |
| Aspect of Conflagration | While channeling Incinerate, your Burning damage is increased by x [25 – 40%]. Enemies hit by Incinerate explode, Burning all surrounding enemies for [X] over 3 seconds. This effect occurs once per 4 seconds. | Light’s Watch, Fractured Peaks |
| Aspect of Creeping Death | You deal x [5 – 20%] increased damage over time to enemies for each different Crowd Control effect they’re afflicted by. Unstoppable enemies and Staggered Bosses take x [10 – 40%] increased damage over time from you instead. | Random Drop |
| Edgemaster’s Aspect | Skills deal up to [10 – 20%] increased damage based on your available Primary Resource when cast, receiving the maximum benefit while you have full Primary Resource. | Oldstones, Scosglen |
| Conceited Aspect | Deal [15 – 25%] increased damage while you have a Barrier active. | Random Drop |
| Storm Swell Aspect | You deal x [15 – 35%] increased damage while Ice Armor is active. This amount is increased by another 15% against Frozen enemies. | Onyx Hold, Dry Steppes |
| Aspect of Control | You deal [20 – 35%] more damage to Immobilized, Stunned, or Frozen enemies. | Sunken Library, Kehjistan |
| Aspect of the Expectant | Attacking enemies with a Basic Skill increases the damage of your next Core Skill cast by [5 – 10%], up to 30%. | Underroot, Scosglen |
| Rapid Aspect | Basic Skills gain [15 – 30%] Attack Speed. | Buried Halls, Dry Steppes |
 Aspect of Might | Basic Skills grant 20% Damage Reduction for [2.0 – 6.0] seconds. | Dark Ravine, Dry Steppes |
 Aspect of the Bounding Conduit | Gain [25 – 30%] Movement Speed for 3 seconds after Teleporting. | Komdor Temple, Dry Steppes |
Stat Priority and Tempering Affixes
Listed below are the affixes to prioritize on gear for Incinerate Sorcerers during the early leveling process, ranked by importance. Affixes on the same line have equal value, so attempt to obtain all affixes in each line before moving on to the next.
When comparing weapons with similar item levels, Two-Handed Staves are preferred over One-Handed Weapons for higher damage while leveling.
Critical Strike Damage becomes beneficial once you obtain 
Burning Instinct in Paragon.
The most beneficial tempering affixes while leveling are included below. The best-in-slot tempering affixes are available in the Endgame Guide for the Incinerate Sorcerer. Check the Tempering Guide for more information on this system.
| Slot | Gear Affixes | Tempering Affixes |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | 1. Damage Over Damage 2. Maximum Life, Dexterity | 1.  Pyromancy Augments — Fiery (Weapon): Chance for Incinerate to do Double Damage2. Pyromancy Finesse (Offensive): Fire Damage or your highest available damage increase temper |
| Focus (optional) | 1. Cooldown Reduction, Resource Cost Reduction 2. Maximum Life, Intelligence | 1. Pyromancy Augments — Fiery (Weapon): Chance for Incinerate to do Double Damage 2. Pyromancy Finesse (Offensive): Fire Damage or your highest available damage increase temper |
| Helm | 1. Mana per Second, Cooldown Reduction 2. Resistances, Armor 3. Maximum Life, Intelligence | 1. Worldly Endurance (Defensive): Armor |
| Chest | 1. Mana per Second, Ranks to Defensive Skills 2. Resistances, Armor 3. Maximum Life, Intelligence | 1. Worldly Endurance (Defensive): Armor |
| Gloves | 1. Ranks to Incinerate, Resource Cost Reduction 2. Resistances, Armor 3. Damage, Over Time, Maximum Life, Intelligence | 1. Pyromancy Finesse (Offensive): Fire Damage or your highest available damage increase temper |
| Pants | 1. Resistances, Armor 2. Maximum Life, Intelligence | 1. Worldly Endurance (Defensive): Armor |
| Boots | 1. Mana per Second, Movement Speed 2. Resistances, Armor 3. Maximum Life, Intelligence | 1. Natural Motion (Mobility): Movement Speed or any available Movement Speed temper |
| Amulet | 1. Ranks to Endless Pyre, Hoarfrost, and Inner Flames 2. Intelligence, Cooldown Reduction, Resource Cost Reduction, Movement Speed 3. Resistances, Armor | 1. Worldly Stability (Resource): Resource Generation or Resource Cost Reduction 2. Pyromancy Finesse (Offensive): Fire Damage or your highest available damage increase temper |
| Rings | 1. Resource Cost Reduction 2. Maximum Life, Intelligence, Damage Over Time, Vulnerable Damage, Critical Strike Damage | Worldly Stability (Resource): Resource Generation or Resource Cost Reduction 2. Pyromancy Finesse (Offensive): Fire Damage or your highest available damage increase temper |
↑ Back to Legendary Gear Table
Gems and Runewords
Listed below are the best Gems and Runes to socket into gear for each item type.
Gems
| Weapon Gems | Armor Gems | Jewelry Gems |
|---|---|---|
 Amethyst for increased Damage Over Time. |  Topaz for Intelligence. | Any Resistance Gems needed or  Skull for Armor (up to the 1,000 Armor cap). |
Runewords
Runes are drop after unlocking them during the Vessel of Hatred campaign. A Rune of Offering and a Rune of Invocation can be combined by inserting them into equipment with 2 available sockets, creating a Runeword. A limit of 2 Runewords can be equipped.
Listed below are the best Runewords utilizing Magic and Rare Runes that are beneficial for this build. The best-in-slot Runewords utilizing Legendary Runes are in the Endgame Guide for the Incinerate Sorcerer.
| Runewords | Effects |
|---|---|
 Neo Ton | Gain: 200 Offering — Deal damage after not taking any within 2 seconds. (Resets if Invulnerable.) Requires: 20 Offering, Cooldown: 1 Second — Evoke the Sorcerer’s Meteorites, dealing damage to enemies. |
 Feo Lac | Gain: 1000 Offering — Become Injured or Crowd Controlled (Cooldown: 10 seconds). Requires: 400 Offering, Cooldown: 1 Second — Evoke the Barbarian’s Challenging Shout, reducing your damage taken for 3 seconds. |
Boss Powers (Season 8)
In the Season of Belial’s Return (Season 8), Boss Powers can be equipped to enhance your character. Unlocking specific powers for a build is challenging due to their random appearance, so utilize any that provide the most damage. Check the Endgame Guide for the Incinerate Sorcerer for the best-in-slot setup of Boss Powers.
Mercenaries
Once the Den is unlocked during the main questline in the Vessel of Hatred expansion for Diablo 4, complete the Mercenary key quests to acquire them. Hire a Mercenary and enlist a Reinforcement in the following setup.
- Hired Mercenary: Raheir
- Skills:
Ground Slam, 
Raheir’s Aegis, 
Bastion, 
Inspiration
- Skills:
- Reinforcement: Varyana
- Skill:
Ancient Harpoons - Opportunity:
Ice Armor
- Skill:
Build Mechanics
The Incinerate Sorcerer leveling build is fairly simple to play due to the Core Skill doing the majority of the damage for both density clearing and single target fights. Drag and line up group of enemies to hit them all with the piercing beam of fire. Once Incinerate reaches level 5, its damage is further increased by many Passives in the Skill Tree.
Fire Familiar supplements damage by Burning nearby enemies with Enhanced Familiar. The Burning damage scales with Skill Ranks of Familiar to greatly enhance damage during the early leveling process!
Rotation and Playstyle
Engage battles at range with the following rotation.
- Cast Familiar every 8 seconds. Ensure that the previous Skill cast was a Pyromancy Skill to summon a Fire Familiar. All 3 charges of Familiar can be cast against bosses and tough elites.
- Cast
Frost Nova near enemies to apply Vulnerable from Mystical Frost Nova - Cast Inferno to Pull groups of enemies together.
- Channel Incinerate while above 50 Mana to utilize
Elemental Dominance for optimal DPS. - Spam Fire Bolt to generate Mana and finish off weakened enemies.
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 for 
Bundled Herbs during your adventures; they randomly spawn around the world. Elixirs can also drop randomly from enemies and chests during many activities in Diablo 4.
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. 
Elixir of Fortitude is the best general-purpose option for survivability. Increased Maximum Life grants larger Barriers from 
Protection and Ice Armor.
Return to the Alchemist every 10 Levels to upgrade your potion. The extra healing is essential to survival.
Season 8 Updates
A brief summary of the seasonal changes are provided below. For a complete overview of Season 8, take a look at the comprehensive season guide.
Fists of Fate no longer applies random crowd controls.- Worldly Fortune can no longer apply any crowd control tempers.
Aspect of Concussive Strikes no longer provides increased damage.
Changelog
- April 26, 2025: Guide updated for Season 8 (Patch 2.2.0).
- January 19, 2025: Guide updated for Season 7 (Patch 2.1.0).
- October 4, 2024: Guide updated for Season 6 (Patch 2.0.2).
- August 6, 2024: Guide updated for Season 5 (Patch 1.5.0).
- May 14, 2024: Guide created for Season 4 (Patch 1.4.0).
