Core requirements
The advanced setup is A, and the budget setup is B.
- Hard points
- Level 90 · 101 points
- Cast rate
- A 125% / B 105%
- Buffs
- Consume a Tainted
- Two-handed weapon
- Pair only with a grimoire
Attributes
Total attributes with equipment · hard points shown separately
| Strength | Before equipping A 55 / B 95Hard points A 10 / B 80 · keep Enigma equipped |
|---|---|
| Dexterity | 0 hard pointsNo maximum block |
| Vitality | A 450 / B 380 hard pointsIncludes 15 attribute quest points |
| Energy | 0 hard pointsA Potions and gear / B Insight |
Attribute calculations and equipment changes
Strength
A first meets Mage Plate Enigma's 55 Strength requirement with base 15 + Torch 15 + Annihilus 15 + 10 allocated points. Equip the grimoire and boots after receiving Enigma's +67 Strength at level 90. B has base 15 + 80 allocated = 95, using a Spirit Crystal Sword, a low-requirement grimoire and light armor. Removing Enigma may disable A gear. A uses a conservative allocation calculated before equipping armor, excluding extra attributes from the selected gear. Actual total Strength after equipping it exceeds 55.
Dexterity
A uses Mang Song's Lesson in an Archon Staff, and B uses a Spirit Crystal Sword; neither requires Dexterity. Pair with a grimoire and do not invest in maximum block.
Vitality
At level 90, put the remaining points from the 460 total attribute points into Vitality after the Strength allocation above. If the weapon or base changes, recalculate requirements and put only the remaining points into Vitality.
Energy
A uses an Infinity mercenary, so it has no Meditation aura. Sustain summons and main attacks with gear Mana, Mana after Each Kill and potions. B uses Insight's Meditation to support Mana recovery.
Skills
Level 90 · 101 hard points
Main skills and synergies
Prerequisite · support 1 point each
Includes 12 quest points; equipment skill bonuses are excluded. Unlisted skills have 0 points. A and B use the same allocation.
Investment order
Ring of Fire and Wave carry early progression; keep your distance with Sigil: Lethargy and summoned demons.
Ring of Fire, Wave and 
Apocalypse — raise each to 20, then fill 
Consume 20·
Demonic Mastery 10. Apocalypse requires 3 points in Sigil prerequisites, also included.
Equipment skill bonuses and allocation notes
The default is a Fire caster with 1 hard points in Summon Tainted. It does not also claim a fully developed 20-point summon damage allocation.
A·B Shared · Level 90, 101 points
Open this allocation in the simulator ↗
Equipment
A / B: compare modifiers and replacement requirements.
| Slot | Advanced A | Budget B | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon | A Mang Song's Lesson | B Runeword Spirit | A Fire Resistance reduction · +5 to Skills |
Weapon choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsTwo-handed Archon Staff +5 to Skills · 30% FCR · Enemy Fire Resistance reduction B · Setup requirements4-socket Crystal Sword Target 35% Faster Cast Rate Selection rationale and replacementsFor direct spell damage, prioritize skills, casting speed and reduction of the relevant enemy resistance. | |||
| Grimoire / off-hand | A Ars Al'Diabolos | BRuneword Splendor | A Apocalypse · Fire damage / B Skills · FCR |
Grimoire / off-hand choices and swapsA · Setup requirements25% FCR · Fire damage · Apocalypse bonus B · Setup requirements2-socket grimoire requiring no more than 60 Strength +1 skills · 10% Faster Cast Rate Selection rationale and replacementsWhen wielding a two-handed weapon in one hand, the other hand must hold a grimoire. B uses a grimoire base for Splendor instead of a regular shield. | |||
| Helm | A Runeword Flickering Flame | BRuneword Lore | A Fire skills · resistance reduction / B +1 skills |
Helm choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements3-socket light helm +3 to Fire Skills · Enemy Fire Resistance reduction B · Setup requirements2-socket light helm +1 skills · lightning resistance Selection rationale and replacementsChoose skills and resistance reduction for your actual main damage source: Magic, Fire or summons. | |||
| Armor | A Runeword Enigma | B Skin of the Vipermagi | A Teleport / B Resistances · 30% FCR |
Armor choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements3-socket Mage Plate Teleport · +2 to All Skills B · Setup requirements30% Faster Cast Rate · all resistances Selection rationale and replacementsUse Enigma to move both yourself and your summons together. B does not assume the same Teleport convenience. | |||
| Gloves | A Magefist | BMagefist | +1 to Fire Skills and 20% FCR |
Glove choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements20% Faster Cast Rate · mana regeneration B · Setup requirements20% Faster Cast Rate · mana regeneration Selection rationale and replacements20% FCR improves responsiveness when summoning, casting Sigils and moving. | |||
| Belt | A Arachnid Mesh | B Nightsmoke | A 125% setup / B Resistances and mana |
Belt choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements20% Faster Cast Rate · +1 to All Skills B · Setup requirements10 All Resistances · Mana Selection rationale and replacementsDamage Taken Goes to Mana does not refund all Mana spent. | |||
| Boots | A Sandstorm Trek | BFaster Run/Walk and resistance boots | Poison Resistance and escape from dangerous areas |
Boot choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsPoison Resistance · Life · Hit Recovery Selection rationale and replacementsFirst secure movement speed and resistances to escape packs. | |||
| Amulet | AWarlock FCR amulet | BWarlock skill amulet | A 10% Faster Cast Rate / B Skills and resistances |
Amulet choice and replacement detailsSelection rationale and replacementsObtain both skills and resistances while keeping the FCR specified in the table. | |||
| Ring 1 | AFCR and resistance ring | BCast rate/mana/resistance ring | A·B 10% Faster Cast Rate required |
Ring 1: choice and replacement detailsSelection rationale and replacementsInclude this ring's FCR in the actual total. | |||
| Ring 2 | ACast rate/mana ring | BMana/resistance ring | A 10% Faster Cast Rate completes 125% total |
Ring 2: choice and replacement detailsSelection rationale and replacementsEnemy Magic Resistance reduction affects your own Magic damage; it does not automatically transfer to summons. | |||
Mercenary and weapon swap
| Slot | Advanced A | Budget B | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercenary | A Act 2 Prayer  Runeword InfinityRuneword Fortitude Andariel's Visage | B Act 2 Prayer Runeword InsightRuneword Treachery Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest | Distinguish your damage types from your summons' |
Mercenary detailsOperating requirementsInsight sustains Mana; Might supports Physical damage. If you choose Infinity, Conviction lowers only Fire, Cold and Lightning Resistance, not Magic or Physical Resistance. Supply the mercenary with Life leech and resistances. | |||
| Weapon swap | A Runeword Call to ArmsRuneword SplendorTome | B Keep main weapon and grimoire | Does not assume an extra 156 Strength for a Monarch |
Swap detailsOperating requirementsReturn to the main weapon after Battle Command and Battle Orders. A grimoire's skill bonuses cannot replace the hard points required for Demonic Mastery's summon count or Bind Demon's capture tier. | |||
Upgrade order
- B provides speed and Mana with Spirit, Splendor and Skin of the Vipermagi.
- Add Flickering Flame and a Fire Sunder Charm while filling resistance gaps.
- Strengthen your main Fire damage with Mang Song's Lesson and Ars Al'Diabolos.
- A Keep 30+25+20+20+10+10+10=125% before completing Enigma and an Infinity mercenary.
Playstyle
- Consume buff
Summon and Consume a Tainted, then fill the remaining demon slots.
Consume buff details
Details
One Defiler can support damage sharing while Tainted occupy the other slots. There are 3 slots including the consumed demon.
- Attack packs
Place Apocalypse and cover enemy paths with Flame Wave.
Pack attack details
Details
During Apocalypse's cooldown, follow with Waves and movement instead of repeatedly pressing the same button.
- Close-range pressure
Use Ring of Fire to create distance when enemies close in.
Close-range pressure details
Details
In narrow passages, use Sigil: Lethargy to slow approaching enemies.
- Finish enemies
Use Sigil: Death on enemies with low Life.
Finishing details
Details
The application of +Fire Skills to Sigil: Death was fixed in 3.3.
- Immune enemies
B handles Fire immunities with the mercenary's Physical attacks or bypasses them.
Immune-enemy details
Details
Do not treat Apocalypse's own resistance reduction as a shared curse for all Fire skills or an independent immunity breaker.
- Manage summons
Once corpses appear, heal demons with Engorge.
Summon management details
Details
Before corpses are available early in a fight, protect them by resummoning and repositioning.
- Leveling transition
Establish stability with Spirit and a Splendor grimoire, then equip Mang Song's Lesson alongside a grimoire.
Leveling transition details
Details
Switching to a regular shield prevents you from continuing to use the two-handed staff in one hand.
Mechanics and notes
Mutually reinforcing Fire skills
Ring of Fire, Flame Wave and Apocalypse gain synergies from hard points in each other. The consumed Tainted's buff supports your own Fire casting.
Scope of resistance reduction
The Fire Resistance reduction in Apocalypse's description applies to Apocalypse itself. Distinguish it from Infinity's Conviction and Enemy Fire Resistance reduction on weapons and helms.
Damage after the patch
Uses values after the Ring of Fire and Flame Wave reductions in 3.2; it does not promise the damage shown in early launch videos.
Casting and recovery
A reaches 125% / 9 frames; B has 105%, reaching the 75% / 10-frame breakpoint. Your casting speed differs from your summons' own attack speed.
Strengths, limitations and farming style
Strengths
Wide area attacks and knockback control packs.
Even a budget setup can complete the synergies of the three Fire skills.
Limitations
Fire-immune areas and enemies that will not stay in place are challenging.
You must manage the Consume buff, Mana and summon Life together.
Additional variants
Tainted hybrid
Move 19 points from Consume 20→1 into Summon Tainted 1→20. Your Consume buff weakens while summon damage increases; the total stays 101.
One-handed resistance/FCR option
Replacing Mang Song's Lesson with Heart of the Oak loses skills and Enemy Fire Resistance reduction but gains FCR and All Resistances. You can keep the grimoire pairing.