Storm Sorcerer (Chain Lightning) — Honour Mode Build

Final composition: Pure Storm Sorcerer 12

Character Creation

Stats (point buy + racial)

Racial allocation: +2 CHA, +1 CON, +1 DEX.

How sorcerer spells work (read once)

• Spells known: 2 at L1, +1 every level → 13 known at L12. All are always prepared.
• Cantrips known: 4 at L1, +1 at Sorc 4, +1 at Sorc 10 → 6 cantrips at L12.
• Metamagic: 2 picks at Sorc 2, +1 at Sorc 3, +1 at Sorc 10 → 4 total.
• Spell swap: at every sorcerer level-up you can swap one known spell for another (legal at your current spell level). Use this to drop early-game picks for late-game power.
• Subclass auto-grants (Storm Sorc at L6): always known, do not count against your spells-known limit.

Level-by-Level

L1 — Sorc 1 (Storm)

Cantrips (4): Fire Bolt, Shocking Grasp, Mage Hand, Light Spells learned (2): Shield, Mage Armor Tempestuous Magic unlocked: bonus action fly (9m) after any L1+ spell, no opportunity attacks.

L2 — Sorc 2

Metamagic (pick 2 from Sorc 2 list — Careful, Distant, Extended, Twinned): Twinned + Careful (Careful lets Chain Lightning skip allies later) New spell (1): Magic Missile (Lightning Charges + Reverberation proc per dart) Sorcery Points online.

L3 — Sorc 3

Metamagic (1 more, full list unlocked): Quickened (2 spells per turn for 3 sorcery points — core combo) New spell (1, 2nd lvl): Hold Person 2nd-level slots online.

L4 — Sorc 4 — first feat

Feat: ASI CHA +2 → CHA 19 (pair with Hag’s Hair → 20) New cantrip (1): Ray of Frost (slow + Lightning Charge proc) New spell (1): Misty Step (2nd lvl, emergency repositioning)

L5 — Sorc 5

New spell (1, 3rd lvl): Counterspell (mandatory) 3rd-level slots online.

L6 — Sorc 6 — subclass spike

Storm Sorc subclass freebies (free, don’t count vs known): Call Lightning, Sleet Storm, Gust of Wind, Create or Destroy Water, Thunderwave New spell (1): Lightning Bolt (your big nuke until L11) Heart of the Storm passive: AoE lightning/thunder self-burst on cast (Sorc level ÷ 2 dmg in 6m) + lightning/thunder resistance.

L7 — Sorc 7

New spell (1, 4th lvl): Banishment (boss removal, CHA save) 4th-level slots online.

L8 — Sorc 8 — second feat

Feat: War Caster (advantage on concentration saves, plus cast a spell as reaction when an enemy provokes — replaces the old Resilient CON, since Sorc already has CON save proficiency natively) New spell (1): Greater Invisibility (or Polymorph for utility)

L9 — Sorc 9

New spell (1, 5th lvl): Hold Monster (works on non-humanoids — bosses) Spell swap: consider swapping Hold Person → Cone of Cold 5th-level slots online.

L10 — Sorc 10

New cantrip (1): Blade Ward (emergency damage resistance) Metamagic (1 more): Heightened Spell (disadvantage on enemy save — locks Hold Monster, Banishment, and the Chain Lightning save next level) New spell (1): Telekinesis or Wall of Fire

L11 — Sorc 11

New spell (1, 6th lvl): ⭐ CHAIN LIGHTNING Storm’s Fury (Sorc L11): reaction when hit by melee — lightning damage to attacker + possible 6m pushback. 6th-level slots online.

L12 — Sorc 12 — third feat, build complete

Feat: Elemental Adept (Lightning) (ignore lightning resistance; 1s on damage dice count as 2s — your raw damage floor) New spell (1, 6th lvl): Disintegrate (boss-killer single target) or Globe of Invulnerability

Permanent CHA Bonuses

• Auntie Ethel’s Hair (Act 1, Hag’s Lair): +1 CHA → 18 (or to whichever level you’re at). Reduce Ethel below 20% HP, take “spare her” deal.
• Mirror of Loss (Act 2, Gauntlet of Shar X:-645 Y:-735 / Act 3, Cloister of Sombre Embrace X:-474 Y:-1650): +1 CHA permanent bonus for temporary penalty. Use Remove Curse to clear “Stolen Vigour.”
• Birthright (Act 3, Ramazith’s Tower): sets CHA to 22 (does NOT stack with Hag’s Hair).

Combat Pattern

Pre-fight: Elixir of Vigilance, Mage Armor up.

Standard opener: Heightened Hold Person/Monster on toughest enemy → fly to high ground (Tempestuous Magic).

Big nuke turn (post-Markoheshkir, Act 3):

1. Quickened Create or Destroy Water on enemy stack → all wet (lightning vulnerability = double damage)
2. Action: Twinned + Heightened Chain Lightning → disadvantage on save, wet → ~150+ per target on average (11d8 doubled, Elemental Adept reroll 1s)
3. Markoheshkir Bolts of Doom: Lightning adds +1d4 lightning per damage instance + advantage vs wet
4. Follow-up turn: free Chain Lightning from Markoheshkir’s Kereska’s Favour (1/short rest, no slot)

Pre-Act 3 nuke turn:

1. Wet the targets (Create or Destroy Water, water bottles, or Sleet Storm)
2. Heightened Lightning Bolt in a line (8d6, doubled vs wet, disadvantage on save)

Sustain: Magic Missile (procs Lightning Charges + Reverberation per dart), Counterspell, Cloud of Daggers in chokepoints.

Defense: Shield reaction (+5 AC), fly to high ground after every leveled cast.

Act-by-Act Priority

Act 1

• ⭐ Get Spellsparkler at Waukeen’s Rest
• Get Hag’s Hair → +1 CHA (you, not friend) — pair with L4 CHA ASI for CHA 20
• Save Halsin (Goblin Camp) before fighting leaders
• Complete Omeluum’s quest → buy Boots of Stormy Clamour
• Don’t long rest before Tiefling Party

Act 2

• Rescue Last Light Inn first
• ⭐ Tower-Shaped Key from Mattis → Mason’s Guild basement → Helmet of Arcane Acuity
• Find Nightsong (Shar’s Gauntlet)
• Kill Ketheric in 3 phases — save spell slots for phase 3

Act 3

• ⭐ Sorcerous Sundries priority — Markoheshkir + Robe of the Weave
• House of Grief → Mirror of Loss → +1 CHA (see Permanent CHA Bonuses for locations)
• House of Hope → Helldusk gear, Killer’s Sweetheart ring
• Iron Throne timed underwater — Water Breathing potions
• Save Orpheus path

Party Recommendations

Bench: Astarion (run 2 Gloomstalker/Assassin), Karlach (alt frontline), Lae’zel (alt frontline), Gale (redundant with two sorcs).