By Sebastian Jordan In the world of role-playing games (RPGs), lightning-focused builds often stand out as dynamic and electrifying playstyles, offering fast-paced combat and powerful elemental effects. Whether you’re casting devastating thunder spells or wielding electrified weapons, these builds capitalize on raw energy, stunning enemies, and dealing massive damage. Here’s a roundup of the 8 best RPGs for lightning-focus builds that allow players to harness the power of electricity in unique and exhilarating ways.
1. Dark Souls III
Best For: Players who enjoy challenge, strategy, and rewarding progression.
In Dark Souls III, lightning builds are a powerful and popular choice, offering devastating ranged spells and close-range lightning-infused weaponry. As one of the most beloved RPGs in recent years, it features a variety of lightning-based tools, including Miracles like Lightning Spears and Sunlight Spear, both of which deal massive damage to enemies. Additionally, players can use Thunderbolt to inflict significant electrical damage, with the potential for hitting multiple targets.
Weapons like the Sunlight Straight Sword or Storm Ruler imbued with lightning enhance melee damage and stagger opponents with thunderous attacks. The game also offers a lightning-focused Faith build that can increase your damage output and defensive abilities through specialized gear and buffs.
2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Best For: Freedom of playstyle, exploration, and immersion.
Skyrim may not be centered around lightning as its core element, but it offers players a massive selection of options for creating powerful lightning builds. With access to Destruction magic, players can unlock several electricity-based spells, such as Chain Lightning and Lightning Bolt, which can disintegrate foes and arc between enemies for maximum damage.
For melee-focused builds, the Shout ability Storm Call summons a thunderous barrage of lightning from the sky, striking down foes with nature’s fury. Pairing this with heavy armor or the Stormcloak faction allows you to build a high-defense character who can control the elements at will.
3. Final Fantasy X
Best For: Classic RPG fans who enjoy turn-based combat and deep character development.
In Final Fantasy X, lightning is a core component of both offensive magic and key characters. Yuna, a summoner, can access Thunder and Thundara spells early in the game, and Rikku, an Alchemist, can unlock devastating Thunder-based Overdrive attacks. The game also features Thunder Rods and Thunder Shields for further enhancing a character’s electrical prowess.
The Sphere Grid system allows for a customizable lightning build, where players can focus on increasing Magic stats to enhance elemental damage. As you progress through the game, the ability to chain lightning-based spells and summon Bahamut or other lightning-infused Eidolons creates an electrifying battle experience.
4. Diablo III
Best For: Fans of action-packed combat, loot, and online multiplayer.
In Diablo III, the Wizard and Necromancer classes offer some of the most exhilarating lightning-focused builds. The Wizard’s Storm Armor provides defensive buffs while enhancing lightning damage, while spells like Arcane Torrent and Lightning Storm decimate hordes of enemies with rapid, powerful electrical bursts.
The Necromancer’s Command Skeletons can be paired with lightning-infused abilities like Unholy Blight or The Grasp of the Dead, creating an electrifying synergy of power. The game’s loot system also allows players to maximize their damage output through sets and legendary items that focus on electric and arcane damage, making it an ideal title for those wanting a fast-paced, lightning-heavy RPG experience.
5. Darkest Dungeon
Best For: Tactical turn-based combat and gothic horror RPGs.
Though Darkest Dungeon isn’t your typical action RPG, it does feature characters who can focus on lightning and electrical damage, especially within the Hellion and Occultist classes. These classes allow players to unleash high-damage Thunderstruck attacks, inflicting shock effects and causing enemies to be stunned, as well as boosting the chance for critical hits.
With a tactical grid and the ability to control a group of adventurers, you can build a team that excels in inflicting status ailments such as stun or shock through a mix of lightning spells and abilities, enabling you to control the flow of battle. The psychological aspect of the game creates a unique blend with the high-stakes nature of electrified combat.
6. Borderlands 3
Best For: Fast-paced shooting, loot, and humor-driven RPGs.
In Borderlands 3, the Amara character class, also known as the Siren, allows players to specialize in elemental builds, including lightning. With abilities like Phasecast, Amara can summon bolts of lightning that arc to nearby enemies, shocking them into submission. Lightning-infused weapons like Shock Elemental guns can also be found in the loot pool, allowing players to equip powerful guns that deal damage with every shot, hitting multiple targets at once.
As one of the more explosive RPGs on the list, Borderlands 3 offers a fast-paced, action-packed environment where lightning builds can be maximized with the right combination of weapons, abilities, and skill tree selections, making it an ideal pick for players seeking an electrifying shooter RPG experience.
7. Nier: Automata
Best For: Story-driven gameplay and deep combat mechanics.
In Nier: Automata, the Androids 2B and 9S are equipped with versatile combat skills that include lightning-based attacks. 9S, in particular, has a hacking ability that can inflict lightning damage on enemies, either by disrupting their systems or by triggering electric discharges through hacking sequences. Lightning-focused combat in Nier: Automata is tightly integrated with the game’s unique combat mechanics and ability systems.
The game offers a variety of upgrades and special abilities that allow players to upgrade their androids for more effective electrical attacks, both in melee combat and ranged hacking. As one of the most stylish action RPGs, Nier: Automata delivers satisfying gameplay for players who want a lightning-infused edge to their combat.
8. Elden Ring
Best For: Open-world exploration, challenging bosses, and flexible build systems.
Elden Ring builds upon the Dark Souls tradition with a wide array of magic options, including lightning-based spells. Frenzied Flame and Dragon Slayer abilities in this game allow for electrifying ranged combat and devastating melee damage. The Lightning Spear and Radagon’s Scarseal rings increase lightning power for both sorcery and physical combat, offering a versatile way to build a character capable of dealing with any challenge.
As one of the most flexible and expansive RPGs to date, Elden Ring allows players to freely experiment with different lightning-infused combat styles, from faith-based miracles to intelligence-based sorceries, ensuring that your lightning-focus build can be optimized to match your preferred playstyle.
Conclusion
From the meticulously crafted worlds of Dark Souls III and Elden Ring to the fast-paced loot-and-shoot action of Borderlands 3, these RPGs offer players countless opportunities to build powerful, lightning-focused characters. Whether you’re casting thunderous spells, wielding electrified weapons, or utilizing strategic lightning tactics, these games are sure to provide an electrifying experience for players eager to harness the power of lightning.