time for a new build, this time ice-themed (as if the title didn't already give that away); after all that grief i went through during the winter event farming for that icicle archetype - which was probably wasted effort since i get all archetypes for free as an LTS - i figured it was high time for one
PowerHouse (Link to this build)Name: Frosty the SnowbearArchetype: FreeformSuper Stats:Level 6: Ego (Primary)Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)Talents:Level 1: The ChillerLevel 6:Level 9:Level 12:Level 15:Level 18:Level 21:Powers:Level 1: Ice ShardsLevel 1: Ice BlastLevel 6: Icy EmbraceLevel 8: Ice Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)Level 11: ShatterLevel 14: Icicle SpearLevel 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)Level 20: Chilled FormLevel 23: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)Level 26: Masterful DodgeLevel 29: Snow StormLevel 32:Level 35: AvalancheLevel 38: RebirthTravel Powers:Level 6: Ice SlideLevel 35: Snowball RollSpecializations:Ego: Force of Will (2/2)Ego: Insight (3/3)Ego: Follow Through (3/3)Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)Vindicator: Offensive Expertise (2/2)Vindicator: Mass Destruction (1/3)Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
now, i have absolutely no idea which ice powers/advantages are good and which aren't aside from icicle spear, ice blast and avalanche, so i'm sure i'll have to swap out some of those; got the usual staple powers of course
and as per usual, any advices on gear/mod selection for ice DPS will be appreciated
Comments
You'll prob need to replace Dex SS w/ End SS to be able to afford Ice Spear via Icy Embrace's extra energy, since it and Avalanche are pretty costly to use. I'd also get the toggle earlier if ur leveling w/ this.
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
oh, and what about talents? the usual array?
For talents I'd prob take the normal 5/5 SS boosts, and prob some ones w/ Dex or Rec (assuming EGO/Con/End).
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name: Frosty the Snowbear
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Endurance (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Chiller
Level 6: Ascetic
Level 9: Boundless Reserves
Level 12: Daredevil
Level 15: Impresario
Level 18: Quick Recovery
Level 21: Amazing Stamina
Powers:
Level 1: Ice Shards
Level 1: Ice Blast (Rank 2, Hard Frost)
Level 6: Icy Embrace
Level 8: Ice Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Frost Breath (Rank 2, Frost Bite)
Level 14: Chilled Form
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Icicle Spear (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 26: Masterful Dodge
Level 29: Snow Storm (Rank 2, Eye of the Storm)
Level 32: Fire Snake (Rank 2, Trail Blazer)
Level 35: Avalanche (Rank 2, Serrated Shards)
Level 38: Rebirth
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Ice Slide (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Snowball Roll
Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (1/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
Rimefire can also work if ya get the 1pt CF adv on Ice Spear, since ya can use it back to back if ya get CF and Chill up at the same time.
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
and i checked the description on CoPD; it says you are incredibly hard to damage while inside the circle...exactly how hard is 'incredibly hard' in CO terms?
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
Serrated Shards does help trigger Cold Snap a bit more frequently, but your build doesn't make much use of Cold Snap. I'd probably opt for Rank 3 on Avalanche. Cold Snap would boost Ice Blast's charge damage, but I'm assuming you're using Icicle Spear as your main single-target damage source. I would recommend using Stormbringer over Ice Form in this case, as Stormbringer's resists are rather handy for fights like Gravitar.
A full-charge Icicle Spear only has a 50% chance to Chill the target. I'd recommend picking up Frost Bite instead of Rank 2 on Ice Blast, so your periodic Blast taps can prevent Chill stacks from falling off when you're DPS'ing a boss with Icicle Spears.
Because of Icicle Spear's 50% Chill chance, you'll run out of energy occasionally when relying on Icy Embrace during Spear spam. Thermal Reverberation (with a reliable trigger like Flashfire...could maybe color it blue and play it off as a liquid nitrogen pit or something) is more reliable during Spear spam, but it's up to you whether it fits your concept. If you do choose the Thermal Reverb route, I'd recommend Freezer Burn on Icicle Spear. If you're sticking to Icy Embrace, you can save some advantage points by dropping Rank 2 on Fire Snake (ranking it up no longer increases the debuff value).
Taps of Frostbreath w/ adv can also be used to put up Chill quickly, w/o needing to use Ice Blast. I guess its better to have both of those consolidated on Ice Blast, but iirc Frostbite on the Blast doesn't apply extra Chill stacks, which boost Ice Spear's dmg. Perhaps its better to have Frostbite on both the Breath and the Blast, and use taps of FBreath to build to 3x Chill and then use the Blast to refresh it.
From quick testing, it seems like the Chill refresh from Ice Blast's Frostbite doesn't itself proc Icy Embrace- the underlying 25-100% Chill chance on the Blast does. On a toon w/ decent Ego + Insight and some End, I found it best to open by tapping FBreathx3 w/ Frostbite for the quick 3x Chill stack and taping Ice Blast (both w/ Frostbite and Hard Frost) once for the debuff. Then the normal rotation was 3x charged Ice Spear -> 1x charged Ice Blast. This rotation easily refreshed 3xChill and the cold debuff, while giving me sufficient energy to work with overall. I did end build if Spear's chill RNG was really bad, but only infrequently. Other option when lower-energy is to use 2x Spear between blasts instead of 3x.
So, even if Thermal Reverb may be the easier way out, ya can still make energy work out w/ Icy Embrace- it is a bit more gear-reliant though. Note that Cold Snap also still helps if using this rotation, as ur also charging Ice Blast. That said, I agree that Stormbringer is better overall defensively, and the impact of Cold Snap isn't that big since the main attack is still the spear. So its up to you. Perhaps keep Icy Form (and Cold Snap) if also using Ice Barrier in the build?
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
If you're going with the Ice Form/Cold Snap version (it's definitely a nice option), Ice Barrier can be a rather powerful Active Defense with Cold Snap up. Just something else to think about.