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I wanna kick some ice.

chaoswolf820chaoswolf820 Posts: 756 Arc User
edited January 2014 in Power Discussion
Trying to work out a powerful Ice build... but I've never been very good at making freeform builds.

I tried to do it by starting with a Glacier and juggling stuff around, but with my inexperience, it still feels like I might could do better...

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Ice Queen

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Constitution (Primary)
Level 10: Endurance (Secondary)
Level 15: Ego (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: The Glacier
Level 6: Boundless Reserves
Level 9: Enduring
Level 12: Daredevil
Level 15: Energetic
Level 18: Ascetic
Level 21: Indomitable

Powers:
Level 1: Ice Shards
Level 1: Ice Blast (Rank 2, Hard Frost)
Level 6: Ice Cage (Rank 2, Sub-Zero Cellblock)
Level 8: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Snow Storm (Eye of the Storm)
Level 14: Concentration
Level 17: Unbreakable (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Ice Shield (Rank 2, Frigid Air)
Level 23: Shatter (Rank 2, Crushed Ice)
Level 26: Ice Sheath (Supercooled)
Level 29: Ice Barrier
Level 32: Avalanche (Rank 2, Serrated Shards)
Level 35: Ice Burst (Rank 2)
Level 38: Wall of Ice

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Ice Slide (Rank 2)
Level 35: Metallic Ooze Tunneling (Rank 2)

Specializations:
Constitution: Tough (3/3)
Constitution: Resilient (2/2)
Constitution: Quick Healing (3/3)
Constitution: Adrenaline Rush (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Tenacious (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (3/3)
Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Protector: Unrelenting (2/2)
Protector: Exhausting Strikes (2/2)
Protector: Resolute (3/3)
Mastery: Constitution Mastery (1/1)

Got any advice/improvements?
Post edited by chaoswolf820 on

Comments

  • flowcytoflowcyto Posts: 12,859 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    Here's how I'd prob re-tool your build for an Ice tank (if going for a hybrid instead, can replace the crippling advantages w/ normal rank ups if you want more dmg):

    PowerHouse (Link to this build)

    Name:

    Archetype: Freeform

    Super Stats:
    Level 6: Constitution (Primary)
    Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
    Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)

    Talents:
    Level 1: The Glacier
    Level 6: Coordinated
    Level 9: Healthy Mind
    Level 12: Acrobat
    Level 15: Quick Recovery
    Level 18: Impresario
    Level 21: Negotiator

    Powers:
    Level 1: Ice Shards
    Level 1: Ice Blast (Hard Frost, Crippling Challenge)
    Level 6: Frost Breath (Rank 2, Frost Bite)
    Level 8: Ice Burst (Rank 2)
    Level 11: Wall of Ice (Frozen Footsteps)
    Level 14: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 17: Concentration
    Level 20: Ice Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 23: Molecular Self-Assembly
    Level 26: Masterful Dodge
    Level 29: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 32: Avalanche (Rank 2, Serrated Shards, Challenging Strikes)
    Level 35: Unbreakable
    Level 38: Rimefire Burst (Rank 2, Rank 3)

    Travel Powers:
    Level 6: Ice Slide (Rank 2)
    Level 35: Metallic Ooze Tunneling (Rank 2)

    Specializations:
    Constitution: Fuel My Fire (2/3)
    Constitution: Tough (2/3)
    Constitution: Resilient (2/2)
    Constitution: Adrenaline Rush (2/2)
    Constitution: Armored (2/2)
    Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
    Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
    Protector: Exhausting Strikes (2/2)
    Protector: Defensive Expertise (3/3)
    Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
    Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
    Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
    Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
    Mastery: Constitution Mastery (1/1)

    Things like rimefire, ice burst, and wall of ice are mostly to keep MSA going. If ya having lotsa energy issues ya can always switch Invuln to Defiance, as well.

    Ofc, other option is forgoing the tanky/hybrid crap and go all out ice dps in the ranged role w/ ice form- which is fun and quite potent.. just pack a threat dump and some heals or tank cds to counteract the squishyness :p
    People seem to be averse to making pure dps FFs around here here, when its pretty easy to pickup enough self-heals and threat wipes to stay alive.
    <CO stuff> .: Petco :. // A basic FF building guide (see 1st reply) // PSA on Power Activation Delay // Ayonachan's Gift Horse (misc stat data)
    - Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
  • chaoswolf820chaoswolf820 Posts: 756 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    is Rimefire Burst unavoidable? Kinda would like to keep her pure ice, not fire/ice.
  • flowcytoflowcyto Posts: 12,859 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    Nah ya can skip it. At high enough cd reduction (or just good enough gear) ya have enough cds for MSA w/o it. Replace it w/ w/e ya want.
    <CO stuff> .: Petco :. // A basic FF building guide (see 1st reply) // PSA on Power Activation Delay // Ayonachan's Gift Horse (misc stat data)
    - Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
  • chaoswolf820chaoswolf820 Posts: 756 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    flowcyto wrote: »
    Nah ya can skip it. At high enough cd reduction (or just good enough gear) ya have enough cds for MSA w/o it. Replace it w/ w/e ya want.

    What would you recommend? Either for utility or flavor, I'm not too picky, so long as I can maintain the theme...
  • flowcytoflowcyto Posts: 12,859 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    Well uh, Ice Barrier is in-theme still if ya want another tanky cd. Or could nab a bit more utility w/ the arctic beast pet, but I'm not sure the energy penalty would make it that great (could be fun just to have a frosty companion though).

    If I could take something not from Ice, I would pick res serum, cause I always try to have an ally res on every toon.. but that's just me (or be more selfish and take Rebirth).


    Oh, and if you do pick Ice Barrier w/ the adv to unroot you, I'd prob drop Unbreakable (its a touch redundant) and take Resurgence instead- that heal is always nice to have. In fact, if Conviction and adren rush aren't healing you enough as is then you may want to switch to Resurgence regardless.
    <CO stuff> .: Petco :. // A basic FF building guide (see 1st reply) // PSA on Power Activation Delay // Ayonachan's Gift Horse (misc stat data)
    - Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
  • chaoswolf820chaoswolf820 Posts: 756 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    PowerHouse (Link to this build)

    Name:

    Archetype: Freeform

    Super Stats:
    Level 6: Constitution (Primary)
    Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
    Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)

    Talents:
    Level 1: The Glacier
    Level 6: Coordinated
    Level 9: Healthy Mind
    Level 12: Acrobat
    Level 15: Quick Recovery
    Level 18: Impresario
    Level 21: Negotiator

    Powers:
    Level 1: Ice Shards
    Level 1: Ice Blast (Rank 2, Hard Frost)
    Level 6: Frost Breath (Rank 2, Frost Bite)
    Level 8: Ice Burst (Rank 2)
    Level 11: Wall of Ice (Frozen Footsteps)
    Level 14: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 17: Concentration
    Level 20: Ice Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 23: Molecular Self-Assembly
    Level 26: Snow Storm (Rank 2, Eye of the Storm)
    Level 29: Conviction (Rank 2)
    Level 32: Avalanche (Rank 2, Serrated Shards)
    Level 35: Masterful Dodge
    Level 38: Ice Barrier (Rank 2, Frigid Freedom)

    Travel Powers:
    Level 6: Ice Slide (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 35: Metallic Ooze Tunneling (Rank 2)

    Specializations:
    Constitution: Fuel My Fire (2/3)
    Constitution: Tough (2/3)
    Constitution: Resilient (2/2)
    Constitution: Adrenaline Rush (2/2)
    Constitution: Armored (2/2)
    Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
    Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
    Protector: Exhausting Strikes (2/2)
    Protector: Defensive Expertise (3/3)
    Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
    Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
    Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
    Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
    Mastery: Constitution Mastery (1/1)

    How's this?
  • flowcytoflowcyto Posts: 12,859 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    Should still drop Snow Storm for another tank or heal cd, since ya dun need a 3rd aoe (I included Frost Breath just cause it can guarantee chill for Ice Blast's hard frost, Avalanche is more ur 'real' aoe), but otherwise looking good.
    <CO stuff> .: Petco :. // A basic FF building guide (see 1st reply) // PSA on Power Activation Delay // Ayonachan's Gift Horse (misc stat data)
    - Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
  • chaoswolf820chaoswolf820 Posts: 756 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    diddles around on the PTS, trying out the build... I HATE ICE SLIDE. Seriously, this is the worst TP in the game. No decent steering OR stopping, no vertical maintain without spamming the button... and Energy Slide is just a reskin with the exact same problems, I'm told.

    ...but it's the only TP that fits the "ice" theme.

    Guess my plans for an ice hero are shot until/unless they decide to un-crapify Ice/Energy Slide and make them work more like Earth Flight or Hover Disc, because there's no way in hell I'm gonna be able to stomach trying to go anywhere with that piece of junk, and the game's too big to simply walk everywhere.
  • kallethenkallethen Posts: 1,576 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    chaoswolf820 wrote: »
    diddles around on the PTS, trying out the build... I HATE ICE SLIDE. Seriously, this is the worst TP in the game. No decent steering OR stopping, no vertical maintain without spamming the button... and Energy Slide is just a reskin with the exact same problems, I'm told.

    ...but it's the only TP that fits the "ice" theme.

    Guess my plans for an ice hero are shot until/unless they decide to un-crapify Ice/Energy Slide and make them work more like Earth Flight or Hover Disc, because there's no way in hell I'm gonna be able to stomach trying to go anywhere with that piece of junk, and the game's too big to simply walk everywhere.

    Ice Slide certainly takes some getting used to. It feels more like Ice "Surfing". I do wish that it could maintain vertical height at least when not moving forward. I do have fun with it otherwise, even when it annoys me.

    Energy slide is actually quite different. It's a ground travel power instead of flying, but it's not as fast as the super speed style powers.

    If you are absolutely set on needing an ice-based travel power but don't like Ice Slide, there is Snowball Roll that you can purchase from the Q store for 200K.
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  • chaoswolf820chaoswolf820 Posts: 756 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    kallethen wrote: »
    Energy slide is actually quite different. It's a ground travel power instead of flying, but it's not as fast as the super speed style powers.

    Does it still have the ridiculous steering/braking issues Ice Slide does? Because Ice Slide just felt like I was more-or-less struggling any time I wanted to turn or stop... to their credit, it really DID feel like traveling on ice - in a rocket-powered shopping-cart full of bricks.
  • flowcytoflowcyto Posts: 12,859 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    Yeah energy slide has the same gliding behavior that makes close-quarter navigation a pain in the rear :/

    You could also take something like mystic flight and recolor it if ur gold, though.

    The primary TP is usually where I make an exception to breaking theme. Since I have to deal w/ it all the time, I make it something versatile and easy like Athletics, and use the 2nd TP slot for when I wanna fit a theme- even if the TP itself isn't as practical.
    <CO stuff> .: Petco :. // A basic FF building guide (see 1st reply) // PSA on Power Activation Delay // Ayonachan's Gift Horse (misc stat data)
    - Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
  • chaoswolf820chaoswolf820 Posts: 756 Arc User
    edited December 2013
    flowcyto wrote: »
    Yeah energy slide has the same gliding behavior that makes close-quarter navigation a pain in the rear :/

    You could also take something like mystic flight and recolor it if ur gold, though.

    The primary TP is usually where I make an exception to breaking theme. Since I have to deal w/ it all the time, I make it something versatile and easy like Athletics, and use the 2nd TP slot for when I wanna fit a theme- even if the TP itself isn't as practical.

    I'll consider it. Seriously, though, Ice Slide is in DIRE need of reworking. Like I said before, making it function more akin to Earth Flight or even Hover Disc would be perfect. How it made it to live so long ago in its current form and has gotten no fixes so far, I can't imagine.
  • foosnarkfoosnark Posts: 168 Arc User
    edited January 2014
    Yeah, Ice Slide is horrible. My ice character had Power Flight for a while, recently switched to Millenial Flight (aka "travel power's so bright, gotta wear shades").

    I'm going Ice Form pure DPS, and honestly Avalanche and Ice Blast tap spam is all the attack I need. Crits and bonus damage all over the place.
  • heilkittyheilkitty Posts: 33 Arc User
    edited January 2014
    foosnark wrote: »
    I'm going Ice Form pure DPS, and honestly Avalanche and Ice Blast tap spam is all the attack I need. Crits and bonus damage all over the place.
    True story. I also use them on a ranged damage build, along with Firesnake for the elemental debuff and Rimefire for setting up chill and a nice spike thrown in. It's a devastating combo.
    I suggest you drop ice burst, ice wall, frost breath etc. and focus on getting the most out of ice blast and Avalanche (and maybe recolor Fire Snake for the theme, it really makes a difference on bosses and enforcers).
    Hurricane with the advantage is also a good and thematic alternative to Avalanche if you want something cheaper.
  • superalfgornsuperalfgorn Posts: 558 Arc User
    edited January 2014
    For a TP if you go the route of liquid nitrogen, or dry ice if you prefer, you could take Blazing Speed and color it Ice blue. It will look like a steaming cold trail.

    Another point that makes ice slide awful? if you are moving and a cutscene starts, you will slide all the way to the other side of the screen :) An awesome way to troll an Alert (and die shortly after) if you are so inclined :biggrin:

    Nevertheless, you are ranged, so you could turn the Ice Slide on and off.
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