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Ice DPS Build?
veiran2
Posts: 64 Arc User
Heyo,
Been playing for ages, but have never messed with any of the ice powers before, suddenly got the urge to make a Freeform ice guy.
Anyone have any ideas for a good DPS build that'll still be effective at endgame/rampages/etc once it hits 40?
Normally I'd post my first attempt at a build along with a post like this, but since I have zero experience with the powerset, any build I attempted at this point would likely be entirely useless anyway. All i know at this point is to slap Hard Frost on Ice Blast and aim for high crits.
Any info is appreciated!
Been playing for ages, but have never messed with any of the ice powers before, suddenly got the urge to make a Freeform ice guy.
Anyone have any ideas for a good DPS build that'll still be effective at endgame/rampages/etc once it hits 40?
Normally I'd post my first attempt at a build along with a post like this, but since I have zero experience with the powerset, any build I attempted at this point would likely be entirely useless anyway. All i know at this point is to slap Hard Frost on Ice Blast and aim for high crits.
Any info is appreciated!
Post edited by veiran2 on
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Firesnake
Rimefire Burst
Strafing Run
Mental Storm
Ego Surge/NM
I'll give ya a build w/ only Ice attacks as a starter template. Modify and add to it as ya like:
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Super Stats:
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Glacier
Level 6: Covert Ops Training
Level 9: Healthy Mind
Level 12: Acrobat
Level 15: Coordinated
Level 18: Quick Recovery
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 Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Concentration
Level 14: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 20: Wall of Ice (Rank 2)
Level 23: Masterful Dodge
Level 26: Ice Cage (Sub-Zero Cellblock)
Level 29: Ice Sheath (Rank 2)
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 38:
Travel Powers:
Level 6:
Level 35:
Specializations:
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (2/3)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
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 (3/3)
Vindicator: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
Apply Chill to target (possibly via a quickly tapped Frost Breath w. Frost Bite) then tap spam Ice Blast R2+Hard Frost. You tap spam because the bonus damage from Hard Frost does not increase with charge attacks.
For AoE Ice DPS: Select a target in the middle of a group, maintain Avalanche until things are no longer moving.
For your passive, Ice Form helps Ice Blast the most (via the chance to chill enemies) but Fiery Form and Stormbringer also buff the damage of Ice powers. Concentration or Aspect of the Machine are the useful toggles, with my preference going to Concentration for the Energy return (and incentive to stay at range).
Overdrive works ok as an Energy Unlock if you find that you use Avalanche frequently, MSA can work if you want to use Conviction (for self heals) and Wall of Ice.
I'd like to stick as much with Ice as possible when going for attacks/powers with visual effects. Other stuff like passives, AO/AD, etc can be from whichever power set works best.
Also, how fun is Vapor Form? I've heard it's totally useless, mechanically, but also heard it can be fairly fun thematically. I'm pretty sure I've never even seen anyone use that power, so not sure how true that is.
And I haven't touched Vapor Form since the beta* aside from a brief test earlier today, but the base functionality has never been that great. Even before On Alert there were extremely few situations where an escape power was needed. If you pick it up as a for fun power, note that it has a noticably longer recharge (1 min base) than the duration (12 seconds at all ranks). And you can't use other powers/devices while it is in effect, you have to rely on the DoT it applies if you want to deal damage. And you can't block.
*Where it at one point conferred actual immunity to physical damage. It still wasn't that useful.
http://co-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=203241
As for Vapor Form. Mechanically, it's crap. Thematically, it's neat for the visuals. I think I would only consider taking it for RP effects.
Get the Forums Enhancement Extension!
And no 1 minute recharge limit!
Decided to not bother with Vapor Form, even the graphics for it aren't really that impressive.
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name: Boreas
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Glacier
Level 6: Coordinated
Level 9: Acrobat
Level 12: Healthy Mind
Level 15: Impresario
Level 18: Negotiator
Level 21: Quick Recovery
Powers:
Level 1: Ice Shards
Level 1: Ice Blast (Rank 2, Hard Frost)
Level 6: Frost Breath (Rank 2, Frost Bite)
Level 8: Ice Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Concentration
Level 14: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 20: Wall of Ice (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Masterful Dodge
Level 26: Fire Snake (Rank 2)
Level 29: Ice Sheath (Rank 2, Supercooled)
Level 32: Ice Shield (Frigid Air)
Level 35: Resurgence (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Ice Cage (Sub-Zero Cellblock)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Ice Slide (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Athletics
Specializations:
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (2/3)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
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 (3/3)
Vindicator: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)
You don't need the Frigid Air and Supercooled adv, since tapping Frost Breath (Frost Bite) will do a 100% chill, ranking your block and AO will help more.
Frost Breath is not a very strong power, it's great for chill, but doesn't need ranks. Those points are better spend getting either r3 or the adv on firesnake.
Wall of ice is pretty much a theme power, so if you really want to use it that's fine, but it's not a great performing one. ANd if you really want a root, either Wall of Ice or Ice Cage fills that role, having both is not so useful.
You are missing the strongest aoe ice attack (avalanche).
Avalanche can be added, but I find in a full dps setup that even R2 Frost Breath does fine for trash cleanup and general AoE grinding. Avalanche is strong, but costly and has shorter reach- its good, but not necessary for a Hard Frost build. Same thing w/ the interrupt on Ice Cage- good, but not needed; I just like having some decent CC avail.
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!