When to use Icy Terrain?

gjrgamer

I'm fairly new to CWing and have been developing my character as a Master of Flame.

I'm still, even now, not entirely happy with *when* to actually use Icy Terrain. Part of this is because encounters (I'm pre-60) aren't that tough. But I am conscious that as I approach 60/70 and endgame, Icy Terrain is one of the key skills and I want to make sure I correctly use the mechanics before I get there.

So how should I best use it (granted I assume I'll have to react on the fly occasionally)? Should I be putting it down around me at the start of a fight? Wait until enemies start approaching me? Teleport into a group, drop it and then teleport out? None of the above? All of the above? Something else?

I am currently (as I don't have Disintegrate yet) using Icy Terrain, Chill Strike and Fanning the Flame with Conduit of Ice on R1.

Between CoI and FtF I seem to be able to deal with most groups and following up with Chill Strike on a boss or tougher enemy. So Icy Terrain doesn't usually get used at all and I wonder if I'm missing something I should really be doing (or getting into the habit of using in ready for endgame).

I was figuring changing to Icy Terrain, Fanning the Flame, Disintegrate and Conduit of Ice on R1 once I get to 60.

Any help/advice would be great. Thank you.

ironzerg79

When it's off cooldown

But more seriously, I lead with Conduit of Ice at range, teleport into the group, drop Icy Terrain, Steal Time, Oppressive Force if it's available, otherwise Disintegrate the biggest mob and repeat.

craolus

One thing to keep in mind is that you can only have one Icy Terrain down. So if your recovery is high enough, you might have it off of cooldown, but your previous cast is still in effect. So casting it a second time would just move it to your current location. If that is the case, using other available encounters or casting an at-will to consume spell twisting might be slightly more efficient.

two30

Cast it so that it obscures the red zones that your allies are standing in. >:)

stuckthrottle

You are an MoF. CWs tend to be squishy and, in my experience (Xbox), pull aggro a lot. So you have to make sure you live long enough in the mob to cast everything. So as you approach end game, how you use Icy Terrain will sort of depend on your survivability if you run random PUGs a lot like I do.

With pre-made groups, you should be fine with starting CoI and then teleporting into the mob to drop Icy Terrain while you run your third and forth encounters in the mob. However, with random groups it may be more difficult as you might pull all aggro and get beat down before the mobs die. If you are using Steal Time, which you probably will do soon, teleporting out of the mob wouldn't be useful.

Once you hit 60, the struggle usually begins for MoFs. Icy Terrain will become a great friend as you notice things not dying quick enough. It's basically as Ironzerg said, hit with CoI from ranged and then teleport in with the rest of your rotation. In my case, I fire off scorching burst (I don't run Critical Conflagration), then begin my rotation in the same way Ironzerg said. Are you trying to run a DPS build or support?

nathan

Couple questions for you,

How are you allocating feats? Are you working towards, or do you have Icy Veins ? Also, did you tak the drifting embers feat ?

I'm currently messing around with a MoF build, but spend most of my time as SS. Here's what I can tell you from my own experience.

If you are running with Icy Veins, then you will definitely want to cast it within range of the monsters. It's one of the only abilities we have that can "freeze" a mob. With icy veins it will also add 5 stacks of chill immediately to all nearby targets, and your next encounter will immediately freeze targets, giving you a huge boost in dps from chilling presence.

Without icy veins, I would maybe consider not using it. Instead I might slot steal time.

damoc

As a MoF before lvl 60, I played mostly with Faning the flames on mastery (it auto spread smolder on close foes and its what's is closest to a fireball ) I then had icy terrain, steal time and a heavy hitter (chill strike can do the trick).
But I had specifically taken 15 points in the oppressor tree to gain Icy veins in order to freeze the ennemies to death since it's a close range approach. It's a tradeoff since I didn't obtain my desired capstoneat lvl 55 but at lvl 70.
If you try a more ranged approach where Icy veins is not proccing as often, you may try to play without the added contrel of freeze cheese. In that case, I'm a bit ambivalent about Icy terrain and I would rather play with CoI on mastery, Ftf, Heavy hitter and steal time for many targets and ray of enfeeblement for just one big guy.
This choice allows you to stand a little farther form your targets but as a trade off you don't freez your targets as easily (I personnaly hate ray of frost I find it irresponsive with a too long activation time for my taste)

So in fine, to answer your question: if Icy terrain is in your choice of encounter use it all the time. If it's not the point is moot, doesn't it?

gjrgamer

I have found, as I'm now post-60, that I was attracting too much aggro and therefore taking too much damage with my existing build when trying to use Icy Terrain.

My aim is to be a Thaumaturge MoF build, but I've now respec'd to get Icy Veins first and am only now piling my points into Thaumaturge. I have noticed a significant difference in my performance. Because I can now freeze foes effectively it allows me to get off more of my spells and back away before they unfreeze. Massive difference! I'm taking far less damage and getting off full rotations.

Thanks for all the help and advice!

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flambridge

Icy Terrain is a very usefull power, but need high rec / control. And you dps will down if you slot in Master.
Use it if you select Thaumaturge (with Spell Twisting) or Opressor (with Icy Veins).
I think is bad choice to Renegade.

Use in Master if you need more control (Thaumaturge and Opressor) and use in normal if you need more dps (Thaumaturge).
It help much GF, GWF and OP.
If you alone, only use in case you have high def or chill/control.