It looks like a usual Frozen Orb build, but the key that makes this build viable for high levels is Blizzard - Frozen Solid. I also got shoulders and chest armor with both +15% Blizzard damage, and of course the obvious +15% frost damage on bracers, which makes Blizzard more than just a support spell with measly damage. Even if I'm walking around a lot and don't get to cast many Frozen Orbs, mobs oftentimes die just to Blizzard. Frost Nova is more the escape spell, not really necessary but adds a lot of damage thanks to Bone Chill rune; Glacial Spike + Prodigy is my AP generator.
I've got a lot of cooldown reduction (-35%) such that Bone Chill is up quite often, which again makes Blizzard's damage stronger and reduces the absolute necessity for lots of APoC. With ~200k DPS and ~700k EHP (buffed) I can run Torment 4 easily and handle most elite packs on Torment 6 (although heavy CC+ranged packs will eat you alive before you can freeze them).
Yeah, this is a little more original than the other builds I've seen in the last couple of days. Well, yeah, it is a Frozen Orb build at heart. I bet you wish there were a cold Magic Weapon rune. Have you tried running Ice Blades in place of Glacial Spike? It returns AP a lot faster.
I think if you can somehow squeeze in Icicle in place of another spell, that'd be neat, too. Otherwise you'll have to wait you turn for Frostburn
Yeah I've tried Glacier Blades. AP regeneration is a bit better, but it also requires to be a bit closer to the mobs. Glacial Spike is much better for distant freezing. I guess it's a bit up to personal flavor, usually Blades are my favorite signature spell, but not for this build. Also, thanks to Prodigy and APoC I don't have any AP problems at all.
But Icicle is a nice idea, I could swap that in for Magic Weapon; would decrease kill speed, but probably increase survivability even more. This build is obviously more about slowing mobs down - as all frost builds in all games - than about pure DPS. It allows me to kill anything easily on Torment 4 even with mediocre to "slightly above average" gear :-)
Bags, I was using this exact build, with a few different runes on Ice Armor and Blizzard, and I really enjoyed it. Then I got a hat that had +meteor damage, so I switch out Blizzard with Meteor (cold rune), and loved it too! I love that not only are there cold builds, there are MULTIPLE viable cold builds.
I was the guy that was running Poison Hydra/Blizzard back in the early days of D3 (while leveling) and was very disappointed when that build didn't scale into Inferno. That probably had more to do with my gear than anything. I am so glad that Blizzard made...well, Blizzard back into a viable spell. If I find a few +blizzard damage items I will surely switch back.
I've only got 95k sheet damage but I was able to handle anything on T2 with no trouble.
I'm curious why Magic Missile with Glacial Spike as your AP regenerator? I've been using Electrocute with the Surge of Power rune and dropped Prodigy. As far as AP regen, it does the job almost as fast as Prodigy.
Just curious if there is something that I'm missing
I'm curious why Magic Missile with Glacial Spike as your AP regenerator? I've been using Electrocute with the Surge of Power rune and dropped Prodigy. As far as AP regen, it does the job almost as fast as Prodigy.
Just curious if there is something that I'm missing
For me, being able to freeze a group of mobs at a distance is pretty handy. Not as useful for AP generation, maybe, but a little bit more CC.
I'm using a similar build, works great; however is Blizzard good enough to slow/stop elites (I was considering putting blizzard in my build but swapped it out)? I went with a more damaging build with better AP management to deal with those situation.
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The Frozen Solid rune of Blizzard stands up to its name: it freezes a lot of enemies. It's worth the slot for the extra CC and damage. If you're low on AP you can also use Snowbound rune.
I started using this build it's a lot of fun and works great!
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How does it feel in greater rifts? Can it reach 30 somewhat decently? Even if it's not sufficient for high end progress I kinda like being able to play something different to farm my gem upgrades.
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http://eu.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/wizard#acSfYl!Wcb!ZcZacZ
It looks like a usual Frozen Orb build, but the key that makes this build viable for high levels is Blizzard - Frozen Solid. I also got shoulders and chest armor with both +15% Blizzard damage, and of course the obvious +15% frost damage on bracers, which makes Blizzard more than just a support spell with measly damage. Even if I'm walking around a lot and don't get to cast many Frozen Orbs, mobs oftentimes die just to Blizzard. Frost Nova is more the escape spell, not really necessary but adds a lot of damage thanks to Bone Chill rune; Glacial Spike + Prodigy is my AP generator.
I've got a lot of cooldown reduction (-35%) such that Bone Chill is up quite often, which again makes Blizzard's damage stronger and reduces the absolute necessity for lots of APoC. With ~200k DPS and ~700k EHP (buffed) I can run Torment 4 easily and handle most elite packs on Torment 6 (although heavy CC+ranged packs will eat you alive before you can freeze them).
I think if you can somehow squeeze in Icicle in place of another spell, that'd be neat, too. Otherwise you'll have to wait you turn for Frostburn
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But Icicle is a nice idea, I could swap that in for Magic Weapon; would decrease kill speed, but probably increase survivability even more. This build is obviously more about slowing mobs down - as all frost builds in all games - than about pure DPS. It allows me to kill anything easily on Torment 4 even with mediocre to "slightly above average" gear :-)
I was the guy that was running Poison Hydra/Blizzard back in the early days of D3 (while leveling) and was very disappointed when that build didn't scale into Inferno. That probably had more to do with my gear than anything. I am so glad that Blizzard made...well, Blizzard back into a viable spell. If I find a few +blizzard damage items I will surely switch back.
I've only got 95k sheet damage but I was able to handle anything on T2 with no trouble.
Just curious if there is something that I'm missing
Monkalicious: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/profile/OptimusPrime-12194/hero/79139477
If you want to arrange it
This world you can change it
If we could somehow make this
Christmas thing last
By helping a neighbor
Or even a stranger
And to know who needs help
You need only just ask