Fury of the frozen north (with full rift clear gameplay video)

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by Rogoth01 last updated Feb 7, 2015 ( Patch 2.1.2 )

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Hybrid

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Skills

Ray of Frost Snow Blast
- Ray of Frost
Cost: 16 Arcane Power

Project a beam of frozen ice that blasts enemies within 5 yards of the first enemy hit for 430% weapon damage as Cold and Slows their movement by 60% for 3 seconds.

Ray of Frost damage is increased by 405% weapon damage every second, up to a maximum total of 1240% weapon damage as Cold.
Snow Blast

Enemies hit by Ray of Frost take 15% increased damage from Cold for 4 seconds.
Hydra Frost Hydra
- Hydra
Cost: 15 Arcane Power

Summon a multi-headed Hydra for 15 seconds that attacks enemies with bolts of fire dealing 165% weapon damage as Fire.

Only one Hydra may be active at a time.
Frost Hydra

Summon a Frost Hydra that breathes a short range cone of frost, causing 255% weapon damage as Cold to all enemies in the cone.
Frost Nova Bone Chill
- Frost Nova
Cooldown: 11 seconds

Blast nearby enemies with an explosion of ice and freeze them for 2 seconds.
Bone Chill

Enemies take 33% more damage while frozen or chilled by Frost Nova.
Familiar Arcanot
- Familiar
Cost: 20 Arcane Power

Summon a Familiar that attacks your enemies for 240% weapon damage as Arcane. This companion cannot be targeted or damaged by enemies. Lasts 10 minutes.
Arcanot

While the Familiar is active, you regenerate 4.5 Arcane Power every second.
Magic Weapon Conduit
- Magic Weapon
Cost: 25 Arcane Power

Imbue your weapon with magical energy, granting it 10% increased damage. Lasts 10 minutes.
Conduit

Enemies hit by your attacks restore up to 3 Arcane Power.
Ice Armor Frozen Storm
- Ice Armor
Cost: 25 Arcane Power

Surround yourself in a barrier of ice that reduces damage from melee attacks by 12%. Melee attackers are either Chilled or Frozen for 3 seconds. Lasts 10 minutes.

Only one Armor may be active at a time.
Frozen Storm

A whirling storm of ice builds around you, dealing 80% weapon damage as Cold every second.

Cold Blooded
- Cold Blooded
Enemies chilled or frozen by you take 10% more damage from all sources for the duration of the chill or Freeze.
Blur
- Blur
Decrease damage taken by 17%.
Unstable Anomaly
- Unstable Anomaly
When you receive fatal damage, you instead gain a shield equal to 400% of your maximum Life for 5 seconds and release a shockwave that knocks enemies back and Stuns them for 3 seconds.

This effect may occur once every 60 seconds.
Astral Presence
- Astral Presence
Increase your maximum Arcane Power by 20 and Arcane Power regeneration by 2.5 per second.

Items

The Magistrate

Legendary Wizard Hat

Primary Stats

+128–163 Intelligence
+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Frost Hydra now periodically casts Frost Nova.
Empty Socket
Aughild's Power

Set Shoulders

Primary Stats

+6 Random Magic Properties

Aughild's Authority
Aughild's Power
Aughild's Search
Aughild's Rule
Aughild's Spike
(2) Set: Reduces damage from melee attacks by 7%Reduces damage from ranged attacks by 7%.
(3) Set: Reduces damage from elites by 15%Increases damage against elites by 15%
Tal Rasha's Allegiance

Set Amulet

Primary Stats

Critical Hit Damage Increased by 51.0–100.0%
+4 Random Magic Properties
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+330–524 Dexterity

+330–524 Strength

+330–524 Intelligence

Tal Rasha's Elements
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
Tal Rasha's Brace
Tal Rasha's Allegiance
Tal Rasha's Stride
Tal Rasha's Grasp
(2) Set: Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky. There is an 8 second cooldown for each damage type.
(4) Set: Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 25% for 8 seconds.
(6) Set: Attacks increase your damage by 750% for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit

Set Chest Armor

Primary Stats

+220–349 Vitality
Attack Speed Increased by 5.0–6.0%
+2 Random Magic Properties
Empty Socket
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence

Tal Rasha's Elements
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
Tal Rasha's Brace
Tal Rasha's Allegiance
Tal Rasha's Stride
Tal Rasha's Grasp
(2) Set: Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky. There is an 8 second cooldown for each damage type.
(4) Set: Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 25% for 8 seconds.
(6) Set: Attacks increase your damage by 750% for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.
Aughild's Search

Set Bracers

Primary Stats

+6 Random Magic Properties

Aughild's Authority
Aughild's Power
Aughild's Search
Aughild's Rule
Aughild's Spike
(2) Set: Reduces damage from melee attacks by 7%Reduces damage from ranged attacks by 7%.
(3) Set: Reduces damage from elites by 15%Increases damage against elites by 15%
Frostburn

Legendary Gloves

Primary Stats

Critical Hit Chance Increased by 6.0–10.0%
+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Cold skills deal 15–20% increased damage and have a 50% chance to Freeze enemies.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+330–524 Dexterity

+330–524 Strength

+330–524 Intelligence
Tal Rasha's Brace

Set Belt

Primary Stats

+81–85 Resistance to All Elements
+4 Random Magic Properties
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence

Tal Rasha's Elements
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
Tal Rasha's Brace
Tal Rasha's Allegiance
Tal Rasha's Stride
Tal Rasha's Grasp
(2) Set: Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky. There is an 8 second cooldown for each damage type.
(4) Set: Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 25% for 8 seconds.
(6) Set: Attacks increase your damage by 750% for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.
Pox Faulds

Legendary Pants

33 - 38 Armor

Secondary Stats

When 3 or more enemies are within 12 yards, you release a vile stench that deals 450 - 550% weapon damage as Poison every second for 5 seconds to enemies within 15 yards.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Ice Climbers

Legendary Boots

Primary Stats

+81–85 Resistance to All Elements
Reduces damage from Cold attacks by 7–10%.
+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Gain immunity to Freeze and Immobilize effects.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence
Ring of Royal Grandeur

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

Attack Speed Increased by 2.0–3.0%
+27–60 Life per Hit
+2 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Reduces the number of items needed for set bonuses by 1 (to a minimum of 2).
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+24–29 Dexterity

+24–29 Strength

+24–29 Intelligence
Stone of Jordan

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

Increases damage against elites by 25.0–30.0%
+2 Random Magic Properties
One of 6 Magic Properties (varies)

+8–10 Maximum Discipline (Demon Hunter Only)

+7–8 Maximum Fury (Barbarian Only)

+7–9 Maximum Arcane Power (Wizard Only)

+105–119 Maximum Mana (Witch Doctor Only)

+13–14 Maximum Spirit (Monk Only)

+7–8 Maximum Wrath

One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence

One of 7 Magic Properties (varies)

Physical skills deal 15–20% more damage.

Lightning skills deal 15–20% more damage.

Cold skills deal 15–20% more damage.

Fire skills deal 15–20% more damage.

Arcane skills deal 15–20% more damage.

Poison skills deal 15–20% more damage.

Holy skills deal 15–20% more damage.
Azurewrath

Legendary Sword

Primary Stats

+(610–745)–(731–926) Cold Damage
Cold skills deal 15–20% more damage.
+2 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

20.0–25.0% Chance to Freeze on Hit
Undead and Demon enemies within 25 yards take 500–650% weapon damage as Holy every second and are sometimes knocked into the air.
Winter Flurry

Legendary Source

Primary Stats

+2–3 Damage
Cold skills deal 5–10% more damage.
+27–35 Intelligence
+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Enemies killed by Cold damage have a 15–20% chance to release a Frost Nova.

More Details

Head
- The Magistrate
- Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
- Andariel's Visage
- Stat Priority: Int Vit Socket CHC
Shoulders
- Aughild's Power
- Firebird's Pinions
- Pauldrons of the Skeleton King
- Stat Priority: Int Vit AR Reduced Resource Cost
Amulet
- Tal Rasha's Allegiance
- Eye of Etlich
- Hellfire Amulet
- Stat Priority: CHD Cold % CHC Socket
Torso
- Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
- Firebird's Breast
- Vyr's Astonishing Aura
- Stat Priority: Int Vit AR Armor +
Wrists
- Aughild's Search
- Reaper's Wraps
- Krelm's Buff Bracers
- Stat Priority: Int Vit Cold % CHC
Hands
- Frostburn
- Firebird's Talons
- Vyr's Grasping Gauntlets
- Stat Priority: CHD Int Vit CHC
Waist
- Tal Rasha's Brace
- Harrington Waistguard
- String of Ears
- Stat Priority: Int Vit AR Life
Legs
- Pox Faulds
- Firebird's Down
- Vyr's Fantastic Finery
- Stat Priority: Int Vit Socket Armor +
Feet
- Ice Climbers
- Illusory Boots
- Fire Walkers
- Stat Priority: Int Vit AR Armor +
Rings
- Ring of Royal Grandeur
- Stone of Jordan
- Unity
- Stat Priority: Socket CHD CHC Int
Weapon
- Azurewrath
- Rimeheart
- Shard of Hate
- Stat Priority: Int Socket Max Dmg
Offhand
- Winter Flurry
- Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
- Stat Priority: Int Vit CHC

Legendary Gems
- Bane of the Trapped
  Bane of the Trapped
  
  Gem
  
  Primary Stats
  
  Increase damage against enemies under the effects of control-impairing effects by 15.00%.
  Gain an aura that reduces the movement speed of enemies within 15 yards by 30%. (Requires Rank 25)
- Gem of Efficacious Toxin
  Gem of Efficacious Toxin
  
  Gem
  
  Primary Stats
  
  Poison all enemies hit for 2000% weapon damage over 10 seconds.
  All enemies you poison take 10% increased damage from all sources and deal 10% less damage. (Requires Rank 25)
- Bane of the Powerful
  Bane of the Powerful
  
  Gem
  
  Primary Stats
  
  Gain 20% increased damage for 30.0 seconds after killing an elite pack.
  Gain 15% increased damage versus elites and take 15% reduced damage from elites. (Requires Rank 25)

the items in the build all revolve around the concept of random freeze effects, making it possible to chain freeze enemies until they die, this is achieved through frostburn gauntlets, azurewrath sword, and the free frost nova from the proc effect on winter flurry, and the periodic frost nova casts with the magistrate helm equipped.

Paragon Priorities

Core

Movement Speed
Primary Stat
Maximum Resource
Vitality

Offense

Critical Hit Damage
Cooldown Reduction
Critical Hit Chance
Attack Speed

Defense

Life Regeneration
Armor
Resist All
Life

Utility

Resource Cost Reduction
Area Damage
Life on Hit
Gold Find

for each category it pretty much reads like every other build guide, only slight variation is that for offense, cooldown reduction is not top pick, and that i personally prefer mitigation stats over life% in the defense tab as a priority.

Build Guide

this build, and gear setup was an idea i had way back when blizzard changed how the game worked, before RoS launched, but the problem was getting all these items, some of which were extremely rare, with the latest patch (2.1.2) i have managed to aquire the remaining items that i felt would make this build work (already having acquired tal rasha items and various non specific items playing from RoS release), after some play testing, i have found that this build can easily handle Torment 6 difficulty, and the kill speed is not that much different to the standard firebird setup, it is however harder to dodge things as there is no room for extra movement abilities like teleport, so you will have to rely on your own self awareness to get out of trouble, it is also good for supporting a group, as you will mostly keep enemies frozen, which will help to reduce group damage, and you also provide huge damage debuff effects on enemies through frost nova, and ray of frost rune choices.

the majority of your personal damage is coming from hydra and the free meteor shower from the tal rasha 4 set bonus, while channelling ray of frost to keep enemies debuffed, and frost nova to keep them frozen in place and also to apply the debuff effect so the meteors/hydra hit harder, i should note that with the gear i have (mostly ancient items) ray of frost was hitting for upwards of 200M damage, so i was able to rely on that as a damage source more than simply a debuff mechanic, however for lower quality gear, it will remain a debuff mechanic and shouldn't be relied upon as a major source of damage.

ice armour provides a buffer against melee damage, which with this build you will find you are in melee combat a lot more often than not, due to the short range on frost nova, but also with the rune choice, it provides some nice damage to enemies in a short range of you, which is also boosted by the previously mentioned skills, and the cold damage bonuses from gear.

the remaining skills are fairly self explanatory, they are there purely to help with arcane power management while you stand still to channel ray of frost, a small up side is that with familiar you get arcane damage as a way to trigger the arcane meteor from the tal rasha 4 set, also, with the "greater rift templar" setup, you can also proc lightning using a thunderfury equipped on follower, and if you feel like it, using fire walker boots to trigger the meteor shower for fire.

as for the passives, i chose Blur for the extra damage mitigation on torment 6, however if you are not running this difficulty, you could easily swap this out for audacity/glass cannon/unwavering will for extra damage, same goes for unstable anomaly, if you are happy with your toughness level and aren't worried about getting killed, you can swap this out for any of the previously mentioned alternatives, but cold blooded and astral presence are mandatory, one to synergise with the build and gear to provide extra damage, the other to help with arcane power management.

all in all i found this really fun to play, it was a change of pace to the firebird setup, and makes use of some of these awesome items that people either don't know about, or have forgotten about.

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