Performance and Fun! Recommended early builds for Elementalists
This is similar to the Hydra + Ice Shard build that was a popular choice during beta testing. Get close to enemies, activate your Ice Armor, use Frostfoot for Vulnerability, and use Ice Shards. Employ passives that increase your cold damage and invest points in shield-related passives. For Chain Shards, you can get more out of your shields by choosing the higher-end Ice Shard, which considers enemies frozen when they have a shield as a talent.
The only downside to the Ice Shard build is the single-deal, which is compensated for by the Hydra. While it doesn’t pack as much firepower as it did in the beta, it’s a decent enough performer in the developmental phase. However, you should consider resetting your Hydra skill in the future, as it will become less effective over time. I recommend using it on Normal and Veteran difficulties before switching builds.
Enchantment uses Fireball in the first slot, followed by Ice Shard. Fireballs cause an explosion of kills, which is very helpful when dealing with large groups of monsters. Ice Shard’s enchantment ability automatically applies to frozen enemies for added convenience.
Grimoire of Power and Phase Recommendations
Phases of Penetrating Cold: Ice shards pierce 3 times, dealing 25% less damage for each additional hit.
[Link to drop site inventory map DB] Shattered Peaks – Swamp of the Dead
Protector’s Stature: Dealing damage to Elite enemies grants you up to 315 Shield for 10 seconds. This effect can only be activated once every 30 seconds.
[Link to drop zone inventory map DB] Fragmented Peaks – Forgotten Archives
Phases of Penetrating Cold: When you freeze an enemy, you have a 25% chance to make them Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
[Link to Obtained Inventory Map DB] Arid Plains – Forgotten Abyss
Storm Raging Phase: Increases damage dealt to vulnerable enemies by 11% while shielded.
▶ [Link to Drop Zone Inventory Map DB] Arid Plains – Black Agate Fortress
Phase of Control: Increases damage dealt to immobilized, stunned, or frozen enemies.
[Link to Drop Zone Inventory Map DB] Kezistan – Sunken Library
Aspect of Giftedness: Restores 15 Mana when using skills with cooldowns.
▶ [Link to Drop Zone Inventory Map DB] Hau’zar – Witchwood
Frozen Attack Control Phase: Avalanche Core passive applies for an additional 1 cast.
Frost Onslaught Defense Phase: Frostfoot gains an additional charge, but its cooldown is increased.
Serpentine Offense Phase: You can summon 1 additional Hydra, but the duration of the Hydra is reduced.
If you have enough skill points from your build, I recommend using a Cold Elementalist instead of a Hydra, utilizing the Inferno and Combustion passives. Fireballs can be added to your enchantments to set your enemies on fire, and you can use the related passives to make them last longer. Another enchantment I like to use is Ice Shard.
There are plenty of variations on this skill, as long as you keep the core of using Ice Shard as your core skill and employing frostbite, teleportation, ice armor, and combustion-related passives. You can substitute Blizzard or Ice Orb for Inferno, and you can change the skill levels of your combustion and cold passives to your liking. Cold can also be used to help you survive in critical situations.
In this skill tree, I filled the last skill slot with my ultimate, Infernal Fire. It’s a great deal of damage, and having the ultimate Inferno will draw enemies in and make it easier to use Ice Shards. Depending on your preference, you may want to replace the Inferno with a Blizzard or Ice Orb, depending on your phase and itemization options. 메이저사이트
Grimoires of Power and Phase Recommendations
Phases of Penetrating Cold: Shards of ice pierce 3 times, dealing 25% less damage on each additional hit.
[Link to drop site inventory map DB] Shattered Peaks – Swamp of the Dead
Protector’s Stature: Dealing damage to Elite enemies grants you up to 315 Shield for 10 seconds. This effect can only be activated once every 30 seconds.
[Link to drop zone inventory map DB] Fragmented Peaks – Forgotten Archives
Phases of Penetrating Cold: When you freeze an enemy, you have a 25% chance to make them Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
[Link to Obtained Inventory Map DB] Arid Plains – Forgotten Abyss
Storm Raging Phase: Increases damage dealt to vulnerable enemies by 11% while shielded.
▶ [Link to Drop Zone Inventory Map DB] Arid Plains – Black Agate Fortress
Phase of Control: Increases damage dealt to immobilized, stunned, or frozen enemies.
[Link to Drop Zone Inventory Map DB] Kezistan – Sunken Library
Aspect of Giftedness: Restores 15 Mana when using skills with cooldowns.
▶ [Link to Drop Zone Inventory Map DB] Hau’zar – Witchwood
Frozen Attack Control Phase: Avalanche Core passive applies for an additional 1 cast.
Frost Nova Defense Phase: Frostfoot gains an additional charge, but has an increased cooldown.
Chain Lightning for both boss fights and field hunts
Example Skill Tree
This build takes full advantage of the Combustion passive, but also draws its firepower from Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Unstable Current. The chain lightning bounces around and hits multiple monsters, so it’s not a problem when facing multiple monsters, and in a single-target boss fight, it will bounce off of your character and perform beyond expectations.
Combat can be fun, too. His electric whip and conduction buffs allow him to move quickly, and his ultimate, Unstable Current, makes him even more fun to hit. If you’re considering resetting your skills, you can use other basic skills in the early game, but it’s not worth sacrificing the fun of getting the movement speed benefit.
However, this is a risky build if you don’t have enough time to develop and set it up. Given the melee nature of your basic attacks and the significant mana cost of Chain Lightning, you may find yourself dying a lot.
Tome of Power and Phase Recommendations
Phases of Recharge: Gain 4 mana whenever Chain Lightning bounces off of you.
[Link to drop site inventory map DB] Fragmented Peak – Pinnacle
Efficiency Phase: Casting your basic skills reduces the mana cost of your next core skill by 10%.
▶ [Link to Inventory Map DB] Skogsglen – Domhain Lair
Nimble Phase: Increases the attack speed of your Basic Skills by 23%.
▶ [Visit Inventory Map DB] Arid Plains – Hall of the Buried
Storm Raging Phase: Increases damage dealt to vulnerable enemies by 11% when you have a shield.
▶ [Link to Obtainable Inventory Map DB] Barren Plains – Black Agate Fortress
Gifted Status: Recover 15 Mana when using skills with cooldowns.
▶ [Link to Inventory Map DB] Hajjar – Witchwood
Protector’s Stature: Dealing damage to Elite enemies grants you up to 315 Shield for 10 seconds. This effect can only be activated once every 30 seconds.
[Link to drop zone inventory map DB] Fragmented Peaks – Forgotten Archives
Frost Nova Defense Phase: Frostfoot gains an additional charge, but its cooldown is increased.