The Frozen Dagger (ST/CoC - Self found, noob friendly) [Gameplay Videos]

Ice spear is sweet because it kind of does it all with the pierce effect short range, crit at longer range.
Especially for a first spell in your 4 link. As soon as ice spear pierces and hits 2 targets in the one spear it's going to be doing way more damage overall than arctic breath would have just hitting the one monster in front of you and maybe splashing a little.

What happens later on when you get your 5th socket (2nd crit spell) is that it can then be nice to have a projectile spell that doesn't pierce so that it shotguns (all 3 projectiles hit same target) monsters that get close to you, or rares/bosses. So you're shotgunning closer guys down and piercing to start to soften up the back rows. Kind of best of both worlds. Also when you get to this point fireball just does way more damage than arctic breath unfortunately, as I really love the animation and freezing effect of AB.

In my opinion the 5th link is when this build truly takes off. Can't wait to get a 6th...

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What happens later on when you get your 5th socket (2nd crit spell) is that it can then be nice to have a projectile spell that doesn't pierce so that it shotguns (all 3 projectiles hit same target) monsters that get close to you, or rares/bosses. So you're shotgunning closer guys down and piercing to start to soften up the back rows. Kind of best of both worlds. Also when you get to this point fireball just does way more damage than arctic breath unfortunately, as I really love the animation and freezing effect of AB.

Truly Fireball is the best damage option for 5th link. It works in large AoE, Small pack and single target nicely. Any true 'farming' I do with fireball. When I do later content, where I'm not just wiping everything immediately, I still go back to Spear/Snap for the freeze.

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Kinch45 wrote:

In my opinion the 5th link is when this build truly takes off. Can't wait to get a 6th...

No doubt. You can make it work with 4, 5 is AMAZING, depending on your needs 6 will likely be utility (life leech/lgoh or magic pen of some sort or shock stacking). If your gear is top notch I suggest just adding straight dmg through Added Crit Dmg or just throwing another spell on there.

Guys pls try out using frost wall x]

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Farlley wrote:

Guys pls try out using frost wall x]

HAHAHA yes I actually threw frost wall in there (as I said I literally tried every spell in the game) in vry early maps just for the giggles. But that's all it is, is giggles. It is in now way a viable option come later maps.

But, I do encourage you guys to give it a try. It's great fun!!!

Thanks for pointing me to this thread. It seems like we have very similar play styles and it's nice to see that, despite differing delivery methods, we independently chose a lot of the same gear and skills. :)

Just one question regarding the extra Power Charge and Spell Damage per Power Charge nodes: It takes quite a few points to get to the Witch tree. Wouldn't it be cheaper to grab the Increased Critical Strike Chance and 12% Spell Damage nodes right next to the Shadow tree?

I haven't run the math on it but I'm greedy with traveling points.

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feyith wrote:

Thanks for pointing me to this thread. It seems like we have very similar play styles and it's nice to see that, despite differing delivery methods, we independently chose a lot of the same gear and skills. :)

Just one question regarding the extra Power Charge and Spell Damage per Power Charge nodes: It takes quite a few points to get to the Witch tree. Wouldn't it be cheaper to grab the Increased Critical Strike Chance and 12% Spell Damage nodes right next to the Shadow tree?

I haven't run the math on it but I'm greedy with traveling points.

Quick Math -
3 points by Bloodthirst nets you 45% crit chance and does not transition into other useful nodes, 2 points into spell dmg nets you 24% increased spell dmg.
5 points = 45 crit + 24 dmg


1 point for Instability is 50% crit. 1 point for spl dmg per chrg is 18% dmg. 1 point for Deep wisdom is 20 base mana and 20 int. And 3 travel points (30 int).
6 points = 50 crit + 18 dmg + 20 mana + 50 int (25 base mana and 10% energy shield)

Comparing Bonus per skill point investment-
Staying out of Witch - 8% crit + ~4.8% dmg
Going for Instability - 8.3% crit + 3% dmg + 7.5 mana + 1.6% es

So you get a little more crit and mana and ES ... or ... a little more dmg for your points invested. Personally feel like you are getting more for your money, so to speak, by going further into the witch tree.
I NEED the mana. I am committed to running 3 auras (on mana) and Voll's.
Also, note that the points invested to get into witch also transition into other useful nodes such as deep thoughts and elemental dominion.

I am in no way saying 1 way or the other is better. But neither is worse than the other. It just depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

I agree with you. I would go for more utility most of the time. Thanks for crunching the numbers! :)

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feyith wrote:

I agree with you. I would go for more utility most of the time. Thanks for crunching the numbers! :)

If you look at our trees you will actually have to spend another "travel point" so your would be 7. Mine is only 6 because I went for throaseeker. So, the numbers pertaining to your build will be different.

Oh, so in my case with a dedicated mana battery in the party, it might be better to stick with spending fewer points. Thanks for double checking that. :)

Another math question: Attack Speed vs. Projectile Damage? (The 3 nodes next to Ballistic Mastery.)

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feyith wrote:

Oh, so in my case with a dedicated mana battery in the party, it might be better to stick with spending fewer points. Thanks for double checking that. :)

Another math question: Attack Speed vs. Projectile Damage? (The 3 nodes next to Ballistic Mastery.)

Well for me ... I use a number of non projectile spells (Discharge/Cold snap/possible Arc) so it didn't make sense to dump to much into proj dmg.
You are a pure pojectile build so as long as you feel comfortable that you are proccing enough CoC's then proj. dmg is going to net you more dps.

While attk spd is extremely powerful it only rly shines with a lot of investment into it.