Help me make an ice melee build

So, I found this weapon yesterday:



And I really want to make a build out of it.

Based on this weapon, I need the following:

- Good change to freeze mobs (I need crit for this?)
- Extra elemental dmg

But I don't really see that many nodes in the skilltree to make an elemental melee build - only 6 nodes read "increased elemental melee dmg".

So - which class should I use, and which melee skill should I use?
Glacial Hammer was my first idea - but then I saw you cannot use it with axes.
What about the DEX skill elemental hit?

Any suggestions are welcome!

you get freeze from crit or chance to freeze. freeze duration depends on how much cold damage you deal in a hit compared to targets max life

glacial hammer would be an obvious non-crit (Resolute technique) option (the weapon you linked is a mace, not an axe;)).. you could try ie ice crash with crit version

the build will be based on phys damage, so you dont need elemental passives. cold damage converted from phys still benefits from phys damage modifiers. Same goes for added damage based on phys (Hatred)

It would be optimal to start as a templar, there are AoE nodes, mace nodes nearby, and additional freeze chance.

basic 4L setup with hlacial hammer and hatred would be - melee splash - melee phys - weapon ele damage
you can try ele proli as fifth link (it now has a damage penalty, youd see whether it is worth using anyways)

basic 4L crit ice crash setup would be - melee phys - WED - faster attack (or crit chance/dmg/PCoC)

Thank you for the advice Ludvator!

Also, LOL at the weapontype. It looks like an axe if you ask me. :D

Going to try the icecrash skill - looks cool.
Given that the weapon gives a lot of crit - I want to be able to use that. :)

Do you think it is useful to still take 'elemental dmg'-nodes, or would that be a waste?

The issue with this weapon is.. it has low damage. For a melee phys build (and you need to build it that way and convert to cold) a weapon with less than 200 pdps and low crit (6 is not really high) migh end up being inadequate in maps.

What can work is a stat stick. Dualwield this with a spellcaster dagger with crit and use spells to freeze.

Alternatively go and get yourself a Doryiani Catalyst as a main hand weapon and use this one as a stat stick.

I only play self-found, so trading for that isn't really an option.
It is more fun for me to try to make builds with not-so-perfect gear I find myself, then to just get one of the top weapons in the game. :)

And actually, this mace has the highest dmg I ever saw on a weapon I got.