Cold Chronomancer Megathread. All content cleared. Leveling guide added. Low-budget build added.

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Xesht lvl 82 gifs:

Low-budget (2-5d) (by PaintMaster):



Medium-budget (30-70d):



Big-budget (200-300d):



Frostbolt clear:



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Table of Contents:

1. Introduction.
- Pros and cons
2. Builds.
3. League start.
4. Gear progression.
5. Crafting (WIP).
6. Videos.
7. F.A.Q.

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Update log:

I'm off until the next content update.

Once again, if there is a Hierophant release, I'll play some spell totems.
If not - here we go again.

No build updates from me soon.

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Thoughts on 0.1.1c nerf:
https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3592843/page/113#p25941979

Latest build update post: https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3592843/page/102#p25926881



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Sup. Monik is here again, so it's time to make another off-meta build.

This megathread is about Making Chrono Great Again during the early access. Collective theorycrafting is immeasurable, a lot of big brains here shared their builds and ideas so we could make our Chrono at least playable.

We struggled a lot to make things work for the entire month since EA started. And we did it. Cold Chrono is perfectly viable for the highest-end content.

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Pros and Cons. I'll be honest here about my build.

- A lot of buttons to press. Not a 1-button build.
- Complicated to play.
- A bit slow in the early game due to defensive playstyle and cold spells.
- No offscreen clear on 1 tap.
- Nerfs. A lot of them.

+ All content viable. Any difficulty.
+ Superb bosser. Can be a full-party boss carry.
+ Can become a great support character for party play.
+ Defensive playstyle. Slowing enemies down, freezing them, and blocking them with the frost wall.
+ Endgame mapping is fairly good.
+ Not that expensive.

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Cold Slowmancer (gear, skill gems, passives, low-budget included): https://maxroll.gg/poe2/planner/6x7q0cm3

PoB(endgame only): https://maxroll.gg/poe2/pob/jm6220zo

Leveling guide: https://maxroll.gg/poe2/planner/an1bc0nm

How to use maxroll (real quick):



This megathread was created and refined through collective efforts. We have different opinions on how we should play and build, there is a really huge variety.

I have to post several noteworthy builds and information from other contributors too bc their opinions and approaches are totally worth knowing, so you might like the stuff they do and implement into your build.


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Ascendancy choice:



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Mechanics explained:

Video guides:

PaintMaster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY0cYlJK2hg

Ruz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xLXmWwJi8U

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Written guide:

Full credit for this section goes to chobi0ne#5028, and their maxroll build page: https://maxroll.gg/poe2/planner/ilq1o0v9

The Maxroll page is just more convenient for explaining things, and I see no reason to rewrite/copy-paste that info here.

Please check it for a detailed mechanics explanation in the "Notes" section. Our builds are very similar (bc we forged them in this thread through trials and errors), and there isn't much I can add.

UPD: here is forum post about it https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3592843/page/59#p25793814

However, although we have many things similar, the regular gameplay is very different (feel free to check Videos). Unlike 1-button clearing with the Frostbolt, my main skill is the Frost Wall, so I use a 1-2 combo to detonate those walls with the Frostbolt (w/ Snakepit ring).

This offers one the highest damage possible for clearing with the Cold Skills:
Frost Wall is a very strong damaging skill by itself, so I get as much AoE as I can to make all walls overlap with each other (one of the few skills that can shotgun).

Please note, that without the Snakepit ring, Frostbolt is not good enough to destroy walls. The best alternative cold option is the Frost Bomb, followed by Ice Nova + Astral Projection support (see Ruz's build below).

Frost Bomb is a very strong skill (and offers the best wall detonation vs bosses), but it slows us down at mapping a lot bc it has both CD and Duration. However, it's perfectly viable to run with it before we get the Snakepit ring.

If you have any questions - feel free to ask in the thread.

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Build list:


I. The Cold Slowmancer: https://maxroll.gg/poe2/planner/6x7q0cm3

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II. Chobi0ne's 1-button clear: https://maxroll.gg/poe2/planner/ilq1o0v9

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III. Casia's current build (SSF/Low budget): https://maxroll.gg/poe2/planner/gx7k80we

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IV. Casia's support for party play (rough sketch): https://maxroll.gg/poe2/planner/3q1n4601

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V. Ruz's boss carry: https://maxroll.gg/poe2/planner/so1e9n01

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Here are notable takes of other people about how to improve your builds (some are dated or already implemented above):



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Cold Slowmancer leveling guide: https://maxroll.gg/poe2/planner/an1bc0nm

How to use maxroll (if you missed above):



Video compilation of a leveling run: https://youtu.be/xZAhwBeEtUM

Video compilation of a low-budget run (from maps to Pinnacles): https://youtu.be/ISKDUsl7_m8

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Under the spoiler is the video archive of our early struggle (EA release), before things started to get good. You won't be impressed there. Feel free to check tho if you want to know the starting point of our current endgame monsters.



18. Xesht d0-d3 bossfights (01.01.2025): https://youtu.be/3oWHFXqnp1c

19. 71% deli t15 with Breach and Expo full run (Ice Nova + Frost Wall, no edit): https://youtu.be/ULyJPWxVT8U

20. Max difficulty Xesht: https://youtu.be/oWo9uiT6Gu4

21. My lastest mapping gameplay (Frostbolt w/Snalkepit + Frost Wall): https://youtu.be/RmHr02WpaCM

22. Chobi0ne's showcase video: https://youtu.be/usSiHuJQz2A

23. Ruz's build guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xLXmWwJi8U

24. PaintMaster's build guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY0cYlJK2hg

25. Simulacrum waves 14-15 on max difficulty: https://youtu.be/-BD1Z9nJxT4

26. Leveling run compilation: https://youtu.be/xZAhwBeEtUM

27. Xesht 8/8 after the patch: https://youtu.be/mMrMzLWiuVk

28. Simulacrum 8/8 after the patch: https://youtu.be/57b3GW2ir18

29. Killed Xesht 8/8 in 3 seconds: https://youtu.be/JWICQi9chNI

30. Arbiter 8/8: https://youtu.be/koVdJCDzOpE

31. Low-budget video compilation from maps to Pinnacles: https://youtu.be/ISKDUsl7_m8

32. High-end mapping showcase (992% WC, 60% deli/beyond, lvl 80): https://youtu.be/qx8cJGwrw8Q

33. Full Simulacrum run (lvl 82, Frostbolt, no edit): https://youtu.be/4vFfjvzEBeI

34. Full Simulacrum run (lvl 82, Spark, no edit): https://youtu.be/4RyvuRiB_8E

35. Full Simulacrum run (lvl 82, expensive glasscannon): https://youtu.be/tSdhmAZLXzg

36. Full Simulacrum run, 0.1.1c nerf (lvl 82, expensive glasscannon) https://youtu.be/d3aQbbGODls

37. Ice Nova mapping demo (by Reazura): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xez0q1WCV1o
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This is it for now, have fun y'all.
Let's see what's up here later.
Feel free to share your thoughts.

Q: How much critical strike chance is enough?

A: No more than 60% on Comet. This is an efficient crit cap. Critical Weakness is an additive debuff that makes it 100% on bosses under full stacks.
Frostbolt should be about 47-49%. It's enough.

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Q: I'm not shocking enemies. What to do?

A: Scale more damage and critical chance. More info:



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Q: How to scale damage?

A: Maxroll guide.

In short:
- Follow the build guide.
- Get a decent wand.
- Get more mana.
- For big bosses always swap Impetus and Energy Retention to Concentrated Effect and Elemental Focus
- Comet lvl >20/20%.
- Archmage lvl 20/20%. It's big. Lvl 21 Archmage is a breakpoint. We achieve it by getting lvl 20 Archmage and Lightning Support.
- Get 500 more mana.

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Q: I keep failing Simulacrum. SOS.

A: Put Bludgeon support in Frost Wall instead of Glaciation/Overcharged. Check my Simulacrum videos for the gameplay.
Yes way.

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Q: I have xx ES, yy Mana, what to upgrade next?

A: Maxroll build page has it all. Read the Notes. Be considerate of your budget. Match passive tree/gems/equip. Please don't run the End-game passive tree with Medium-budget gear/gems.

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Q: Does Apex of the Moment work? it does nothing for me.

A: It works perfectly fine and is a multiplier for other sources of Slow, such as Temporal Chains curse, Chill, and Hinder.
Quick demo of it working: https://youtu.be/1wpMCmWagq0

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Q: Can I play without Snakepit?

A: Yes, with Ice Nova or Spark. Frostbolt absolutely requires a Snakepit ring to get good. Explosions can Shotgun (which means they can hit 1 target with multiple explosions) and are just stronger than a projectile.

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Q: How are you guys getting an energy shield with Eldrich Battery?

A: Everlasting Gaze amulet provides base ES equal to 20-30% of your base maximum mana.

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Q: How to get more Comets?

A: There were several nerfs to triggers/walls, so we are not getting as many Comets now in general. Previously we were using Frost Wall for guaranteed Comets even w/o enemies around, but now it's fixed.

But the answer is always the same - get more crit and damage.
From the Cast on Critical description:

Gains 1 Energy per Power of enemies you
Critically Hit with Skills, modified by the percentage of the enemy's Ailment Threshold the Critical Hit will deal.

This means the more damage you do - the more energy you get.

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Q: Is Ice Nova viable?

A: Yes, but it's harder than Frostbolt to get good.

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Q: Which Sceptre base I should choose?

A: This depends on how often you use Soul Offering on the secondary weapon set (with duration).
If you, like me, run under the offering most of the time - Omen or anything but Rattling with more spirit/mana.
If you despise the idea of using Soul offering every 20 seconds - Rattling sceptre can do. This offers using Minion Pact to increase the damage of the skill of choice.
Don't run 2 rattling sceptres if you are using Soul offering frequently - their CDs mess with each other.

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Q: Is Slow Magnitude on Gloves important?

A: It is strong bc it increases all slow effects that we have: Chill, Temporal Chains, Hinder, and Apex of the Moment.

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Q: Which charms to use?

A: Depends on your belt.
Stun (Stone charm) > Slow (Silver charm) > Frozen (Thawing charm).

Stun is the most important to get immunity against. You die in breaches bc you get stunned most of the time when swarmed by monsters.

Slow charm comes before freeze charm bc you always get chilled before you freeze on the next hit.

Freeze charm is the last layer of defense against freeze in 3-charms belt. You'll rarely notice it working.

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Q: Why Maligaro's Virtuosity?

A: We are running critical strike build, so those gloves save a lot of passive points that can be invested in more valuable stuff than Critical Damage.

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Q: Why Morior Invictus?

A: We are running a lot of uniques until the endgame, so we have a huge pressure on elemental resistances. So, 5-socket Morior with +10% to all ele res and maximum mana would offer +50% to all ele res and 35% increased maximum mana (with Zalatl soul cores), which is more than anything that rare chest can offer until you get Dream Fragments.



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Q: I saw other builds are running with Icebreaker anoint. Why we don't have it here?

A: We have quite low maximum ES pool. Icebreaker is simply useless with 1-1.5k ES and doesn't work with Grim Feast, just like stun threshold.

Charms are your best defense against chill/freeze before Dream Fragments.

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Q: I have question about x build from the build list...

A: I don't offer any support for other people's builds. Ask them by yourself in DM.

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Q: Does <any source of + x to level of all Cold spells> work? I don't see any difference...

A: A lot of things are still bugged. To apply changes, you need to turn off and on smth, change locations, put off/on gems or swap them, and sometimes even relog. Try something.

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Q: Why Whispers of Doom with Blasphemy?

A: Any curse linked to Blasphemy is still a curse in the first place. It gains benefits from any curse and aura modifiers tho.

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Q: Do I need +3 Comet jewel?

A: It is a endgame upgrade. There is no need for it before >5.5-6k mana.

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Q: What should I take as Quest rewards?

A: Leveling guide has it all.

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Q: WTF with Controlled Metamorphosis? Why am I missing stats?

A: It is bugged and disables attribute gain from travel nodes

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Q: I am using Call of the Brotherhood with Spark and...

A: Don't. CotB works before the Archmage, so you still will do mostly lightning damage. If you want to freeze everything with Spark, use the Three Dragons helmet.

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Q: Which skill should I prioritize getting to 5L?

A: I went with Frostbolt 1st, CoC 2nd, FW 3rd, EoW last.

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Q: What's the point in Eye of Winter?

A: Full utility for 1-time use per boss fight.

You can check it in my old Xesht 8/8 video: https://youtu.be/oWo9uiT6Gu4?feature=shared&t=21

22nd second (lol): EoW applied Shock, Cold Exposure, Lightning Exposure, max stacks of CW in a single cast.

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Q: There is another nerf. How's the build?

A: Still alive.

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Q: I got Dream Fragments and it feels bad. What is the point of it?

A: Dream Fragments doesn't work well with Morior. You need to get a rare chest with a big ES (>1k) and Ingenuity to make it better.
Overall, it's not that good to slap into your medium-budget build.
It is an endgame item that requires more things to shine.

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Q: What about elemental penetration? Pob says it's good.

A: Penetration in poe 2 doesn't stack with -res and can't go below 0.
Useless on bosses under conductivity/exposures.
Useful only on mapping with +ele res mods, where u won't cast curse/exposure on every single trash mob.

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Q: How hard/easy it is to kill <whatever>?

A: Easy. Chronomancer is the best and safest boss killer in the game.

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Q: What about foci? Scepter/foci?

A: In short, not worth it.

For more details (entire page): https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3592843/page/90#p25906173

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Q: Why my minions don't spawn on the secondary weapon set?

A: Bugged spirit. Turn off CoC/Archmage for the secondary weapon set.

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Q: When to switch to Spark?

A: When you can make its dps equal to your Frostbolt explosion dps.

Comparison: https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3592843/page/96#p25915276

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Q: Split Shot anoint for Frost bolt? Projectile Speed?

A: Projectile Speed (Turn the Clock Forward wheel) is worth it. Split Shot anoint is not.

This is what I'm looking for!

"

monik390#5560 wrote:

- Now and Again + Undbound Encore are key nodes here, since I intend to utilize several skills with Hourglass Support (it is one of the strongest support gems atm):

I'm not sure if you are aware that each support skill can only be used with one single skill across all your skills, so you won't be able to 'utilize several skills' with it. That being said, it is obviously still an incredibly good support gem to use with this ascendancy – it's just a question of which skill is best supported by it.

"

Tekkar#0132 wrote:

"

monik390#5560 wrote:

- Now and Again + Undbound Encore are key nodes here, since I intend to utilize several skills with Hourglass Support (it is one of the strongest support gems atm):

I'm not sure if you are aware that each support skill can only be used with one single skill across all your skills, so you won't be able to 'utilize several skills' with it. That being said, it is obviously still an incredibly good support gem to use with this ascendancy – it's just a question of which skill is best supported by it.

Yeah given this fact it's not looking great for the Chronomancer, unless there are some really good skills we havn't seen that inherently have a cooldown.

I'm looking through known info and I see very few long CD skills. Like, there's Cluster Grenade and Hammer of the Gods and that's it?

yeah, this is my thinking to try.

frost wall+fortress. possibly hourglass.

need to test how much it explodes for, and what can trigger it reliably.

3 charges on its CD.
so right off the bat, 3 chances for the 33%.

frost bomb I expect to pair with it, with second wind.
2 CD for 33%+33%=55% chance for cd proc at least once.

time snap, giving 4 casts of the CD. 33%x4. which is an 80% chance for the CD to proc at least once.

"Increase limit" does frost wall, or frost bomb have a limit of 1?


frost walls charges, makes me wonder if traps will use the same mechanic and thus be very good for chronomancer.


secondary scaling is a bit ??? atm. heralds don't really work for this, etc. just frost bombs exposure.


Time stop seems pointless. what is it doing regular freeze isn't doing?

time rift ought to be more useful in poe2. less regen, less leech. a giant get out of jail free card, for anything that does not one shot you, to reset your HP back to full should be solid for bosses.

recoup I'm doubtful for. seems expensive for little.

slow in poe1 is just movement. seems kindof weak.


The passive tree is larger in poe2. about 20%. meaning, in poe1 it takes 9 points to move from witch to templar on the outer ring. its 11 in poe2. inner ring is 11, poe2 13.
everything is like this. CI is further away, MOM is further away.

this will make shrapnel builds not really viable I think. although avatar of fire, resolute tech, and the mace nodes by templar are still in reach, making hammer of the gods/ignite still an ideal option. herald of ash does work for that..

Chronomancer is what inspires me the most. I will certainly be contributing to some theory crafting and mechanics. This class is what brings me back with so much enthusiasm.

Not sure if the info is accurate, but poe2db has Time Snap at a 40 second cooldown. If this is true, this ascendancy is probably not good :( Time Freeze CD is even longer at 65 seconds.

"

aimlessgun#1443 wrote:

"

Tekkar#0132 wrote:

"

monik390#5560 wrote:

- Now and Again + Undbound Encore are key nodes here, since I intend to utilize several skills with Hourglass Support (it is one of the strongest support gems atm):

I'm not sure if you are aware that each support skill can only be used with one single skill across all your skills, so you won't be able to 'utilize several skills' with it. That being said, it is obviously still an incredibly good support gem to use with this ascendancy – it's just a question of which skill is best supported by it.

Yeah given this fact it's not looking great for the Chronomancer, unless there are some really good skills we havn't seen that inherently have a cooldown.

I'm looking through known info and I see very few long CD skills. Like, there's Cluster Grenade and Hammer of the Gods and that's it?

Thank you guys for mentioning it, I wasn't aware of 1 support gem per character thing.

It's true that it messes up with my plans, but while I was writing this thing above, I actually questioned myself where should I put Hourglass support.

So, 3 buttons for frostbolt, ice nova and cold snap, 4 buttons left (w/o ctrl).
Comet, Frost Bomb, Frost Wall, and Time Snap are the other 4 buttons.
Unleash is a must, it goes for the Comet.
Frost Wall and Frost Bomb remain. Depends on which would be stronger.

"

Casia#1093 wrote:

yeah, this is my thinking to try.

frost wall+fortress. possibly hourglass.

need to test how much it explodes for, and what can trigger it reliably.

3 charges on its CD.
so right off the bat, 3 chances for the 33%.

frost bomb I expect to pair with it, with second wind.
2 CD for 33%+33%=55% chance for cd proc at least once.

time snap, giving 4 casts of the CD. 33%x4. which is an 80% chance for the CD to proc at least once.

"Increase limit" does frost wall, or frost bomb have a limit of 1?


frost walls charges, makes me wonder if traps will use the same mechanic and thus be very good for chronomancer.


secondary scaling is a bit ??? atm. heralds don't really work for this, etc. just frost bombs exposure.


Time stop seems pointless. what is it doing regular freeze isn't doing?

time rift ought to be more useful in poe2. less regen, less leech. a giant get out of jail free card, for anything that does not one shot you, to reset your HP back to full should be solid for bosses.

recoup I'm doubtful for. seems expensive for little.

slow in poe1 is just movement. seems kindof weak.


The passive tree is larger in poe2. about 20%. meaning, in poe1 it takes 9 points to move from witch to templar on the outer ring. its 11 in poe2. inner ring is 11, poe2 13.
everything is like this. CI is further away, MOM is further away.

this will make shrapnel builds not really viable I think. although avatar of fire, resolute tech, and the mace nodes by templar are still in reach, making hammer of the gods/ignite still an ideal option. herald of ash does work for that..

I was thinking about Frostfire support on the Flameblast for the heavy ignite, it's the only use of Time Freeze I was considering if Freeze won't win enough time. 50% more cast speed node is a better option here tho.

As it seems, poe 2 is way slower than poe 1, so Slow might be useful. Like for fire/lightning spells or grenades/maces.

"

aimlessgun#1443 wrote:

Not sure if the info is accurate, but poe2db has Time Snap at a 40 second cooldown. If this is true, this ascendancy is probably not good :( Time Freeze CD is even longer at 65 seconds.

Sounds unplayable, but let us log in first. Poe 2 overall is way slower than poe 1 as it seems, so it might feel not that bad.