Thermal/Ice Build

[ZorkNemesis]

Hey there fellow Defenders.  I've had a bunch of people ask me about my Thermal/Ice build recently so I figured maybe it would be worthwhile to post the build in a public space.  It's a strong build, I have it set up for proc damage without slacking on team support.  Powerful single target damage with Freeze Ray and Bitter Ice Blast but no slouch in the AoE department either with the dual rains.  Meanwhile Fire Shields keep everyone alive and Forge can be passed to two or three teammates for more power (Blasters love it!).  I have endurance issues for sure but that can easily be mitigated by swapping the Alpha from Intuition to Cardiac.  Intuition is a nice Alpha for the damage and slow buffs while Cardiac helps keep the blue bar intact and buffs the fire shields.  Both improve range though which is also a big draw for staying safe.  Critiques and criticisms are welcome but if nothing else I hope i'm helping a few of you out if there are people looking for this combo.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.6
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

Emerald Elegance: Level 50 Magic Defender
Primary Power Set: Thermal Radiation
Secondary Power Set: Ice Blast
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Power Mastery

Hero Profile:
------------
Level 1:    Warmth    
 (A) Preventive Medicine - Heal
 (3) Preventive Medicine - Heal/Endurance
 (3) Preventive Medicine - Endurance/RechargeTime
 (5) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime
 (5) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime/Endurance
 (7) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb

Level 1:    Ice Bolt    
 (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage
 (7) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance
 (9) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (9) Gladiator's Javelin - Accuracy/Damage
 (11) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)
 (11) Impeded Swiftness - Chance of Damage(Smashing)

Level 2:    Thermal Shield    
 (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
 (13) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
 (13) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance

Level 4:    Frost Breath    
 (A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/RechargeTime
 (15) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
 (17) Superior Vigilant Assault - RechargeTime/PBAoE +Absorb
 (17) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff
 (19) Impeded Swiftness - Chance of Damage(Smashing)
 (19) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy)

Level 6:    Cauterize    
 (A) Panacea - Heal/Endurance
 (21) Panacea - Endurance/Recharge
 (21) Panacea - Heal/Recharge
 (23) Panacea - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
 (23) Panacea - Heal

Level 8:    Plasma Shield    
 (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
 (25) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
 (25) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance

Level 10:    Power of the Phoenix    
 (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
 (15) Preemptive Optimization - EndMod/Recharge

Level 12:    Thaw    
 (A) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance
 (31) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP
 (31) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance/Regeneration

Level 14:    Hover    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (33) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)
 (33) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage

Level 16:    Freeze Ray    
 (A) Hamidon Origin:Nucleolus Exposure

 (33) Hamidon Origin:Nucleolus Exposure
 (34) Neuronic Shutdown - Chance of Damage(Psionic)
 (34) Unbreakable Constraint - Chance for Smashing Damage
 (34) Gladiator's Net - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
 (36) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)

Level 18:    Forge    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (36) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 20:    Ice Storm    
 (A) Ragnarok - Damage/Endurance
 (27) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge
 (36) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge/Accuracy
 (37) Ragnarok - Recharge/Accuracy
 (37) Ragnarok - Chance for Knockdown

 (37) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff

Level 22:    Fly    
 (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)

Level 24:    Aim    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (29) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

Level 26:    Heat Exhaustion    
 (A) Accuracy IO
 (27) Endurance Reduction IO
 (39) Recharge Reduction IO
 (39) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 28:    Bitter Ice Blast    
 (A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage
 (39) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
 (40) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (40) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)
 (40) Cloud Senses - Chance for Negative Energy Damage
 (42) Impeded Swiftness - Chance of Damage(Smashing)

Level 30:    Maneuvers    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (31) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 32:    Melt Armor    
 (A) Accuracy IO
 (42) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff
 (42) Recharge Reduction IO
 (43) Endurance Reduction IO
 (43) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 35:    Tactics    
 (A) To Hit Buff IO
 (45) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 38:    Blizzard    
 (A) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage
 (43) Superior Defender's Bastion - Recharge/Chance for Minor PBAoE Heal
 (45) Superior Defender's Bastion - Damage/Recharge
 (45) Superior Defender's Bastion - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
 (46) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (46) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 41:    Power Build Up    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (48) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 44:    Temp Invulnerability    
 (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
 (46) Gladiator's Armor - End/Resist
 (48) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance
 (48) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
 (50) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%

Level 47:    Assault    
 (A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 49:    Hasten    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (50) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 1:    Vigilance    
Level 1:    Brawl    
 (A) Accuracy IO

Level 1:    Sprint    
 (A) Celerity - +Stealth

Level 2:    Rest    
 (A) Interrupt Reduction IO

Level 1:    Swift    
 (A) Flight Speed IO

Level 1:    Hurdle    
 (A) Jumping IO

Level 1:    Health    
 (A) Miracle - +Recovery
 (29) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
 (50) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance

Level 1:    Stamina    
 (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End

Level 22:    Afterburner    
Level 50:    Intuition Radial Paragon    
Level 50:    Diamagnetic Partial Radial Conversion    
Level 50:    Clarion Radial Epiphany    
Level 50:    Cryonic Radial Final Judgement    
Level 50:    Assault Radial Embodiment    
Level 50:    Polar Lights Core Superior Ally    
------------

 

https://www.midsreborn.com/builds/download.php?uc=1740&c=746&a=1492&f=HEX&dc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

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by ZorkNemesis
Minor correction

[StriderIV]

2 hours ago, ZorkNemesis said:

Hey there fellow Defenders.  I've had a bunch of people ask me about my Thermal/Ice build recently so I figured maybe it would be worthwhile to post the build in a public space.  It's a strong build, I have it set up for proc damage without slacking on team support.  Powerful single target damage with Freeze Ray and Bitter Ice Blast but no slouch in the AoE department either with the dual rains.  Meanwhile Fire Shields keep everyone alive and Forge can be passed to two or three teammates for more power (Blasters love it!).  I have endurance issues for sure but that can easily be mitigated by swapping the Alpha from Intuition to Cardiac.  Intuition is a nice Alpha for the damage and slow buffs while Cardiac helps keep the blue bar intact and buffs the fire shields.  Both improve range though which is also a big draw for staying safe.  Critiques and criticisms are welcome but if nothing else I hope i'm helping a few of you out if there are people looking for this combo.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.6
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

Emerald Elegance: Level 50 Magic Defender
Primary Power Set: Thermal Radiation
Secondary Power Set: Ice Blast
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Power Mastery

Hero Profile:
------------
Level 1:    Warmth    
 (A) Preventive Medicine - Heal
 (3) Preventive Medicine - Heal/Endurance
 (3) Preventive Medicine - Endurance/RechargeTime
 (5) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime
 (5) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime/Endurance
 (7) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb

Level 1:    Ice Bolt    
 (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage
 (7) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance
 (9) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (9) Gladiator's Javelin - Accuracy/Damage
 (11) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)
 (11) Impeded Swiftness - Chance of Damage(Smashing)

Level 2:    Thermal Shield    
 (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
 (13) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
 (13) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance

Level 4:    Frost Breath    
 (A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/RechargeTime
 (15) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
 (17) Superior Vigilant Assault - RechargeTime/PBAoE +Absorb
 (17) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff
 (19) Impeded Swiftness - Chance of Damage(Smashing)
 (19) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy)

Level 6:    Cauterize    
 (A) Panacea - Heal/Endurance
 (21) Panacea - Endurance/Recharge
 (21) Panacea - Heal/Recharge
 (23) Panacea - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
 (23) Panacea - Heal

Level 8:    Plasma Shield    
 (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
 (25) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
 (25) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance

Level 10:    Power of the Phoenix    
 (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
 (15) Preemptive Optimization - EndMod/Recharge

Level 12:    Thaw    
 (A) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance
 (31) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP
 (31) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance/Regeneration

Level 14:    Hover    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (33) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)
 (33) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage

Level 16:    Freeze Ray    
 (A) Hamidon Origin:Nucleolus Exposure

 (33) Hamidon Origin:Nucleolus Exposure
 (34) Neuronic Shutdown - Chance of Damage(Psionic)
 (34) Unbreakable Constraint - Chance for Smashing Damage
 (34) Gladiator's Net - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
 (36) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)

Level 18:    Forge    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (36) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 20:    Ice Storm    
 (A) Ragnarok - Damage/Endurance
 (27) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge
 (36) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge/Accuracy
 (37) Ragnarok - Recharge/Accuracy
 (37) Ragnarok - Chance for Knockdown

 (37) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff

Level 22:    Fly    
 (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)

Level 24:    Aim    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (29) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

Level 26:    Heat Exhaustion    
 (A) Accuracy IO
 (27) Endurance Reduction IO
 (39) Recharge Reduction IO
 (39) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 28:    Bitter Ice Blast    
 (A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage
 (39) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
 (40) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (40) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)
 (40) Cloud Senses - Chance for Negative Energy Damage
 (42) Impeded Swiftness - Chance of Damage(Smashing)

Level 30:    Maneuvers    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (31) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 32:    Melt Armor    
 (A) Accuracy IO
 (42) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff
 (42) Recharge Reduction IO
 (43) Endurance Reduction IO
 (43) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 35:    Tactics    
 (A) To Hit Buff IO
 (45) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 38:    Blizzard    
 (A) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage
 (43) Superior Defender's Bastion - Recharge/Chance for Minor PBAoE Heal
 (45) Superior Defender's Bastion - Damage/Recharge
 (45) Superior Defender's Bastion - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
 (46) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (46) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 41:    Power Build Up    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (48) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 44:    Temp Invulnerability    
 (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
 (46) Gladiator's Armor - End/Resist
 (48) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance
 (48) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
 (50) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%

Level 47:    Assault    
 (A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 49:    Hasten    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (50) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 1:    Vigilance    
Level 1:    Brawl    
 (A) Accuracy IO

Level 1:    Sprint    
 (A) Celerity - +Stealth

Level 2:    Rest    
 (A) Interrupt Reduction IO

Level 1:    Swift    
 (A) Flight Speed IO

Level 1:    Hurdle    
 (A) Jumping IO

Level 1:    Health    
 (A) Miracle - +Recovery
 (29) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
 (50) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance

Level 1:    Stamina    
 (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End

Level 22:    Afterburner    
Level 50:    Intuition Radial Paragon    
Level 50:    Diamagnetic Partial Radial Conversion    
Level 50:    Clarion Radial Epiphany    
Level 50:    Cryonic Radial Final Judgement    
Level 50:    Assault Radial Embodiment    
Level 50:    Polar Lights Core Superior Ally    
------------

 

https://www.midsreborn.com/builds/download.php?uc=1740&c=746&a=1492&f=HEX&dc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

 

I'm basing my Thermal/Ice off of your build, only swapping in Cardiac as the Alpha (like you suggest in your post). I love it. Honestly feels like such a "jack of all trades" kind of build that can do it all.

[MoonSheep]

love seeing someone who builds a defender focused on team support rather than trying to be a scrapper

 

i’d swap out one of the leadership powers for vengeance 

[ZorkNemesis]

8 hours ago, MoonSheep said:

love seeing someone who builds a defender focused on team support rather than trying to be a scrapper

 

Funny you say that, part of the whole reason I made this Defender in the first place was to encourage myself to team more often and play a buff role plus I liked the paradoxical nature of the combo, combining fire and ice effects.  Thermal is a very team-centric set since the debuffs come so late and ice slows are always useful in some regard (plus proc damage).  I made sure to get Task Force Commander while leveling up as part of my goal for playing this one.

 

All that said, I can play it solo like a beast at this level.  Strong debuffs, powerful AoE effects, fantastic single target damage, Heat Exhaustion completely neuters dangerous targets, enough power to solo giant monsters too.  It's nice to be flexible if I want to team or not.

 

Edited October 1, 2022 by ZorkNemesis

[purplereign]

Thank you so much for posting your build and your PoV! What are your thoughts on skipping the fighting pool and its impact on your survivability? Do you notice issues with not having it? I feel so hard-wired to take the fighting pool in any toon that may even approach melee (even with Hover).

[ZorkNemesis]

2 hours ago, purplereign said:

Thank you so much for posting your build and your PoV! What are your thoughts on skipping the fighting pool and its impact on your survivability? Do you notice issues with not having it? I feel so hard-wired to take the fighting pool in any toon that may even approach melee (even with Hover).

 

Not having Fighting doesn't bother me.  Opening with Blizzard and Melt Armor usually prevents things from fighting back and problem bosses can basically be nullified with Heat Exhaustion's massive damage debuff.  Temp Invuln gives much more S/L resistance than Tough would offer and Hover keeps me away from melee threats lessening the need to go overboard on personal protection; the range benefits of Intuition/Cardiac and Clarion further help stay away unless i'm stuck in an office or cave.  Thermal and Ice don't need to get close, the only powers that require getting into danger ranges are Warmth and Ice Breath, and Warmth will only be problematic like that with allies or helper NPCs.  I generally don't struggle unless i'm fighting real high end stuff like DA Talons or Pantheon in large numbers.

 

And if you're running as a support, your team should be taking fire for you.

[purplereign]

On 10/7/2022 at 11:53 AM, ZorkNemesis said:

 

Not having Fighting doesn't bother me.  Opening with Blizzard and Melt Armor usually prevents things from fighting back and problem bosses can basically be nullified with Heat Exhaustion's massive damage debuff.  Temp Invuln gives much more S/L resistance than Tough would offer and Hover keeps me away from melee threats lessening the need to go overboard on personal protection; the range benefits of Intuition/Cardiac and Clarion further help stay away unless i'm stuck in an office or cave.  Thermal and Ice don't need to get close, the only powers that require getting into danger ranges are Warmth and Ice Breath, and Warmth will only be problematic like that with allies or helper NPCs.  I generally don't struggle unless i'm fighting real high end stuff like DA Talons or Pantheon in large numbers.

 

And if you're running as a support, your team should be taking fire for you.

Thank you so much! I'm working on my Thermal/Ice to see if I like it!