Ice/Ice Blaster build. Feedback welcome.

[Bowl of Snacks]

Title nails it. I'm building and looking for input.

 

I'm prioritizing DPS via procs more so than CC.

My objective is to get an accurate, fast recharge, somewhat defensive rangy blaster with enough end recovery to nonstop blast.

I'm amenable to suggestions of powers/sets, but those are my main priorities.

 

Thanks! 

 

Spoiler

Primary Power Set: Ice Blast
Secondary Power Set: Ice Manipulation

Level 1: Ice Bolt - OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg:50(A), OvrFrc-End/Rech:50(3), OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg/End:50(3), OvrFrc-Dmg/End/Rech:50(5), OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg/End/Rech:50(5), OvrFrc-Dam/KB:50(7)

 

Level 1: Frozen Fists - Hct-Dmg:50(A), Hct-Dmg/Rchg:50(7), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(9), Hct-Acc/Rchg:50(9), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx:50(11)

 

Level 2: Ice Blast - SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg:50(A), SprBlsWrt-Dmg/Rchg:50(13), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(13), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(15), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(15), SprBlsWrt-Rchg/Dmg%:50(17)

 

Level 4: Hover - LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx:50(A), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg:50(17), LucoftheG-EndRdx/Rchg:50(19), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+:50(33), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(45), LucoftheG-Def:50(50)

 

Level 6: Aim - RechRdx-I:50(A)

 

Level 8: Freeze Ray - GldJvl-Acc/Dmg:50(A), GldJvl-Dam/Rech:50(19), GldJvl-Acc/Dmg/End/Rech:50(21), GldJvl-Dam%:50(21), GldJvl-Acc/End/Rech:50(23), GldJvl-Dam/End/Rech:50(23)

 

Level 10: Frigid Protection - Pnc-Heal/EndRedux:50(A), Pnc-EndRdx/Rchg:50(25), Pnc-Heal/Rchg:50(25), Pnc-Heal/EndRedux/Rchg:50(27), Pnc-Heal:50(27), Pnc-Heal/+End:50(29)

 

Level 12: Boxing - Acc-I:50(A)

 

Level 14: Tough - Ags-ResDam/EndRdx:50(A), Ags-ResDam/Rchg:50(29), Ags-EndRdx/Rchg:50(31), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(31), Ags-ResDam:50(31)

 

Level 16: Build Up - RechRdx-I:50(A)

 

Level 18: Bitter Ice Blast - SprDfnBrr-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg:50(33), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(33), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(34), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(34), SprDfnBrr-Rchg/+Status Protect:50(34)

 

Level 20: Weave - LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx:50(A), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg:50(36), LucoftheG-EndRdx/Rchg:50(36), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(36), LucoftheG-Def:50(37), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+:50(37)

 

Level 22: Maneuvers - ShlWal-Def/EndRdx:50(A), ShlWal-Def/Rchg:50(37), ShlWal-EndRdx/Rchg:50(39), ShlWal-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(39), ShlWal-Def:50(39), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP:50(40)

 

Level 24: Assault - EndRdx-I:50(A)

 

Level 26: Blizzard - Rgn-Dmg:50(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg:50(40), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(40), Rgn-Acc/Rchg:50(42), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx:50(42), Rgn-Knock%:50(42)

 

Level 28: Tactics - GssSynFr--ToHit:50(A), GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg:50(43), GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:50(43), GssSynFr--Rchg/EndRdx:50(43), GssSynFr--ToHit/EndRdx:50(45), GssSynFr--Build%:50(50)

 

Level 30: Victory Rush - PrfShf-End%:50(A)

 

Level 32: Fly - BlsoftheZ-Travel:50(A)

 

Level 35: Flash Freeze - SprFrzBls-Rchg/ImmobProc:50(A)

 

Level 38: Hoarfrost - GldArm-3defTpProc:30(A), GldArm-RechEnd:50(50)

 

Level 41: Frozen Armor - Rct-Def:50(A), Rct-Def/EndRdx:50(45), Rct-EndRdx/Rchg:50(46), Rct-Def/Rchg:50(46), Rct-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(46), Rct-ResDam%:50(48)

 

Level 44: Hibernate - PrfShf-End%:50(A)

 

Level 47: Combat Jumping - Ksm-ToHit+:30(A)

 

Level 49: Vengeance - LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+:50(A)
------------
Level 1: Defiance
Level 1: Brawl - Acc-I:50(A)
Level 1: Sprint - Clr-Stlth:50(A)
Level 2: Rest - IntRdx-I:50(A)
Level 1: Swift - Flight-I:50(A)
Level 1: Hurdle - Jump-I:50(A)
Level 1: Health - NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+:50(A), Mrc-Rcvry+:40(11), Prv-Absorb%:50(48)
Level 1: Stamina - PrfShf-End%:50(A), PrfShf-EndMod:50(48)
Level 32: Afterburner

 

Blaster (Ice Blast - Ice Manipulation).mbd

[Parabola]

A few thoughts:

• No aoe apart from blizzard?!
• Lots of six slotted support powers that aren't gaining you much.
• Way overboard on accuracy. Blasters are generally 'full attack set' type builds and so tend to have plenty of both slotted and global accuracy. I can't see what tactics is gaining you.
• Once you take vengeance out (which I'd drop altogether as it's the poster child for situational powers) defences are unfocused and lacking. Get ranged to the softcap, then whatever s/l you can muster, or just build for s/l. I don't see the steadfast protection proc anywhere which would help.
• I'd drop victory rush and slot some end mod in frigid protection, then remove all the extra slots in health and stamina. Blaster sustain powers are so powerful that's all the end you'll ever need.
• Freezing touch, ice patch and frozen aura are all good powers to consider but if you are going ranged only then they may be more situational. That said if you aren't completely set on theme and are determined to play only at range then other secondary power sets might have more to offer. Tac arrow is very good at range.
• Hasten isn't mandatory but it would certainly help to cycle your big hitters quicker.

[Bowl of Snacks]

 

Thanks for the help. I put my responses down below.

I'm digging into the wiki's to improve those highlighted deficiencies. 

 

• Yes, not a fan of long cast times
• Like 6 slotting Tactics?
• Is that much accuracy redundant? Is there a softcap?
• My defensive choices were based on an overall build. Do you have set recommendations?
• I was primarily looking for Panacea and +Chance for End Mod in misc powers. Redundant?
• As stated before, not a fan of long cast times or getting too close.
• Hasten was a consideration, but I didn't really know what to remove in it's place.

[Parabola]

Aoes: The golden rule of course is to build and play in the way that suits you. A lack of aoe is an absolute deal breaker for me with any archetype and any build. Aoes do tend to have longer cast times than single target powers (and greater end costs, lower damage etc). But of course they can hit multiple targets so the damage per animation (dpa which is the most important measurement of power performance in the game) is actually higher as long as you are targeting a group.

 

6 slotting: Yeah the powers that jump out are tactics and the defensive toggles. Luck of the gambler for example is a great set but a blaster has very little to gain by 6 slotting it. The defence enhancement is nearly capped with just three pieces (def/end, def, def/+rech) and the later set bonuses aren't really worth it when you aren't stacking a lot of resistance. With both defence and resistance the more you have the more useful adding extra is up to the caps. Blasters start with nothing so they are well advised to focus their efforts narrowly on one or two things, generally ranged defence or s/l defence.

 

Accuracy: The highest chance to hit that you can have while making any attack is 95%. There is always at least a 5% chance to miss. The general wisdom is to build with the goal of achieving this 95% against +3 enemies. This is because the alpha shift means that in level 45+ play you won't fight mobs over +3 (hard modes may be different(?) but you would be teamed for that), and at lower levels you generally don't crank the difficulty up anyway. In the options of mids there is a setting for relative enemy level, set that to +3 and then look at the accuracies of your powers. Anything over 95% is accurate enough for most content.

 

I'm running out of time for the rest of it. I'll try to post a build a bit later to show you how I'd go about all this. Are you absolutely set on ice manipulation? It really is a very blappy secondary and other sets offer more if you are playing entirely at range.

[Wimbochismo]

I have an old Ice/Ice/Cold Blaster build I can dust off. It was something I worked on when I was just getting into building, so may not be totally optimized. I'd listen to Parabola's suggestions, they have very good advice. Blaster's are good to cut your teeth on for building because they're straight forward and benefit a lot from full sets. If you want to add procs somewhere, you're going to most likely take a hit to your global Defense and Recharge.

 

Ice Storm is definitely worth going for as an aoe. It has the same cast time as Blizzard, and helps slow mobs. Enemies are prone to try and run out of Blizzard and Ice Storm. Dropping both at the same time will do hefty -speed and keep them around longer. Not many people like Frost Breath with the long animation time. You could probably pick up Frozen Time instead, but you'll have to dip into melee for it to hit. I kind of like a 1 slotted Ice Patch for the knockdown cc, I use it when I know lots of mobs are incoming and if I have time.

 

I play this combo with Hover and ranged Defense. For ranged attack's, Bitter Ice Blast and Freeze Ray are your best dpa ranged attacks (and highest dpa attacks in general). I also took Ice Bolt to maintain a full ranged attack chain if needed. For melee attacks, your highest dpa option is Freezing Touch. Frozen Fists is almost the same dpa as Ice Bolt, and Ice Sword is slightly higher, but not worth going into melee for with higher dpa ranged attacks.

 

With this, you can have your highest dpa chain be Bitter - Freeze Ray - Freezing Touch - Ice Bolt as filler. In order to use Freezing Touch you have to joust into melee briefly to hit it. I like this chain because Freeze Ray and Freezing Touch are mag 3 hold's. If you Freeze Ray before jousting in and Freezing Touch, this should be enough to briefly hold a boss and provide survivability while you're vulnerable.

 

Like Parabola said, as your build stands you don't even need Tactic's. You can reduce slots in toggles and use them for set bonuses elsewhere or to beef up other powers. If I take the Gaussian set, it is best used in Build Up or Aim where the proc has a better chance of going off.

 

In my build I took Chillblain because of a lack of options, it can root runners, and is a Thunderstrike set mule.

IceIceCold.mxd

[loyalreader]

Others have commented on the six-slotting of toggles - you'd be wise to listen to them. 

 

If you aren't using Ice Storm with Blizzard you are (to me) missing the point of playing this combo. Those two powers together make you an absolute murder (er... arresting) machine. It isn't even fair. I'd strongly reconsider. 

 

You'll want to build for recharge to get Blizzard up as much as possible. There are plenty more opportunities to do that in your build (i.e. LotG in Combat Jump). 

 

Finally, I have both Freeze Ray and Freezing Touch. Both are slotted with 4 Basilisk's Gaze and two damage IOs. That gives an LotG worth of recharge in each power and does ridiculous amount of damage (I suppose I could boost the IOs to eke out even more damage...). Best of all, you can hold bosses.

 

Don't sleep on the holds and slows in these sets. They make a huge difference for survivability. Holding a Zeus Titan while you ice it to death is a thing of joy. 

[Jeff Krock]

My tweaked version of someone else's build....

 

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.7
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Maj Frost USCI: Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Ice Blast
Secondary Power Set: Ice Manipulation
Power Pool: Sorcery
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Ice Blast

• (A) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage
• (3) Superior Defiant Barrage - Damage/RechargeTime
• (3) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
• (5) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (5) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
• (7) Superior Defiant Barrage - RechargeTime/+Status
  

Level 1: Chilblain

• (A) Maelstrom's Fury - Accuracy/Damage
• (7) Maelstrom's Fury - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (9) Maelstrom's Fury - Damage/Recharge
• (9) Gravitational Anchor - Chance for Hold
• (11) Gravitational Anchor - Immobilize/Recharge/Accuracy
  

Level 2: Frozen Fists

• (A) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage
• (11) Superior Blistering Cold - Damage/Endurance
• (13) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (13) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (15) Superior Blistering Cold - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime
  

Level 4: Mystic Flight

• (A) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%)
  

Level 6: Aim

• (A) Rectified Reticle - To Hit Buff/Recharge
• (15) Rectified Reticle - Increased Perception
  

Level 8: Ice Sword

• (A) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage
• (17) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Damage/Recharge
• (17) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (19) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (19) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (21) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Recharge/Chance for Fire Damage
  

Level 10: Kick

• (A) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge
  

Level 12: Freeze Ray

• (A) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage
• (21) Superior Winter's Bite - Damage/RechargeTime
• (23) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (23) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (25) Superior Winter's Bite - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime
• (25) Superior Winter's Bite - Recharge/Chance for -Speed & -Recharge
  

Level 14: Ice Storm

• (A) Annihilation - Accuracy/Damage
• (27) Annihilation - Damage/RechargeTime
• (27) Annihilation - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
• (29) Annihilation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (29) Annihilation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
• (31) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff
  

Level 16: Tough

• (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
• (31) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
• (31) Gladiator's Armor - End/Resist
• (33) Gladiator's Armor - Resistance
  

Level 18: Weave

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
• (33) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
• (33) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
• (34) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)
• (34) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage
• (34) Kismet - Accuracy +6%
  

Level 20: Frigid Protection

• (A) Endurance Modification IO
  

Level 22: Build Up

• (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
  

Level 24: Ice Patch

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
  

Level 26: Spirit Ward

• (A) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb
  

Level 28: Rune of Protection

• (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
• (36) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge
• (36) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
  

Level 30: Bitter Ice Blast

• (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (36) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (37) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  

Level 32: Bitter Freeze Ray

• (A) Superior Entomb - Accuracy/Hold
• (37) Superior Entomb - Hold/Recharge
• (37) Superior Entomb - Endurance/Recharge
• (39) Superior Entomb - Accuracy/Hold/Endurance
• (39) Superior Entomb - Accuracy/Hold/Endurance/Recharge
• (39) Superior Entomb - Recharge/Chance for +Absorb
  

Level 35: Blizzard

• (A) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge
• (40) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge/Accuracy
• (40) Ragnarok - Recharge/Accuracy
• (40) Ragnarok - Damage/Endurance
• (42) Ragnarok - Chance for Knockdown
  

Level 38: Frozen Aura

• (A) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage
• (42) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance
• (42) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (43) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (43) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (50) Superior Avalanche - Recharge/Chance for Knockdown
  

Level 41: Freezing Touch

• (A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
• (43) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
• (45) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
• (45) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  

Level 44: Frost Breath

• (A) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage
• (45) Superior Frozen Blast - Damage/Endurance
• (46) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (46) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (46) Superior Frozen Blast - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime
• (48) Superior Frozen Blast - Recharge/Chance for Immobilize
  

Level 47: Maneuvers

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
• (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
• (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
  

Level 49: Scorpion Shield

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
• (50) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
• (50) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
  

Level 1: Defiance 

Level 1: Brawl

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[Nemu]

On 7/2/2023 at 7:29 AM, Bowl of Snacks said:

I'm prioritizing DPS via procs more so than CC.

I'm not seeing too many procs.

 

You have vengeance and victory rush toggled on and those give you an inaccurate account of your overall stats.

 

If your goal is to play at range why not build for range defense?

 

A full set doesn't mean you get the most out of them. You are overslotted on hover, tactics, maneuvers, weave, frozen armor.

 

Start here if you want a walk through on building with a goal and purpose and optimizing your slots

 

 

Then stop here for proc slotting on Ice Blast

 

 

Hope this gives you the perspective you need to succeed. Ping me if you have any questions.