Underrrated: Ice/Rad

[Coyote]

Another combination of a poor set (Ice) and a decent but situational set (Rad) turns out surprisingly solid defensively. It still has a massive AoE damage hole, though.

 

Ice Control is rightly villified as doing very little on the Control end, as it provides relatively weak Control with a debuff that is not all that useful, and little damage. But there is a way to make it relatively strong in damage mitigation, although it still has some lack of alpha-strike mitigation.

 

The -Recharge from Ice and the knockdowns from Ice Slick both work to reduce the rate of incoming damage, although they don't do much to mitigate the spawn's alpha strike. However, if you open up with the much-maligned Flash Freeze (heh, I know, LOL), you stop most of the spawn from acting for a short while. Arctic Air converts about 50% of incoming damage from Lts/Minions to be redirected at the enemies, BUT it takes about 4 seconds for it to get to this level of protection. But when you Flash Freeze the mobs, jump into their middle (NOT with Spring Attack :p), and start the Rad toggles, that gives AA time to start affecting mobs.

 

So, if you do this and throw the usual 3 Rad powers (RI, EF, LR) at a spawn, then open the actual festivities fight with Ice Slick, you end up with mobs that will hit less often, and then won't get to shoot again for a while... and will attack their side half the time... and will do less damage if they hit you... and will be attacking less often and at staggered rates due to the knockdowns. So incoming damage will be greatly lessened, and you have an AoE heal.

 

The concept basically is a turn-around from the usual idea of Control, which is to stop mobs from acting upon the team... and says "Go ahead and act, but it will be at slow rates, inaccurate, and weak.). This becomes more of a debuffer than a mezzer. What is interesting is that because you're not looking for much Recharge (other than Flash Freeze and Ice Slick), you can make a cheaper build and chase +Recovery (which you WILL need). Speaking of Recovery, you can add to the damage mitigation with Choking Cloud... but I'm not sure if the End drain is manageable with both AA and CC running.

 

Side note: other than Rad, Time and Dark can do the same thing... Time is also a good choice since Distortion Field can take Procs and provide at least a bit of AoE damage.

[Arctyc]

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.962
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Arctyc: Level 50 Natural Controller
Primary Power Set: Ice Control
Secondary Power Set: Radiation Emission
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery

Hero Profile:
------------
Level 1:    Block of Ice    
 (A) Unbreakable Constraint - Hold
 (3) Unbreakable Constraint - Hold/Recharge
 (3) Unbreakable Constraint - Accuracy/Hold/Recharge
 (5) Unbreakable Constraint - Accuracy/Recharge
 (5) Unbreakable Constraint - Chance for Smashing Damage
 (43) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold

Level 1:    Radiant Aura    
 (A) Preventive Medicine - Heal
 (7) Preventive Medicine - Heal/Endurance
 (7) Preventive Medicine - Endurance/RechargeTime
 (9) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime
 (9) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime/Endurance
 (11) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb

Level 2:    Radiation Infection    
 (A) Touch of Lady Grey - Chance for Negative Damage
 (50) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 4:    Accelerate Metabolism    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (15) Recharge Reduction IO
 (17) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 6:    Hasten    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (15) Recharge Reduction IO
 (17) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 8:    Combat Jumping    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge

Level 10:    Enervating Field    
 (A) Endurance Reduction IO
 (13) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 12:    Ice Slick    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (37) Recharge Reduction IO
 (39) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 14:    Super Jump    
 (A) Jumping IO

Level 16:    Acrobatics    
 (A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 18:    Arctic Air    
 (A) Superior Overpowering Presence - Accuracy/Confused/Hold/Immobilized/Sleep/Stunned/Terrorized
 (19) Superior Overpowering Presence - Confused/Hold/Immobilized/Sleep/Stunned/Terrorized/RechargeTime
 (19) Superior Overpowering Presence - Endurance/RechargeTime
 (21) Superior Overpowering Presence - Accuracy/Confused/Hold/Immobilized/Sleep/Stunned/Terrorized/Endurance/RechargeTime
 (21) Superior Overpowering Presence - RechargeTime/Energy Font
 (37) Malaise's Illusions - Chance of Damage(Psionic)

Level 20:    Lingering Radiation    
 (A) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Slow
 (23) Pacing of the Turtle - Damage/Slow
 (23) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Endurance
 (25) Pacing of the Turtle - Endurance/Recharge/Slow
 (25) Pacing of the Turtle - Chance of -Recharge

Level 22:    Maneuvers    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge

Level 24:    Tactics    
 (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

Level 26:    Glacier    
 (A) Lockdown - Accuracy/Hold
 (27) Lockdown - Accuracy/Recharge
 (27) Lockdown - Recharge/Hold
 (29) Lockdown - Endurance/Recharge/Hold
 (29) Lockdown - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold
 (43) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold

Level 28:    Spring Attack    
 (A) Armageddon - Damage
 (34) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge
 (36) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
 (36) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge
 (36) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage

Level 30:    Choking Cloud    
 (A) Superior Will of the Controller - Accuracy/Confused/Hold/Immobilize/Sleep/Stun/Terrorized
 (31) Superior Will of the Controller - Confused/Hold/Immobilize/Sleep/Stun/Terrorized/Recharge
 (31) Superior Will of the Controller - Endurance/Recharge
 (31) Superior Will of the Controller - Accuracy/Confused/Hold/Immobilize/Sleep/Stun/Terrorized/Endurance/Recharge
 (34) Superior Will of the Controller - Recharge/Chance for Psionic Damage
 (37) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold

Level 32:    Jack Frost    
 (A) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Recharge
 (33) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Damage
 (33) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
 (33) Expedient Reinforcement - Endurance/Damage/Recharge
 (34) Expedient Reinforcement - Resist Bonus Aura for Pets

Level 35:    Frostbite    
 (A) Gravitational Anchor - Immobilize
 (39) Gravitational Anchor - Immobilize/Recharge
 (39) Gravitational Anchor - Accuracy/Immobilize/Recharge
 (40) Gravitational Anchor - Accuracy/Recharge
 (40) Gravitational Anchor - Chance for Hold

Level 38:    EM Pulse    
 (A) Lockdown - Accuracy/Hold
 (40) Lockdown - Recharge/Hold
 (43) Lockdown - Accuracy/Recharge
 (46) Lockdown - Endurance/Recharge/Hold
 (46) Lockdown - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold
 (46) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold

Level 41:    Indomitable Will    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge
 (42) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
 (42) Recharge Reduction IO
 (42) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 44:    Mind Over Body    
 (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
 (45) Aegis - Resistance
 (45) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance
 (45) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge

Level 47:    Psionic Tornado    
 (A) Ragnarok - Damage
 (48) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge
 (48) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
 (48) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Recharge
 (50) Ragnarok - Damage/Endurance
 (50) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff

Level 49:    Vengeance    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge

Level 1:    Brawl    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Containment    
Level 1:    Prestige Power Dash    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Slide    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Quick    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Rush    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Surge    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Sprint    
 (A) Celerity - +Stealth

Level 2:    Rest    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 4:    Ninja Run    
Level 2:    Swift    
 (A) Run Speed IO

Level 2:    Health    
 (A) Miracle - +Recovery
 (11) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
 (13) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance

Level 2:    Hurdle    
 (A) Jumping IO

Level 2:    Stamina    
 (A) Endurance Modification IO

Level 50:    Spiritual Core Paragon    
Level 50:    Barrier Core Epiphany    
Level 50:    Ion Radial Final Judgement    
Level 50:    Reactive Core Flawless Interface    
Level 50:    Rularuu Core Superior Ally    
------------

 

Is basically what I'm running 😉

 

All suggestions gratefully received ice/rad forever!

[Crowcus Pocus]

Ice/Rad used to be quite popular pre incarnates. It sure was end heavy (which this days is a non issue), but effective too.

 

You might want to look at Ice/Time as well.

[oedipus_tex]

I played one of these ages ago. Got him all IOed up and everything.

 

I'm not sure I'd be willing to do it again, with the current Ice Control so far behind other sets. One thing that used to make Arctic Air feasible is the Contagious Confusion proc--AA was one of the best powers in the game to slot it. Now it's far, far, far behind other Confusion powers, especially Synaptic Overload, which is practically guaranteed to trigger it every cast. 

 

The fact that Ice Slick can't slot the knockback IO sets but Bonfire and Earthquake  can is also mildly infuriating. 😞

 

I really hope the dev team gives Ice Control some love. It was my favorite set back in the day even with the low damage and unreliable controls. It's much harder for me to forgive it these days though...I stick to Electric Control for a similar set that I feel works much better.

Edited August 23, 2019 by oedipus_tex

[Dischord]

Loved my Ice/Rad back in the day and have been looking for a build, is this still good to use or can anyone point me to a better one?

[Peacemoon]

The biggest buff ice has had recently is surely that enemies can still be knocked down even when effected by -knockback powers, like most aoe immobilises. 

 

whet about ice/darkness affinity? /Dark is a great set that can be used to boost a weaker primary. 
 

I didn’t realise flash freeze is a sleep not a stun!

Edited March 15, 2020 by Peacemoon

[Coyote]

Ice/Dark is also a good combination, and IMO better than Ice/Rad. Ice is a bit End-hungry due to Arctic Air, and Dark Affinity helps with this more than Rad Emission. I wrote about /Rad as a secondary since Ice/Rad would generally not be on most players' radar as a well-performing set, while Ice/Dark would be a bit more obvious. But it's definitely a solid combination.

[Nemu]

Ice/Poison is more underrated than anything highlighted in this thread. If anything this thread just reinforces the playerbase penchant towards popular and strong secondaries. Meanwhile ice/poison has foe Confuse/-Spd/-ToHit/-Def/-Res/-Dmg in just two toggles.

 

So what if you have to stand in melee and those toggles are endurance hogs? A manly man doesn't complain, a manly man makes that $#%@ work and look fabulous doing it.

 

Want to be a real macho but pacifist man? Go ice/poison and powexecname poison trap$$em dance 😀

[Call Me Awesome]

I had a friend try to mostly solo one of those back in issue 3... he was too stubborn to abandon it for something that could deal damage.  I think he managed to get to about 20 mostly using the ST hold & Brawl before he finally threw in the towel.  This was pre-containment, pre-controller buffs... and also pre-AOE nerfs.

 

Why solo you ask?  I have no clue, likely because he wasn't on when our other friends were and didn't want to start over with a more solo friendly character, and never formed or joined PuGs.  I've no idea how many hours he had in it but when he rolled a Scrapper next I do know he got to 20 in a couple days.  For those who weren't around back then it was common to take 250+ hours to reach 50 on a fast leveling character; level 20 usually took more than 15 hours.

[Dischord]

I learned that lesson when I played ice/rad on live, will always LFG or play with friends.  

[Cryoterm]

Mine’s awesome. I’ll post The build later (not a cheap one, tho). And yes, my ice controller is team oriented:

Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7
https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Furyosa: Level 50 Technology Controller
Primary Power Set: Ice Control
Secondary Power Set: Radiation Emission
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Chilblain -- Thn-Acc/Dmg(A), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thn-Dmg/Rchg(3), Thn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Thn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11)
Level 1: Radiant Aura -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(7), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(7), Prv-Heal/Rchg(9), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(9), Prv-Absorb%(34)
Level 2: Block of Ice -- UnbCns-Hold/Rchg(A), UnbCns-Acc/Hold/Rchg(11), UnbCns-Acc/Rchg(13), UnbCns-EndRdx/Hold(13), UnbCns-Dam%(15), Lck-%Hold(15)
Level 4: Radiation Infection -- HO:Enzym(A), HO:Enzym(17), HO:Enzym(17), AchHee-ResDeb%(19)
Level 6: Accelerate Metabolism -- EffAdp-EndMod/Rchg(A), EffAdp-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(19), PrfShf-EndMod/Rchg(21), PrfShf-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(21)
Level 8: Shiver -- Acc-I(A)
Level 10: Enervating Field -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(23)
Level 12: Ice Slick -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 14: Arctic Air -- CrcPrs-Conf(A), CrcPrs-Conf/Rchg(23), CrcPrs-Acc/Conf/Rchg(25), CrcPrs-Acc/Rchg(25), CrcPrs-Conf/EndRdx(27), CrcPrs-Conf%(27)
Level 16: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(29)
Level 18: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Ksm-ToHit+(29), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(31), LucoftheG-Def(31)
Level 20: Lingering Radiation -- Acc-I(A)
Level 22: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31), LucoftheG-Def(33), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(33)
Level 24: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 26: Glacier -- SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(A), SprWiloft-Rchg/Dmg%(37), SprWiloft-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(39), SprWiloft-EndRdx/Rchg(39), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(39), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 28: Choking Cloud -- SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(A), SprOvrPrs-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(40), SprOvrPrs-EndRdx/Rchg(40), SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(43), SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(43), SprOvrPrs-Rchg/Energy Font(43)
Level 30: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 32: Tough -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(46)
Level 35: Jack Frost -- SvrRgh-Acc/Dmg(A), SvrRgh-Dmg/EndRdx(36), SvrRgh-Acc/EndRdx(36), SvrRgh-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), SvrRgh-Acc(37), SvrRgh-PetResDam(37)
Level 38: Vengeance -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 41: Weave -- Rct-ResDam%(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(42), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(42), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(42)
Level 44: Fallout -- SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg(A), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx(45), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(46), SprFrzBls-Rchg/ImmobProc(46)
Level 47: EM Pulse -- SprEnt-Acc/Hold(A), SprEnt-Hold/Rchg(48), SprEnt-End/Rchg(48), SprEnt-Acc/Hold/End(48), SprEnt-Acc/Hold/End/Rchg(50), SprEnt-Rchg/AbsorbProc(50)
Level 49: Scorpion Shield -- LucoftheG-Def(A), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(50)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment 
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Clr-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run 
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(33), Pnc-Heal/+End(34)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(34)
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon 
Level 50: Cryonic Radial Final Judgement 
Level 50: Paralytic Core Flawless Interface 
Level 50: Ageless Core Epiphany 
Level 50: Support Radial Embodiment 
Level 50: Banished Pantheon Radial Superior Ally 
------------

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1544;693;1386;HEX;|
|78DA6594CB4F135114C6EF6DA7D616909696F228055A415E525B3571692202A2A02|
|8C84AC5090C3049ED349D92D8A57F802E7C1135E063E13371E573278A5BFF0E1551|
|14DD90987ADAEF9469EC04F23BF39DF3DD73EF9D7B3B72F170E5F3C14B0785F4F42|
|554D39CEC339299B491486869F7B83635973412C66C56D0E31C984F670D537552DC|
|6C55150DD1A129AD18474AD287E66766A2A7D4695DCDE84672B2FF826E9A1408F7A|
|841A6B194A64D5716C2614D4DE9C9D9EAE2CBB49636E7F45455E17D409F9DCB50B6|
|A93FA54F454B861F51A9ED886A66B474B69E66D643FF37A5E027E7108B84B8226C4|
|BCCBBA0728F791F743F008F977A3FDB0BDAB62FCCAFE0F655E63730BC062E9057B2|
|57F6DB30EE005839C83C02EE18626E8227C86887D76E3F4050ECC2F31F6B96A9D6A|
|78851AA7570ADE332FC355740FF35E675F036D53A512B9C8D58E349D25CD0A42B0C|
|2DC0BC43B90AAEAFE881768BB42A5E57D5198C1B380BD69F634E828DE7992A18A1E|
|6D5DCAB9AC76B620628E7955887B75622F7975E438A68F6E0BDD90F8E117C3C2F1F|
|AFC34BFE5ADE87DA62BD0F6C655F2B8F5B43B575ECAFE3B52E52AA81D7D5F010DFB|
|0ED19B8EB11F331F309D8F1141C276F90BDC17A05B9066623D81D64363143A08DE6|
|12E2B98472F4083B292DD809D9B2171D7AEB646127960811EE1459C7CC77FE64FE6|
|26E806DBF997F403F8DDBCE9DDA792714D23A79D73B37D0ABEB189377B18B6B4F4B|
|DCA87CEF9E1798FDEE97CC57CCD760EF1BE65B7082BC51F47144DF41DBB3CC7CCFF|
|C00C657981FC11B5E21627C6A62FC25E3C513A26CDD50FACBEF5EC85272DD65D958|
|99122F53F69529FBCB94E1BC225971E1748F2A5B375EC84295CBB3758F736B6ECAC|
|AD2EC0F4BB1C9093EA147891DF42B12C637F85EE65AB7142917D0397C15DC0C1090|
|CB79FD56FCC967C50B25F14AC48A57DBACF81F33D10234|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

 

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

 

Furyosa - Controller (Ice Control).mxd

Edited April 21, 2020 by Anodina
update

[warlockiii]

Has anyone tried to make Ice work yet with EA? Seems like a pretty decent combo with baked in mez protection.

[HelsEch]

On 4/20/2020 at 1:51 PM, warlockiii said:

Has anyone tried to make Ice work yet with EA? Seems like a pretty decent combo with baked in mez protection.

I started a thread for it, but I'm not skilled at making builds and no one responded to the thread, so oh well.