PoE 2 Frostbolt – Path of Exile 2

PoE 2 Frostbolt

It is a Skill Gem.

Spell
Projectile, Cold, Duration, AoE
Tier: 3 (Sorceress)
Level: 2
Cost: 11 Mana
Cast Time: 0.80 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 12.00%
Requires: Level 3

Fires a slow moving Piercing Projectile that leaves a wake of Chilled Ground, deals Cold damage and explodes on colliding with terrain.

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Buy PoE 2 Currency Fast

  • Buy PoE 2 Currency Cheap (6% off coupon: z123). Path of Exile 2 currency items. Payment: PayPal, Skrill, Cryptocurrencies.

Frostbolt is a Cold-based Spell that utilizes projectiles to deal Cold damage while leaving behind Chilled Ground and exploding upon impact with terrain. It offers both offensive and defensive capabilities, making it a versatile tool for Sorceress builds that focus on Cold Damage, Chill effects, and AoE control.

Key Details of Frostbolt

  • Gem Type: Skill Gem
  • Skill Type: Spell, Projectile, Cold, Duration, AoE
  • Tier: 3 (Sorceress)
  • Level Requirement: 2
  • Mana Cost: 11 Mana
  • Cast Time: 0.80 seconds
  • Critical Strike Chance: 12%
  • Requires: Level 3
  • Effect: Fires a slow-moving piercing projectile that deals Cold damage, leaves Chilled Ground in its wake, and explodes on impact with terrain, dealing additional Cold damage to nearby enemies.

How Frostbolt Works

Frostbolt is a slow-moving projectile that has multiple effects, making it an excellent choice for Cold Damage builds. Here’s how the skill works:

1. Projectile and Piercing:

  • The Frostbolt projectile travels at a relatively slow speed, allowing players to carefully aim and position it for optimal impact. Once fired, it pierces through enemies and continues its journey, allowing it to hit multiple targets in a straight line.
  • The piercing ability ensures that Frostbolt can be effective against groups of enemies, allowing you to apply Cold damage over a wide area.

2. Chilled Ground:

  • As the Frostbolt moves through its path, it leaves behind Chilled Ground in its wake. This Chilled Ground significantly slows down enemies standing on it, making it useful for controlling enemy movement and creating a choke point.
  • Enemies on Chilled Ground are more vulnerable to Freeze and Chill effects, which adds to the crowd control aspect of the skill. It is particularly effective when combined with other Cold-based skills that benefit from slowed enemies.

3. Explosion on Impact:

  • When Frostbolt collides with terrain or any surface, it explodes, dealing Cold damage to all nearby enemies within the explosion’s radius. This explosion acts as a secondary damage source, making Frostbolt particularly effective for AoE (Area of Effect) damage.
  • The explosion scales with Cold Damage modifiers and can deal substantial damage to enemies in the area. Since the projectile is piercing, it allows you to hit multiple enemies, and when the bolt explodes, it can hit even more enemies in close proximity to the impact.

4. Cold Damage and Critical Strikes:

  • Frostbolt deals Cold Damage that can scale with various Cold Damage modifiers such as Hypothermia, Cold Penetration, and Elemental Focus. As a Cold skill, it has a natural synergy with builds focused on Freeze or Chill.
  • With a 12% Critical Strike Chance, Frostbolt can be further enhanced with Critical Strike Chance or Critical Multiplier to increase the damage output, especially when combined with Cold-based Critical Builds.

5. Duration and AoE:

  • While Frostbolt itself doesn’t have a long duration, the Chilled Ground that it leaves behind is a persistent effect. Enemies caught in the Chilled Ground are slowed for a period, allowing you to better control their movements and set them up for other attacks.
  • The AoE damage from the explosion ensures that even if enemies are not directly hit by the projectile, they can still take substantial damage from the explosive blast.

Synergies with Other Skills and Builds

Frostbolt is versatile and works well in various Cold Damage, AoE, and Crowd Control builds. Here are some synergies to consider when incorporating Frostbolt into your playstyle:

1. Cold Damage Builds:

  • Frostbolt is a natural fit for any Cold Damage build. Pairing it with Cold Penetration, Hypothermia, or Elemental Focus will increase the damage it deals to enemies and allow you to exploit the Cold Resistance weakness.
  • Chill and Freeze mechanics also benefit from Frostbolt. The Chilled Ground it creates makes it easier to freeze enemies, setting up additional Cold Damage effects.

2. Projectile and AoE Builds:

  • Frostbolt works exceptionally well in Projectile-focused builds that also use Area of Effect (AoE) skills. It has piercing capabilities, allowing it to hit multiple enemies, and the explosion at the end of the projectile path provides additional AoE damage.
  • Pairing Frostbolt with skills like Frost Nova or Ice Nova can create devastating AoE Cold Damage explosions that freeze enemies and leave them vulnerable to further attacks.

3. Chill/Freeze Builds:

  • For builds that focus on Chill or Freeze as a primary debuff, Frostbolt is an excellent choice. The Chilled Ground not only slows enemies but also increases the chance of freezing them, making it a perfect pairing for Freeze-focused builds.
  • Combine Frostbolt with Cold Snap or Ice Shot to maximize your ability to Freeze enemies, causing them to take increased damage and become unable to act.

4. Support Gems:

  • Cold Penetration: Great for increasing the damage of Cold attacks, including Frostbolt. By reducing the enemy’s Cold Resistance, you can make your Frostbolt deal even more damage.
  • Elemental Focus: This gem boosts the elemental damage of your Frostbolt, making it a stronger offensive option.
  • Pierce: Since Frostbolt is a piercing projectile, adding Pierce supports can further enhance its ability to hit multiple targets through enemies.

Pros and Cons of Frostbolt

Pros:

  • Piercing and AoE: Can hit multiple enemies with one projectile and deals AoE damage when it explodes.
  • Chilled Ground: Slows down enemies, making them more vulnerable to Freeze and other Cold Damage skills.
  • Versatile Damage: Works well with Cold Damage, Freeze, and AoE focused builds.
  • Moderate Mana Cost: The 11 Mana cost makes it affordable for early-game use, while still scaling well into later stages.

Cons:

  • Slow-moving Projectile: The slow speed of Frostbolt can make it harder to hit fast-moving enemies or dodgeable targets.
  • Relatively Low Base Damage: While it has utility and AoE damage, Frostbolt‘s base damage might be low compared to other direct damage spells.
  • Cooldown: Since it relies on piercing and explosion for AoE damage, it may be outperformed by other skills in certain situations.

Tips for Using Frostbolt

  1. Aim and Placement: Since Frostbolt is a slow-moving projectile, aim ahead of enemies, especially for ranged or mobile targets, to ensure they are hit by the explosion.
  2. Use for Crowd Control: Take advantage of the Chilled Ground to slow down enemies and keep them at bay. Combine with other Cold skills to exploit their vulnerability.
  3. Combo with Freeze Mechanics: Frostbolt works perfectly for Freeze or Chill builds. Use it to freeze enemies, then follow up with other Cold-based attacks for devastating combos.

Conclusion

Frostbolt is a powerful Cold Projectile skill that provides great utility for Sorceress builds. With its piercing nature, Cold damage, and Chilled Ground effects, it excels at controlling enemies and dealing AoE Cold Damage. Whether you are looking to slow down enemies, deal substantial Cold damage, or set up additional Freeze effects, Frostbolt is an excellent addition to any Cold-based build.

Similar Posts