It is a Support Gem.
Support
Cold, Fire
Tier: 3
Requires: Level 1
Support Reqirements: +5 Int
Supports any skill that Hits enemies, causing it to Consume Freeze on Igniting a Frozen enemy to boost the effect of the Ignite.
Place into a Skill’s Support Gem socket in the Skills menu to apply its effects to that Skill. You cannot have multiple copies of the same Support Gem socketed at the same time.
The Frostfire Support Gem in Path of Exile 2 brings an exciting fusion of Cold and Fire elements, allowing players to create devastating effects by leveraging both Freeze and Ignite mechanics. This unique support gem offers a way to enhance Fire-based Ignite damage on Frozen enemies by consuming their Freeze to significantly boost the effect of the Ignite. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the Frostfire Support Gem, explaining its mechanics, synergies, and potential uses in your build.
Category: Support
Type: Cold, Fire
Required Level: 1
Support Requirements: +5 Intelligence
Tier: 3
Cost Multiplier: 120%
Effect:
Place into a Skill’s Support Gem socket in the Skills menu to apply its effects to that Skill.
The Frostfire Support Gem works by combining Cold and Fire damage mechanics, focusing on Frozen enemies and enhancing the Ignite damage on them. Here’s a breakdown of how the gem works:
Consume Freeze for Ignite Effect:
When a Supported Skill hits a Frozen enemy, the Frostfire Support Gem consumes the Freeze on that enemy and converts it into a boost to the Ignite effect. This means that your Ignite damage becomes twice as effective (100% more effect) against enemies that are already Frozen. This makes it an incredibly potent choice for builds that use Cold spells to freeze enemies and then follow up with Fire attacks that ignite them.
No Freeze Infliction:
One important restriction of the Frostfire Support Gem is that Supported Skills cannot inflict Freeze. While this may seem limiting at first, it ensures that the gem focuses purely on Fire and Ignite mechanics after the Freeze effect is already applied by another source, such as a Cold spell or other sources of Freeze.
Boosting Ignite Damage:
By consuming the Freeze, Frostfire boosts the effect of the Ignite inflicted on the Frozen enemy. This makes it a fantastic addition to builds that use Fire damage for sustained DoT (Damage over Time), such as Fireball, Flameblast, or Fire Trap.
Fire and Cold Synergy:
Frostfire brings together two distinct elements: Cold and Fire. It encourages synergy between Cold-based Freeze mechanics and Fire-based Ignite mechanics. For builds that focus on Freezing enemies with Cold skills and then Igniting them with Fire skills, Frostfire amplifies the damage you can inflict, especially on high-health enemies.
Here are the primary advantages of using the Frostfire Support Gem:
Increased Ignite Effect on Frozen Enemies:
The primary benefit of Frostfire is the 100% more Effect of Ignite on Frozen enemies. This can dramatically increase the damage output of Fire skills, turning your Fire-based attacks into powerful tools for dealing with Frozen foes. If your build revolves around Freezing enemies and then Igniting them, this gem can be a game-changer.
Enhanced Cold and Fire Hybrid Builds:
Frostfire is ideal for Cold and Fire hybrid builds, where you use Cold-based skills to freeze enemies and then capitalize on the Fire-based skills to ignite them for massive damage over time. The synergy between these two elements creates a potent combination for damage over time builds that focus on Freeze + Ignite mechanics.
Synergy with Freeze and Ignite Builds:
If you’re running a Freeze-centric build and want to add Fire damage to the mix, Frostfire boosts your Ignite damage when you freeze enemies. It’s perfect for builds that take advantage of Freeze from sources like Cold Snap, Frostbolt, or Vortex, followed by Ignite from spells like Fireball, Flameblast, or Fire Trap.
Increased Single-Target Damage:
Frostfire significantly improves single-target damage in situations where you can reliably freeze enemies. Since Frozen enemies take 100% more Ignite effect, it allows you to deal substantial Fire damage on top of the Cold damage from the Freeze.
While Frostfire offers powerful synergies, it does have some limitations and considerations that players should keep in mind:
Cannot Inflict Freeze:
One of the main downsides of the Frostfire Support Gem is that Supported Skills cannot inflict Freeze. This means that you’ll need a separate source of Freeze (from other skills or items) to make full use of Frostfire. If your build relies on Freeze as a core mechanic, you will need to ensure that you have sufficient access to Freeze elsewhere in your skill setup.
Limited to Frozen Enemies:
The gem’s effectiveness is limited to Frozen enemies, which means that it won’t be effective against enemies that cannot be Frozen or that have high Freeze resistance. You’ll need to ensure that you can reliably freeze your targets, or else the gem’s full potential will be underutilized.
Increased Complexity:
Frostfire adds complexity to your build, as it requires you to manage both Cold and Fire aspects of your skills. This might not be ideal for beginner players or those looking for a simpler setup. For players who are already familiar with Cold and Fire hybrid mechanics, this gem will be a powerful addition.
Dependence on Freeze for Boosted Ignite:
Since Frostfire only boosts Ignite damage on Frozen enemies, this gem is highly reliant on your ability to freeze enemies consistently. In areas or content with high Freeze resistance or immunity, this gem may not perform at its best.
To get the most out of Frostfire, consider pairing it with the following skills and mechanics:
Cold Freeze Skills:
As Frostfire relies on Freeze to trigger the Ignite effect, you’ll need Cold-based skills that reliably freeze enemies. Skills like Frostbolt, Glacial Hammer, Ice Nova, and Vortex are excellent choices for triggering the Frostfire synergy.
Fire Damage Skills:
To take advantage of the Ignite potential, use Fire-based damage skills like Fireball, Flameblast, Fire Trap, or Flame Surge. These skills will be greatly enhanced by the 100% more Effect of Ignite on Frozen enemies provided by Frostfire.
Freeze and Ignite Synergy:
Combine Frostfire with other support gems or passive tree nodes that enhance Freeze and Ignite effects. Hypothermia and Fire Penetration are both great examples of gems that synergize with Frostfire by amplifying the damage done by Cold and Fire skills.
Damage over Time Builds:
Frostfire works well with Damage over Time (DoT) builds, where you aim to apply Fire damage over time while controlling enemy movement through Freeze. Combine it with DoT-focused Fire skills like Flameblast or Fire Trap for maximum damage output.
The Frostfire Support Gem is a powerful tool for Cold and Fire hybrid builds in Path of Exile 2, offering a unique way to leverage the synergy between Freeze and Ignite mechanics. By consuming Freeze to enhance Ignite damage, it provides a significant damage boost against Frozen enemies, turning your Fire attacks into deadly tools for dealing with frozen foes.
While Frostfire has limitations, such as the inability to inflict Freeze yourself, it can be a game-changing support gem when used in the right build, particularly in Freeze + Ignite strategies. If you’re looking to create a build that combines Cold and Fire damage, Frostfire is an excellent gem to add, amplifying your overall damage and increasing your ability to control the battlefield.