It is a Support Gem.
AoE, Duration, Cold
Tier: 1
Cost Multiplier: 120%
Requires: Level 1
Support Reqirements: +5 Int
Supports any skill that Hits enemies, causing it to create a chilling vortex on Shattering an enemy.
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 Frozen Vortex Support Gem in Path of Exile 2 introduces a unique mechanic that creates a chilling vortex after you Shatter an enemy. This support gem amplifies your Cold damage output and offers Area of Effect (AoE) and Duration bonuses, providing significant utility for players looking to enhance their Cold-based builds with both damage over time and crowd control effects.
In this article, we’ll break down the Frozen Vortex Support Gem’s mechanics, how it fits into your build, and its synergies with other gems and skills.
Category: Support
Type: AoE, Duration, Cold
Required Level: 1
Support Requirements: +5 Intelligence
Tier: 1
Cost Multiplier: 120%
Effect:
Place into a Skill’s Support Gem socket in the Skills menu to apply its effects to that Skill.
The Frozen Vortex Support Gem adds a chilling Vortex effect to any skill that causes you to Shatter an enemy. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how this gem functions:
Creates a Chilling Vortex on Shattering:
When your Supported Skill kills an enemy with Overkill damage, the Frozen Vortex Support Gem triggers and creates a Vortex at the enemy’s location. This vortex lasts for 3 seconds, and it Chills any enemies that pass through it. The Vortex deals 30% of the Overkill damage as Cold damage per second, providing extra damage to nearby enemies and controlling the battlefield.
Chills Enemies:
The Frozen Vortex applies the Chill debuff to any enemies within its area of effect. This Chill significantly reduces enemy movement and attack speeds, making it a valuable tool for crowd control. Chilled enemies also take increased damage from Cold skills, amplifying the damage potential of your build.
Damage Over Time (DoT) from Vortex:
The Vortex deals Cold damage over time to enemies that are caught in it. The damage is calculated as 30% of the Overkill damage per second, meaning that the more damage you deal in a single hit, the more damage the Vortex will deal. This makes the gem especially effective in high-damage Cold-based builds where you can reliably Shatter enemies with significant Overkill damage.
Duration of the Vortex:
The Frozen Vortex lasts for 3 seconds, which gives you ample time to deal additional Cold damage or apply further crowd control effects. This duration is short enough to provide instant utility but long enough to affect multiple enemies in the area.
Here are the main benefits of incorporating the Frozen Vortex Support Gem into your build:
Increased Cold Damage Output:
The Frozen Vortex deals additional Cold damage over time based on your Overkill damage, which can significantly boost your overall damage output. This is particularly useful in Cold-based builds that rely on Shattering enemies with large hits.
Crowd Control with Chill:
The Chill effect applied by the Vortex provides solid crowd control by reducing enemy movement and attack speeds. This is especially useful when dealing with groups of enemies or bosses that can be difficult to kite or control otherwise.
Synergy with Freeze and Shatter Mechanics:
The Frozen Vortex gem works perfectly with Freeze and Shatter mechanics, which are staples of Cold damage builds. If your build focuses on Freezing enemies and dealing massive Overkill damage, Frozen Vortex enhances your ability to deal additional damage and control the battlefield.
Area of Effect (AoE) Damage:
The Vortex has an AoE effect, meaning that it can affect multiple enemies within its radius. This makes Frozen Vortex especially effective in crowd clearing scenarios, where you want to maximize the damage done to clusters of enemies after you’ve Shattered a target.
The Frozen Vortex Support Gem works best with builds and skills that can reliably Freeze and Shatter enemies. Here are a few synergies to consider:
Cold Skills That Freeze Enemies:
To take full advantage of Frozen Vortex, you need a reliable source of Freeze. Skills like Frostbolt, Glacial Hammer, Vortex, Ice Nova, and Cold Snap are perfect for this, as they can easily freeze enemies, setting them up for the Frozen Vortex effect when they are Shattered.
Overkill Damage:
Frozen Vortex benefits from Overkill damage, meaning that the more damage you deal beyond the required amount to kill an enemy, the more damage the Vortex will deal. Combining this with high-damage Cold spells like Flameblast (with Cold damage conversion), Ice Spear, or Elemental Hit will maximize the effectiveness of this gem.
Area of Effect Builds:
If your build focuses on AoE damage, Frozen Vortex adds another layer of AoE damage through its Chill effect and Cold DoT. Consider using Cold-based AoE spells like Frost Bomb, Frost Wall, or Ice Crash, which will trigger Frozen Vortex effects across groups of enemies.
Shatter Synergy:
For builds that focus on Shattering enemies with large hits (often associated with Cold and Freeze mechanics), Frozen Vortex enhances your ability to deal with packs of enemies. It creates a lingering Cold AoE after you Shatter an enemy, providing extra damage and crowd control.
While the Frozen Vortex Support Gem offers powerful effects, it’s important to keep a few considerations in mind:
Relies on Freeze Mechanics:
The Frozen Vortex effect only triggers when an enemy is Shattered, which requires you to Freeze enemies in the first place. If your build cannot reliably Freeze enemies, you may not be able to take full advantage of the gem.
Overkill Damage Requirement:
The damage dealt by the Vortex is based on Overkill damage. This means that in some cases, you might need to focus on high-damage skills that can deal significant damage in excess of what is required to kill the target. This can be a challenge if your build focuses more on sustained damage over time rather than big bursts of damage.
Limited Duration:
While the Vortex lasts for 3 seconds, this duration may not be long enough to deal with all enemies in the area if they move quickly or if there are large groups. You’ll need to time your attacks carefully to ensure that enemies remain within the Vortex’s range.
The Frozen Vortex Support Gem is a powerful tool for Cold-based builds in Path of Exile 2, adding Cold DoT and crowd control to your arsenal. By triggering a Vortex on Shattering enemies, the gem allows you to deal additional Cold damage and apply the Chill debuff to enemies caught in its area. This makes it an excellent choice for builds that rely on Freeze and Shatter mechanics, providing both damage over time and crowd control.
If you’re running a build focused on Cold damage, Freeze effects, and AoE mechanics, Frozen Vortex is a must-have gem that will significantly enhance your effectiveness in both single-target and group combat scenarios. However, to maximize its potential, make sure you have reliable ways to Freeze enemies and deal Overkill damage for optimal results.