PoE 2 Ice Shards – Path of Exile 2

PoE 2 Ice Shards

It is a Skill Gem.

Ammunition
Attack, AoE, Projectile, Cold
Tier: 5 (Mercenary)
Level: 5
Cost: 18
Requires: Level 14, 20 Str, 20 Dex
Requires: Crossbow

Loads your Crossbow with a clip of icy bolts that rapidly fire at the ground, leaving a shard of ice at impact location unless the bolt hits an enemy. The ice shards shatter when enemies step on them, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Using this skill again reloads the clip.

Projectile

Attack Speed: 550% of base. Attack Damage: 7%.

  • Converts 60% of Physical Damage to Cold Damage
  • Knocks Back Enemies
  • Can fire 12 Bolts before reloading
  • Cannot Freeze

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

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Ice Shards is a versatile Ammunition-based Cold skill gem in Path of Exile 2, designed for Mercenary players who want to deliver rapid Cold damage through projectiles. With its unique mechanic of firing icy bolts that leave ice shards behind, this skill offers both damage and crowd control by triggering explosions of cold when enemies step on the shards.

Key Details of Ice Shards

  • Gem Type: Skill Gem
  • Skill Type: Ammunition, Attack, AoE, Projectile, Cold
  • Tier: 5 (Mercenary)
  • Level Requirement: 5
  • Mana Cost: 18
  • Attack Speed: 550% of base
  • Attack Damage: 7%
  • Physical to Cold Conversion: Converts 60% of Physical Damage to Cold Damage
  • Requires: Level 14, 20 Str, 20 Dex
  • Requires: Crossbow
  • Fires: 12 Bolts before needing to reload
  • Knockback Effect: Yes, knocks back enemies
  • Cannot Freeze: This skill does not have freezing effects

How Ice Shards Works

Ice Shards fires a series of rapid icy bolts that travel towards the ground. Upon impact, if the bolt hits the terrain, it leaves behind an ice shard that lasts until an enemy steps on it, at which point it shatters, dealing Cold damage to enemies in the area. The combination of AoE damage and crowd control makes Ice Shards a great skill for clearing groups of enemies and controlling the battlefield.

1. Rapid Fire and Projectile Speed

  • Ice Shards fires 12 bolts in quick succession before needing a reload. With an attack speed of 550% of base, it can quickly cover a wide area, creating a storm of Cold damage across the battlefield.
  • The attack speed is incredibly fast, meaning you can deal significant Cold damage to enemies while rapidly filling the ground with ice shards.

2. Ice Shards Mechanic

  • When the icy bolts hit the ground (or terrain), they create ice shards. If an enemy steps on one of these shards, it shatters, triggering an explosion of Cold damage in the surrounding area. This AoE effect means that you can set up areas of danger for enemies to step into, creating traps or controlling enemy movement.

3. Cold Damage and Knockback

  • Ice Shards converts 60% of Physical damage to Cold damage, ensuring that it benefits from Cold synergies in your build. This means you can stack Cold damage amplifiers, making your ice shard explosions even more potent.
  • Additionally, Ice Shards knocks back enemies, further controlling their positioning. The knockback effect is particularly useful for crowd control, ensuring that enemies are pushed away from you while they step onto ice shards, triggering Cold explosions.

4. No Freeze Effect

  • Unlike many Cold skills, Ice Shards cannot freeze enemies. While this might seem like a downside in some Cold builds, it actually allows you to focus more on damage and crowd control without worrying about Freeze mechanics. The shattering ice shards provide their own form of crowd control, ensuring enemies are dealt with efficiently.

Synergies with Other Skills and Builds

Ice Shards is a unique skill that combines projectile fire, AoE Cold damage, and crowd control into one powerful package. Here are some synergies to consider when using Ice Shards:

1. Cold Damage Scaling

  • As Ice Shards converts 60% of Physical Damage to Cold Damage, it benefits greatly from scaling Cold damage. You can amplify this with Cold damage passives, support gems like Cold Penetration or Hypothermia, and items that boost Cold damage.
  • Using Cold damage modifiers will increase the damage of the shattered ice shards, making your AoE explosions much more powerful.

2. Projectile-based Builds

  • If you’re focusing on projectile-based skills, Ice Shards fits perfectly into a crossbow-focused build. The 12 rapid projectiles that pierce through enemies can be paired with Pierce support gems or projectile scaling to further increase your AoE damage and crowd control capabilities.

3. Damage Over Time (DoT) Effects

  • Combine Ice Shards with Cold DoT effects (like Frostbite or Cold DoT scaling), and you’ll increase the overall damage output of the shards. While the skill doesn’t freeze enemies, DoT effects like Frostbite will help soften up enemies for even more Cold damage.

4. Trap or Mine Builds

  • The mechanic of leaving ice shards on the ground can synergize well with Trap or Mine builds. Set up traps or mines and wait for enemies to step on them. This allows you to set up Cold traps while maintaining distance, triggering explosions of Cold damage when enemies activate the shards.

Pros and Cons of Ice Shards

Pros:

  • High Attack Speed: Ice Shards fires 12 bolts quickly, allowing you to cover a large area with Cold damage in a short amount of time.
  • AoE Cold Damage: The ice shards left behind on the ground trigger AoE explosions, making it effective for dealing with groups of enemies.
  • Knockback Effect: The knockback effect ensures that enemies are pushed away, giving you more control over enemy positioning.
  • Cold Damage Conversion: 60% of Physical Damage converted to Cold Damage enables synergies with Cold damage passives and support gems.
  • Crowd Control: The shattering ice shards create a trap-like effect, dealing damage and controlling enemy movement.

Cons:

  • Cannot Freeze: Ice Shards does not have a freeze effect, meaning you won’t be able to freeze enemies as easily as with other Cold skills.
  • Mana Cost: The 18 Mana cost per use can add up, so you may need to manage your mana regeneration or use items that reduce mana costs.
  • Requires Crossbow: Ice Shards requires a crossbow, which may limit build options if you don’t want to focus on crossbow weapons.

Tips for Using Ice Shards

  1. Control the Battlefield: Use the knockback effect to control enemy movement and keep them away from you, all while leaving behind ice shards for them to step on.
  2. Maximize AoE: Ice Shards excels at clearing groups of enemies. Use AoE-increasing modifiers to boost the damage of the ice shard explosions.
  3. Synergize with Cold Damage: Take advantage of the 60% Cold damage conversion by focusing on Cold damage scaling and support gems that enhance Cold effects.
  4. Set Traps with Shards: Combine Ice Shards with trap setups to make the shards explode as enemies step on them, dealing significant Cold damage while maintaining distance.
  5. Keep Reloading: Remember that Ice Shards needs to be reloaded after 12 shots, so make sure you’re ready for the next volley by reloading your crossbow after each set of shots.

Conclusion

Ice Shards is a powerful Cold skill gem for Mercenary players in Path of Exile 2. Its ability to rapidly fire projectiles, leave behind ice shards, and deal AoE Cold damage creates a dynamic playstyle that can control the battlefield and dish out substantial Cold damage. Although it lacks the ability to freeze enemies, the Knockback effect and shattering ice shards make it an excellent choice for players looking for crowd control and area denial in their build. Whether you’re looking to boost Cold damage, clear crowds, or set traps for enemies to trigger, Ice Shards is a solid option that can fit into many different playstyles and builds.

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