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PoE 2 Build

ShakCentral's Cold Sorc Leveling

ShakCentral

0.1 Early Access

By ShakCentral

Updated on Jan 7, 2025

Jan 7, 2025

Build Overview

PATCH UPDATE: After patch 0.1.0d, Energy gain for Cast on Freeze has been significantly lowered. As a result, the gem setup has changed and it is now much more consistent to use Cold Snap instead of Comet in your Cast on Freeze links. More testing is ongoing for better gem and support setups. This build is a work in progress during early access and I'm updating the guide continuously as I test.

Once the full build is assembled you'll have a smooth and fluid playstyle. Frostbolt will freeze enemies, causing Cast on Freeze to automatically cast Cold Snap to consume the freezes and shatter enemies. Until CoF is accessible, self-casting Cold Snap will work in a similar way.

Throughout leveling, you'll rotate through Frost Bomb, Hypothermia, and Frost Wall for single target damage, adding a powerful burst damage setup in the later acts with Comet + Unleash.

The main build issues to be solved early on are Cast Speed and Mana Regen. "Mana on kill" mods can be very impactful, especially as you start using Cast on Freeze and Comet. The Practiced Signs and Spiral into Mania notables on the passive tree are early options for cast speed passive points that can be respecced later if needed.

Equipment

Set 1

Set 2

Equipment Priority

You can use a good staff if you find one, but the shield defensive bonuses can be literally life-saving as long as you have a decent wand.

Cast speed is VERY important for making the build feel good to play. Aim to get your Frostbolt between 0.4-0.5s cast time. Anything higher than 0.6 as you move toward A3/Cruel will start to feel clunky

Skill Gems

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 15

Dex 5

Int 75

Frostbolt

Cast on Freeze

Comet

Frost Wall

Frost Bomb

Hypothermia

Arctic Armour

Gem Priority

+20

Gem Setup Notes:

Use your preference of Scattershot or Wildshards for extra Frostbolt projectiles near the end of the Acts.
See the Mobalytics permanent buff guide HERE. After your first Spirit gain, run Arctic Armour. After your second, switch to Cast on Freeze. After your final Spirit boost to 100, you can run both persistent buffs, while adding Clarity to AA.

Bossing rotation: curse w/ Hypothermia, Frost Bomb for exposure, then Frost Wall on top of the boss, which almost instantly shatters for high damage & freezing. Once you have access to Comet, link it with Unleash for a huge increase to single target damage.

Leveling Gems (Work in progress):

Act 1: Use Spark from the Riverbank and add Flame Wall from Renly's reward. Be sure to make Ice Nova and Frost Bomb gems as you find more skill gems, and use Frost Bomb early on for more damage.