MMORPG.Com's @ProtoSori, The Avalanche (1.1.2b)

This build is not unlike a few other cast on crit builds, but there were some major reasons why I chose this skill over the others, and I will explain in absolute full detail in this guide. This build is meant for Softcore. If you have any suggestions or theory's, keep them on topic and respectful. Thank you!

Edit - 4-25-14
Passive overhaul to counteract problems with reflect and lightning thorns. Picked up Rathpith and Lazhwar, Acrobatics and Phase Acrobatics. Reflect and Thorns are no longer a problem. Degenerative effects such as RF Exile and Zombie Poison Clouds hurt a bit. Avoid these if possible. Switched some gems and setups out, tweaked the overall build and playstyle.

A few things are essential to run this build. It can be done without them, but I don't suggest it.

1. 5L Chest
2. 1.5 Attack Speed, 9.0+ Crit Dagger w/ Spell damage and Spell Crit if possible.

If you have these, this build will work.

Pros:
► Very High AOE Clear Speed
► Very High Single Target Damage
► Very Visually Pleasing
► Least Laggy CoC Build I've Seen
► Sounds Like A Massive Avalanche
► Looks Like A Massive Avalanche
► Permafreezes What It Doesn't Kill
► Reflect Is Manageable
► Very Group Friendly
► Lots Of Room For Gear / DPS Improvement
► Can Work As A Cheap Build, Scales Exponentially The More Expensive You go

Cons:
► Not Tanky Enough For HC, Though I Rarely Die
► Semi-Gear dependant. Not Expensive, But Certain Mods Are Desired On Items
► Low Hp, but Huge Defenses to make up for it.

So, why am I using a skill not many people seemed to have taken an interest in?

A few reasons really. I mean, the playstyle is cast on crit, and freeze. I'm not good with math, so if anyone wants to run the numbers as far as freeze chance etc.

There are 3 main cold skills.

►Freezing Pulse
a.) GMP Halves Damage, Allows for shotgunning mobs. Very Short Range
►Arctic Breath
a.) GMP Halves Damage, Allows for shotgunning mobs. Does not pierce, making invulnerability totems hard to kill.
►Glacial Cascade
a.) GMP Does not effect, Large Hit Box to compensate for GMP not affecting it, Pierces, Hits multiple times, 3/4 Cold damage and 1/4 Physical Damage. Can freeze and stun.

So each has advantages and disadvantages, yet I feel that Glacial is the strongest candidate overall. It has a huge aoe potential, and huge single target potential. You don't have to worry about reflect since you do two kinds of damage. Physical reflect is negligible, and elemental reflect is noticeable but not a problem.

Glacial does not die over range like Freezing Pulse, so you can hit mobs at quite some range with this build, keeping you well out of the fray and allowing for a more dps oriented passive build. Every hit shotguns, because of the way glacial works. Glacial radiates out in circles on the ground, with multiple circles hitting each mob.

While leveling, you need to make sure and slot all of the endgame gems you can into your gear, to level it with you. As your main attack, you will use Freezing Pulse until you kill Brutus in Act 1 Normal, where you will acquire Glacial Cascade. That will be your main leveling skill, coupled with Ice Nova for utility. GC is quite strong while leveling. To make leveling easier you could get all of the cold damage passives before working on the crit passives.

Glacial Cascade x2 (Quality% is Desired), Haste x1, Reduced Mana x1, Clarity x1, Vaal Cold Snap x1, Vaal Ice Nova x1, Critical Weakness x1, Spell Totem x1, Faster Casting x1, Concentrated Effect x1, Blind x1 (Stop At Level 3), Greater multiple Projectiles x2 (Only Level 1, Leave the other at Level 1), Cast When Damage Taken x1 (Do Not Level), Flame Totem x1 (Do Not Level), Cast on Critical Strike x1, Spectral Throw x1 (Do not level), Life Gain On Hit (Quality% Is Necessary), Power Charge On Critical (Quality% is Desired), Increased Area of Effect x2, Knockback x1, Frostbite x1, Purity of Ice x1.

5L Chest - Spectral/CoC/Glacial/GMP/LGOH
6L Chest - Spectral/CoC/Glacial/GMP/LGOH/Power Charge on Crit
4L Gloves - CWDT/Increased Duration/enduring Cry/Immortal Call
4L Helm - Reduced Mana/Clarity/Grace/Purity of Ice
4L Boots - Spell Totem/Glacial/Faster Casting/Concentrated Effect
3L Dagger - Frostbite/Vaal Ice Nova/Increased Area Of Effect
3L Shield - CWDT/Frost Wall/Molten Shell

Note that I do not use Grace all the time, but it is good to have in case of high physical damage bosses. I turn Purity off in those cases and turn Grace on.

Oak - Kraityn - Alira

You won't be switching to cast on crit until 60 ish depending on what kind of dagger you acquire.

Notice that only 5 of the items can have HP rolls on them, yet only 2 of mine have hp rolls. Hence, upgrades. I will be moving into a 6L Carcass Jack at some point, whenever I can afford it. Other than that, I dropped quite a bit of hp to pick up rathpith / lazhwar / passives, but even with 1751 HP, I never die. Permanent freeze and insane dodge / evasion / block and capped rez make it feel like my old character with 6k hp. When you get hit, you get rocked, but getting hit is so far and few inbetween, I never freak out like I did when i first switched things around. Granted, a really bad string of rng can kill ya. If you manage to get hit 3x in quick succession, reeeep. Good thing this isn't hardcore right? :)







Sincerely,

ProtoSori
www.mmorpg.com
www.twitch.tv/protosori