Dual Totem crit/CI-cold build

~lvl 84ish - let me know if I could maximize this better :) The skill build below is basically a dulled down version of Sl4y3r's ci/cold crit witch build to pickup totems rather then throw your own body into the fray.

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgMBAuMC_gdjB6UPxBEPEVARlhXnFr8W8xdUHNwdFB3ZIiYigSMYJjwnqSj6KrosnCynLL8tRy-dNCA7fDvhQZZCw0NURnFJsk-_UEJWSlcrWfNaK1qmXfJmT2aebRlwUnDVc7N-WX_GgUmCEIUOhW2IQow2jRyOPI9GkyeVBJUgnaOiLqKjo_KnCKcrr5uyOLQMt9a4k7jKu9bAGsBRwFTBxcHzw23VT9zH3nffhN-w4vfmgevu8GvyHfPq-tL8qw==

After watching a spark/fork dual totem shadow today on Krip's stream I really wanted to test out a totem build, so I threw some things together on my 62 cold witch to use my ice spear with LMP/crit multiplier/spell totem and it works like a charm. If there were 2 of these things they would clear rooms easily!

The build makes it so I am nowhere near squishy and have a good amount of ES/recovery so I can be on the front lines taking some damage while totems do work on bosses. I have been using a 4L with freezing pulse/LMP/fast cast/crit multiplier with diamond flask x 2 on bosses and it pretty much destroys any of them should I actually need to do damage if the totems are getting wiped out for some reason.

Basically just drop the totems into a room and go into the room and throw frostbite out (if needed). Honestly though I was testing my totem on zombies in merciless who are highly cold resistant as is and the totem was dropping them pretty easily.

This build will essentially level up as a frost witch early on and look to pick up dual totems by 31 which is when you get spell totem reward from cruel maligaro's spike quest reward (spider cave in A2). Level up ice spear and try to get an early LMP or TWO (freezing pulse is amazing with this) from another class since witch doesn't get it (shadows get a lot of these as rewards so make friends with them and see if they want some of your rewards). The trick from this point on is finding upgrades with proper links in them really cause it is smooth sailing.

A map running strategy or merciless strategy could be to level up skeleton summons along the way and put those out front to distract from the totems while they destroy everything. minion life+summon skeletons could be a useful distraction for totems to do their work and these are two skills you get early on to link up and use to absorb some hits for you in scary situations.

Skills: any combo of these as leveling up should work

spell totem>Ice Spear>LMP>crit multiplier (for farming put this into a 6L with IIR/IIQ)

Freezing pulse>faster casting>LMP>crit multiplier (use diamond flask not crit chance)

summon skeletons>minion life>faster casting>minion speed

clarity>discipline>reduced mana>frostbite

No need for crazy gear to make this build effective since it happens really early and getting 5L/6L will only increase the amount of good loot you find, but really there is no rush due to insane leveling curve :p

THANKS FOR READING! Any feedback appreciated!

Could this be effectivein hardcore?

In theory, yes, but in actuality I don't think to many people play CI on hardcore. I am sure it is doable in any league, but I haven't tested it in hardcore.

Totem play can be pretty effective in just about all areas of the game because it doesn't leave the caster vulnerable to taking mass amounts of damage. The problem I see is getting to that point in the game (31+) as well as getting the properly linked gear.