North Star's Guide to the Ice-Cold Corrupter

Truth · 12-28-2005 10:42 AM

North Star's Guide to the Ice-Cold Corrupter
(Issue 6 Version)

Disclaimer:
Corrupters are a balanced hybrid; they do both damage and group support (in the form of heals, buffs, and debuffs.) Both roles are important; a corrupter overly focused on damage is just a gimped blaster; a corrupter focused on support is nothing but a gimped defender. As a personal preference, I want a character who can solo effectively, bring a lot to groups, and be viable in PvP. There's a lot of ways to play a corrupter; this is my personal opinion. Mileage may vary.

-------------------------------
Ice-Cold Overview
-------------------------------
Ice-Cold has a little bit of everything; single target damage, AE damage, control via holds, targetted debuffs, anchor debuffs, group buffs, targetted buffs, area debuffs. You have a very diverse set of tools, and a lot going on at all times. That makes it a very challenging and interesting class to play. There is a very strong synergy between the two power sets; the complement each other well. Snare/slow is a superb side-effect for PvP. Ice-Cold is a very tight set: you've got a lot of really good powers to choose from.

Rain Attacks (Ice Storm, Sleet, Blizzard):
These attacks have a chance to scourge on every pulse; that makes them far more attractive for the corrupter compared to blasters or defenders. It also does a lot to compensate for the fact that these attacks take 10+ seconds to do their damage rather than be instantaneous. Ice-Cold corrupters have another advantage over Ice Blasters: a great tool for keeping mobs under the rain with Snow Storm. Your foes slowed, snared, feared and dissolving... this is what being a corrupter is all about. As a side note, damage and accuracy buffs do not help these powers; only their slotting matters. Don't let previous experience with these powers for other Archtypes turn you off; they really come into their own for corrupters.

You are not a Ice Blaster:
Some powers don't have the same importance as they did for blasters; in particular, Aim and Frost Breath. In part, this is because rain powers are far more effective for corrupters. Frost Breath was useful if you didn't have other AE's... but with Ice Storm being much more useful, the appeal just isn't there. Aim is great for a class that is only doing damage, but a corrupter has a lot of other things to be doing. Aim also does not affect your rain powers... and those will do the bulk of your damage in large group PvE. These aren't 'bad' powers... but the relative value has changed.

Problems:
You have a lot of very important high end powers; in particular sleet (35) and heat loss (38). You don't get your 3rd attack (Bitter Ice Blast) until 18. Ice-Cold is very endurance intensive and stamina at 20 is a must. Ice-Cold is a slow set to start off, gets better at 20, but doesn't really come into its own until the late 30s.

-------------------------------
Ice Primary Powers:
-------------------------------
The advice here is mostly applicable for 'cold' corrupters, although the general advice should also apply to Radiation and Dark defenders, which also have snare abilities. For every other secondary, I would take Frost Breath and skip Ice Storm (and Aim is also more appealing.) The ability to make use of Ice Storm (via snow storm or other snare) really changes the way the primary works.

Ice Bolt, Ice Blast, Bitter Ice Blast
All 3 are "must haves". This is your primary attack chain. Fast activating with good side-effects. They need to be taken as soon as possible, slotted as soon as possible. I have them 6 slotted (1*accy, 3*dmg, 1*end rdx, 1*rchg.)

Frost Breath
I have been under-impressed with this power; range is too small, damage too low, endurance too high. Its one of your AE attacks; and AE rules the PvE game. All the same, I think its very skippable. Its not very useful solo (you need 3 things in it to make the endurance cost worthwhile), and pretty much worthless in PvP. Unlike a blaster, I think corrupters have a lot of other choices for powers. Not a terrible power, but not great either.

Freeze Ray, Bitter Freeze Ray
Freeze Ray is a must-have; to be taken and slotted as soon as possible. In many ways it defines the Ice attack set, and fundamentally changes the way you play. (2*accy, 3*hold, 1*rchg). Bitter Freeze Ray is crippled by a insanely long animation (~4 sec) and is easily skippable. Its main use is to be able to lock down bosses while soloing. I personally find it too situational to pickup.

Aim
See the explanation above. This one is definately skippable; as shocking as that may sound if you ever played a blaster. Primary use is for PvP; but even then I find myself leading off with infrigidate.

Ice Storm
I -love- this power. It does a lot of damage (more than Bitter Ice Blast) and works over a very wide area. Snowstorm + Ice Storm + Sleet is one of the best combo's in the game; does a massive amount of damage. It has a secondary effect of fearing everything under it... so you need a snare effect going to really use this power. Once snared, most of them will (slowly) try to run away... very effective as a control + damage mitigation. Buffs don't improve it, so it needs to be heavily slotted.

Blizzard
A devastating rain attack that totally drains your endurance. Its probably less effective for corrupters than it is for blasters (you have a lot more things to be doing with your endurance), but its still a superb power. Heat Loss + Sleet + Ice Storm + Blizzard will devastate anything short of an Elite Boss.

-------------------------------
Cold Secondary Powers:
-------------------------------

Infrigidate, Benumb
Your two targetted debuffs. Infrigidate is decent for a power that you have to get anyway. Devastating in PvP, really good against AVs and Heros, doesn't really need a lot of slotting. Benumb is a boss killer; reduces the damage something does by ~50%, and greatly weakens any secondary effects. Also pretty handy in PvP. Benumb is a "must have", and benefits greatly from some accuracy and recharge enhancing.

Snow Storm
This makes Ice Storm work. Its very hard to see, so I use Freeze ray to indicate the anchor. Its a very effective snare, a moderately effective slow, and an endurance hog. As an added bonus, it has -fly on it. Being able to fly, while your foes are grounded and snared, has a lot of survivability advantages. It gets more effective as you level up; I have 1 end rdx, 2 slow enhancers in it.

Arctic Fog
This is an AE buff, and extremely effective. Fire-Ice-Energy resists, the ability to resist slow effects, stealth, and a defense bonus... at an affordable endurance cost. What's not to like here? In particular, arctic fog is very useful for buffing minions against AE attacks. Fire is much more common in CoV than it ever was in CoH, this buff is corresponding better. There is a good synergy with the resists on the ice shields. The resistance is worth slotting, the defense is not.

Ice Shield, Glacial Shield
Lets go over why these are bad. Targetted buffs have an annoying mechanic to use. They have typed defenses which don't stack with the most common stalker positional defense sets (reflexes, ninjitsu). They -probably- don't stack with the defenses from invulnerability. They are ugly. They don't help you when solo. OK, now we are past all that, I still strongly recommend taking Ice Shield. As a corrupter, you really want to unleash AE destruction and mayhem. AE means you are going to get splattered if you take the initial attacks. You need someone else to take that intial strike. For all the problems that these shields have, Ice Shield does greatly improve the survivability of your team. The fire/cold resists work well with the resists on arctic fog as well. Glacial Shield is probably the worst power in the set; it has all the problems of Ice Shield... as well as the fact that energy and dark attacks are much rarer, a lot of energy/dark have a smashing/lethal component, and you dont have the fire resistance. Get over the fact that Ice Shield does nothing for you solo; its benefit in PvP and groups is substantial. Take Ice Shield; skip Glacial Shield.

Frostwork
Increases HP of the target by 20%, but with heal enhancements this will go up to 40%. That will make a brute significantly tougher. This is a really solid power; but deferable for a long time. (I don't have it now, but intend to grab it when they raise the level cap.)

Sleet
This is it. This is what you have been waiting for. Suddenly the whole power set starts to click. Its good damage. Its an defense/resistance debuff. Stuff is continually knocked down. A Must Have. Get it, slot it, its worth the wait.

Heat Loss
Another great power. A Must Have. An AE resistance debuff (30%?) that increases your groups endurance and endurance regeneration.

-------------------------------
Power Pool Powers:
-------------------------------

Hover, Fly
I think the best choice of travel powers for Ice-Cold. You can fly, and your enemies can't. Useful for moving around minions. You need to see what is going on to debuff priority targets... hover is good for that. Any travel set will work; I think fly works best.

Swift, Health, Stamina
Ice-Cold is a very endurance hungry set. Stamina is not optional. You have no way to heal yourself, Health is not a -wasted- pick either.

-------------------------------
Sample Template
-------------------------------

01) --> Ice Bolt
01) --> Infrigidate
02) --> Ice Blast
04) --> Snow Storm
06) --> Swift
08) --> Freeze Ray
10) --> Hover
12) --> Ice Storm
14) --> Fly
16) --> Health
18) --> Bitter Ice Blast
20) --> Stamina
22) --> Arctic Fog
24) --> Assault*
26) --> Tactics*
28) --> Benumb
30) --> Ice Shield
32) --> Blizzard
35) --> Sleet
38) --> Heat Loss

*optional power. other choices to consider are hasten, aim, frost breath, bitter freeze ray, frostworks, heal other, heal self, teleport friend; customize based on personal preference.

I heavily slotted all of my attacks; moderately slotted the secondary cold stuff. Death is the best status effect.

Blue_Archaura · 12-28-2005 07:23 PM

Maybe I'm crazy, but isn't telling a cold domination corruptor to skip a shield like telling a bubbler not to take a bubble? Ludicrous.....

Mr_Link · 12-28-2005 08:03 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I'm crazy, but isn't telling a cold domination corruptor to skip a shield like telling a bubbler not to take a bubble? Ludicrous.....

[/ QUOTE ]

No not exactly. While the ice sheilds help you allies you have other ways of stopping damage while a Force Field defender's only defense is his/her bubbles (I don't consider FF's knockdown/knockback to be a defense)

Pontiac1970GTO · 12-28-2005 10:56 PM

After playing my Ice/cold corruptor 36 levels so far I have to agree with most of what you said. One thing i strongly disagree on is your position on Aim. Aim is an absolute must for any PVP corruptor as it is much harder to land attacks in PVP. Also I mostly use Aim in PVE for landing my debuffs. Its great for ensuring your debuffs stick on purple bosses. Addtionally its nice for some extra blizzard and Ice storm damage.

Sword_NA · 12-29-2005 01:35 AM

Can't agree on your view of Frost Breath. But that's an allready much-debated topic on the corr boards

I was wondering how you like to use the AoE dmg/debuff powers? As in what do you activate first and so on?

My tactic at the moment is:

Attach Snow Storm to a mob in the middle of a spawn and hide around a corner.

As they all line up and are about to round the corner, I target the mob farthest away and hit them all with Forst Breath to stack with the slow-effect of Snow Storm.

Then I place Ice Storm on top of em and hide behind the corner again, picking off the mobs that are closes to the edge of the Ice Storm.

How would powers like Sleet work into this? To get them as slowed as possible before they scatter?

Truth · 12-29-2005 05:20 AM

I don't think Aim is terrible, but a lot of the tools in the cold set really reduce its importance. Infrigidate in particular seems like a very large -def component to it as well as being an excellent snare and slow.

(I respec'd out of Aim + Hasten because I felt they were underperforming.)

The trade off of Assault vs. Aim: Assault is basically +5% per person increase in damage, Aim (over time) is a +10% increase in damage for yourself. (and neither affects your rains, which will be your largest component of your damage in teams.)

Assault is also important to set the stage for Tactics, which also helps offset accuracy issues... but helps everyone on the team as well.

-----------------------------------
[ QUOTE ]
I was wondering how you like to use the AoE dmg/debuff powers?

[/ QUOTE ]

well, for one thing... I -don't- use AEs when soloing; I don't really even bother with debuffs; they are pretty inefficient. They only become efficient if you are fighting groups of mobs large enough to cause you severe downtime from damage.

With Arctic Fog, you can usually drop one mob before the rest respond. In a group of 3... you drop one, the other two turn, you iceblock one of those, drop the next.

In groups I normally snowstorm, (sleet), icestorm. At which point I start freeze raying things outside the AE, debuffing bosses, or otherwise rotating thru targets to maximize scourges.

The main value of icestorm when soloing is as a "fear" effect to buy yourself extra time against an elite boss, like a ballista.

Truth · 12-29-2005 05:22 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Addtionally its nice for some extra blizzard and Ice storm damage

[/ QUOTE ]

Aim has no effect on Ice Storm, Sleet or Blizzard. They are "pet" powers and unaffected by any buffs, including leadership, inspirations, 'forge', etc.

Pontiac1970GTO · 12-29-2005 06:31 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Aim has no effect on Ice Storm, Sleet or Blizzard. They are "pet" powers and unaffected by any buffs, including leadership, inspirations, 'forge', etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the info I was not aware. Its nice you let me know

Truth · 01-03-2006 10:35 AM

Magnitude of difference powers

<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>Infrigidate: -Speed,-Recharge = 60%; -FireDmg = 25%
Snow Storm: -Speed,-Recharge = 40%
Benumb: -Dmg, -Effects = 50%
Sleet: -Res = 30%; -Def = 25%
Heat Loss: -Res = 30%</pre><hr />

(thanks to gSOLO for the numbers)

Truth · 01-03-2006 10:37 AM

I retrospect, I would take Ice Shield at 24, Assault at 26, and Tactics at 30. It doesn't make a huge difference, but I think it would make some mid-level grouping a bit easier.

Night_Fyre · 01-03-2006 02:15 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I'm crazy, but isn't telling a cold domination corruptor to skip a shield like telling a bubbler not to take a bubble? Ludicrous.....

[/ QUOTE ]

No shields for me either. I wanna play a damager/debuffer, not a shielder. My slows and holds will keep you safe, don't you worry.

Truth · 01-04-2006 03:51 PM

Brawl Index for Ice-Cold Powers:

<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>
Ice Bolt: 2.78
Ice Blast: 4.56
Frost Breath: 3.89
Ice Storm: 7.34
Bitter Ice Blast: 6.33
Bitter Freeze Ray: 3.67
Blizzard: 10.08
Sleet: 1.34 (1.68 if you add in the impact of its -res effect)
</pre><hr />

Truth · 01-04-2006 04:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
No shields for me either.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that first shield (Ice Shield) is actually very good; it will greatly reduce the amount of damage your teammates takes.

Its essentially a Stone Brute's (Rock Armor + Brimstone Armor), and it will stack with anything else they have going for them. You can just give a buddy the defense of a pre-granite stone brute. That's a pretty good power.

Fire is a very important resist in CoV... with all the longbow flamers everywhere. Having fire and cold makes it a very good shield for PvP play. Smashing / Lethal rock for defense types... a very large percentage of attacks have at least a small smashing/lethal component to it.

I didn't take it originally, I respecced into it (after doing some testing with it.) I wish I'd taken it earlier. Its definately the winner of "most pleasent surprise in the set" power.

Glacier Armor is a dog. Anyone with this power should respec out of immediately and get "heal other" or "teleport friend" or something.

Generic_Past · 01-04-2006 11:21 PM

I have both shields even though others claim they are useless. For me I like buffing the team, post 30 theres a moderate amount of energy, negative, etc...Freakshow, CoT, Council, Arachnos, and others have a mixture of S/L and Energy/etc..* damage. But thats just me. I'm a team helper.

Seeing when my shields go down and the team is about to get whacked and reapplying takes away that problem, makes me feel better as a teammate because the shields are doing their job.

This space is intentionally left blank.

Truth · 01-05-2006 02:08 AM

Think I double counted the -res debuff in sleet the first time around. Redoing tests, it really seems like a 1.68 BI as a base.

gSOLO · 01-05-2006 06:02 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Blizzard: 10.08

[/ QUOTE ]

No way... Blizzard is the most damaging attack in the game. Don't have time to test ATM.

Phantom Rose: Ill / Kin / Psi
Soleau: Ice / Icy / Ice / Core: Ice / Fire / Pyre / Wind / Eclipse / Flare / Corona
---------------
Solo Space

Papaschtroumpf · 01-05-2006 09:30 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Brawl Index for Ice-Cold Powers:

<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>
Ice Bolt: 2.78
Ice Blast: 4.56
Frost Breath: 3.89
Ice Storm: 7.34
Bitter Ice Blast: 6.33
Bitter Freeze Ray: 3.67
Blizzard: 10.08
Sleet: 1.34 (1.68 if you add in the impact of its -res effect)
</pre><hr />

[/ QUOTE ]

What's brawl index? (what do these numbers mean)
How is it calculated?

gSOLO · 01-05-2006 09:42 AM

Brawl Index

Phantom Rose: Ill / Kin / Psi
Soleau: Ice / Icy / Ice / Core: Ice / Fire / Pyre / Wind / Eclipse / Flare / Corona
---------------
Solo Space

Truth · 01-05-2006 03:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
No way... Blizzard is the most damaging attack in the game. Don't have time to test ATM.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, that number seems fairly low very low to me; in respect to how it turns out in practice. If you can provide me "more accurate" numbers, I would appreciate it.

Truth · 01-05-2006 03:12 PM

[ QUOTE ]

What's brawl index? (what do these numbers mean)
How is it calculated?

[/ QUOTE ]

Its a way to rate the damage of various attack relative to other attacks, within the same set and accross sets.

Its sort of all attacks normalized against "brawl"

It doesn't exactly work in all cases, defenders (and I believe corrupters, thought I have -nothing- to back that up) have lower melee damage than ranged damage. In a case like Ice Blast, it has a known damage ratio against brawl for a Blaster (with even damage for ranged and melee), and so othe rattacks can be measured against that. The corrupter attacks scale the same way, except that out attacks are only 75% the damage... but the ratio of "ice blast" vs. "ice bolt" stays the same.

ANYWAY, what's important is that a Brawl Index of 2 does twice as much damage as a Brawl Index of 1. and a 4 does twice as much damage as a 2. and so on.

Take the ratio of the damage vs. an attack of known damage and Brawl index, and you have a new brawl index. When fighting other hero's you will need to account for any regeneration or resists they might have.

biggreenogre · 01-05-2006 11:13 PM

Wow i really like the build, seems very strong, though i was wondering how you slotted things so that i could test it with my current ice/cold corruptor

I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't looking good, either.

Truth · 01-06-2006 02:23 AM

IB, IB, BIB: 1*accy, 3*dmg, 1 rchg, 1 end rdx
Ice Storm: 3*dmg, 2*rchg
Sleet: 2*rchg
Blizzard: 3*dmg
Freeze Ray: 3*hold, 2*accy

-----------------
Stamina is 3 slotted, Health 2 slotted, Swift 1 slot

assault: 1 end rdx
tactics: 3 accy, 1 end rdx
arctic fog: 3 resist, 1 end rdx

hover: 3 flight
fly: 3 * flight, 1 end rdx

snow storm: 1 slow, 2 end rdx
infrigidate; 1 accy
benumb: 1 accy, 2 rchg

Ice Shield: 3*def

I think that's basically it; I might have a second slow in snow storm as well. (Can't remember.)

kendo · 01-11-2006 01:05 PM

nice write up North Star,

and for really, really sick damage, partner with a fire/dark corrupter

by lvl 12, you have snow storm + tar patch. snared to a crawl + debuffed. then throw ice storm + rain of fire, with a fire ball appetizer. sit back and watch all the damage numbers float up and the bad guys go down

Generic_Past · 01-16-2006 07:14 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I'm crazy, but isn't telling a cold domination corruptor to skip a shield like telling a bubbler not to take a bubble? Ludicrous.....

[/ QUOTE ]

No shields for me either. I wanna play a damager/debuffer, not a shielder. My slows and holds will keep you safe, don't you worry.

[/ QUOTE ]

I can't help but laugh at that post.

Join the teams I'm on and try saying your holds and slows keep the team safe because you'll be the first to faceplant then everyone else on my team proceeds to faceplant.

But hey, if slows/holds keep all your teams safe, then good for you but I always see a huge difference with shields. On the teams I do regularly with my VG, slows/holds wont save you.

This space is intentionally left blank.

Skydiver · 01-16-2006 07:47 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I'm crazy, but isn't telling a cold domination corruptor to skip a shield like telling a bubbler not to take a bubble? Ludicrous.....

[/ QUOTE ]

No shields for me either. I wanna play a damager/debuffer, not a shielder. My slows and holds will keep you safe, don't you worry.

[/ QUOTE ]

I can't help but laugh at that post.

Join the teams I'm on and try saying your holds and slows keep the team safe because you'll be the first to faceplant then everyone else on my team proceeds to faceplant.

But hey, if slows/holds keep all your teams safe, then good for you but I always see a huge difference with shields. On the teams I do regularly with my VG, slows/holds wont save you.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, if Slows and Holds can't save your team, then nothing will. . . . Except running away.
Next to a fast MOB death, Holds are the best damage mitigation in the game. . .
And if the best can't get it done. . . . . run