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I consider this a very powerful support build. It can solo, but shines especially on teams with the ally buffs. The 'rain' powers of ice blast have what they call 'blaster modifiers'. The defender blasts are usually weaker in comparison to blaster attacks of the same variety; however, ice storm and blizzard are exceptions. Coupling these two attacks by preceding them with sleet from your Cold defender primary set makes this a very lethal attack indeed.|
Originally Posted by DiamondJoe
Hi! I'm a new player and I just rolled up a Cold / Ice defender. I don't have a lot of perspective on the game so far so I was wondering ...
Is this a typically overpowered / underpowered build? Does this build have any inherent strengths? Does this build have any inherent weaknesses? Any other suggestions on skills to take / not take would be welcome. Thanks in advance! |
Cold also has a lot of powers that slow enemies. Ice blast has a secondary feature of slow also. This means you reduce a great deal of incoming potential damage. Some of the number folks say you get a 1/3 reduction in enemy attack from your slows.
Cold/Ice does not have a self-heal, so mitigating aggro and damage from foes is a big concern, but not insurmountable. Other teammates with heals or teammates that absorb aggro help a lot on teams. Going solo, pulling and using sleet every group possible are part of the cold defender's routine.
I would definitely take hasten on a cold defender because you want your sleet and benumb up ASAP, and those two are reason enough, but there are other good powers that benefit from recharge, too. Superspeed as a travel power will stack with the stealth in arctic fog to give you near total invisibility.
Frostworks is generally disapproved by experienced cold defenders, but it does have merit in situations for certain teammate builds. You might have an alternate build with frostworks in it.
Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.
Pretty much all of what Psylenz said. I've gotten six Defenders to 50, but my Cold/Ice remains my favorite teaming jack-of-all-trades for high level content. No matter what kind of team you join, you can contribute significantly. The extra damage from /Ice is also nice--it feels like there's a world of difference in damage between my Cold/Ice and some of my other Defenders.
Having Vengeance and Fallout slotted for recharge means never having to say you're sorry.
My Cold/Ice is one of my personal signature characters, a go-to for Master Runs, CoP, whatever is a challenge.
Weakness leveling up you will most certainly be the least protected member of the team. Now, with a mature IO set build, thats no longer the case for me, but from 1-49, I saw more death than the rest of the team (Im quite trigger happy with the AOEs).
Strengths Its not just a Jack of all trades its also a master of some. By that I mean, even on teams high on Defense buffs (VEATs, bubblers, other Colds), theres still a bunch of debuffs that are always useful (Sleet for res, -def) and Benumb is an AV crippler.
As for what to take, both sets are full of goodies. Im not such a fan of Bitter Freeze Ray and cant advise taking it. With the i19 changes to Fitness, Ill certainly work Frostworks back into my build, even if its 1-slotted with a Health IO.
Global = Hedgefund (or some derivation thereof)
Single slot or more, Frostworks is back in action.
You could fit Medicine in, if it wasn't already there.
Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.
Most of what I would say about the cold set is already said in my guide. With Ice blast though you can cover most of the handicap of no self heal with liberal use of Freeze Ray.
Hi! I'm a new player and I just rolled up a Cold / Ice defender. I don't have a lot of perspective on the game so far so I was wondering ...
Is this a typically overpowered / underpowered build?
Does this build have any inherent strengths?
Does this build have any inherent weaknesses?
Any other suggestions on skills to take / not take would be welcome. Thanks in advance!