Home / Build / [3.0] Frostbolt Witch (Elementalist)

[3.0] Frostbolt Witch (Elementalist)

Intro & build description

If you like mage-like playstyle, look no further. Build trivializes maps with very fast clearspeed and strong proliferation coming out of Elementalist Ascendancy.  To start with, you don’t need any specific gear, generic rares will carry you till endgame and then with some investment of currency build really starts to shine.

Build Pros

  • Very fast clear speed
  • High damage
  • Good survivability
  • Can do all the content in the game
  • Elemental Reflect reduction

Build Cons

  • None I can think about

Passive tree(s) and Path of Building

Full Build

Bandits

Bandits Quest Choice
Help Alira

Ascendancy skill points

LabyrinthsSkill point choice
Labyrinth 1Shaper of Desolation
Labyrinth 2Beacon of Ruin
Labyrinth 3Liege of the Primordial
Endgame LabyrinthParagon of Calamity

Skill gem setup

Helm


Orb of Storms

Curse on Hit Support

Assassin's Mark

Power Charge on Critical Support


Body Armor


Frostbolt

Controlled Destruction Support

Cold Penetration Support

Slower Projectiles Support or Greater Multiple Projectiles Support

Increased Critical Strikes Support

Empower (3lvl)


Gloves


Blasphemy

Warlord's Mark

Enlighten

Clarity


Boots


Cast When Damage Taken Support

Immortal Call

Increased Duration Support

Vaal Haste


2h Weapon


None


1h Weapon


Shield Charge

Faster Attacks Support

Fortify Support


Offhand weapon / shield


Summon Ice Golem

Summon Flame Golem

Vaal Lightning Trap



Build uniques / Example rare gear


Tip: Click on the item to view it on PoE Wiki or to view similar rare items in poe.trade

Helmet

The Three Dragons

Later on, must have item for the build, makes frostbolt ignite and proliferate damage. Good thing is, it’s very cheap.


Body Armour

Skin of the Loyal

Skin of the Loyal offers some nice damage and defence. It is just a guidline, you can use any unique chest or hybrid Vaal Regalia with elemental resistances, life and high energy shield.


Gloves

Sorcerer Gloves

Energy shield, life, resistances and if possible, some attack speed (makes shield charge more responsive).


Boots

Brinerot Whalers

Unaffected by shocking ground, decent movement speed and projectile damage. You can use something else for boots if, for example, you find it hard to cap resistances.


Left Ring

Doedre's Damning

Ring is needed for second curse, if you can afford amulet with extra curse, instead of Doedre’s Damning use something else that suits you.


Right Ring

Opal Ring

Life, resistances, if capped – stats for gear/gem requirements.


Amulet

Onyx Amulet

Life, resistances, cast speed, critical multiplier, mana regeneration. All good stats on amulet, pick what you can afford/find and what suits you most.


Belt

Crystal Belt

Belt with high life, flat ES, resistances and if possible, some armour.


1Hand Weapon

Doryani's Catalyst

Pretty much best in slot to use with shield charge, Void Battery is an option as well if you have money and not having Shield Charge in your setup doesn’t bother you.


Offhand

Rathpith Globe

Rathpith Globe or Rare titanium spirit shield with high energy shield, resistances, spell damage or increased critical strike chance for spells. It’s up to you to decide which route you want to go.


Jewel

Frozen Trail

Must have jewels, makes frostbolt as good as it is. Grab 2 of them.


Jewel

Jewel Setup for the build

  1. Maximum life
  2. Spell damage
  3. Projectile damage
  4. Cold damage

Flask

Flask Setup

  1. Seething Divine Life Flask of Staunching
  2. Chemist’s Diamond Flask of Warding
  3. Ample Quicksilver Flask of Adrenaline
  4. The Wise Oak
  5. Experimenter’s Silver Flask of Heat


Feel free to share your thoughts/experiences/tips about the build in comments section below.

About prime

Prime is knowledgeable in everything builds related. Mostly focuses on writing build guides and tutorials on how to play with certain skills.

34 comments

  1. passive skill tree stoped working :/

  2. I found 3 points to the area effect and damage near the witch’s starting point. Isn’t frostbolt not an area effect?

  3. I have question about cold penetration. Im close to 80 and im struggling rly hard with cold resistent bosses. Im wondering if im doing sth wrong

    • Seems Like something went wrong with elemental equilibrium.
      as far as i can say, you really need to cast orb of storms before every frostbolt to reduce the enemys resistances.

      maybe we could get a better answer from te

      • You should be able to realiably kill the packs of monsters even without casting OoS – it’s meant for bosses / unique mobs / tougher rares.

      • idk if im not writing again but cant see the before comment in waiting section. Yes it was elemental equlibrium problem i had cold spell damage in my wand what i missed somehow..

  4. Area of affect is meant for curses

  5. Following this build, boss kills are very slow sometimes, but so far so good 🙂 lvl57 now.
    But what do you mean with this part:

    Helmet:
    Cobalt Jewel

    Maximum life
    Spell damage
    Projectile damage
    Cold damage

    Is this meant to be the 3rd jewel to use in the skill tree? Because the Cobalt Jewel link seems to be linked to this build url, maybe a mistake?

    • Your rare jewels should be with following stats :
      1) Increased maximum life
      2) Increased spell damage
      3) Increased Projectile damage

  6. For a 5L, until you get a 6L, do you leave off Empower?

  7. Hi, I’m using this build and am up to level 85, my question is where does the life leech come from? there seems to be little leech to recover health. My frostbolt witch is better geared then my melee and higher health along with es and still I die way more often on her. I don’t know if I’m doing something wrong or what.

  8. Henrik Broe Kroghsbo

    Tried this build, sucks to level with solo dps is so suptire and the meta just dont love casters that stand still – clearing is fine but no near game breaking.

  9. HI, how elemental equilibrium can work in this build plz?

  10. I apologize if this is a stupid question, I am very new to PoE.

    Why Orb of Storm, couldn’t I instead use Arc Totem?

  11. Hi,

    coul you post your current gear for this build?
    Also could you suggest other unique armors and maybe explain why you picked Skin of the loyal? It doesn’t seem that good -> 100% increased global defense doesn’t seem to be too useful for this build and with the needed socket colors for this build it’s quite rare and atm priced around 8 exalted.

    Other than that I enjoy playing this build, thanks for taking the time to gather the information and posting it.

    Cheers

    • Hello, any unique or rare chest works just fine. Skin of the Loyal is suggested just for mere +1 to Level of Socketed Gems. It is just a guidline, you can use any unique chest or hybrid Vaal Regalia with elemental resistances, life and high energy shield.

  12. Hi I’m new to the game since the release on console. The one question I have is regarding shield charge. Are you using this as an escape skill? As a caster, I would assume you would want to stay at a range, not running into the thick of things. If I’m wrong, could you let me know what your typical rotation should look like. Thanks.

    • In theory – yes. But mostly it is used to move around the map quickly, hence movement skill. The faster you clear maps/zones – more loot you acquire in shorter time span. Rotation is – shield charge till you see mobs, cast frostbolts and move further with shield charge. So much quicker than simply walking. Hope I answered your question.

  13. Cristopher Justice

    skills are out of date

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