This is an ice-based Embermage for Elite Hardcore mode. This build is challenging early on, but it really begins to shine above level 10 with the Hailstorm skill - especially when you have some Engineer friends using Overload for extra damage against stunned enemies.
Here's the build: every level, assign three focus and two vitality. I chose three focus, one dexterity, and one vitality the first time I built this character, but it didn't work out. The paltry dodge chance you get from the dexterity investment just isn't worth it; the Embermage is highly susceptible to being one-shotted and you can't risk it hoping for a lucky dodge.
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| Embermage Eldritch - level 18 |
I chose ice for crowd control and damage reasons. Many of the ice skills freeze, immobilize, stun, or reduce enemies' elemental damage resists which serve to make your attacks even more powerful. Start by recovering your single Magma Spear point and spend it on Icy Blast. Spend your next three points on Charge Mastery, Staff Mastery, and Prismatic Rift. Once this is done, start leveling Charge Mastery and Icy Blast up to five. When you reach level seven, skill up Hailstorm to five and put one point in Frozen Fate. At level 14, put one point into Frost Phase - this is your bug-out skill - and begin leveling Frost Brand, and Hailstorm to 10. Once Ice Wave is available level it along with Hailstorm and Frost Brand to 15. You can then branch out and take higher Charge Mastery or whatever other skills you want now that you have the core ice Embermage build.
The major disadvantage to this build is survivability. It is in grave danger of being one-shotted, so look for gear that increases your health and decreases damage (e.g.
Eye of Grell). I played this build along with a poison Outcast and a tanky Engineer with great success until a champion monster one-shotted me through a wall right before Chillhoof. However, I built with a mix of focus, dexterity, and vitality so I need to rebuild again with focus and vitality only.
Hi, I don't know if you are still playing this, but here is some feedback.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Ice Embermage is the best Embermage build for EHC/HCE, but there is a major flaw in that build, the staff and no shield. Not only you pass up needed survivability, you also pass up extra bonus and sockets.
I strongly suggest you to use a shield as the block works like a 2nd dodge. For instance a 50% dodge + 50% block (which is not hard to achieve) mitigates 75% of the hits. Later you can even reach the cap of 75% on both.
Using this you only need to use the MaxHP + %DR to avoid 1 hit kills. Not having the block might mean you die in 2 consecutive shots, not healing fast enough.
But if you are playing on Co-Op and you want to play without a shield for looks, ignore VIT because you won't be using it's Block Chance, and Armor Bonus are useless, use those stats on FOC, and you have to use more MaxHP "gems".
I haven't played in about six weeks due to other titles I picked up recently. I'm interested in your suggestion though, so maybe I'll fire up TL2 again and give it a shot with a fresh character.
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