Try launching a couple Deep Freezes into a crowded room, that spell is much more useful in general than Iceberg, as it does a lot of damage the longer it travels, plus it costs much less. The damage reduction of the Iceborn path, coupled with an Arcane Shield actually makes you pretty tanky, especially if you add a Lich Skull to the mix, since deep freeze does a ton of damage tic, it has a lot of potential to replenish your health. You'd need a high wisdom build, plus the artifact that adds 50% more magick regeneration.anjinsanroland wrote:Also thunderstorm just kills all ambushes and whatnot.
A high level archon is boringly easy.
A high level pyro's fireblasts are also quite godly.
I am looking for a bit challenge but not frustration. If iceborn is enjoyable throughout a long game despite its downsides then I may try it.
Weapons-wise, Frost Shards loses its appeal during late-game: if it still had its pre-V2 secondary - basically an ice rocket- it'd remain pretty useful even later on. As it is, the ice based spells are more powerful, particularly the aforementioned Deep Freeze; playing a full ice mage, though viable, becomes tedious on the weapons department, an ice-lightning build of sorts, going down the Iceborn path, while getting Arcane Barrier works wonders, especially if you use the secondary attack of arc of death as your main source of weapon damage.
The skills I use personally are: Deep Freeze, Mana Charge, Arcane Barrier, and Iceberg for closer quarters. As for stat disposition, I tend to do 2 int 1 wisdom per level up, alternating them now and then to have a balance between damage and magick regen, as your main source of damage would be spells rather than weapons.