Introduction
The Frostbolt Comet Sorceress features a ranged playstyle that deals explosive cold damage. Frostbolt launches multiple projectiles that fork and then explode to shotgun enemies with overlapping hits.
Comet is rapidly triggered from a
Cast on Critical setup to deal even greater damage in a massive area.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Low-budget build capable of starting endgame maps
- Huge area explosions to clear groups of enemies at range
- Overlapping explosions shotgun enemies to hit multiple times per cast
- Requires a fairly cheap/common unique ring
- Projectile speed of Frostbolt starts slow
- Moderate survivability
Build Mechanics
The unique ring, Snakepit, is required in the left ring slot to remove the piercing effect from Frostbolt and cause the projectiles to fork. Frostbolt fires three projectiles per cast with
Scattershot. Each of the projectiles fired split into three projectiles after hitting the first enemy and then explode on the second enemy. Against a large group of enemies, up to nine explosions can occur per cast of Frostbolt.
Comet is triggered often from
Cast on Critical due to the high amount
Frostbolt explosions to finish off any surviving enemies. During boss fights,
Frost Wall provides targets for Frostbolt to split and explode on.
Skill Rotation
Follow the basic skill rotation below to progress through the campaign and clear groups of enemies in maps.
- Cast
Frostbolt repeatedly to deal damage.
- If additional damage is needed against tough elites, cast
Frost Wall before
Frostbolt projectiles reach the enemy to cause more explosions and apply exposure.
Execute the steps below to optimize damage against bosses.
- Cast
Sigil of Power (Weapon Set 2) to buff damage.
- Cast
Conductivity (Weapon Set 1) to reduce the Lightning Resistance of the boss. Conductivity can be pre-cast before a boss spawns if supported by
Cursed Ground.
- Against bosses that take an extended amount of time to spawn, like Pinnacle bosses, buff stages of
Sigil of Power can be ramped up to 4 by spamming
Conductivity to spend Mana.
- Cast
Frost Wall to surround the boss with
Fortress.
- Cast
Frostbolt once to fork and explode projectiles on the
Frost Wall.
- Continue to alternate casts of
Frost Wall and
Frostbolt to deal damage.
Video Guide
Skill and Support Gems
The Frostbolt Comet Sorceress utilizes the following Skill Gems and Support Gems, listed in order of socket priority.
Skill Gems | Support Gem 1 | Support Gem 2 | Support Gem 3 | Support Gem 4 | Support Gem 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Spirit Gems
The Spirit Gem setup requires 190-200 total Spirit. Defeat The King in the Mists (Act 1, Normal Difficulty) and Ignagduk (Act 3, Normal and Cruel Difficulty) for 100 base Spirit. Obtain the remaining 90-100 Spirit from a Body Armor and Amulet. Make sure you apply 20% Quality to Cast on Critical for reduced reservation.
Clarity is optional if you have 200 total Spirit.
Blink is an optional weapon swap tech that can be activated only for Weapon Set 2. Swap weapons to access Blink when needed. Set
Frostbolt,
Frost Wall,
Conductivity to only be used with Weapon Set 1 to automatically swap back when they are cast. Ensure
Cast on Critical is only active for Weapon Set 1 to enable this setup.
Skill Gems | Support Gem 1 | Support Gem 2 | Support Gem 3 | Support Gem 4 | Support Gem 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ascendancy
Stormweaver is the recommended Ascendancy for the Frostbolt Comet Sorceress. Select your first Ascendancy after completing the Trial of the Sekhemas in Act 2. The trial is not difficult, so complete it within the level range of 20-30. During the early access of Path of Exile 2, you have the option between Stormweaver and Chronomancer. This choice is permanent so choose carefully!
Stormweaver
The Stormweaver is the best Ascendancy choice due to the Mana Regen and damage increases within its nodes. Allocate the Ascendancy nodes in the following order:
- Constant Gale and Force of Will — The Arcane Surge nodes are highly beneficial for more Mana Regen and more Cast Speed. A separate multiplier to Mana Regen is needed to sustain the increased Mana costs from
Archmage. Both effects become more potent as Maximum Mana is increased.
- Strike Twice — The extra Shock effect applied to enemies provides a massive increase in damage output. The benefit of the node becomes more effective as Shock/Ailment magnitude is increased.
- Scouring Winds — The final damage increase from the Stormweaver Ascendancy causes Exposure to reduce resistances by a base 40% instead of 20%, before any increased Exposure Effect is applied.
Chronomancer
The Chronomancer is not usually recommended due to the lack of any Mana Regen or damage increases. The benefits are instead based on survivability. Allocate the Ascendancy nodes in the following order:
- Footprints in the Sand and Ultimate Command — Time Freeze is especially useful against bosses to deal uninterrupted damage without risk.
- Apex of the Moment — Slow provides an additional layer of survivability.
- Circular Heartbeat — Damage taken Recouped as Life provides some sustainability.
Passive Skill Tree
Path of Building is a build planner with helpful theorycrafting tools. Use the following URL for advanced details and calculations on the Frostbolt Comet Sorceress:
For more instructions on downloading the app, check the guide on Path of Building 2.
Gear
The preferred gear for the Frostbolt Comet Sorceress is listed below with affixes and socketables ranked in order of importance. Prioritize gear with the correct base stats and beneficial explicit affixes.
A Shield is recommended over a Focus if you are having trouble surviving.
Equipment Slot and Base Stats | Prefixes | Suffixes | Sockets |
---|---|---|---|
Wand | 3. Maximum Mana 4. Spell Damage 5. Extra Lightning Damage | 1. Level of all Cold Spell Skills 2. Critical Hit Chance for Spells 3. Mana Regeneration Rate | – |
Focus | 3. Maximum Energy Shield 3. Increased Energy Shield 4. Maximum Mana | 1. Level of all Spell Skills 2. Critical Hit Chance for Spells 3. Mana Regen Rate | 1. Any Rune that grants Resistance if not yet capped. 2. Iron Rune |
Shield (Armor and Energy Shield hybrid) | 1. Increased Block Chance 2. Maximum Life | 1. Resistances 3. Attributes | 1. Any Rune that grants Resistance if not yet capped. 2. Soul Core of Zalatl |
Helmet (Energy Shield) | 1. Maximum Mana 1. Maximum Energy Shield 1. Increased Energy Shield | 1. Resistances 2. Attributes | 1. Any Rune that grants Resistance if not yet capped. 2. Iron Rune |
Body Armor (Energy Shield) | 1. Spirirt 2. Maximum Energy Shield 2. Increased Energy Shield | 2. Resistances 3. Attributes | 1. Any Rune that grants Resistance if not yet capped. 2. Iron Rune |
Gloves (Energy Shield) | Maligaro’s Virtuosity | Maligaro’s Virtuosity | 1. Any Rune that grants Resistance if not yet capped. 2. Soul Core of Zalatl |
Boots (Energy Shield) | 1. Movement Speed 2. Maximum Mana 2. Maximum Life | 2. Resistances 3. Attributes | 1. Any Rune that grants Resistance if not yet capped. 2. Soul Core of Zalatl |
Amulet | 1. Spirit 3. Maximum Mana 3. Maximum Energy Shield 4. Maximum Life | 2. Level of all Spell Skills 3. Mana Regeneration Rate 4. Attributes | – |
Left Ring Slot | Snakepit | Snakepit | – |
Right Ring Slot | 1. Maximum Mana 2. Maximum Life 3. Rarity of Items Found | 1. Mana Regeneration Rate 2. Resistances 3. Attributes | – |
Belt (replaced by Ingenuity) | 1. Maximum Mana 1. Maximum Life 4. Flask Life Recovery Rate | 1. Resistances 2. Attributes 3. Stun Threshold | – |
Jewels
The beneficial affixes for Jewels are listed below, ranked in order of importance. Prioritize Rare Jewels with two prefixes and two suffixes.
- Prefixes
- Magnitude of Shock
- Area of Effect
- Elemental Damage or Spell Damage
- Suffixes
- Mana is taken from Mana before Life (up to 70%)
- Recover Mana on Kill (1 affix of 2%)
- Critical Strike Chance or Critical Strike Chance for Spells
- Cast Speed
Campaign Buffs
Quest rewards during the campaign offer a selection of buffs to your character. Choose the following buffs for the build:
- Valley of the Titans Altar
- 15% increased Mana Recovery from Flasks
- 15% increased Life Recovery from Flasks
- Venom Draught
- 25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
- 10% Chaos Resistance
For more details, check the guide on Campaign Difficulties and Permanent Stat Bonuses.
Flasks and Charms
Prioritize the following Flasks and Charms:
- Health and Mana Flasks
- Prefix: Increased Amount Recovered
- Suffix: Increased Charges or Increased Charges Gained
- Charm: Stone Charm or Thawing Charm.
Changelog
March 28th, 2025: Guide created for Path of Exile II, Early Access