Sorceress Frostbolt Snap Leveling Build

Build Introduction

Due to the sweeping balance changes to every system in Patch 0.3, builds require additional testing to make any optimizations. We will do our best to get the guides updated as soon as possible. Please check back often for any changes that have been made.

The Frostbolt Snap Sorceress (or Witch) excels at leveling with destructive cold spells. Frostbolt launches multiple projectiles that pierce through all enemies, and then Snap (previously Cold Snap) explodes them to deal massive damage. The ranged playstyle is extremely safe due to the constant Chill and Freeze applied to enemies.

This leveling build is viable in solo self-found mode and extremely effective as a league starter. It can be used to level a new character for any endgame builds involving ascendancies for Sorceress (Stormweaver and Chronomancer) or Witch (Blood Mage, Infernalist, and Lich). Follow this guide to complete the campaign, and then make an easy transition to the Stormweaver Frostbolt Comet or Blood Mage Frostbolt Comet endgame guides.

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Strengths and Weaknesses

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Video Guide

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Ascendancy

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, a Sorceress has the option to ascend to Stormweaver or Chronomancer. Stormweaver is highly recommended for the easiest leveling experience in the campaign. If you intend on playing a Chronomancer build in the endgame, your chosen Ascendancy can be changed later by repeating a Trial of the Sekhemas or Ultimatum. This build can also be used to level a Blood Mage Witch, as the setup is almost identical except for some early nodes in the passive tree and Ascendancy nodes.

Stormweaver Sorceress

The Stormweaver is the best ascendancy to level a Sorceress due to the damage increases within its Ascendancy nodes. The Arcane Surge nodes are beneficial to any build, making the Stormweaver a flexible choice for the endgame. Allocate Ascendancy points to obtain Constant Gale and then Force of Will.

Blood Mage Witch

The Blood Mage is another popular choice for an endgame Frostbolt build due to its Ascendancy nodes for survivability, damage, and unlimited resources for spell costs. Allocate Sanguimancy and Vitality Siphon to sustain Life costs, and then Sunder the Flesh for 15% Base Critical Hit Chance for Spells.

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General Leveling Advice

Path of Exile II’s campaign is not meant to be taken lightly. The best way to get gear while leveling is by checking the vendors every time you visit a town after leveling up. The gear you can get from vendors scales with your level, making it a great option for finding upgrades, especially weapons. 

Check for the following items from vendors:

1. Staves with a focus on Levels to Cold / All Skills and Cold / Spell Damage. A Wand and Focus combination can provide more stats, but obtaining 2 optimal items is more difficult while leveling.
2. Any gear with Maximum Life, Resistances, or Energy Shield.

Crafting currency can be used on decent gear, but keep in mind that you might be able to trade currency for better items. Consider searching the trade site to buy upgrades with your Exalted Orbs, especially for weapons.

Do not forget to pick up loot and vendor it for gold. Gamble the gold at vendors for a chance at receiving gear upgrades, focusing on your most outdated items.

Kill enemies in groups to gain experience efficiently. Skipping too many enemies can cause you to be under-leveled, putting you at a disadvantage later on.

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Leveling Passive Tree

The Passive Tree below for the Frostbolt Snap Sorceress can be followed through to the end of the campaign. Beyond that point, use an endgame guide to level further. Follow along while you level with the allocation order of nodes by using the left and right arrows.

If you are playing Witch, there are no increased Cold damage nodes around Path of Winter. Take a detour by pathing through the attribute nodes left and then up from Raw Destruction.

Due to changes made to the Passive Skill Tree in Patch 0.3, the following nodes will not be an exact match in-game. You should still be able to follow the outdated setup for now. We will do our best to get the tool updated as soon as possible.

Skill Gems

The Frostbolt Snap Sorceress obtains the following Skill Gem setup at the end of the campaign. Slight variations may occur depending on which Act you are currently progressing. Check the notes for each Act for more details, provided below the Skill Gem setup.

Skill Gems	Support Gem 1	Support Gem 2	Support Gem 3	Support Gem 4	Support Gem 5
Frost Bomb	Strip Away	Ingenuity	–	–	–
Frostbolt	Scattershot	Magnified Effect	Considered Casting	Ambush	Cold Mastery
Cold Snap	Unleash	Concentrated Effect	Considered Casting	Elemental Focus	Deliberation
Frost Wall	Spell Cascade	Magnified Effect	Considered Casting	Deliberation	Cold Mastery
Sigil of Power	Persistence	Magnified Effect	Ingenuity	–	–
Blasphemy	Elemental Weakness	Ritualistic Curse	Heightened Curse	Clarity	–

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Act 1 Notes

Start your new character by picking up Spark from the chest in the first zone, and then craft Frost Bomb with your first Level 1 Uncut Skill Gem in town. Frost Bomb applies Elemental Exposure to increase the damage of other Skills. Controlled Destruction and Magnified Effect can support Frost Bomb before you obtain Cold Snap to assist with clearing groups of enemies.

Frostbolt (Level 3) and Cold Snap (Level 5) should be obtained by the end of Act 1. Do not socket Scattershot into Frostbolt until you have Cold Snap, as it reduces single-target damage output for projectiles. Only a single projectile can deal damage to an individual target per cast of Frostbolt.

Arctic Armour can be activated once you obtain 30 total Spirit from defeating The King in the Mists (Freythorn, Act 1).

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Act 2 Notes

Continue through Act 2 to craft Elemental Weakness (Level 7 Uncut Skill Gem) and Frost Wall (Level 9 Uncut Skill Gem). Elemental Weakness needs to be manually cast until Blasphemy is obtained. Lesser Jeweller’s Orb starts dropping from Level 25 monsters to unlock the third socket on Frostbolt and Snap.

Search monster drops and vendors for a Chiming Staff (Level 25) to equip in your second weapon set for access to Sigil of Power. The affixes on the Chiming Staff do not matter, as it is only briefly swapped to cast Sigil of Power.

Elemental Weakness and Frost Wall are added to the Skill Rotation when maximum damage is needed against bosses. Pre-cast Frost Wall before a boss fight if the boss takes time to spawn. Time Elemental Weakness to erupt as a boss becomes attackable.

Follow the main questline to gain access to the Trial of the Sekhemas. Complete the trial to ascend to Stormweaver and allocate Constant Gale.

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Act 3 Notes

Level 2 Uncut Support Gems start to drop from monsters in Act 3.

Switch Arctic Armour to Blasphemy supported by Elemental Weakness once you obtain 60 Spirit from defeating The King in the Mists (Freythorn, Act 1) and Ignagduk (The Azak Bog, Act 3). Elemental Weakness is automatically applied by Blasphemy and no longer needs to be cast.

Follow the main questline to gain access to Ultimatum in the Temple of Chaos. Complete an Ultimatum to earn 2 additional Ascendancy points for Force of Will.

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Progressing Beyond Act 3

Level 3 Uncut Support Gems start to drop from Level 53 monsters in Cruel Act 2. Progress towards the final Skill Gem setup as you unlock the rest of the sockets with Greater and Perfect Jeweller’s Orbs.

Add Heightened Curse and Clarity to Blasphemy once you obtain 100 total Spirit from boss rewards during the campaign. Defeat The King in the Mists (Act 1, Normal Difficulty) and Ignagduk (Act 3, Normal and Cruel Difficulty) to earn all the Spirit rewards.

You can complete your third Ascendancy trial before the final campaign boss or wait until after you get started in endgame maps for an easier clear.

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Rotation

The Frostbolt and Snap combo deal enough damage to kill most groups of enemies. Utilize the full Skill Rotation to optimize damage output against bosses:

1. Precast Frost Wall against bosses that take time to spawn.
2. Precast Sigil of Power for a damage buff.
3. Cast Frost Bomb to apply Elemental Exposure for maximum damage output. Recast Frost Bomb whenever its cooldown is refreshed.
4. Cast Frostbolt to launch 3 projectiles.
5. Aim Snap on Frostbolt projectiles or Frozen enemies to explode them.

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Gearing Progression

The Frostbolt Sorceress build equips item upgrades to enhance damage and survivability during the campaign. A Staff provides a significant increase in damage output while leveling. Equipment with Energy Shield base types are ideal to increase survivability early while leveling.

Offensive Gear

The most important item equipped is your Staff (or Wand and Focus later on). Prioritize the following stats on your weapons, in order of importance:

1. Levels of Cold / All Spell Skills
2. Increased Cold / Spell Damage
3. Cast Speed

Defensive Gear

Prioritize the following stats on armor and jewelry to increase survivability, in order of importance:

1. Maximum Life
2. Resistances
3. Energy Shield

Runes

Insert Runes into gear for additional stats while leveling. Prioritize Runes that provide any resistances you are lacking the most.

Dismantle unwanted equipment with sockets dropped from monsters at the Salvage Bench to obtain Artificer’s Orbs. Use the crafting material to add sockets to equipped gear.

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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
  1. 15% increased Mana Recovery from Flasks
  2. 15% increased Life Recovery from Flasks
• Venom Draught
  1. 25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
  2. 10% Chaos Resistance

For more details, check the guide on Campaign Difficulties and Permanent Stat Bonuses.

Flasks and Charms

Throughout leveling, you will frequently find various charms and flasks. Make sure to swap them out for upgrades.

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.

Progressing into the Endgame

To continue your progression into endgame maps, follow the Stormweaver Frostbolt Comet or Blood Mage Frostbolt Comet endgame guides.

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Changelog

• August 27th, 2025: Guide updated for the Third Edict League (Patch 0.3.0).
• May 19th, 2025: Added sections for Witch characters.
• April 18th, 2025: Guide updated for the Dawn of the Hunt League (Patch 0.2).
• March 28th, 2025: Guide created for Path of Exile II, Early Access.