Sorceress Ice Nova Snap Leveling Build

Build Introduction

This guide has been fully updated for The Third Edict League (Patch 0.3.0).

The Ice Nova Snap Sorceress (or Witch) excels at leveling with destructive cold spells. Ice Nova consumes Cold Infusions to deal devastating damage. Enemies can instantly be Frozen by the built-in Freeze buildup of Ice Nova, and then Snap (previously Cold Snap) explodes them to finish them off and generate Cold Infusions. Frost Darts are included to deal single-target damage against bosses and elites. This leveling build is viable in solo self-found mode and extremely effective as a league starter.

This guide 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). Notes are included for both the Sorceress and Witch, with the only differences being the ascendancy nodes and a few passive nodes early in the tree. After finishing the campaign, switch to the Stormweaver Frostbolt Comet or Blood Mage Ice Nova 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 Ice Nova 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, so ignore those 3 points.

Check the Ascendancy section of this guide for their node allocation.

Skill Gems

The Ice Nova 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 through. Refer to the notes for each Act for more details, which are provided below the Skill Gem setup.

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Act 1 Notes

Start your new character by crafting Ice Nova with your first Level 1 Uncut Skill Gem in town.

Craft Frost Bomb when your next Uncut Skill Gem drops. Frost Bomb applies Elemental Exposure to increase the damage of other Skills and generates Cold Infusions to boost the damage of Ice Nova.

Snap (Level 5) should be obtained by the end of Act 1.

Mana Remnants 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

Lesser Jeweller’s Orb starts dropping from Level 25 monsters to unlock the third socket on Ice Nova and then Frost Darts.

Craft Elemental Weakness (Level 7 Uncut Skill Gem) to cast on bosses for more damage.

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. Make sure you set all your other Skills to only be used with Weapon Set 1 to automatically swap back after casting Sigil of Power.

Follow the main questline to gain access to the Trial of the Sekhemas. Complete the trial to ascend the class of your character, and allocate ascendancy nodes. Life Remnants is only utilized by the Blood Mage.

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Act 3 Notes

Level 2 Uncut Support Gems start to drop from monsters in Act 3. Prioritize crafting Considered Casting for Ice Nova, Frost Darts, and Snap. Afterwards, combine Overabundance and Spell Echo to support Frost Bomb to generate 2 Cold Infusions at a time. Overabundance does not work alone because the Frost Bomb still has a cooldown.

Add Siphon Elements as your second persistent buff once you obtain 60 Spirit from defeating The King in the Mists (Freythorn, Act 1) and Ignagduk (The Azak Bog, Act 3).

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

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Act 4 Notes

Level 3 Uncut Support Gems start to drop from Level 53 monsters in Act 4. Craft Astral Projection first to support Ice Nova for a ranged playstyle. Afterwards, craft Elemental Focus for Frost Darts, and then Cooldown Recovery I for Frost Bomb. Upgrade equipped support gems to Zenith II, Magnified Area II (only for skills that do not deal damage), Prolonged Duration II, Harmonic Remnants II, and Remnant Potency II when possible for a minor benefit.

Greater Jeweller’s Orbs can drop at an extremely low chance, so do not depend on them. Prioritize using them on Ice Nova and Frost Darts.

Replace Siphon Elements with Blasphemy and move Elemental Weakness into its socket once you obtain 100 total Spirit from boss rewards during the campaign. Defeat Lythara in the Interlude Act to earn the final Spirit reward.

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Rotation

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

1. Frost Bomb can be spammed before the boss spawns to create a stack of Cold Infusions on the ground. If supported by Overabundance and Spell Echo, Frost Bomb spawns 2 Cold Infusions at a time.
2. Precast Sigil of Power for a damage buff.
3. Cast Elemental Weakness, if Blasphemy is not yet included.
4. Continue casting Frost Bomb when its cooldown is refreshed to apply Elemental Exposure and generate more Cold Infusions.
5. Spam Frost Darts to deal damage.

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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. 30% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold
  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 30th, 2025:
  • Updated Passive Tree and Skill Gems (Patch 0.3.0).
  • Added gameplay video.
• August 27th, 2025: Guide created for the Third Edict League (Patch 0.3.0).