Skill Gems & Passive Tree
Cold DoT Elementalist League Starter Skill Gems, Auras, Jewels & Passive Skill Tree.
Skill Gems
A fundamental part of your Cold DoT Elementalist build is Gems, getting the correct link setups before entering Maps and leveling those Gems as you progress through the Atlas is one of your main goals. Ensure all gems are of the correct quality (Superior, Anomalous, Divergent, or Phantasmal).
In the Early Game before you have all of your Sockets, feel free to drop the Hatred Aura setup until you have the Energy Shield and sockets.
For the Endgame Setup, make sure you purchase and swap to the Empower Support setup in your Body Armour!
Skill Breakdown
Creeping Frost + Vortex
- Creeping Frost - Your Primary Skill, covers the ground in an Icy Frost which deals Cold DoT and creeps towards the nearest enemies.
- Vortex - Another Primary Skill, creates a Cold explosion underneath your feet that deals Cold DoT for a duration. Together these Cold DoT Gems make up the bulk of your damage.
- Swift Affliction Support - Major damage boost at the cost of some Skill Effect Duration.
- Controlled Destruction Support - Major damage boost at the cost of Critical Strike Chance.
- Cruelty Support - Major damage boost scaled based off of the Hit damage of the ability.
- Efficacy Support - Slight damage and Skill Effect Duration boost.
Cold Snap
- Cold Snap - Causes an expanding area of Cold DoT at target location. Generates Frenzy Charges if enemies die within it's AoE. Consume Frenzy Charges to bypass it's cooldown.
- Bonechill Support - Enemies Chilled by Linked Skills will take increased Cold Damage according to the Chill affect applied.
- Cruelty Support - Major damage boost scaled based off of the Hit damage of the ability.
Auras
Core Auras
- Grace - Scales your Evasion Rating
- Determination - Scales your Armour, providing Physical Damage Reduction against Hits.
- Defiance Banner - Scales your Armour and Evasion Rating.
- Malevolence - Provides a boost in Damage over Time and Skill Effect Duration.
Secondary Auras
- Hatred - Provides a major boost to Cold Damage.
- Divine Blessing Support - Causes linked Auras to have a temporary duration and have a flat Mana cost instead of a Reservation.
- Inspiration Support - Causes supported skills to have Reduced Mana Cost.
Utility
Mobility
- Shield Charge - A fast mobility Skill that scales off Attack and Movement Speed, usable only with Shields.
- Faster Attacks Support - Supported Attacks have increased Attack Speed.
- Flame Dash - Teleport to target location.
Offence
- Elemental Weakness - Removes some Elemental Resistances of Cursed enemies.
- Frostbite - Removes some Cold Resistances of Cursed Enemies.
Defence
- Molten Shell - Provides an immense absorption shield based on your armour for a short duration. Use level 10 for this build.
- Cast when Damage Taken Support - Automatically triggers the supported Spell Skill Gems when taking enough damage. Use a level 1 Gem for this Cold DoT build.
Passive Tree Progression
Tattoos
Passive Skill Tree Tattoos redefine character building in Path of Exile! They excel at covering for a build's weaknesses by converting unneeded Attributes into Resistances, damage, and quality of life. Choosing the ideal Tattoos for your build often comes down to your specific gearing choices, to learn more about optimizing Passive Skill Tree Tattoos check out our full guide here.