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Permafrost Prism ZvZ PvP Build

Overview

Weapon: Frost Staff
Focus: Range DPS
Mode: ZvZ

Strengths

  • Amazing burst damage

Weaknesses

  • Ping dependent
  • Expensive
This build is up to date for the November 6, 2024, Horizons Patch #1 .

Overview

This Permafrost Prism ZvZ PvP build is centered around engaging with your zerg and utilizing Ice CrystalIce Crystal on clumps of enemies. You also use Frost NovaFrost Nova as both a movement and crowd control skill. This build synergizes well with MeditationMeditation from your helm slot, as it allows you to regain the cooldown of Ice CrystalIce Crystal much faster. This build is also widely used and highly effective in bombsquads.

Equipment

Elder's Permafrost Prism
Main Hand Weapon
Elder's Permafrost Prism
Ice Shard
Frost Nova
Ice Crystal
Aggressive Caster
Elder's Assassin Hood
Head
Elder's Assassin Hood
Meditation
Quick Thinker
Alternatives ⇅
Elder's Royal Cowl
Elder's Lymhurst Cape
Cape
Elder's Lymhurst Cape
Energy Reserve
Alternatives ⇅
Elder's Morgana Cape
Elder's Scholar Robe
Armor
Elder's Scholar Robe
Speed Caster
Concentration
Elder's Boots of Valor
Shoes
Elder's Boots of Valor
Premonition
Alternatives ⇅
Elder's Cleric Sandals
Major Resistance Potion
Potion
Major Resistance Potion
Pork Omelette
Food
Pork Omelette
Keep in mind: Gear shown in this build is meant as a reference. Choosing the correct tier of gear is very tricky as there are many variables. Some of them being your budget, your spec and minimum Item Power requirements of your guild if used for ZvZ.


You should always check prices based on IP of the items. For example, a masterpiece quality 4.3 Elder's CryptcandleElder's Cryptcandle could be cheaper while providing roughly the same IP as an 8.0.


Usage

Elder's Permafrost PrismElder's Permafrost Prism

Ice ShardIce Shard — A spammable skill that deals significant AOE damage in the targeted area. Unlike other abilities, this skill is quite ping-dependent, so lower ping will allow for faster casting.

Frost NovaFrost Nova — A great skill for escaping and providing on-demand CC. You'll typically use this skill to reposition and find better angles for using your Ice CrystalIce Crystal, but feel free to employ it as a crowd control skill if enemies are too close and you need to escape while also slowing them down. When you use this skill, you also gain a brief window of damage immunity, but you shouldn't rely on it to work consistently.

Ice CrystalIce Crystal — Your core skill for this build. It deals significant damage and stuns enemies. The length of this stun increases with weapon specialization and tier, so high IP will make you more effective than it would for other builds. Aim to use it on enemy clumps, as this will result in tremendous damage due to the game's damage escalation mechanic.

Aggressive CasterAggressive Caster — You will gain greatly increased cast speed after casting any 4 spells, which pairs very well with Speed CasterSpeed Caster and allows you to rapidly spam Ice ShardIce Shard while one or both buffs are active. Use this skill during engagements to maximize your DPS while engaged with the enemy zerg.

Elder's Scholar RobeElder's Scholar Robe

Speed CasterSpeed Caster — Use this ability just before casting your other abilities like Ice ShardIce Shard and Ice CrystalIce Crystal as it increases your cast speed and decreases your mana consumption.

ConcentrationConcentration — This build benefits greatly from cast speed, so this is your obvious pick. AggressionAggression is also acceptable but currently not recommended.

Elder's Assassin HoodElder's Assassin Hood

MeditationMeditation — Helps with reducing the cooldown of Ice CrystalIce Crystal which is your strongest ability and your goal is to use it as many times as possible per engagement. Use it when you won't be immediately interrupted since it's a channeled skill, but don't hesitate to use it in the middle of the fight if you run out of cooldowns.

Quick ThinkerQuick Thinker — Just more cooldown reduction, which is always useful since all skills benefit from it. You can also use Balanced MindBalanced Mind for this build, as it scales your damage skills, but cooldown reduction is generally better in this case.


Elder's Boots of ValorElder's Boots of Valor

PremonitionPremonition — Use this ability when engaging and when getting CC'd while doing so. Ideally, you want to use these boots when you are about to get CC'd so you can gain the extra movement speed and duration, but don't worry if that isn't always possible since boots are all about getting into the right position to maximize the efficiency of your other skills.

ToughnessToughness — Since you currently use plate boots with this build, this is the best choice to provide you with a bit more survivability. If you use cloth boots, then both damage and cast speed are good choices.


Elder's Lymhurst CapeElder's Lymhurst Cape

Energy ReserveEnergy Reserve — Ideal for this build because you use a lot of mana and don't have access to Perpetual EnergyPerpetual Energy.


Rotations

Engage ↴
Premonition
Arrow right.webp
Speed Caster
Arrow right.webp
Ice Crystal
Arrow right.webp
Ice Shard
Arrow right.webp
Ice Shard
Arrow right.webp
Ice Shard
Arrow right.webp
Meditation
  • You use PremonitionPremonition to get in range of enemy clumps, ideally on the sides so you don't get counter-engaged on. Speed CasterSpeed Caster allows you to cast subsequent spells much faster. After using Ice CrystalIce Crystal, spam Ice ShardIce Shard as many times as possible, or until you need to disengage or are in danger. Utilize MeditationMeditation whenever possible, but depending on how your zerg plays, you still need to be in sync with the next engage. Ideal for a zerg that does two or more consecutive engages.


Consumables

Major Resistance PotionMajor Resistance Potion — Good as a defensive cooldown and against CC when you get caught, but since most cloth-wearing builds are very squishy, you are still likely to die if you get caught.

Pork OmelettePork Omelette — The best option for this build. You should use higher enchantment food if you can afford it. Some people use beef stew since it gives you more damage on your Ice CrystalIce Crystal, but it's overall a much worse choice.


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