Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)
Last updated on 06/10/2024
DIablo 4 Builds
General Notes
General Notes for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build in Vessel of Hatred
Note: This leveling guide is optimized for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6).
Frozen Orb is one of your Mage's Core Skills that chills enemies and ejects Piercing Shards. The orb also explodes after a short time. You will have slight mana problems with this build in the early game, which is why it is worth combining the skill with Hydra and Frost Bolt.
As soon as you have found the Aspect of Frozen Memories and leveled you Key Passive Ability Avalanche, you no longer have any Mana problems. From this moment on, the build no longer has any weaknesses and can take down both large groups of monsters and bosses in no time.
Until when is this leveling build playable? You can play this and all my other leveling guides on Vitablo.com for as long as you like. Some of them still perform well at Torment difficulty 4, others have their limit at Torment difficulty 3. As soon as your build no longer feels strong enough, you can switch to one of my endgame builds.
Playstyle
Playstyle for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build
- Use Teleport to move around.
- Use Frozen Orb and Hyrda against small groups of enemies, they should die very quickly.
- For elite monsters and bosses, you should also use Familiar and Ice Blades. With your Familiar, you should make sure that you only ever use it after a cold ability so that it increases your cold damage.
- You can save Ice Armor for emergencies to create a Barrier.
- Mana problems are solved by your Key Passive Ability Avalanche and by using Ice Armor or your Summoning skills. You also need the Aspect of Frozen Memories for further Avalanche charges.
Skills
Skills for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build
Note: Level up all your active skills first and work your way down to your Key Passive as quickly as possible. If you are missing skill points to progress on your way through the skill tree, you can invest them in some passive skills. As soon as you have leveled up all active abilities and your Key Passive Ability, continue with the missing passive skills.
Skill tree notes:
- Fireball is only required for the enchantment slots and is not used as active ability.
Specialization
Specialization for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build
Frozen Orb Enchantment
Whenever you cast a Non-Basic Skill, you have a X% chance to launch a Frozen Orb at a Nearby enemy.
Fireball Enchantment
Hurl an exploding ball of fire, dealing X% damage to surrounding enemies.
Aspects
Aspects for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build
Aspect of Frozen Orbit
Frozen Orb explodes X additional times at its destination for X% of its damage.
Very important!
Aspect of Frozen Memories
The Avalanche Key Passive now applies to X additional casts.
Very important!
Snowveiled Aspect
Casting Ice Armor makes you Unstoppable and grants X% Damage Reduction for X seconds.
Aspect of Concentration
Casting a Conjuration Skill grants you X% Damage Reduction for X seconds.
Aspect of Shredding Blades
Ice Blades' chance to apply Vulnerable is increased by X% and the Vulnerable duration is increased by X seconds. You gain X% Vulnerable Damage.
Aspect of Disobedience
You gain X% increased Armor for X seconds when you deal any form of damage, stacking up to X%.
Aspect of the Bounding Conduit
Teleport's Cooldown is reduced by X seconds. After Teleporting, Crackling Energy hits X additional enemies for X seconds.
Storm Swell Aspect
You deal X% increased damage while Ice Armor is active. This amount is increased by another X% against Frozen enemies.
Edgemaster's Aspect
Skills deal up to X% increased damage based on your available Primary Resource when cast, receiving the maximum benefit while you have full Primary Resource.
Aspect of Elemental Constellation
Casting Pyromancy, Shock, and Frost Skills conjures a matching Elemental Dagger around you that pierces through enemies dealing X% damage after X seconds. The damage increases by X% per matching elemental skill you cast.
OPTIONAL: If you still have mana problems, you can use this aspect instead of the Edgemaster's Aspect.
Items & Affixes
Items & Affixes for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build
General tips about your Gear
- Armor: You need a maximum of 1,000 armor. Anything above that is useless and has no effect. If you haven't reached your armor cap yet, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Resistances: You need at least 70% to all resistances. If you have not yet reached these values, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Affixes: Each item type has different properties (affixes) that are useful for this build. Some of these are mandatory, others are optional. Please pay attention to the following symbols:
Helmet
- Cooldown Reduction
- Live
- Intelligence
- Mana per Second
- Armor as required
- Snowveiled Aspect
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.
Worldly Fortune
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Slow
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Immobilize
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Stun
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze
to stagger bosses
Chest Armor
- Life
- Intelligence
- Mana per Second
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Aspect of Concentration
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.
Worldly Fortune
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Slow
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Immobilize
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Stun
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze
to stagger bosses
Gloves
- Ranks to Frozen Orb
- Ranks to Core Skills
- Intelligence
- Critical Hit Chance
- Attack Speed
- Aspect of Shredding Blades
Frost Finesse
- Cold Damage
- Vulnerable Damage
- Damage to Frozen Enemies
Worldly Fortune
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Slow
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Immobilize
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Stun
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze
to stagger bosses
Pants
- Life
- Intelligence
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Aspect of Disobedience
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.
Worldly Fortune
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Slow
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Immobilize
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Stun
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze
to stagger bosses
Boots
- Movement Speed
- Life
- Intelligence
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Aspect of the Bounding Conduit
Sorcerer Motion
- Movement Speed
- Movement Speed for X Seconds After Killing an Elite
- Teleport Cooldown Reduction
- Ranks to Conduction
Worldly Fortune
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Slow
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Immobilize
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Stun
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze
to stagger bosses
Amulet
- Intelligence
- Ranks to Permafrost
- Ranks to Hoarfrost
- Ranks to Icy Touch
- Ranks to Elemental Dominance
- Cooldown Reduction
- Ranks to Glass Cannon
- Critical Hit Chance
- Attack Speed
- Storm Swell Aspect
Frost Finesse
- Cold Damage
- Vulnerable Damage
- Damage to Frozen Enemies
Sorcerer Motion
- Movement Speed
- Movement Speed for X Seconds After Killing an Elite
- Teleport Cooldown Reduction
- Ranks to Conduction
Rings
- Critical Hit Chance
- Attack Speed
- Intelligence
- Life
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Aspect of Frozen Memories
- Edgemaster's Aspect
Frost Finesse
- Cold Damage
- Vulnerable Damage
- Damage to Frozen Enemies
Worldly Stability
- Resource Generation
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Restore X% Primary Resource
2H Weapon
- Intelligence
- Life
- Vulnerable Damage
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Aspect of Frozen Orbit
Frost Augments
- Chance for Frost Bolt Projectiles to Cast Twice
- Chance for Frozen Orb Projectiles to Cast Twice
- Chance for Ice Shards Projectiles to Cast Twice
Frost Finesse
- Cold Damage
- Vulnerable Damage
- Damage to Frozen Enemies
Note: For this build, you should play with a two-handed weapon so that the Aspect of Frozen Orbit gets a 100% bonus.
Fractured Winterglass
Conjuration Cooldowns are Reduced by X Seconds when a Frozen Orb Explodes
Non-Physical Damage
Chance for Frozen Orb Projectiles to Cast Twice
Resistance to All Elements
Ranks to Conjuration Mastery
Casting Frozen Orb has a X% chance to spawn a random Conjuration when it explodes. Lucky Hit: Your Conjurations have up to a X% chance to launch a Frozen Orb at Nearby enemies.
Lord Zir
Sorcerer
Tal Rasha's Iridescent Loop
Resistance to All Elements
Lucky Hit Chance
Non-Physical Damage
Cooldown Reduction
Ranks to Potent Warding
Casting a Pyromancy, Shock, or Frost Skill increases your damage by X% for X seconds, stacking once per element. Casting again refreshes all bonuses if the previous skill was a different Element.
Varshan
Sorcerer
Tibault's Will
All Stats
Maximum Life
Maximum Resource
Damage Reduction while Unstoppable
You deal X% increased damage while Unstoppable and for X seconds after. When you become Unstoppable, gain X of your Primary Resource.
Duriel, Andariel
All Classes
Esu's Heirloom
Evade Grants Movement Speed for X Seconds
Movement Speed
Movement Speed for X Seconds After Killing an Elite
Critical Strike Damage
Resistance to All Elements
Your Critical Strike Chance is increased by X% of your Movement Speed bonus.
Varshan
Sorcerer
Harlequin Crest
Maximum Life
Maximum Resource
Armor
Cooldown Reduction
Gain X% Damage Reduction. In addition, gain +X Ranks to all Skills.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Heir of Perdition
Damage to Angels and Demons
Critical Strike Chance
Lucky Hit Chance
Movement Speed
Ranks to Core Skills
Succumb to hatred and earn Mother’s Favor, increasing your damage dealt by X%. Briefly steal Mother’s Favor from Nearby allies by slaughtering enemies.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Tyrael's Might
Ignore Durability Loss
Movement Speed
Maximum Resistance to All Elements
Resistance to All Elements
Damage Reduction
While at full Life, your Skills unleash a divine barrage dealing X damage.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Ring of Starless Skies
Resistance to All Elements
Attack Speed
Critical Strike Chance
Lucky Hit Chance
Ranks to Core Skills
Spending your Primary Resource reduces the Resource cost of your Skills and increases your damage by X% for X seconds, up to X%.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Runeword
Runewords for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build
Note: If you are missing the required Runes, you can use Gemstones in the meantime.
1st Runeword: Yul + Gar (Chest Armor)
Yul
Gain: 50 Offering
Cast a Skill with a Cooldown.
Gar
Required: 25 Offering
Cooldown: 1 Second
Gain X% Critical Strike Chance for X seconds, up to X%. (Overflow: Gain Multiple Stacks)
2nd Runeword: Tam + Ohm (2H Weapon)
Tam
Gain: 25 Offering
Cast a non-Channeled Core Skill.
Ohm
Required: 600 Offering
Cooldown: 2 Seconds
Evoke the Barbarian's War Cry, increasing your damage dealt. (Overflow: Increased Duration)
Gemstones
Gemstones for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build
WeaponSapphire
Weapons: Vulnerable Damage
Armor: Willpower
Jewelry: Cold Resistance
ArmorTopaz
Weapons: Basic Damage
Armor: Intelligence
Jewelry: Lightning Resistance
JewelrySkull
Weapons: Life On Kill
Armor: Healing Received
Jewelry: Armor
Paragon Board
Paragon Board for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build
General tips about the Paragon-Board
- Glyph Radius: To increase the radius of your Glyphs, you have to level them in the Pit. The starting radius is 3 boxes. At level 15, it increases to 4 boxes and its Additional Bonus is unlocked. At level 45, the radius is 5 boxes and the Glyph receives its Legendary Bonus.
- Skill Order: The Essential Layout shows you the most important Glyphs and Nodes that you should skill first. As soon as you're finished, you can switch to the Final Layout and fill in any missing Paragon Nodes or adjust the board layout and Glyphs as required.
Winter
Rare Glyph "Winter"
Grants X% bonus to all Rare nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: Whenever you Chill or Freeze an enemy, you deal X% increased Cold damage for X seconds, up to X%.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Crowd Controlled targets by X%.
Legendary Node "Frigid Fate"
You deal bonus damage to Vulnerable enemies equal to X% of the total amount of your Bonus Damage with Cold, up to a maximum of X%.
Rare Glyph "Elementalist"
Paragon nodes within range gain X% bonus to their Non-physical damage and damage reduction modifiers.
Additional Bonus: Dealing Fire, Cold, or Lightning damage to an enemy increases all damage you deal to them by X% for X seconds, stacking once per element.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Non-Physical damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Icefall"
Your Frost Skills deal X% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies. This bonus is doubled if the enemy is also Frozen.
Rare Glyph "Tactician"
Grants X% bonus to all Rare nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage for X seconds after casting a Defensive Skill. This duration is increased by X seconds for each Defensive Skill not on your Action Bar.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Close enemies.
Legendary Node "Fundamental Release"
Each time you apply Vulnerable, Burning, or Critically Strike an enemy, they take X% increased damage from you, up to X%.
Rare Glyph "Control"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage to Crowd Controlled targets.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Slowed or Chilled enemies or, instead, X% increased damage to Stunned or Frozen enemies.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Crowd Controlled targets by X%.
Legendary Node "Enchantment Master"
Your Enchantments are X% stronger.
Rare Glyph "Exploit"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage to Vulnerable targets.
Additional Bonus: Dealing damage to a Vulnerable enemy increases your damage by X% for X seconds, up to X%.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Vulnerable targets by X%.
Noch in Arbeit.
Mercenaries
Mercenaries for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build
Primary Mercenary: Varyana
Massacre
You and Varyana stack Massacre together on kills. Certain stack thresholds grant Movement Speed. Massacre resets after X seconds of not killing an enemy.
Cleave
Varyana swings two axes in an arc in front of her, dealing X% Physical damage and X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Dual Axes
Basic Attack: Double Strike
Varyana slashes enemies with dual axes, dealing X% Physical damage. She has a X% chance to also deal X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
Hysteria
You gain X% Attack Speed for X seconds whenever Varyana damages an enemy, up to X%.
Recklessness
Varyana's Cleave inflicts Vulnerable on enemies for X seconds.
Shockwave
Varyana slams the ground for a brutal shockwave in front of her, dealing X% Physical damage and Knocking Down enemies for X seconds.
Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Two-Handed Mace
Basic Attack: Heavy Strike
Varyana batters enemies with a mace, dealing X% Physical damage with X% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Crushing Force
When Varyana deals damage to an enemy, she has a X% chance to Knock them Down for X seconds.
Reprisal
If you become Crowd Controlled, Varyana leaps towards the enemy that inflicted it, dealing X% Physical damage and Knocking Down surrounding enemies for X seconds on impact. This can only occur once every X seconds.
Bloodthirst
Varyana enters Bloodthirst, gaining X% Attack Speed, X% Movement Speed, and Unstoppable for X seconds. Varyana's Bloodthirst grants X% Attack Speed to you for the same duration.
Intimidated
While Varyana has Bloodthirst, enemies around her deal X% reduced damage.
Bloodlust
Varyana's Bloodthirst further increases your Attack Speed by X%.
Whirlwind
Varyana spins violently in a line, repeatedly dealing X% Physical damage and X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
No Escape
Varyana's Whirlwind Pulls In enemies every X seconds and gains X% Size.
Taste of Flesh
When you or Varyana deal direct damage to an enemy inflicted with any of her Bleeding effects, you Heal for X% of your Maximum Life.
Earth Breaker
Varyana crushes the ground with her mace, leaving a tremor that deals X% Physical damage over X seconds and Knocks enemies Down repeatedly.
Rampage
You deal X% increased damage to enemies afflicted by any of Varyana's Crowd Control effects.
Dismembering
Enemies damaged by Varyana's Earth Breaker are left exposed, causing your next hit against them within X seconds to be a guaranteed Overpower. This may only occur on the same target once every X seconds.
Ancient Harpoons
Varyana launches three harpoons ahead of her, piercing enemies for X% Physical damage. She then rips them back, Pulling In and Stunning enemies for X seconds.
Annihilator
Varyana's Ancient Harpoons additionally Slow enemies by X% for X seconds. During this time, you gain X% Lucky Hit Chance against those targets.
Iron Grip
Varyana's Ancient Harpoons travel X% farther and reduce enemies' Impairment Resistance by X% for X seconds.
Reinforcement: Raheir
Supports you with:
Crater
Is triggered by:
Frozen Orb
Video Showcase
Video Showcase for the Frozen Orb Mage Leveling Build
Changelog
- 10/02/24 – Optimized for Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)