How to Use Path of Exile Winter Orb in Crucible League?

Winter Orb was once a beloved skill in PoE, but it has now become a shadow of its former self due to multiple nerfs. In this guide, LOLTANK will take a closer look at the nerfs and their effects.

Firstly, the base duration of the skill has been gutted. Before the Nerf, Winter Orb had a base duration of 1.2 seconds, which was increased by 0.4 seconds per stage up to a maximum of 4.8 seconds with the Winter Orb enchant. However, now the base duration is zero seconds, which means that even with duration scaling from the tree and other sources like Malevolence, Winter Orb does not feel as good as it used to.

Secondly, the skill now has a cast time of 0.25 seconds, which makes it feel clunky and slow. This also means that it cannot be used as a movement skill.

Finally, the way that the skill gains stages have been changed. Previously, each time you hit an enemy with the skill, it would gain a stage up to a maximum of 10 stages. Now, it gains a stage every 0.6 seconds up to a maximum of 6 stages. This means that you need to wait longer before Winter Orb reaches its full potential, and it also means that it is less effective against single targets.

So, what can you do to make Winter Orb work despite these nerfs? The best option is to focus on scaling its damage as much as possible. This means taking as much spell damage, cold damage, and critical strike chance as possible. You should also invest in cast speed to make the skill feel less clunky.

Another option is to use Winter Orb as a supplement to another skill, rather than relying on it as your primary damage dealer. For example, you could use it as a way to deal damage while waiting for your main skill to come off cooldown.

In conclusion, Winter Orb has been nerfed heavily, but it is still possible to make it work with the right approach. By focusing on scaling its damage and using it in conjunction with another skill, you can still enjoy this once-beloved skill in PoE.