Important Tree Nodes

The best ascendancy order is Gathering Winds, Far Shot, Endless Munitions, and Wind Ward. A Watcher's Eye jewel is highly recommended for increased life, increased energy shield, increased mana, high added cold damage while affected by Hatred, 60% increased cold damage while affected by Hatred, and optionally damage penetrates 15% cold resistance while affected by Hatred. The Light of Meaning jewel is shown in the blue circle in the image and can give 6% increased cold damage for each passive in its radius which is a major damage increase. A Stormshroud jewel makes Shock avoidance apply to all elemental ailments and is great for 100% elemental ailment immunity with the recommended boots. The Mana Mastery is also important for increased mana reservation efficiency so that you can use the recommended reservation skills. The Ghost Dance node can also be taken as an optional defensive node that recovers energy shield when you are hit. This is a life build so make sure and take plenty of the nearby life nodes for survival. Note: The skill tree and build ratings are updated for the new season (3.26).

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Defensive Layers

Gale Force increases the effect of Tailwind and is granted by the Gathering Winds ascendancy and the Wind Ward ascendancy gives 4% less damage taken per stack of Gale Force. The recommended Hyrri's Ire body armour is strong defensively and has 30% spell suppression and very high evasion. The Kaom's Heart body armour is another option for early on that has 500 life and can come with an increased damage corruption. Ice Shot also has the strong advantage of being a ranged attacking build that can Freeze and Chill enemies which is very helpful defensively.

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Gems

 

Weapon (6-link)

Vaal Ice Shot

Inspiration Support

Awakened Elemental Damage with Attacks Support

Awakened Added Cold Damage Support

Awakened Cold Penetration Support

Increased Critical Damage Support

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Armour (6-link)

Frenzy

Manaforged Arrows Support

Power Charge On Critical Support

Increased Critical Strikes Support

Increased Critical Damage Support

Culling Strike Support

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Helmet (4-link)

Grace

Hatred

Clarity

Enlighten Support

 

Gloves (4-link)

Summon Ice Golem

Minion Life Support

Elemental Army Support

Blind Support

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Boots (4-link)

Steelskin

Empower Support

More Duration Support

Flame Dash

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Reservation Skills

Grace is the best defensive aura for this build and gives very high evasion. Hatred is the best offensive aura for this build because it gives high physical damage as extra cold damage. Clarity is also important to maintain mana and gives high mana regeneration. Hatred can be used once you have the 12% increased mana reservation efficiency from the Mana Mastery, 16% increased mana reservation efficiency from the Charisma anointment, and a level 4 Enlighten Support to lower the mana reservation cost of your skills.

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Gem Notes​​

1. Steelskin is the recommended guard skill for this build because Immortal Call requires you to use potions more often and Molten Shell requires very high armour to be effective.

2. Frenzy is linked to Manaforged Arrows Support for utility. Frenzy generates a Frenzy charge on hit, kills enemies at 10% life with Culling Strike Support, and generates Power charges with Power Charge on Critical Support.

3. Summon Ice Golem gives increased accuracy and critical strike chance, cold exposure with Elemental Army Support, and provides an extra target for enemies to attack.

4. If you would prefer another Ranger build with high damage and a different playstyle you can also try out the Tornado Shot Deadeye build which can be found here Tornado Shot Deadeye Guide.

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Equipment

 

Weapon

Rare High Critical Strike Bow

Look for the highest physical damage bow you can find with optional strong modifiers like increased critical strike chance, increased critical strike multiplier, increased attack speed, and optionally bow fires 1-2 additional arrows. You can also use Tempering Orbs on rare weapons for a low chance at getting an increased physical modifiers enchantment but be aware that doing this is expensive and it sometimes reforges the sockets on the weapon. In standard you can also look for a bow with a strong Crucible tree which can potentially significantly increase the damage of your bow.

Loath Thunder (best in slot)

This rare mirrored bow is the best bow available in the Standard league currently with more than 1200 maximum damage. Expect it to cost more than a mirror to purchase. This bow skyrockets the damage potential of Ice Shot Deadeye.

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How Do You Craft A Great Starter Ice Shot Bow?

To craft a strong starter bow you can purchase an ilvl 85+ bow with an increased critical strike modifier implicit and an increased critical strike multiplier fracture (a permanent modifier that appears golden). You can then roll Deafening Essences of Contempt until you get a very high combined increased damage/accuracy modifier with an open prefix. You should then roll up to 129% increased physical damage at the crafting bench which costs an Exalted Orb for a very strong starter Ice Shot bow.

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Quiver

Rare Spike-Point Arrow Quiver

A rare Spike-Point Arrow Quivers is the best option because it has a 30% increased critical strike chance implicit. It can have increased critical strike chance, increased critical strike multiplier, high life, bow attacks fire an additional arrow, increased elemental damage with attacks skills, and increased attack speed.

Voidfletcher

The budget quiver gives Void Shot with every arrow fired, up to 40-100 cold damage, 30% projectile speed, 120 energy shield, 40 mana per enemy killed, and 30% increased cold resistance. Void Shot is great for single target damage and can shotgun.

 

Armour

​Hyrri's Ire (legacy is better)

Gives 30% spell suppression, up to 50 dexterity, 25% increased Chill duration on enemies, and 145-200 added cold damage with bow attacks. The Legacy Hyrri's Ire armour is better if you are playing in Standard and has much higher added cold damage.

Kaom's Heart

The defensive option that gives 500 life which greatly improves your survivability and 40% increased fire damage. You can also look for a high increased damage corruption because it's a fairly inexpensive item.

 

Helmet

Rare Helmet

Can have high life, resistances, accuracy, and +2 to level of socketed AoE gems. You should use Eldritch Embers and Eldritch Ichors to add increased mana reservation efficiency and physical damage taken recouped as life.

Heatshiver

The budget option gives up to 30% fire resistance, 30% cold resistance, 60% increased mana regeneration rate, 1% cold damage as extra fire damage per 1% Chill effect on the enemy, and 30% cold damage as extra fire damage against Frozen enemies.

 

Belt

Stygian Vise

Look for high life, strength, increased elemental damage with attack skills, resistances, and an abyssal socket. You should also use Turbulent Catalysts on the belt to increase its increased elemental damage with attack skills.

Abyss Jewel

Look high life, energy shield, increased critical strike chance, and increased critical strike multiplier.

 

Gloves

Rare Increased Damage With Hits Against Chilled Enemies Gloves

Look for increased damage with hits against Chilled enemies, high life, added elemental damage, increased attack speed, and add increased damage during any flask effect at the crafting bench. You should also use Eldritch Embers and Eldritch Ichors on the gloves to roll cold exposure on hit and increased attack speed.

 

Boots

Rare Boots

Look for high life, chance to avoid being Shocked, resistances, chance to gain Onslaught on kill, and increased movement speed. You don't need Tailwind on your boots because you'll already have it from your ascendancies. You should also use Eldritch Embers and Eldritch Ichors to roll physical damage as extra cold damage and a chance to avoid being Shocked which gives 100% elemental ailment immunity with a Stormshroud jewel socketed in your tree.

 

Amulet

​Rare Amulet

This option is recommended for increased attributes, high life, physical damage as extra cold damage, increased elemental damage with attack skills, increased critical strike chance, and/or increased critical strike multiplier. You should also use Unstable Catalysts on the amulet to increase its critical strike modifiers.

The Pandemonius

The middle tier option has up to 30 dexterity, 30% increased cold damage, 40% cold resistance, blinds chilled enemies on hit, reduces enemies action speed by 30% when hit for one second, and makes damage penetrates 20% cold resistance against chilled enemies. You should also use Turbulent Catalysts to increase the cold damage and cold resistance penetration.

Carnage Heart

The budget option gives up to 56 to all attributes, 20% to all elemental resistances, 2% life leech, 50% increased recovery from life leech, and 40% increased damage while leeching. You can use Intrinsic Catalysts on the amulet to increase its attribute bonus or Prismatic Catalysts to increase its resistance bonus.

 

Rings

Rare Frostbite Ring

Look for Frostbite on hit, high life, resistances, increased elemental damage with attack skills, and increased critical strike chance. You should also use Turbulent Catalysts on both your rings to increase their elemental damage increases.

Rare Elemental Damage Ring

Look for high life, resistances, increased elemental damage with attack skills, optionally added cold/fire/lightning damage, increased critical strike chance, and increased critical strike multiplier.

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Utility Flasks

Bottled Faith

Gives up to 40% increased damage, consecrated ground, 150% increased critical strike chance against enemies on consecrated ground, and 10% increased damage taken to enemies on consecrated ground. You should also use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever you hit a rare or unique enemy.

Taste of Hate (legacy is better)

Gives 15% of physical damage as extra cold damage, 30% of fire and lightning damage taken as cold damage (new modifier), 15% of physical damage taken as cold damage (legacy modifier), 20% less cold damage taken, 50% cold resistances, 30% reduced chance to be Frozen, and 30% less chance to be Chilled. The legacy version has higher damage and better damage reduction. You should use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Diamond Flask

Gives 100% increased critical strike chance. Look to roll Bleeding and Corrupted Blood immunity during effect and use Instilling Orbs until you automatically use the flask whenever you are Bleeding.

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Anointment

You should anoint your amulet with Charisma for 16% increased mana reservation efficiency and 6% increased effect of your non-curse auras from your skills at Cassia using a Opalescent Oil, Golden Oil, and Golden Oil.

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Enchants (Standard Only)

Helm: 40% Increased Ice Shot Damage

Gloves: Commandment of Blades

Feet: 16% Increased Attack Speed if you've Killed Recently

Belt: 30% Increased Accuracy While You Have Onslaught

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Bandits

The best bandit to help in Act 2 is Alira because she gives 15% to all elemental resistances which allows you to focus more on damage from your equipment. If you don't need the resistances you can also kill all three bandits for 1 passive skill point.

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Pantheon

Soul of Solaris is the best major Pantheon power and gives 6% reduced physical damage taken when only one enemy is present, a 20% chance to take 50% less area damage, 8% reduced elemental damage taken if you haven't been hit recently, take no extra damage from critical strikes if you've been hit with a critical strike recently, and a 50% chance to avoid elemental ailments from critical strikes. Soul of Ryslatha is the best minor power and gives 60% increased life recovery from flasks at low life, life flask charges every 3 seconds if you haven't used a life flask recently, and enemies you hit have 50% reduced life regeneration.

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Leveling Gear

 

Weapon

Silverbranch

Silverbranch is a level one bow with +1 to level of socketed bow gems, increased attack speed, accuracy, and mana on kill.

Roth's Reach

Requires level 18 and has high physical damage, 80% increased elemental damage with attacks, and skills chain +2 times.

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Quiver

Craghead

A level four quiver that gives up to 7-14 added physical damage and 25% reduced projectile speed.

Hyrri's Bite

Requires level 12 and gives strength, dexterity, intelligence, attack speed, area of effect, and added cold damage to attacks. 

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Armour

Tabula Rasa

Tabula Rasa is a level one chest armour with six white linked sockets which allows you to link any skill and support gems together for much higher damage at an earlier level. You can also get a Tabula Rasa with a high increased damage corruption which also requires level one for fairly cheap from the trade site.

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Helmet

Goldrim

A great level one resistance helmet with up to 40% to all elemental resistances and 10% increased rarity of items found.

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Gloves

Lochtonial Caress

These great level one gloves give up to 15% increased attack speed, 15% increased cast speed, and a 15% chance to generate an Endurance, Power, or Frenzy charge on kill.

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Boots

Wondertrap

Wondertrap boots can be equipped at level 9 and give up to 30 strength, 30 dexterity, 30 intelligence, and 25% movement speed.

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Amulet

The Kurai Ward

A level five amulet that gives up to 30 strength, 30 dexterity, 100 accuracy, and 30% increased projectile damage.

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Rings

Perandus Signets

You can use two Perandus Signets at level one that each give up to 65% mana regeneration, 65 mana, 2% increased intelligence for each unique item equipped, and 2% increased experience.

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Flasks

Quicksilver Flask

This flask can be used at level four and gives 40% increased movement speed which helps speed up the leveling process. This flask can also have increased attack speed or movement speed as a second modifier. You should use Instilling Orbs until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Taste of Hate (legacy option)

This flask only requires level 18 and gives 15% of physical damage as extra cold damage, 15% of physical damage taken as cold damage (legacy modifier), 5% to maximum cold resistance, 50% cold resistances, 30% reduced chance to be Frozen, and 30% less chance to be Chilled. You can optionally use this flask instead of a Quicksilver Flask for leveling. The older legacy versions are much better and have higher physical damage as extra cold damage and physical damage taken as cold damage. You should also use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Silver Flask

This flask gives Onslaught which gives increased attack speed, cast speed, and movement speed as early as level 27 and can have increased attack speed or movement speed as a second modifier. You should use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Bottled Faith (use a Sulphur Flask for 40% increased damage if you can't afford Bottled Faith)

This endgame flask requires level 27 and gives 40% increased damage, consecrated ground, 150% increased critical strike chance against enemies on consecrated ground, and enemies take 10% increased damage on consecrated ground. You should also use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever you hit a rare or unique enemy.

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Leveling Gems

Galvanic Arrow is the best elemental bow skill to use at level one because it has multiple projectiles without a support gem. Precision is the best offensive low level aura and can be used once you reach level 10 for increased critical strike chance and accuracy. Vitality is the best defensive aura for leveling by far and can be used as early as level 10. You should switch to Ice Shot with Volley Support once you are level four and switch to Lesser Multiple Projectile Support once you reach level 12. You should use Steelskin for a defensive guard skill once you've reached level four and have at least 16 strength. Dash also requires level four and should be used as your travel skill at early levels.

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Upgrades

Death's Harp is a great leveling bow that can be equipped at level 32. You can upgrade to Death's Opus at level 44 for high critical strike modifiers and two additional arrows. The Carnage Heart amulet requires level 20 and is the budget amulet with up to 56 to all attributes and 20% increased elemental resistances. You can also greatly benefit from upgrading to two Praxis rings at level 22 to reduce the mana costs of all skills by up to 16 which allows you to use utility flasks in the place of mana flasks. Many of the items in the leveling section above last all the way until the midgame where better items will become available.

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And that's all for the Ice Shot Guide! For more about Path of Exile you can also view the endgame guide here Endgame Guide.

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