Blizzard's Best Synergy: GS vs. IB

[PyroStock]

Glacial Spike vs. IceBlast

For Hardcore, GlacialSpike's speed and splash seem more important, but I was curious what people thought here since IB gets heavy praise in the Sorceress Forum. I made a poll in case there is a silent majority not being heard.

[SilverDin]

I chose Ice Blast, because all those points you threw into blizzard will give damage to ice blast, as opposed to freeze length with glacial spike.

[LuckyDwarf]

I think by maxing Blizzard, Cold Mastery, Ice Blast, and Glacial Spike I use Spike more often, especially when I pindle. Ice Blast doesn't do a heck of a lot of damage on its own, and neither does Spike, but I use it for the freezing of packs. Ice Blast can freeze a single target for longer, but I keep my Spike on hotkey, because I use it more often, and my Ice Blast on left clicky.

Lucky

[MoUsE_WiZ]

I like GS myself, blizzard does enough damage fast enough that I've never really found the need to use either of them for the extra bit of damage, but the GS does a nice job of keeping everything frozen. Not to mention if I wanted something to cast while the blizzard goes other than a bit of freeze the choice is static.

But that's just me, I can definitely see why others would prefer ice blast.

[Palm]

I use Ice Blast simply because you can get it at lvl 6. Put 6, 7 points in it and you no longer have to leech for the first 20 or so lvls.

[STINGER]

Glacial Owns Blast for many reasons but most importantly safety. Pindle run is 1-2 Glacial and a Blizz or two and its over. Damage really doesnt mean a whole lot on a utility skill. You can freeze large groups with Glacial.

[Nerf-Herder]

ive made both -- i have a HC blizz sorc with max GS, and a SC blizz sorc with max IB

im pretty good at aiming and freezing wandering enemies with IB, but when you get packs of x-fast dolls, invaders, flayers, etc.... the splash freeze from GS will totally save your arse

since this is HC and all it takes is one mistake and//or a little bad luck, i highly recommend GS

[rachil0]

I like ice blast better. Glacial does a fine job freezing even at base level 1, and iceblast can do a lot of damage when maxed and given a synergy. You can get more damage spamming iceblast than laying timered blizzards. I keep em both hotkeyed though, and use both regularly.

[xeyloderixed]

this is mostly specualtion, since iver ever only made ONE blizz sorc.

playing in 8p baal runs, i have to say that there isnt really a need for iceblast damage. blizz itself deals insane damage that you can kill an 8p spawned baal solo in less than 20 seconds. even against "smaller" monsters, blizz is more effective than ice blast.

actually, after lvl 18, i cant think of a reason why you would want to put points in ice blast.

spike, however, is useful because of the freeze length. even if you make sike deal 1 damage, i think it is still more useful than ice blast.