Orb Sorc/Cold Mastery Question

[CoW-Melvin]

I've been making orb sorc's since forever, dunno why they just always appealed to me over blizzard. I want to make a first drop hell meph mfer. I want to get the most damage I can for my skills. I've heard rumours you only need around 10 into cold mastery and your +skills take care of the rest. Also I've heard alot of debates on maxing ice bolt, whether the extra little damage is worth it or if pumping energy shield/telekenisis is the better way to go. IF someone could give me there input that would be great.

[ChaoticOrb]

Orb is more appealing to me as well, over Blizzard. Orb's coverage is definitely better. However, Blizzard has more syngeries. Thus stronger.

I'm torn between the two.

[Yaneshi]

About the cold mastery, I think you might be talking about how level 17 (including +skills) is fine because it's -100% at that level. I believe -100% is the lowest any monster's resists can go so when you are up against monsters with a base cold resist of 0 then more than level 17 is a waste. But hell meph has 75 cold resist so you need level 32 to drop him to -100. If your build is to kill meph then I recommend maxing cold mastery. Level 17 mastery would only get you 125% damage against him. Though that's a lot better than 25% which is how he starts off.

[CoW-Melvin]

Thank you that's exactly the information I was looking for.