what is the best sorc shield spell?

[SPApropos]

hey all just a question or two

what's the best sorc shield spell? there's 3 choices in cold, and the blueball es option as well

what's the best one to work with? i've built my sorc on uswelst ladder - so i have the lovely insight merc to provide me with more mana - should i dump my stats into entergy - use a one point cold spell? or should i just use my cold shiled (not sure which of the 3 is best tho?)

i'm pvm, with odd pvp with friends - so i don't worry about pvp necesseties as much

i'm building my sorc skills according to this build:

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=254070
Meteorb Guide (3rd ed) - Diablo 2 Forums

but i didn't notise any mention of the shield to use (i admit i mostly skimmed it)

geat i got vs "end gear"
helm - cheep circlet / shako
ammy - tal (maybe end? dep on crafting luck)
rings - currently str / assuming str / fcr would be nice, if not soj/bk
wep - tal ammy or hoto / hoto seams rather end gear?
shield - attempting to construct a spirit monarch - maybe end?
belt - str belt atm, got spider for later
gloves - mage (30 ed gotta up them when i got str)
boots - silkweaves (seams rather end gear)
got a cta flip, a +5 thunderstorm prebuff..

basicaly i'm interested in which "natural" shield i should be using, as well as any tips/suggestions from others!

all input is welcome :D

edit - atm i one pointed the first cold shield - easy one point shield, other cold require more to get to and the es would definately require some in tk to make it profitable i'm assuming

[fallen angel of satan]

sorry top ask a newb question, just not played in 3years so my memory is shot.

Insight merc? whats this and where do I get him? lol. I was going to just go for act2 norm def merc

EDIT: nvm found it, quite a nice cheap merc weapon :)

[SPApropos]

sorry top ask a newb question, just not played in 3years so my memory is shot.

Insight merc? whats this and where do I get him? lol. I was going to just go for act2 norm def merc

EDIT: nvm found it, quite a nice cheap merc weapon :)

the best thing about insight is not just that it's cheep - it's meditation aura!! that means unlimited mana (assuming your merc is alive (and you re-equiped his insigt after reviving, or that you put insight on after armor) - and assuming it's a high enough level to give more or equal mana being spent! (lol foudn that out a few times during long periods of hammering)

[fallen angel of satan]

:) well my mfer will hit lvl 95 2moz probs :) - going for lvl 90 tonight (60 atm) and then can see if the extra mana is needed.

otherwise ill go for eth corpse maker with 2xamnn, totally sick on a merc :) along with shaft and gaze enough DR and life leach to be able to survive almost anything

EDIT: woops forgot to answer your question about shields,

each shield has a different use.

1.1st frost shield-slows attackers, slows them as soon as they start an attack swing so gives you chance to blink away, perfect for teleporting to a boss or somewhere

2. 2nd frost shield, freezes the attackers, but not until they have hit you, perfect for fighting lots of mobs.

3.3rd frost shield damages attackers, I tend not to use this myself as the damage is so small

4. energy shield, has its uses but i prefer not to use it because hard hits plumet your mana.

if mana aint a problem at all though then energy shield is awsome, as proved by an energy shield sorc with huge warmth and things :)

[SPApropos]

thanks for the responce! i'm likely going to stick with frost shield (the first one) and maybe poke it more then basic one late :P

she's still low and i'm not going to hard core level her - too much of that lately lol

[mjkittredge]

You do know that you can use one of the ice shields and energy shield at the same time?

As for energy shield, I'd rather lose mana than health. That spell will keep you alive at times when you would have certainly died otherwise.

[Socialism]

1.1st frost shield-slows attackers, slows them as soon as they start an attack swing so gives you chance to blink away, perfect for teleporting to a boss or somewhere

2. 2nd frost shield, freezes the attackers, but not until they have hit you, perfect for fighting lots of mobs.

3.3rd frost shield damages attackers, I tend not to use this myself as the damage is so small

Sorry, this is incorrect.

1st cold armor: Frozen Armor - freezes enemies who land an unblocked hit on you
2nd cold armor: Shiver Armor - slows enemies as soon as they begin to attack you
3rd cold armor: Chilling Armor - shoots ice bolts at enemies that use ranged attacks (i.e. arrows, fireballs, whatever) against you

There are videos here (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=541218) that might make you change your mind about high-level Chilling Armor.

Most will want Shiver Armor for MFing/teleporting -- better to escape unscathed!

[jesterlolz]

IMO, frozen armor is better for pvm, and chilling armor is better for pvp.

[ThatWasShockin]

Frozen and chilling for pvm, shiver and chilling for pvp. You use chilling on any ranged and frozen/shiver on melee.

[Krovvy]

Is there any point in putting an extra point into Shiver Armor if your planning to use an Act II freeze mercenary?

Wouldn't it be better just to stick with Frozen Armor or go for Chilling?

[ThatWasShockin]

You get shiver on the way to chilling, you should never put more then 1 point in any of them unless you are going to max them all.

[Krovvy]

Yes, but why even get Chilling if Frozen works better, and why use Shiver if the mercenary can do better?

[ThatWasShockin]

Frozen and chilling for pvm, shiver and chilling for pvp. You use chilling on any ranged and frozen/shiver on melee.

Explained right there.

[Krovvy]

Explained right there.So you're saying it's worth the added two points.

[ThatWasShockin]

Yes it is.

[Krovvy]

Though say you go the max block route, would Chilling Armor be worth it then? If not, then only a point in Frozen Armor would seem necessary, with the use of an Act II Freeze mercenary.

[ThatWasShockin]

Max block and chilling are very good together, if it makes it past one it usually won't past the other.

[SPApropos]

hmmmmmm not sure what i'm going to use but...........

i got totaly distracted after i got to try my friends blueballer. just what i didn't need, another new project - but that green aura, and massive blue ball just seams to suid me so well, and since i am on ladder.... make use of these lovely words!!