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Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2)

PoE 2 0.3 Sorceress Build - Cold Chronomancer

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This is a Cold Chronomancer Sorceress build for Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2)'s The Third Edict Update. Check out the Cold Chronomancer Sorceress build, including its gear, socketables, skills, and playstyle!

Cold Chronomancer Build Summary

PaintMasterPoE's Cold Chronomancer Build

This Cold Chronomancer endgame build is crafted by PaintMasterPoE, updated for the latest 0.3.0 patch. Check out all of their detailed guides on Path of Exile 2 and other games over at PaintMasterPoE's Youtube and Discord!

The video breaks down the build step-by-step, covering skills, gear, passives, and a budget alternative to start the build earlier in the game!

Cold Chronomancer Build

Endgame Build
Budget Setup
Build Setup
Chronomancer iconCold Chronomancer
Sigil of Power Icon Temporal Rift Icon Arctic Armour Icon Frost Bomb Icon Frostbolt Icon Frost Wall Icon Cast on Critical Icon Elemental Weakness Icon
Path of Exile 2 Build ProGreat AoE and Single Target Capabilities

Path of Exile 2 Build ProEasy Execution

Path of Exile 2 Build ProExcellent Survivability

Path of Exile 2 Build ProDoesn’t Run Into Resource Issues

Path of Exile 2 Build ConExtremely Expensive
Build Setup
Chronomancer iconCold Chronomancer
Sigil of Power Icon Temporal Rift Icon Frost Bomb Icon Flame Wall Icon Ice Nova Icon Orb of Storms Icon Snap Icon Cast on Critical Icon Siphon Elements Icon Frost Darts Icon Elemental Weakness Icon
Path of Exile 2 Build ProDecent AoE and Single Target Capabilities

Path of Exile 2 Build ProGood Option for Those on a Budget

Path of Exile 2 Build ConReliant on Elemental Infusion Mechanic

Path of Exile 2 Build ConLess Defences than Endgame Variant

This Cold Chronomancer build is optimized for the endgame and uses Life Recoup to replenish resources. Since we recoup more life and mana than we lose when casting spells, we can cast them continuously without running out of resources, while simutaenously providing additional survivability.

Date Changes Made
09/17/25 ・Added Endgame Build and Budget Setup
・Updated Equipment Section
・Adjusted Skills and Support Gems
・Adjusted Passive Tree
・Updated Skill Rotations
09/08/25 ・Removed Arctic Armor
・Removed Orb of Storms
・Added Cast on Elemental Ailment
・Added Comet
・Added Elemental Weakness
・Added Temporal Rift
・Updated Passive Tree
・Updated Skill Rotations
・Updated Equipment Section
09/04/25 ・ Cold Chronomancer Build Revised for The Third Edict Patch.
・Adjusted Skills and Support Gems
・Adjusted Passive Tree
・Updated Skill Rotations
・Updated Equipment Section
04/28/25 ・ Cold Chronomancer Build Revised for Dawn of the Hunt Patch.

Build FAQs

Utilizing Elemental Infusions

A new mechanic called Elemental Infusions was introduced in patch 0.3. Using certain skills creates a remnant on the ground that can be picked up and grant additional bonuses to applicable skills. This changes how skills interact with each other, allowing them to be used together for unique interactions.

Cold Chronomancer Equipment

※ The affixes shown below are arranged based on descending priority.

Endgame Build
Budget Setup
Gear Affixes
Siphoning Wand IconSiphoning Wand
(Weapon Set 1)
Chiming Staff IconChiming Staff
(Weapon Set 2)
・+ Level of all Cold Skills
・Gain % of Damage as Extra Cold Damage
・Gain % of Damage as Extra Lightning Damage
・Increased Critical Hit Chance
・+ Increased Spell Damage
・+ Increased Elemental Damage
・+ Level to all Spells
Arrayed Focus IconArrayed Focus
(Offhand Set 1)
・+ Level of All Spell Skills
・% Increased Cold Damage
・Increased Cast Speed
・Increased Critical Chance for Spells
ScoldScold's Bridle Jade Tiara
・% Damage Taken Recouped as Life
・Increased Energy Shield
・Increased Spell Damage
・Take % of Mana Costs you Pay for Skills as Physical Damage
Sacrosanctum Corvus Mantle IconSacrosanctum Corvus Mantle
・% of Damage Taken Recouped as LIfe
・*Increased Armor and Energy Shield
・Chaos Resistance
・Strength
・%of Damage taken Recouped as Life
・Damage taken Recouped as Life is also Recouped as Energy Shield
・Spirit
MaligaroMaligaro's Virtuosity Fine Bracers
・% increased Evasion Rating
・% increased Critical Hit Chance
・5% increased Attack Speed
・+Dexterity
・Your Critical Damage Bonus is 250%
Dunerunner Sandals IconDunerunner Sandals
・Increased Movement Speed
・Maximum Energy Shield
・Maximum Mana
・Increased Energy Shield
・Elemental Resistance
Solar Amulet IconSolar Amulet
・% of Damage Taken Recouped as Mana
・+ Level to All Spell Skills
・+ Spirit
・Elemental Resistance
・Increased Energy Shield
Annointment: Infused Flesh
・+20 to maximum Life
・8% of Damage taken Recouped as Life
Snakepit Pearl Ring IconSnakepit Pearl Ring
・% increased Spell Damage
・% Increased Cast Speed
・Left ring slot: Projectiles from Spells cannot Chain
・Left ring slot: Projectiles from Spells Fork
Breach Ring IconBreach Ring
・Increased Cold Damage
・Elemental Resistance
・Life Regeneration per Second
・+ All Elemental Resistances
Blood of the Warrior Gargantuan Life Flask IconBlood of the Warrior Gargantuan Life Flask
・90% Less Life Recovered
・Effect is not Removed when Unreserved Life is Filled
・15-30% of Damage Taken during effect Recouped as Life
・Gain 3-5 Rage when Hit by an Enemy during effect
・No Inherent loss of Rage during effect
Ultimate Mana Flask IconUltimate Mana Flask
・% More Recovery if Used in Low Mana
Gear Affixes
Chiming Staff IconChiming Staff ・+ Level of all Spells
・% Increased Critical Hit Chance
・+ Increased Spell Damage
・Increased Cast Speed
・Gain % of Damage as Extra Cold Damage
・Gain % of Damage as Extra Lightning Damage
ScoldScold's Bridle Jade Tiara
・% Damage Taken Recouped as Life
・Increased Energy Shield
・Increased Spell Damage
・Take % of Mana Costs you Pay for Skills as Physical Damage
Sacrosanctum Corvus Mantle IconSacrosanctum Corvus Mantle
・% of Damage Taken Recouped as LIfe
・*Increased Armor and Energy Shield
・Chaos Resistance
・Strength
・%of Damage taken Recouped as Life
・Damage taken Recouped as Life is also Recouped as Energy Shield
・Spirit
MaligaroMaligaro's Virtuosity Fine Bracers
・% increased Evasion Rating
・% increased Critical Hit Chance
・5% increased Attack Speed
・+Dexterity
・Your Critical Damage Bonus is 250%
Dunerunner Sandals IconDunerunner Sandals
・Increased Movement Speed
・Maximum Energy Shield
・Maximum Mana
・Increased Energy Shield
・Elemental Resistance
Solar Amulet IconSolar Amulet
・% of Damage Taken Recouped as Mana
・+ Level to All Spell Skills
・+ Spirit
・Elemental Resistance
・Increased Energy Shield
Annointment: Infused Flesh
・+20 to maximum Life
・8% of Damage taken Recouped as Life
Ruby Ring IconRuby Ring
・Any Elemental Resistance
・+ To All Elemental Resistance
・%Increased Cold Damage
・+ Maximum Mana
Ruby Ring IconRuby Ring
・Any Elemental Resistance
・+ To All Elemental Resistance
・%Increased Cold Damage
・+ Maximum Mana
Blood of the Warrior Gargantuan Life Flask IconBlood of the Warrior Gargantuan Life Flask
・90% Less Life Recovered
・Effect is not Removed when Unreserved Life is Filled
・15-30% of Damage Taken during effect Recouped as Life
・Gain 3-5 Rage when Hit by an Enemy during effect
・No Inherent loss of Rage during effect
Ultimate Mana Flask IconUltimate Mana Flask
・% More Recovery if Used in Low Mana

Weapons

Your choice of main weapon, a Wand can be quite flexible since you are mainly looking for Level of all Spell Skills for stronger spells, Cast Speed to make sure your spells hit before enemies get close to you, Maximum Mana to sustain spellcasting, Critical Hit Chance, and Cold Damage to further boost your spells.

For your second weapon set, use a Chiming Staff as your second weapon specifically for Sigil of Power, which is useful buff used during your skill rotation. If you will be running a budget setup, Chiming Staff will serve as your main weapon, so make sure to that is has the appropriate offensive modifiers if you're on a budget.

List of Weapons

Armor and Accessories

This build incorporates three distinct armor pieces, with two of them being utilized to establish our recoup setup. Scold's Bridle and Sacrosanctum are used to both restore life and mana, ensuring that spellcasting is completely sustainable while also enhancing survivability. Ideally, both uniques should have two sockets, as well as additional life recoup, which can be added by corrupting the item with a Vaal Orb.

We will be using Maligaro's Virtuosity Fine Bracers for our gloves slot to set our critical damage bonus to 250%. This will eliminate the need to get additional critical damage bonuses on our gear and passives, allowing us to get more sources of damage.

Since we will be using Frostbolt as our main source of damage, we will be using the Snakepit unique in our left ring slot to enable Frostbolt projectiles to fork. This allows Frostbolt to fork upon hitting the first target it comes into contact with, and explode on the second, dealing massive amounts of damage on the explosion.

Make sure to get the highest elemental resist rolls possible for the rest of your accessories, as high as your budget allows, to reach the maximum elemental resist cap.

List of Accessories List of Armors

Runes and Soul Cores

Equipment Sockets
Weapon
Armor

Our current setup provides more than enough damage, so we will socket our weapon with a Greater Body Rune to increase life recoup. Socket Estazunti's Soul Core of Convalescence in your helmet and the Soul Core of Tacati in your body armor for additional life recovery and chaos resistance. You can use any elemental resistance runes on your boots and gloves to cap out your resistancss.

For your budget setup, socket two Greater Desert Runes into your staff to increase fire damage. This will increase the damage caused by Mana Flare when it triggers.

List of Runes List of Soul Cores

Belts and Charms

Belt Modifiers
Midnight Braid Rawhide Belt IconMidnight Braid Rawhide Belt ・+To maximum Mana
・% To all Elemental Resistances
・50% of Damage taken Recouped as Mana
Charm Options
Nascent Hope Thawing CharmNascent Hope Forsaken BangleForsaken Bangle Sanguis HeroumSanguis Heroum

The Midnight Braid Rawhide Belt provides additional mana recovery and elemental resistance for increased survivability.

The Nascent Hope is a significant upgrade to the standard Thawing Charm, offering increased survivability in addition to freeze immunity. The Forsaken Bangle is used for increased chaos resistance. The third unique slot is flexible, but the consecrated ground effect of the Sanguis Heroum is a great bonus, providing additional survivability during spellcasting while stationary.

List of Belts List of Charms

Cold Chronomancer Skills

※ The Support Gems' priority are arranged in a descending order. The first one being the most important and the last being the least crucial.

Endgame Build
Budget Setup

Endgame Build Skills

This build revolves around dealing massive amounts of cold damage, so Frostbolt will be the main damaging skill. Socketed with Sione's Temper to increase projectiles, Frostbolt gains significant bossing capabilities when used with Frost Wall to manually trigger explosions. These will be our main skills for most encounters, while the rest will be used mainly against bosses.

The rework of Frost Bomb means that it is no longer used primarily for damage, but rather for its elemental exposure debuff. For longer boss battles, you can choose to remove the Short Fuse II support gem from Frost Bomb.

Budget Setup Skills

The budget setup uses Ice Nova to clear hordes of enemies in a large area, relying on Cast on Critical to proc Comet casts. For single targets, we will use Frost Darts with our other debuffs to lower enemy elemental resistance and trigger elemental infusions.

List of Skills

Cold Chronomancer Passive Tree

Passive Tree Progression

Endgame Passives
Budget Setup Passives
Ascendency Passive Nodes
The Rapid River, Quicksand Hourglass and Ultimate Command
Passive Nodes
1. Pure Energy and Elemental Force 2. Lingering Horror and Critical Exploit
3. Echoing Frost and Dynamism 4. Curse Effect and Pliable Flesh
5. Patient Barrier and Invocated Efficiency 6. Master of Hexes and Stormbreaker
7. Exploit the Elements and Chronomancy 8. Sacrificial Blood and All Natural
9. Adverse Growth and Stormcharged 10. Heart Tissue
Screenshots taken from Path of Building.

※ Legend: Red = Weapon Set I | Green = Weapon Set II

Ascendency Passive Nodes
Footprints in the Sand, Quicksand Hourglass, and Apex of the Moment mode:scaleFootprints in the Sand, Quicksand Hourglass, and Apex of the Moment
Passive Nodes
1. Pure Energy and Critical Exploit 2. Lingering Horror and Stripped Defences
3. Master of Hexes and Soul Bloom 4. Dynamism and Pliable Flesh
5. Deadly Force and True Strike 6. Patient Barrier and Controlling Magic
7. Heavy Buffer and Illuminated Crown 8. Desensitation and Heart Tissue
9. All Natural and Stormcharged 10. -
Screenshots taken from Path of Building

※ Legend: Red = Weapon Set I | Green = Weapon Set II

Endgame Build Passive Setup

We will take mainly nodes related to Cold Damage, Critical Hit Chance, Critical Hit Damage, and Freeze Buildup to drastically boost damage done by your spells. For survivability, you will go for nodes related to your Energy Shield

To increase damage and survivability and balance our mana with life as a partial resource, we will take Sacrificial Blood and get more nodes on Life Recoup, such as Taut Flesh and Heart Tissue.

Budget Build Passive Setup

Our budget will function similarly, but we will sacrifice a few elemental damage nodes, such as Echoing Frost and Elemental Force, to gain more critical passives, such as Deadly Force. This will offset the lack of critical chance passives due to having only a staff.

If you have the budget for a good wand and focus, but lack the resistances on your other gear to use Snakepit, you can use the budget weapon set passive setup and relegate your Chiming Staff to being used solely for Sigil of Power.
Passive Skill Tree Guide and List of Passives

Jewels

Note: The modifiers listed are arranged according to priority.

Heart of the Well Heart of the Well ・Gain % of damage as Extra Fire Damage
・+ to Maximum Elemental Resistance
・% of Damage Taken Recouped As Life
・% Increased Speed of Recouped Effects
Megalomaniac Megalomaniac Allocates: Careful Assasin
・20% reduced Critical Damage Bonus
・50% increased Critical Hit Chance
Allocates: Adverse Growth
・・20% reduced Life Regeneration rate
・20% of Damage taken recouped as Mana
Sapphire Jewel Sapphire ・% Increased Cold Damage
・+% Increased Maximum Energy Shield
・+% Increased Critical Hit Chance for Spells
・% Percent of Damage Recouped as Life
Sapphire Jewel Sapphire ・% Increased Cold Damage
・ Recover % of Maxium Mana on Kill
・Meta Skills gain % of Energy
・Triggered Spells Deal 10% Increased Damage

To gain more damage and energy shield, it is recommended to focus on getting Sapphires. Stats such as Spell Damage and Critical Hit Damage boost your overall damage, and you can also roll for life recoup.

The Heart of the Well was introduced in the Rise of the Abyssal League and can be rolled with unique Abyssal modifiers. If you manage to get a good roll on it, it can increase your damage output tremendously, so keep an eye out for this jewel.

Megalomaniac is essential for allocating Careful Assassin and Adverse Growth for additional life recoup and critical hit chance.
List of Jewels

Cold Chronomancer Playstyle

Skill Rotations
Endgame Mobbing Rotation Budget Mobbing Rotation
Endgame Bossing Rotation Budget Bossing Rotation

Endgame Mobbing Rotation

For most encounters, we only need to cast Frostbolt continuously since we can cast it without running out of resources thanks to our life and mana recoup. The rotation is as follows:

  1. Cast Frostbolt Continuously Until the Target Dies

Endgame Bossing Rotation

We will be utilizing the interaction between Frostbolt and Frost Wall for boss fights as well as tanky elites, while simultaneously taking advantage of debuffs and Elemental Infusions. Make sure to remove the Short Fuse II support gem beforehand! The rotation is as follows:

  1. Start with Firewall to ignite our projectiles.
  2. Use Sigil of Power for the buff.
  3. Cast Frost Bomb to induce the elemental exposure debuff.
  4. Cast Orb of Storms twice to generate lightning infusions.
  5. Cast Elemental Weakness to lower enemy resistances.
  6. Cast Frost Wall to set up the boss for repeated Frostbolt casts.
  7. Stand in front of the boss with the boss positioned behind your Frost Wall.
  8. Cast Frostbolt on the boss, making sure the first point of contact is the boss and the second is your Frost Wall.

Budget Mobbing Rotation

Mobbing will be handled by a Ice Nova and Frost Bomb triggering Comet from Cast on Elemental Ailment which will clear the enemies in an area. Since we have Siphon Elements, we will no longer need to generate elemental infusion remnants by casting other skills. The rotation is as follows:

  1. Use Ice Nova for damage and to trigger Mana Flare.

Budget Bossing Rotation

Boss fights will have you utilizing all of your elemental skills to generate elemental infusions for more damage.

  1. Use Sigil of Power for the buff.
  2. Cast Frost Bomb for the elemental exposure debuff.
  3. Cast Elemental Weakness to lower resistances.
  4. Use Ice Nova for some damage.
  5. Cast Flame Wall next to buff your next skill, and for your projectiles to pass through.
  6. Use Frost Darts and try to make it pass through your Flame Wall.

Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) Related Guides

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List of Builds by Class
Path of Exile 2 - Huntress IconHuntress Path of Exile 2 - Mercenary Builds Mercenary Path of Exile 2 - Monk Builds Monk
Path of Exile 2 - Witch Builds Witch Path of Exile 2 - Sorceress Builds Sorceress Path of Exile 2 - Warrior Builds Warrior
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Other Build Guides
0.3 Leveling Builds How to Make a Good Build

Sorceress Leveling Builds

Spark SorceressSpark Sorceress
Arctic Armour Icon Spark Icon Flame Wall Icon Orb of Storms Icon Conductivity Icon Mana Tempest Icon Lightning Warp Icon Mana Remnants Icon

Focus: Mobbing, AoE, Lightning, Fast Clear
Fireball SorceressFireball Sorceress
Flame Wall Icon Snap Icon Fireball Icon Raging Spirits Icon Living Bomb Icon

Focus: AoE, Mobbing
Cold Infusion SorceressCold Infusion Sorceress
NEW
Frost Bomb Icon Flame Wall Icon Ice Nova Icon Orb of Storms Icon Snap Icon Frost Darts Icon

Focus: Elements, Cold, AoE, Infusions

Sorceress Endgame Builds

Fire SorceressFire Sorceress
Flame Wall Icon Solar Orb Icon Flammability Icon Fireball Icon

Focus: DoT, Mobbing
Cold Warp StormweaverCold Warp Stormweaver
Frost Bomb Icon Frostbolt Icon Hypothermia Icon Frost Wall Icon Lightning Warp Icon Comet Icon Cast on Freeze Icon Blink Icon

Focus: Burst Damage, Crowd Control
Spark StormweaverSpark Stormweaver
Spark Icon Flame Wall Icon Orb of Storms Icon Conductivity Icon Lightning Warp Icon Mana Remnants Icon Archmage Icon

Focus: Mobbing, AoE, Lightning, Fast Clear
Cold ChronomancerCold Chronomancer
Frost Bomb Icon Flame Wall Icon Ice Nova Icon Snap Icon Comet Icon Cast on Elemental Ailment Icon Siphon Elements Icon Frost Darts Icon Elemental Weakness Icon Temporal Rift Icon

Focus: Crowd Control, Burst Damage, Cold
Arc Stormweaver BuildArc Stormweaver Build
Arc Icon Frost Bomb Icon Orb of Storms Icon Blink Icon Archmage Icon Cast on Elemental Ailment Icon Siphon Elements Icon Elemental Weakness Icon

Focus: Lightning, Cast on Elemental Ailment, Mobbing
Elementalist StormweaverElementalist Stormweaver
Frost Bomb Icon Ember Fusillade Icon Orb of Storms Icon Ball Lightning Icon Trinity Icon Siphon Elements Icon Frost Darts Icon Elemental Weakness Icon Living Bomb Icon Elemental Storm Icon

Focus: Elements, Shock, Chill, Ignite

Sorceress Class and Ascendancy Guides

Base Class
Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) - Sorceress Portrait Sorceress
Ascendancies
Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) StormweaverStormweaver Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) ChronomancerChronomancer Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) Disciple of VarashtaDisciple of Varashta

Comment

1 Anonymous Anonymous 11 months

Your activate skills for Mid Game are fire spells instead of Frost spells.

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