Which Ice Armor in HC (Frozen, Shiver, Chilling)?

This is an old debate but when I was looking for an answer, I did find contradicting assertions and some "rumors". I hope someone can confirm or contradict them.

I usually just use 1-point-wonder

Frozen Armor for my SC sorcs and only consider the other 2 if I have them "free" on item or as a cold sorc.

Now, for HC, I'm thinking of putting more points in defense and shiver would be a 3 point investment which would reduce my damage.

I should have been a quick check but then I fell into a rabbit whole and apparently things have changed. Different people argued for different armors, mostly in 3 years old posts.

Frozen Armor: Some say, the freezing helps, others claim that the freezing is to short in hell and (due to a bug), it resest the attack which leads to faster attack from the enemy attacking you. Is this true? Is/was this a bug? Is/was this fixed?

Shiver Armor: The common statement is: It's better than

Frozen Armor because it is triggered on attack and not on hit, and can "block" the attack (i.e. you don't take damage). But someone claimed that this was a bug and fixed in recent versions. While I'm pretty sure that this is how it worked "back then", I did not find proof that this "bug" was "fixed". But it could be, blizzard made some changes to the armors and this might have been something they changed, since the skill descriptions use the same wording for both.

Chilling: While the majority does consider this as the weakest, some recommend this. The one reason for this armor is that it could intercept projectiles. Similar to shiver, the skill could "block" ranged attacks but again it is not clear if this is/was a bug and if so, if it was ever fixed or this blocking effect is still in place.

So, I'm hoping to get some factual insights on these rumors and what armor is the best today for HC. In case those bugs are still in place, all 3 have their purpose. If the bugs have been fixed, I'll stay with frozen.

Thanks in advance.

Maybe @

Deckard Cain can start the discussion with giving his opinion?

vued wrote:

This is an old debate but when I was looking for an answer, I did find contradicting assertions and some "rumors". I hope someone can confirm or contradict them.

I usually just use 1-point-wonder

Frozen Armor for my SC sorcs and only consider the other 2 if I have them "free" on item or as a cold sorc.

Now, for HC, I'm thinking of putting more points in defense and shiver would be a 3 point investment which would reduce my damage.

I should have been a quick check but then I fell into a rabbit whole and apparently things have changed. Different people argued for different armors, mostly in 3 years old posts.

Frozen Armor: Some say, the freezing helps, others claim that the freezing is to short in hell and (due to a bug), it resest the attack which leads to faster attack from the enemy attacking you. Is this true? Is/was this a bug? Is/was this fixed?

Shiver Armor: The common statement is: It's better than

Frozen Armor because it is triggered on attack and not on hit, and can "block" the attack (i.e. you don't take damage). But someone claimed that this was a bug and fixed in recent versions. While I'm pretty sure that this is how it worked "back then", I did not find proof that this "bug" was "fixed". But it could be, blizzard made some changes to the armors and this might have been something they changed, since the skill descriptions use the same wording for both.

Chilling: While the majority does consider this as the weakest, some recommend this. The one reason for this armor is that it could intercept projectiles. Similar to shiver, the skill could "block" ranged attacks but again it is not clear if this is/was a bug and if so, if it was ever fixed or this blocking effect is still in place.

So, I'm hoping to get some factual insights on these rumors and what armor is the best today for HC. In case those bugs are still in place, all 3 have their purpose. If the bugs have been fixed, I'll stay with frozen.

Thanks in advance.

Maybe can start the discussion with giving his opinion?

Ah, the arcane intricacies of the Sorceress's armors have long been a topic of debate among the most learned of adventurers! Let us delve into each of these mystical defenses to ascertain their merits and potential pitfalls.

Frozen Armor: This enchantment encases you in a shield of Ice, freezing melee attackers upon impact. There was indeed talk once of issues where the freezing effect could inadvertently reset the enemy's attack animation, potentially leading to faster attacks. However, such discussions are often muddied by hearsay, and any such anomalies should be treated with caution unless confirmed by the sages of Blizzard themselves. As of now,

Frozen Armor offers reliable crowd control by briefly halting enemies, though its effectiveness diminishes in Hell due to increased enemy cold resistance.

Shiver Armor: This armor strikes preemptively, damaging attackers when they start their assault. The notion that it could "block" attacks by triggering before the hit connects was considered more of a beneficial quirk than an outright bug, allowing the Sorceress to avoid damage. If such an effect has been adjusted in recent updates, Blizzard has yet to formally announce it. Nevertheless, the advantage remains that

Shiver Armor can deter aggressors before they land their blows, making it an attractive choice for those wary of direct engagement.

Chilling Armor: Uniquely, this defense retaliates against ranged attacks, launching an icy bolt to punish distant foes. While traditionally seen as the least potent of the three for melee combat, its ability to actively respond to projectile threats can be underestimated. Any capacity for "blocking" projectiles would lean more towards tactical timing rather than an inherent skill feature, yet sorcerous powers are known to have mysterious ways even the wisest of us cannot fully comprehend.

In conclusion, for those venturing into Hardcore mode, where survival is paramount,

Shiver Armor may offer the best blend of offensive deterrence and magical defense due to its proactive nature. Yet, heed well that strategies must always adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of Sanctuary, and one should remain vigilant for any future revelations or adjustments from the high council of Blizzard. Choose your armors wisely, and may your journey through the perilous realms be guided by Wisdom and caution!

Hi, would you mind testing it? I am not a sorc player, but have one on HC, currently normal and fire skills, in NM i will restat her to lightning. I would love to know which armor to pick too

My guess is that

Chilling Armor is best due to project

Ice Bolt.

Sorc normally dont do close range fight which makes monster only hit you once and you

Teleport away. Means, forzen doesnt work well.

Ice Bolt have chance to make ranger slow, if it hits.

leox wrote: 2 months ago

My guess is that

Chilling Armor is best due to project

Ice Bolt.

Sorc normally dont do close range fight which makes monster only hit you once and you

Teleport away. Means, forzen doesnt work well.

Ice Bolt have chance to make ranger slow, if it hits.

Well, you are not supposed to be hit in melee but it happens. One unlucky

Teleport and you are done. Ice armor (and resulting freeze effect) can make a difference and get you out of block lock and allow you to

Teleport to safety.

The

Ice Bolt effect is not relevant in my view. By the time it causes an effect, the enemies should be dead or at least hit by mercs freezing aura. This armor is only valid if it really "blocks" projectiles.