ice shards-rilable in higher difficulties?

[Nightmare14]

doing a storm character obviously and i like the look of ice shards (seems like a bit of a weaker version or disrupt wave is some way but better in others) and woundering if they still reliabe in higher difficulties

[AdamBast]

yes, ice shards are very nice combined with squall

[Fozzie]

Ice Shards kick some serious ass but they eat energy for breakfast, as well. So look out for some "+energy" and "-energy cost" items if you intend to use it as a main skill.

[Zaptue]

I'm not a huge fan of iceshards to begin with, but I think they pretty much stink in legendary. I'm sure that you could make them viable if you twinked the heck out of the character, but I prefer to find a strategy that is less gear dependent.

[ASYLUM101]

I don't like Ice Shards past mid-epic, the damage fall off is sooo huge it's hard to maintain the costs while maintaining the damage.

[Fozzie]

That's right, of course. You pretty much have to tailor the whole build especially around the skill. I have a sharder Prophet who by late Epic didn't even have to resort to using Squall to get along well. Then again, I twinked the living hell out of her.

[Nightmare14]

it doesnt seem like it uses that much energy cos i got 5 points in each skill of the tree and only have 600 energy and i get like 15-20 shots off without needing a potion and thats with really shit gear

but but by the sounds of it i should drop them for lightning bolt?

[Fozzie]

I'd use both. Lightning Bolt is a nice skill, since you can aim it anywhere on the screen (while holding Shift). So you can use it on a far away group to make them rush at you in a tight pack where they will be easy prey to your Shards.