I don't get the Ice Block thingyFollow

Hi

New level 31 mage here. Just aquired the Ice Block ability.
I've read the sticky's to learn how to use it, but they're only about
PvP situations.

I play on a PvE server. So when I get the "Oh, sh*t"-moment with 478 mobs on my back, hitting the IB just delays my death for 10 seconds. It's quite meaningless.

So, in what situations is the IB usable for me?

Best case for use in PVE the way i see it is not to just to delay death but to allow for your cool down of FN to finish. In my case i started AOE grinding around level 42 and Ice Block has save my behind more than i can count. Ice Block then FN then Blink will get you out of a lot of close call situations. Good luck with your new ability.

On the surface it does not seem that advantageous. I remember having the same thoughts when I first had access to it, you know, when it was a talent and all:).

However, as time progressed and I began playing with another person, druid, the benefits became more evident. The primary one is that I hit that oh s%@t button and they can heal you through it. Works great in instances, works great in BGs and works great in PVE.

THen in BGs, after you gain the attention of the opposing faction by obliterating a few of their team members, you can block while they sit there and use cooldowns on you, and while they hit on you for those ten seconds or so. And I have to laugh at them, seems they just dont know they cant do anything to me. This gives time for a team member to pull that person off of me, or even to heal me. Either way, I usually have blink or a Frost nova, blink macro to where when the Ice Bloc runs out, BAM, I freeze them and blink away. With all the confusion, they usually have minimal time to react, much less know where I went, which gives me time to get the hell out of there, or help finish them off if they are low and team members got to that player in time.

Ice block, drops aggro. Ice block clears DOTs. You find yourself in an instance where your huuuuge crit suddenly pulled threat off the tank, BAM IB and threat is dumped.

Most importantly, it allows YOU to assess the situation and think of someway to either recover and finish your task at hand, or to be able to get the hell out of there and come back to finish the job.

SO, you see, it has many uses in both PVE and PVP. Also good, if you are almost OOM and playing with another or a group, the mob is on you, and it will allow your party to finish it off.

Another PVE use, wipe dots (mentioned above). Here's the example: Fighting trolls in Hinterlands, some can put SW:P or some dot variant on me. After taking 2-3 at once I had a lot of dots ticking. Died once because I forgot to iceblock. The second time I iceblocked after killing the last troll, was down to a sliver of health. Lived to tell the tale.

Ok, thanks folks... now I have a better understanding for the IB.
Very nice explanations. Good examples.

Thanks again...

Unfortunately, you can't use both IB and Invisibility at the same time. I've tried, it doesn't work =(

I also had problems learning to use this ability. I was in my mid 50s when all of a sudden I got it. Ok cool – now what.

Here are some examples I’ve found helpful:

1. Running along and suddenly you find you being chased by 2/3 mobs. IB, wait till they surround you. Either cancel the IB or let it expire. Frost nova, blink – Run and pray
2. Grinding. Suddenly you find yourself with multiple adds – IB, nova, run away
3. Instance – Pull agro, IB, wait it out till the mob agros the tank (Or the priest – either way, you’re cool. Hahah)
4. Instance – Asked to Sheep pull? Casters hurting you when you do so? IB, wait for them to target someone else.
5. Instance – You back away from the mob to get out of AOE range. Opps you agro’d that fire thing… IB and apologize to tank – who will then save you.

There are loads of uses.

The IB AOE grind technique follows. I’ve just started using this – as I’ve never leveled frost with imp blizz – now I have it.

At lvl 40:

Find a group of all melee - mobs
Throw up a shield so you have something like 400 before it breaks.
Mount up
Run around and agro everything
Throw up the IB, let them surround you.
Let it expire or break IB yourself
Frost Nova
Blink
Run 2 steps
Turn around Bliz
Bliz again
Cone of cold
Back up,
Frost Nova
Bliz again.


If you have issues (Like I did) wait till you get the water elemental. He adds another Nova to your pull. (He technically will add 2 novas and you could cold snap, etc…) but that’s the basic gist..

You wont get the water elemental till later, but it helps to pop your WE just before you ice block and let it finish off your mobs. Or you can use the WE's frost nova to lock down the mobs before you de-ice block to buy yourself some extra time.

Saves my butt many a time in raids when the tanks lose agro for what-ever reason.