Level 95 Vortex Occultist^3.21

Notes

EXPLANATIONS

This build uses Creeping Frost and Vortex, both in a 6-link body armour, as primary skills. 
Having both on a 6-link (4 supports) gives more damage than having only one with 5 supports

It uses Cold Snap, Frost Bomb, Frostbite and Elemental Weakness as secundary skills, to amplify the primary skills damage

Cold snap is linked to Bone Chill, increasing cold damage for primary skills when it hits;
It's also linked to Arcane Surge, which gives more damage to all your spells;
And it's linked to Culling strike, meaning a virtual 11% more damage (100% / 90% = 1,11 -> 11% more damage)

Frostbite, Frost Bomb and Elemental weakness all applies negative resists to monsters (Frost Bomb through cold exposure)

This build uses Determination + Defiance banner to have decent armor, helping mitigating Physical damage;
It uses decent block level (~40%-50%) to help mitigating multiple consecutive attacks;
It has high life pool and uses ES as well, to help against bigger hits when not blocked;
It has 100% spell suppression, which is great, 50% less damage vs any spell;
It is immune to Chill, Freeze, Ignite, 90% reduced shock, and can get  immunity to Corrupted blood (either through mastery near Anointed Flesh (easier but not the most efficient) or through gem)
Finally, it uses Enfeeble with Blasphemy to permanently have all monsters (except the ones that can offscreen you) deal much less damage.

This makes for a really tanky character.

Finally, it uses Flame Dash linked to Second Wind as movement skill.

UNIQUES
Atziri's step is just a very good pair of boots that allows for 100% suppression, and is easily target-farmable.
Eye of Malice multiplies negative resistances, making them even smaller, greatly increasing damage. It's also a evasion base, so that we use suppression mastery.
Skin of the Lords gives all gems socketed into it +2 levels (not just skill gems, but also support). This combos well with Empower.
Take care not to brick the build with its keystone. Some good or neutral keystones are Divine Shield, Magebane, Leathe Shade, Unwavering Stance, Iron Reflexes, Iron Will, among others.
Some keystones that doesn't work are Ancestral Bond, Zealot's Oath, Elemental Equilibrium.
Elevore Wolf Pelt can be used to get to 100% suppression easier and make gear cheaper. Another alternative is to anoint Quick Step in ammulet.



LEVELING GUIDE

SKILLS

Level with Freezing Pulse + Arcane Surge (AS) until you get Creeping Frost (Before Merveil)
(Keep AS at level 1)

USE FROST BOMB all the time, as soon as you get it

Once you beat Brutus, get Vitality and Clarity, you will go with them until the bitter end.

Use Creeping Frost + Freezing pulse  + Arcane surge until you get Cold Snap, Controlled Destruction (CD) and Elemental Focus (EF) 
on act 2 after fighting Fidelitas
(Here you link AS to frost bomb)

Use Creepint Frost and Cold Snap each on a 3-link with CD and EF, or on a 4-link with both and CD + EF

You get Frostbite on act 3 and put it to use right away. Link it to AS. You can level AS to match Frostbite cost.
When you get Vortex (in library Siosa act 3), use that with CD and EF as well, having 3 skills on 3-links.

You can get Determination here, it's a bit tricky to use with Vitality and Clarity during campaign, but it's advisable.

In act 4, you can place Frostbite, Frost Bomb and AS in a 4-link with Arcanist Brand to reduce amount of buttons to press

IF you get enough links, add Swift Afliction or Cruelty, or both to your 4-links.

By the end of the campaign, you should have 3 4-links -> Creeping Frost, Cold Snap and Vortex
And a 4th 4-link with Arcanist Brand, if you choose to do so.


TREE

Start by going to Frost Walker, Hearth and Soul and Practical Applications

From here, you can go Quick Recovery, and then you either go down into Templar's tree, or up into Breath of Rime and Heart of Ice.

You don't need to rush into Whispers of Doom or Sovereignity, they are not worth that much in campaign.

First lab should get you Void Beacon, and then, all others are up to your preference. 
Second curse is harder to sustain on campaign due to slot pressure, but if you think you got enough, it's a good DPS addition.

IF you don't mind having lower chaos resistance, you can use PROFANE BLOOM instead of WITHERING PRESENCE in ascendancy.


ITEMS

It's not hard to pick items, really. Try to get a +1 cold wand from act 1, but anything with increased spell damage will do.

During campaign, it's a good idea to go with 2 wands for more damage.

Most items will have to be Int based, but try to squish some armour when possible.

Try to get resists from items, but there are some resistance nodes available in tree, which you can later respec, like Resistance Mastery and Fire and Lightning Walker.

You can help Alira to make it easier to fix your resists, and respec it later when you get to maps. This isn't needed (and I don't usually do this), but it's a common technique.