Once Human is a free-to-play third-person shooter MMO developed by Starry Studio. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where players take on the role of modified humans battling against mutants and other threats.
One of the popular and powerful builds in Once Human is the Frost Vortex build. The Frost Vortex mechanic involves triggering a vortex of freezing energy on enemy weak points. This vortex deals continuous frost damage over time (DoT) and inflicts a “Chilled” status effect, slowing enemies and making them more vulnerable to further attacks. Multiple vortexes can be active simultaneously, amplifying the chilling effect and damage output.
However, building a successful Frost Vortex strategy involves several key aspects and in this guide, I’ll be showing you my best Once Human Frost Vortex build that you can try. So, let’s begin!
Best Weapons For The Frost Vortex Build
Here are our recommended weapons for the Frost Vortex build:
Primary Weapon:
- KAM – Abyss Glance (AR): This assault rifle is the top choice for the Frost Vortex build due to its high damage output and ability to quickly apply Frost status. You can obtain it by winning it from the Wish Machine.
- KV-SBR – Icy Rain (SMG): A fantastic early-to-mid game option. While it doesn’t match the raw power of the Abyss Glance, its ease of acquisition and respectable Frostbite application make it a worthy contender. It is found in Mystical Crates in the Rotten Saddle Stronghold (Chalk Peak region).
Secondary Weapon:
- Recurve Crossbow (Crossbow): While not directly dealing with Frost damage, this weapon is crucial for applying the Bullseye debuff. This significantly increases your critical hit chance, which in turn fuels the Frost Vortex.
Key Weapon Mods:
In addition to the base weapons, you can consider these mods for maximum effectiveness:
- Abyss Glance:
- Vortex Multiplier: This mod can be found within the Monolith of Thirst (Normal difficulty), the Monolith of Greed (Hard and Pro difficulties), and the LEA Research Lab (Pro difficulty). You can also further enhance it up to five times.
- KV-SBR – Icy Rain:
- Vulnerability Amplifier: This mod increases the vulnerability of enemies, making them more susceptible to damage from your Frost Vortexes.
- Recurve Crossbow:
- Vulnerability Amplifier – Violent: This mod adds an additional 8% vulnerability to the target when Bullseye is active.
Best Armor Sets For The Frost Vortex Build
Key Armor:
- Frost Tactical Vest: This is a must-have for the Frost Vortex build. It provides a significant boost to Frost damage and critical hit chance. So, it enhances your ability to trigger Frost Vortexes.
Armor Set:
- Shelterer Set (4 pieces): This set provides a massive boost to Frost damage and also offers increased resistance to Frost damage, making you more durable in prolonged fights.
Last Armor Piece:
There are two options for the final piece, depending on your preference:
- Bastille Set: This piece further boosts your Frost damage and provides additional survivability through increased health regeneration.
- Shelterer Set (5th piece): Equipping all five pieces of the Shelterer set grants additional set bonuses, such as increased damage reduction and improved Frostbite chance.
Armor Mods:
Here are some recommended armor mods to enhance your Frost Vortex build:
- Helmet: Deviation Expert (Increases critical hit chance)
- Face: Lingering Frost (Increases Frostbite duration)
- Top: Crit DMG Enhancement (Increases critical hit damage)
- Bottoms: Precision Charge (Increases energy regeneration)
- Gloves: Elemental Overload (Increases elemental damage)
- Shoes: Covered Advance (Increases movement speed)
Keep in mind that these mods can be further enhanced up to five times to improve their effectiveness.
Best Deviant For The Frost Vortex Build
The best Deviant for the Frost Vortex build in Once Human is Polar Jelly. This Combat Deviant significantly enhances the build in several ways:
- Increased Frost Damage: Polar Jelly increases the damage that enemies take from Frost Vortex AOE effects by 31%. This directly amplifies the build’s primary damage source.
- Frostbite Vulnerability: It also increases the target’s vulnerability to Frostbite, making it easier to trigger and maintain Frost Vortexes.
- Overall Damage Boost: Additionally, Polar Jelly provides a general damage increase for all sources of Frost damage, further enhancing the build’s effectiveness.
You can get Polar Jelly as a random reward from the Cargo Scramble event. Keep an eye on the event schedule and participate to increase your chances of obtaining this valuable Deviant.
Best Cradle Override Nodes For The Frost Vortex Build
The Cradle Override Nodes you choose will significantly impact the effectiveness of your Frost Vortex build. Here are some recommendation:
Core Nodes:
- Status Enhancement: This node directly increases your Status Damage, which is crucial for the Frost Vortex build as it relies heavily on inflicting Frostbite to trigger and amplify the vortex effect.
- Sustained Suppression: This node boosts your Continuous Damage, further increasing the damage output of your Frost Vortexes over time.
Offensive Nodes:
- Automatic Weapon Enhancement: If you’re using assault rifles like the Abyss Glance, this node will enhance your overall Rifle Damage.
- Tactical Combo: This node is a good all-around damage boost for any weapon type, providing a noticeable increase to your damage output.
- Elemental Enhancement (Frost): This node is essential for the Frost Vortex build as it specifically increases all Frost Damage.
Utility Nodes:
- Bounty Hunter: This node increases your damage against Deviants and weak spots, enhancing your ability to take down tougher enemies quickly.
- Deviation Master: If you’re using a Deviant, this node further enhances their damage output, making them even more valuable in combat.
Note: While choosing nodes, Focus on the Core Nodes first, as they provide the most significant boost to your Frost Vortex damage. Then, prioritize the Offensive Nodes to maximize your damage output. Finally, consider adding Utility Nodes to enhance your overall effectiveness in combat. You can also read our other guides on this game, such as Once Human Polluted Areas Map and How To Get Rebecca Deviant In Once Human.
