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VortexSpell, AoE, Cold, Duration, Nova
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (11-20) Mana
Cooldown Time: 1.80 sec
Can Store 1 Use(s)
Soul Gain Prevention: 0 sec
Cast Time: 0.75 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.50%
Requires Level 28An icy blast explodes around the caster, dealing cold damage to enemies, and leaving behind a whirling vortex which deals cold damage over time and chills enemies caught in it. If the caster targets near their Frostbolt projectiles, it will explode from a number of those projectiles instead, destroying them.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal0.5% increased Area of Effect1% increased Cold Damage1% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate
1% less Skill Effect Duration
2% increased Damage when Cast on Frostbolt
Deals (38-524) to (57-787) Cold Damage
Base duration is 3 seconds
Deals (106.5-1456.9) Base Cold Damage per second
Can explode from up to 5 Frostbolt Projectiles
20% less Area of Effect when Cast on Frostbolt
Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to this Skill's Damage Over Time effect
(0-76)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate
Place into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
Vortex skill iconVortex inventory icon
Acquisition
Area level: 28
Vendor Prices
Normal1x Orb of Chance
Vendor Offer
1x Scroll Fragment
Metadata
Item class: Active Skill Gems
Metadata ID: Metadata/Items/Gems/SkillGemFrostBoltNova

Vortex skill screenshot


Vortex is a cold spell that deals damage in an area around the character and leaves a ground effect that chills and deals heavy cold damage over time.[1] If the player has any active Module Error: Item link: No results found for search parameter "Frostbolt". projectiles, Vortex will be cast on those projectiles instead.

Skill functions and interactions[ | ]

  • Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to this skill's Damage Over Time Effect: Modifiers to spell damage only affect the damage over time effect of Vortex granted by the gem and do not affect other sources of damage over time which may be applied by the skill, such as poison or Decay Support inventory iconDecay SupportDecay SupportChaos, Support
    Icon: D
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 120%
    Requires Level 38Supports any skill that hits enemies.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3DivergentSupported Skills deal 0.5% increased Chaos DamageSupported Skills have 0.5% increased Skill Effect DurationSupported Skills have 0.5% of Physical Damage Converted to Chaos DamageSupported Skills inflict Decay on Hit, dealing (120-843) Chaos Damage per second for 8 secondsThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
    Decay Support inventory icon
    .
  • Module Error: Item link: No results found for search parameter "Frostbolt".: The player may cast Frostbolt and subsequently cast Vortex on the Frostbolt projectiles. If Vortex is cast this way, it will have 20% less area of effect and it may cast on up to 5 Frostbolt projectiles, consuming them.
    • If the player has any active Frostbolt projectiles and Vortex is triggered by an effect (such as Cast On Critical Strike Support inventory iconCast On Critical Strike SupportCast On Critical Strike SupportTrigger, Support, Spell
      Icon: &
      Level: (1-20)
      Requires Level 38Must support both an attack skill and a spell skill to work. The attack skill will trigger a spell when it critically strikes an enemy. Cannot support totems, traps, or mines. Vaal skills, channelling skills, and skills that reserve mana cannot be triggered.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3DivergentSupported Skills have 1% increased Attack Critical Strike Chance
      Supported Skills have 1% increased Spell Critical Strike Chance
      Supported Skills deal 1% more Attack DamageSupported Skills have 0.5% increased Attack Speed
      Supported Attacks will Trigger a Supported Spell when you Crit an Enemy
      Supported Skills deal (20-29)% more Spell Damage
      You cannot Cast Supported Triggerable Spells directly
      This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
      Cast On Critical Strike Support inventory icon
      ), Vortex will automatically be cast on the Frostbolt projectiles.
  • Overlap: If an enemy is standing on multiple Vortex ground effects, only the one with the highest damage per second will deal damage at any given moment. This is consistent with other damage over time ground effects, such as burning ground.
  • Cast time: Vortex is an instant spell; it has no cast time and does not interrupt your character's other actions.
  • On hit effects: Because the initial explosion counts as a hit, Vortex can be used with on hit effects such as Hextouch Support inventory iconHextouch SupportHextouch SupportTrigger, Support, Hex
    Icon: &
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%
    Requires Level 38Must support both a skill that hits enemies, and a hex curse skill to work. The hex will be applied when enemies are hit by the other skill. Cannot support totems, traps, or mines. Minions cannot apply hexes this way.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent0.5% increased Effect of Supported CursesSupported Skills deal 1% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments per Curse on Enemy0.5% reduced Effect of Supported Curses
    Supported Skills have 2% increased Curse Duration
    Supported Skills apply supported Curses on Hit
    Supported Skills have (50-12)% reduced Curse Duration
    You cannot Cast Supported Curse Spells
    This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
    Hextouch Support inventory icon
    .

Gem level progression[ | ]

LevelRequired LevelRequired IntelligenceMana
Cost
Cold
Damage
Cold
DPS
Cooldown
Recovery
Exp.Total Exp.
128671138 to 57106.5N/A00
231731147 to 71131.3N/A199345199345
334791258 to 87161.1N/A285815485160
437851371 to 106196.8N/A401344886504
540921386 to 129239.3N/A5543791440883
642961498 to 147272.1N/A4774371918320
74410014111 to 167308.9N/A5837862502106
84610415126 to 189350.1N/A7103593212465
94810915143 to 214396.5N/A13555114567976
105011315161 to 242448.4N/A11388775706853
115211716182 to 274506.5N/A13682337075086
125412116206 to 309571.5N/A16383388713424
135612517232 to 348644.3N/A195664810670072
145813017261 to 392725.7N/A365518414325256
156013418294 to 441816.6N/A301732717342583
166213818331 to 496918.2N/A775999525102578
176414218371 to 5571031.7N/A1513819340240771
186614619417 to 6251158.2N/A2608382566324596
196815119468 to 7021299.5N/A62620247128944843
207015520524 to 7871456.9N/A211708088340652931
217215920588 to 8821632.5N/AN/AN/A
2274N/A21658 to 9871828N/AN/AN/A
2376N/A21737 to 11052045.8N/AN/AN/A
2478N/A21824 to 12362288.4N/AN/AN/A
2580N/A22921 to 13822558.4N/AN/AN/A
2682N/A221029 to 15442858.8N/AN/AN/A
2784N/A231149 to 17243192.9N/AN/AN/A
2886N/A231283 to 19253564.5N/AN/AN/A
2988N/A241432 to 21483977.6N/AN/AN/A
3090N/A241597 to 23964436.7N/AN/AN/A
3191N/A241687 to 25304685.1N/AN/AN/A
3292N/A251781 to 26714946.9N/AN/AN/A
3393N/A251880 to 28205222.8N/AN/AN/A
3494N/A251985 to 29775513.5N/AN/AN/A
3595N/A252095 to 31435819.9N/AN/AN/A
3696N/A252211 to 33176142.8N/AN/AN/A
3797N/A262334 to 35016483N/AN/AN/A
3898N/A262463 to 36946841.5N/AN/AN/A
3999N/A262599 to 38987219.1N/AN/AN/A
40100N/A262742 to 41137617N/AN/AN/A

Item acquisition
Questionmark

Upgrade paths

This item can be acquired through the following upgrade paths or vendor recipes:

AmountIngredientGeneral
Notes
Type
8Divination card inventory iconDying AnguishDying Anguish card artDivination card frameDying Anguish8Level 19 Gem
Alternative Quality: +19%
Moribund, he gazed upon the journey taken as blood trickled down his chin. His eye closed on the city ahead that he would never call home.
Divination card inventory icon
random level 19 gem with 19% alternative qualityAutomatic
1Gemcutter's Incubator inventory iconGemcutter's IncubatorGemcutter's IncubatorAdds an incubated Quality Gem item to an equippable item
Item drops after killing # monsters
Quality GemRight click this item then left click an item to apply it. The Incubated item drops after killing a specific number of monsters.
Gemcutter's Incubator inventory icon
random superior gemAutomatic
6Divination card inventory iconThe FoxThe Fox card artDivination card frameThe Fox6Level 20 Gem"Masters of wit, strength and cunning. To survive the harsh winters, you must be like the fox."
- Ezomyte Proverb
Divination card inventory icon
random level 20 gemAutomatic
13Divination card inventory iconThe CataclysmThe Cataclysm card artDivination card frameThe Cataclysm13Level 21 Spell Gem
Corrupted
The mighty warriors traded in blows, the nimble archers in arrows, yet it was the brazen thaumaturgists who would bring catastrophe to all.
Divination card inventory icon
random corrupted level 21 Spell gemAutomatic
3Divination card inventory iconGemcutter's PromiseGemcutter's Promise card artDivination card frameGemcutter's Promise3Superior Gem
Quality: +20%
"I swore to use my position to help the people. What good is power when it just accumulates on the already-powerful?" - Erasmus, Imperial Gemcutter
Divination card inventory icon
random superior gem with 20% qualityAutomatic
1Divination card inventory iconThe VoidThe Void card artDivination card frameThe Void1Reach into the Void and claim your prize.Divination card inventory iconrandom divination card set exchangeAutomatic

Vendor reward

This item can be bought at the listed NPC vendors, after completing the following quests:

Class →WitchShadowRangerDuelistMarauderTemplarScion
Quest ↓
A Fixture of Fate
Act 3
Siosa
Sever the Right Hand
Act 3
Clarissa
Fallen from Grace
Act 6
Lilly Roth

Other sources[ | ]

Vortex
Debuff
Vortex skill icon
Vortex skill icon

The skill is also used by several monster. The UI would display a status icon to show the player character is affected by the skill.


Related helmet enchantments

The following helmet enchantments affect Vortex.

NameFor generated item/monster modifiers the minimum item/monster level respectively. Some generation types may not require this condition to be met, however item level restrictions may be raised to 80% of this value.StatsSpawn Weighting
Enchantment Vortex AoE On Frostbolt 166Vortex has 30% increased Area of Effect when Cast on Frostbolthelmet 75
default 0
Enchantment Vortex AoE On Frostbolt 275Vortex has 45% increased Area of Effect when Cast on Frostbolthelmet 75
default 0
Enchantment Vortex Cooldown Recovery 166Vortex has 20% increased Cooldown Recovery Ratehelmet 75
default 0
Enchantment Vortex Cooldown Recovery 275Vortex has 30% increased Cooldown Recovery Ratehelmet 75
default 0
Enchantment Vortex Damage 16625% increased Vortex Damagehelmet 75
default 0
Enchantment Vortex Damage 27540% increased Vortex Damagehelmet 75
default 0
Enchantment Vortex Duration 16620% increased Vortex Durationhelmet 75
default 0
Enchantment Vortex Duration 27530% increased Vortex Durationhelmet 75
default 0
EnchantmentVortexRadius16616% increased Vortex Area of Effecthelmet 0
default 0
EnchantmentVortexRadius27524% increased Vortex Area of Effecthelmet 0
default 0

Alternate skill effects

Vortex has the following alternate skill effects:

ItemEffect(s)
Black Hole Vortex EffectBlack Hole Vortex Effect inventory iconBlack Hole Vortex EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Vortex becomes a stationary black hole.Black Hole Vortex Effect inventory iconYour Vortex becomes a stationary black hole.

Version history[ | ]

Version Changes
3.6.4
  • Improved the graphical performance.
3.6.2
  • Vortex can no longer be supported by Intensify Support inventory iconIntensify SupportIntensify SupportAoE, Spell, Support
    Icon: T
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 140%
    Requires Level 31Supports spell skills that you cast yourself. Cannot support triggered skills, Vaal skills, instant skills, channelling skills, skills which reserve mana, or skills used by totems, traps, or mines. Cannot modify the skills of minions.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4PhantasmalSupported Skills deal 0.5% increased Area DamageSupported Skills have 0.5% increased Area of EffectLose Intensity 2% faster while movingLose Intensity 1% slower while movingSupported Spells gain Intensity when you Cast them, to a maximum of 3
    Supported Skills deal (10-14)% more Area Damage with Hits per Intensity
    Supported Skills have 15% less Area of Effect per Intensity
    Supported Skills have (30-49)% increased Area of Effect
    Supported Spells lose 1 Intensity every 0.25 seconds while moving, or immediately if you teleport
    This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
    Intensify Support inventory icon
    .
3.6.0
  • Mana Cost at gem level 20 is now 20 (was 21)
  • Now deals 38 to 57 Cold damage at gem level 1 (from 42 to 63) and 524 to 787 Cold damage at gem level 20 (from 538 to 808).
  • Now deals 106.5 base Cold damage per second at gem level 1 (from 116.1) and 1456.9 base Cold damage per second at gem level 20 (from 1495.6).
3.5.0
  • Now instant, with a 1.8 second cooldown.
  • Can now detonate from up to 5 Frostbolt projectiles at once.
  • Gains increased cooldown recovery speed as the gem levels up.
  • Deals 42 to 63 cold damage at gem level 1 (down from 50 to 75) and 538 to 808 cold damage at gem level 20 (up from 458 to 688).
  • Deals 116.1 base cold damage per second at gem level 1 (up from 41.6) and 1495.6 base cold damage per second at gem level 20 (up from 684.5)
  • No longer deals 40% more damage when cast on Frostbolt.
  • Now has 20% less Area of Effect when cast on Frostbolt.
3.0.0
  • Vortex now deals 40% more damage when cast on a Frostbolt.
2.3.0
  • Introduced to the game.

References[ | ]

  1. Mark_GGG (June 2, 2016). "I think an old and very over-looked unique might gonna get some use in the upcoming Prophecy league". Official Path of Exile Subreddit. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
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