Just started a new game on elite singleplayer only with an embermage.

Build I'm using is prismatic bolt.

I'm level 20 right now, I put 5 pts in prismatic bolt 5 pts in charge mastery, 1 point in frost phase and 1 point in prismatic rift. Rest of the points are currently dumped in fire/ice/lightning brands.

It's my first playthrough past level 15 and it rocks so far. So much that I'd recommend it for hardcore as I only have 2 deaths so far and it is by facing mosnter I didn't know about.
I could've survived easily if I knew the damage output beforehand.

I plan on maxing all the brands+prismatic bolt to start with, while leaving charge mastery lvl 1. As I progress, I'll start investing in staff mastery and wand chaos. Eventually I'll get shockbolts to proc both staff mastery and wand chaos then pump points into prismatic rift. For the last skills I may either get elemental attunement or elemental boon depending if I need either more damage or more survivability to the build.

i put 5 pts into that blizzard spell (forget the name) gives 20% reduced resists on cold and lite dmg and high chance to stun multiple targets very useful utility for controlling groups

I've got resist issues covered with staff amstery and shockbolts, with staff mastery 15/15 and shock bolts you get (depending on tier) 3 to 5 bolts when you cast the spell, each removing 35% resist (from staff mastery), so 3 bolts = -100% resist

Yeah the game is really easy until end game NG++

A lot of builds work until then, one thing I recommend if tap into utility skills of course, but focus on one tree for your main output of damage. Each tree has a passive that will give an extra % of damage.

A lot of people are focusing on a fire build. (I myself am making an embermage, but its not my main and is only 25. Going a fire build. Works great so far.)

My friend however went a straight ice build, (tapped into other trees for utility) but just like da5idian says that blizzard shit is op. My friend is only level 60 critting 25k with gear that me and him have found or gambled. (Not using 99 gear)

So right now everything is up in the air because a lot has to be tested. Just wanted to say I recommend sticking to one solid tree and then just tapping into others.

You may be doing that, but the way I am reading it your maxing a lot of each tree which isn't recommended.

However its a game. And object is to have fun.

Forget all that gibberish I wrote.

Read this.

http://forums.runicgames.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=36953