What skills are you guys finding most effective early and late game?

I'm trying to plan my build but I'm not sure if skills that do raw damage will be out done by skills that do xx% of weapon damage

Blazing Pillar + Prismatic Bolt make a really sweet combo. I haven't tried them but a pure frost mage does well too with Frost Wave + Hailstorm.

Also using Ice Prison as a shield works wonders.

This post was edited by DarkOutlaw on Jan 28 2013 05:05pm

yea these seem to be the common strategies, i was thinking of making a shocking orb/ something mix

another question!

does lightning orb sync with lightning brand, I've noticed that lightning orb doesn't say it "shocks" enemies