The Splinter of Destruction draws upon the power of Baal, the Lord of Destruction, whose influence remains tied to the destruction of the Worldstone at Mount Arreat.
Choosing Baal’s Splinter grants Ice of Excidium, a Prime Evil Power that periodically erupts from your character with a large blast of ice followed by several smaller projectiles.
Increasing your Splinter of Destruction Rank adds several powerful effects to these attacks, eventually providing resource generation, Vulnerable, additional boss damage, and more frequent blasts.
What is Ice of Excidium?
Ice of Excidium is the main Prime Evil Power granted immediately upon reaching Rank I with the Splinter of Destruction, periodically causing Baal’s power to unleash a large ice blast from your character.
The main blast deals Cold damage based on your weapon damage while releasing several smaller projectiles that can hit nearby enemies.
Ice of Excidium becomes considerably more useful as you increase your Splinter of Destruction Rank, with six additional upgrades unlocked before reaching the maximum Rank XXIV.
All Splinter of Destruction Power Upgrades
Ice of Excidium receives new effects at Ranks II, VI, X, XVI, XXI, and XXIV, with each milestone adding another benefit without replacing the upgrades you previously unlocked.
Rank II – Siege Engine
Siege Engine gives Ice of Excidium a chance to grant additional Attunement while completing Kurast Undercity, making Baal’s power particularly useful when progressing through this activity.
This is the first upgrade unlocked at 350 Reputation and provides an activity-specific benefit rather than directly increasing the damage of Ice of Excidium.
Rank VI – Cold Blood
Cold Blood causes Ice of Excidium to generate 50 Primary Resource whenever the power activates, providing additional Fury, Spirit, Essence, Energy, Mana, Vigor, Faith, or Wrath depending on your class.
Unlocked at 1,300 Reputation, this is one of the most broadly useful upgrades since the extra resource can help maintain builds that regularly consume large amounts of their Primary Resource.
Rank X – Grisly Trophies
Grisly Trophies gives bosses hit by Ice of Excidium a 30% chance to drop an additional Boss Trophy when killed, adding another farming benefit to Baal’s power.
The upgrade becomes available at 5,150 Reputation and is especially useful when farming bosses repeatedly for their associated rewards.
Rank XVI – Seizing Frost
Seizing Frost causes Ice of Excidium to chill enemies by 10% and make them Vulnerable for 5 seconds, while its smaller projectiles apply half as much Chill.
Unlocked at 13,100 Reputation, this gives the power a useful combination of Crowd Control and Vulnerable application that can complement builds capable of taking advantage of either effect.
Rank XXI – Shattered Flesh
Shattered Flesh causes the first Ice of Excidium hit against an enemy to deal additional damage equal to 20% of their Maximum Life over 4 seconds, although this damage cannot be increased.
Since the effect is based on the enemy’s Maximum Life rather than simply adding another weapon-damage hit, it becomes particularly useful against enemies with considerably larger health pools.
Rank XXIV – Thrill of Ruin
Thrill of Ruin is the final Ice of Excidium upgrade and becomes available after reaching the maximum 20,000 Reputation required for Splinter of Destruction Rank XXIV.
Killing enemies can activate Thrill of Ruin for 5 seconds, causing Ice of Excidium to unleash considerably more blasts during the effect.
Best Uses For The Splinter of Destruction
The Splinter of Destruction provides additional damage, resource generation, Crowd Control, and Vulnerable application as you unlock its upgrades.
Its later upgrades are particularly useful for builds that consume plenty of Primary Resource or benefit from attacking Vulnerable and Crowd Controlled enemies.
Baal’s reputation track also improves Kurast Undercity, Lair Bosses, and Whispers, making Destruction useful when regularly farming these activities.
Best Builds For The Splinter of Destruction
Since Ice of Excidium activates independently of your normal attacks, it can complement most builds without changing how they are played.
Builds that consume plenty of Primary Resource benefit from Cold Blood, while Seizing Frost provides another way to apply Vulnerable and Crowd Control.
Some strong Season 15 build options that can comfortably make use of the Splinter include:
- Barbarian: Whirlwind, Hammer of the Ancients
- Druid: Landslide, Storm Shred
- Necromancer: Bone Spirit, Blood Wave
- Paladin: Blessed Shield, Blessed Hammer Judicator
- Rogue: Rapid Fire, Penetrating Shot
- Sorcerer: Ball Lightning, Blizzard
- Spiritborn: Quill Volley, Withering Fist
- Warlock: Blazing Scream, Abyss Rampage
Is The Splinter of Destruction Worth Using?
The Splinter of Destruction is particularly useful when you want a Prime Evil Power that provides benefits beyond simply adding another source of damage to your build.
Cold Blood helps maintain Primary Resource, Seizing Frost applies Chill and Vulnerable, while Shattered Flesh adds damage against tougher enemies.
Its additional benefits for Kurast Undercity and Lair Boss farming also give Baal’s Splinter a practical role outside combat, especially when those activities are already part of your current progression.
Verdict
The Splinter of Destruction provides a well-rounded Prime Evil Power that gradually gains more utility as Ice of Excidium receives each of its six upgrades.
Its combination of resource generation, Crowd Control, and additional damage allows Baal’s power to complement a wide range of builds.
Reaching Rank XXIV takes considerable reputation, but doing so unlocks the complete version of Ice of Excidium and all of the additional effects earned throughout the Destruction track.
