Cold Beam (2nd job skill) or Ice Strike (3rd job skill)?

[DethHauq]

So I made an i/l wizard, and I like mob skills, I was wondering if Ice Strike was better than cold beam or do they have their advantages/disadvantages?

see my build is,
Thunderbolt
MP Eater
Mediation
Teleport
I'll have 30 AP left, I dont want Cold Beam, but do I still need it? Since I'm going to use Ice Strike in 10 more levels...  

[Rosy Dawn]

Well, considering you're still 2nd job as wizard. You should max cold beam. :/ Actually max cold beam and lightning. 3rd job should be ice strike considering you can't get that skill as 2nd job. Lightning is a good mob skill...


I'm a lvl 70 i/l mage now. ><
Maybe this guide would help you out?
http://global.hidden-street.net/guides/files/magician_018.txt

It has like 2 skill builds for 2nd jobs, and 3 for 3rd to 4th.  

[Darkaznstargoddess]

I would just wait for ice strike.
Ten level goes by very quick, and cold beam's purpose is for single targets. I find it slow to kill monsters individually and in the end in 3rd job you have other skills that are more suitable for bossing than cold beam. Slow sounds more beneficial.

I find it faster and more enjoyable to mob than to use a single attack.

I've asked many of my friends, Alexina and Hurroikan and they said that if they knew about 3rd and 4th job back when they first started, they wouldn't have added into cold beam.
 

[LilFangLi]

max cold beam...

ice strike starts out weak..
unless u lvl lyk super fast...

thunderbolt is lyk 100% useless once u have ice strike....

(i have a 91 i/l)
and i maxed cold beam b4 thunderbolt and i NVR use thunderbolt.  

[angel allure]

I hate to say it, but I rarely use cold beam anymore. Ice Strike is so much more effective. Still, cold beam has its advantages for being a 2nd job.

In my honest opinion, I'd still say max both cold beam & lightning. Even if you don't use cold beam a ton after 2nd job, you'll still get a lot of use for it now. 3nodding  

[Zonic v3]

yeah but what else are you going to get?
i thought lighting and ice strike was a MUST for 2nd job.

And plus ... every class has those ... skills which get old as you advance