Need help with build-guide: What is meant with "curses"?

As a new player, I follow this build-guide Act for Act (https://pobb.in/KQ6gvvr_yaYP). Now in Act 4 it says that I should "hit [...] with coldsnap and curses first.". I'm a bit clueless what is meant with curses. From the wiki I take that hexes and marks are the 2 ways curses can work. However the build never mentioned a gem which would give hexes/marks (I list the mentioned gems below so that you don't have to search in the guide for them.). Could someone explain to me what the author meant?

The following gems are equipped right now: Icenova, Frostbite, Echo, Cold Snap, Herald of Ice, Zealotry, Frostblink, Lightning golem, Bonechill support, Increades Critical Strikes, Increased Critical Damage, Arcane Surge, Added Cold Damage

Another bonus question I had is the following:
It is stated at the end of the guide that a breakpoint for the build is, that I "[...] get the icenova of frostbolts." in Act 3. I got icenova from fairgraves, as it is written in the guide for Act 1. The wiki couldn't help me with finding out what "frostbolts" is. So could someone help me clarifying what the author means with that breakpoint?

Thanks for any help :)

Whats the build guide reference? There a few new players should stay away from as they are bait builds with RMT backing. The biggest of these being pathofexile builds.

Frostbite is the hex they are referring to. Casting it on every pack is a bit much as most magic (blue) and normal (white) mobs should die with a hit or two from your main skills. Self cast cursing is usually used on rares (yellow) or bosses.

And ice nova of frostbolts is gotten from the lab as a potential transfigured gem from the divine font at the end of lab.

https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/Divine_Font

However it is extremely rare to get it from normal lab (act 3) and is better off farmed in the merciless (level 68 near end of campaign) lab as there is a chance for a divine font option to change a specific gem to its transfigured version (note: some gems have multiple transfigured versions so you can either get ice nova of frostbolts or ice nova of deep freeze if you found this option. Ice nova of frostbolts would not be guaranteed).

And what wiki are you using? If you type in 'ice nova' in the search at poewiki.net ice nova of frostbolts will get autofilled in the search. If you are using the fandom wiki do not use it as it is an ad fest and massively out of date.

First I want to thank you for the help! Helps me alot.

1) I got the build-link from a Youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gxa2XeckGo). I didn't watch the video for long tho and rather watched a beginner-guide that explains how the game works.
2) I use the poewiki. I already realised that the fandom wiki is mostly no use. I think I had a typo when I searched for "frostbolts". My bad for not checking again.

What exactly do you mean with "the biggest of these being pathofexile builds."? Do you mean the subreddit, that there are a lot of bait builds? Reddit says that most YT-Builds are scambuilds.

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Waldwuffel#9599 wrote:

I'm a bit clueless what is meant with curses. From the wiki I take that hexes and marks are the 2 ways curses can work. However the build never mentioned a gem which would give hexes/marks (I list the mentioned gems below so that you don't have to search in the guide for them.). Could someone explain to me what the author meant?

The following gems are equipped right now: Icenova, Frostbite, Echo, Cold Snap, Herald of Ice, Zealotry, Frostblink, Lightning golem, Bonechill support, Increades Critical Strikes, Increased Critical Damage, Arcane Surge, Added Cold Damage

The Frostbite skill gem has the Curse tag, so that's one of the "Curses" being referred to.

Sometimes build guide authors can be a bit imprecise. If you only have a single curse atm and the guide calls for you to use your "curses", you can probably just take that as applying only to Frostbite and keep an eye out for any subsequent Curse skill gems you subsequently equip.

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Waldwuffel#9599 wrote:

It is stated at the end of the guide that a breakpoint for the build is, that I "[...] get the icenova of frostbolts." in Act 3. I got icenova from fairgraves, as it is written in the guide for Act 1. The wiki couldn't help me with finding out what "frostbolts" is. So could someone help me clarifying what the author means with that breakpoint?

I think this has been cleared up by gladiatorpie - but a link, just for convenience, if nothing else;

https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/Ice_Nova_of_Frostbolts

"Breakpoint" probably just means 'milestone'; that it's a notable step up in terms of power.

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Waldwuffel#9599 wrote:

First I want to thank you for the help! Helps me alot.

1) I got the build-link from a Youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gxa2XeckGo). I didn't watch the video for long tho and rather watched a beginner-guide that explains how the game works.
2) I use the poewiki. I already realised that the fandom wiki is mostly no use. I think I had a typo when I searched for "frostbolts". My bad for not checking again.

What exactly do you mean with "the biggest of these being pathofexile builds."? Do you mean the subreddit, that there are a lot of bait builds? Reddit says that most YT-Builds are scambuilds.

Im not sure who he is so wont comment either way. I will say the PoB does have a lot of notes and leveling trees and gear which are a good sign.

And its the pathofexile buiilds youtube thats a giant scam. The pathofexile builds subreddit is fantastic and is a superb resource for mechanics questions, build guide help and really anything you would want to know about the game. Its why people get baited into the youtube channel because it seems like it might be associated with the subreddit or PoE itself.