[3.26] Looping League Starter - Heartbound Autobomber

Awesome build by the way. Was able to progress until Progenesis surpassingly, due to extreme luck in getting expensive loot to sell.

Hello, going to level up a char to try this out. I have some questions that might be fixed by rereading. I'll try to edit after if so but on mobile so a bit clunky.

To confirm, the core of the build is self damage by the heartbound loop ring. You've determined falling zombie is the best minion skill to proc the self damage.

Then is srs only a secondary minion to help the proc consistency?

[Cwdt to proc skills that cost 100 mana] the end game guide doesnt seem to use the 5L setup with soulrend. Why do we use soulrend early vs something else like end game?

Once, we get the self dmg going, our actual damage is from a 4L in Kitava Thirst. But it's actually just two 2-Links of Ice Spear and Creeping Frost.

Why these two specifically? I believe Ice Spear is aiming for 2nd phase with the crit stats to actually scale, right? What is Creeping Frost for vs another support gem for Ice Spear? Is another skill viable?

Is there room for the thought of a 4-5-6L CWDT set up using another skill instead of/in addition to kitava thirst? Probably casts slower but could allow more skill gem options?

Any thoughts on comparison between this, HoT (merc can use squirm ring), and Abberath [t1 unique] Fire Burst? Also in a league start scenario?

First time really looking at autobombers and heartbound loop, such a neat concept. Unless RF counts as autobomber, ha.