Ice Human Magician

Open this build in the planner

The planner opens Elemental Ranger with the tree and the attributes of this guide. Its Damage tab gives a damage per second estimate for your own gear and target.

Level 25 gives 48 points; the last 12 come from first boss kills.

Ice is the second element of the Human Magician, and many players ask for an ice build. A player's build tier list puts the Ice Magician in tier D, and many players in the build channels say ice deals less damage than fire. It builds ice around one real payoff, Frost Javelin eating a large Chill stack, and it leans on what ice does best: slows, stuns and less damage taken. If you want the most damage, take the fire guide. If you like control, or you play with a fire partner in a group, this build is for you.

• Messages in the build and balance channels about an ice or frost mage: 43
• Messages in the build and balance channels that name the javelin: 24
• Messages in the build and balance channels that name Blizzard: 37
• Messages that name the Frostward set: 31

Counted on our copy of the official Dimraeth Discord, bot messages left out. A count shows how much players talk about a build, not how strong it is.

• Chill by itself only slows. The damage comes from spells that eat it and from bonuses against Chilled enemies. Blizzard makes the Chill, Frost Javelin eats it, and the tree adds damage against Chilled and Stunned targets.
• The Max Chill nodes and the max consume nodes of Frost Javelin work together: the bigger the stack, the bigger the hit and the more shards.
• Heavy Javelin and the Damage vs. Stunned nodes reward the stuns Frost Javelin causes.
• Slows from Chill and Glacial Drag, plus the Frostward bonus, make this a safe build to play at range.

The nodes that make it work

The first line under each node is the game text.

• Pursuing BlizzardBlizzard seeks out and follows the nearest enemy. Blizzard's radius and damage are reduced by 20%Blizzard finds the target by itself and keeps Chill on it while you move. It loses some radius and damage, but players who use it like it for bosses and small targets.
• Heavy JavelinFrost Javelin travels 25% slower, but deals 25% increased Ice Damage and 25% increased Stun Build-up.A slower Frost Javelin with more damage and more Stun Build-up. Stuns turn on your Damage vs. Stunned nodes.
• Splintering JavelinFor every 2 Chill consumed, Frost Javelin fires 1 shard at a nearby enemy, dealing 20% of Frost Javelin's damage.The more Chill Frost Javelin eats, the more shards fly at nearby enemies.
• Glacial DragWhenever your spells consume Chill on an enemy, apply a Slow to them equal to the power of your consumed stacks for 5 seconds.When a spell eats Chill, the target stays slowed for a few seconds.
• Arrow Of The Deep ColdWhen hitting an enemy with your third ranged attack, if the target is Chilled, fire a giant ice arrow from behind them that pierces all enemies hit, dealing Ice Damage.Your damage between casts. Crossbow shots on a Chilled enemy set off a giant ice arrow that pierces the line.
• Master of IceIncrease your damage against Stunned enemies by 8%. Increase your damage vs. Chilled enemies by 12%More damage against Chilled and Stunned enemies, the two states this build makes.
• Max Chill IncreaseIncrease the maximum Chill you can apply by 3.The biggest Max Chill node. Frost Javelin can eat more than the base amount only if the target carries it.

• BlizzardFrom the skill tree · cooldown 12 sYour Chill engine. Cast it first; it follows the enemy and adds Chill every second.
• Frost JavelinFrom the skill tree · cooldown 16 sYour big hit. Charge it for 1.5 seconds when the target has a full Chill stack. The cooldown is 16 seconds, so do not waste it on a bare target.
• Frost GlideFrom the skill tree · cooldown 12 sA dash that Chills everything in your path. Use it to escape and to top up Chill on a pack.
• GustFrom Spellbook Gust · cooldown 12 sA spellbook. It pushes enemies back and Chills them. With 3 pieces of Gusting it deals Ice Damage and applies more Chill.
• Weapon SwapFrom the skill tree · cooldown 8 sSwap to the crossbow and jump back. Crossbow shots set off Arrow Of The Deep Cold.

Slot 1Blizzard

Slot 2Frost Javelin

Slot 3Frost Glide

Slot 4Gust

Slot 5Weapon Swap

Dash keyDash

Defensive keyParry

The spell bar has five slots, then the dash and the defensive spell of your race on their own keys (the game HUD: Spell1 to Spell5, DashSpell, DefensiveSpell).

Pet

Frost Owl · casts Chillwing Descent every 8 seconds

It waits for a Chilled enemy, then dives on it and spreads Chill to the enemies nearby. That puts Chill on a pack for Frost Javelin and for Arrow Of The Deep Cold without a cast from you.

A pet can reach level 8 while you are level 25: one pet level per 3 of yours, and never above 20.

Item bar

The item bar has 4 slots.

• Lesser Health PotionA healing draft brewed with enchanted water and herbs.Your only real heal. Drink it early; you have little Health.
• Lesser Concentration PotionA clarity potion distilled from rare flowers and arcane essence.Frost Javelin costs 30 Concentration, the most of your spells. Use this when a boss window opens and you are empty.
• Thaumablossom TeaA rare herbal tea brewed under moonlight.A drink that raises max Concentration and gives Concentration on every hit, so crossbow shots refill it.
• Frosted OilUse to coat your weapon, causing it to deal split Ice Damage.Crossbow shots deal part of their damage as Ice Damage for a short time, so your Ice Damage lines count on them too.

Each level gives 2 skill points, and the first kill of some bosses gives one more. The level shown is the first level with enough points for the step, before any boss point.

1. Level 6 10 points

   Take the Magic Damage nodes and unlock Blizzard early. Its duration nodes lead to Pursuing Blizzard, which makes it chase the nearest enemy. Until Frost Javelin arrives, Fireball and Blizzard do your damage.

   The nodes of this step

   Health Boost, Magic Damage Increase, Magic Damage Increase, Magic Damage Increase, Frost Acolyte, Blizzard, Blizzard Duration Increase I, Blizzard Duration Increase II, Blizzard Duration Increase III, Pursuing Blizzard

2. Level 14 16 points

   Walk the Spell Haste line to Frostbinder, then the Damage vs. Stunned nodes to Master of Ice. Unlock Frost Javelin, take its damage nodes and Heavy Javelin.

   The nodes of this step

   Spell Haste, Spell Haste, Spell Haste, Frostbinder, Damage vs. Stunned, Damage vs. Stunned, Damage vs. Stunned, Damage vs. Stunned, Master of Ice, Spell Haste, Spell Haste, Frost Javelin, Frost Javelin Damage Increase I, Frost Javelin Damage Increase II, Frost Javelin Damage Increase III, Heavy Javelin

3. Level 17 5 points

   Raise how much Chill Frost Javelin can eat, then take Splintering Javelin and a shard damage node.

   The nodes of this step

   Frost Javelin Max Consume Increase I, Frost Javelin Max Consume Increase II, Frost Javelin Max Consume Increase III, Splintering Javelin, Splintering Javelin Increase I

4. Level 22 10 points

   Take the Max Chill and Chill Power line to Glacial Drag. More Chill gives Frost Javelin more to eat, and every cast leaves the target slowed.

   The nodes of this step

   Max Chill Increase, Max Chill Increase, Max Chill Increase, Chill Power Increase, Chill Power Increase, Chill Power Increase, Chill Power Increase, Glacial Drag, Max Chill Increase, Max Chill Increase

5. Level 25 7 points

   Cross the Chill Duration nodes, pick up Frost Glide on the way, and reach Frost Focused Pursuer and the keystone Arrow Of The Deep Cold.

   The nodes of this step

   Chill Duration Increase, Chill Duration Increase, Frost Glide, Chill Duration Increase, Chill Duration Increase, Frost Focused Pursuer, Arrow Of The Deep Cold

6. Level 25 and 12 boss points 12 points

   Spend the rest on Blizzard damage, damage against Chilled enemies, Critical Chance, and crit against Chilled enemies from Time-focused Sight.

   The nodes of this step

   Blizzard Damage Increase I, Blizzard Damage Increase II, Blizzard Damage Increase III, Increased Damage vs. Chilled, Increased Damage vs. Chilled, Increased Damage vs. Chilled, Increased Damage vs. Chilled, Critical Strike Chance Increase, Critical Strike Chance Increase, Time-focused Sight, Critical Chance vs. Chilled, Critical Chance vs. Chilled

Raise Intelligence and Memory just enough for Gust first. After that, everything goes into Intelligence: each point gives 1 Magic Power, against 0.5 for Adventure, and it costs less.

Points are trained cheapest first: each one goes to the attribute whose next point costs the least XP at that moment. The whole plan costs 124403 XP.

Stat priorities

• Intelligence first: each point gives 1 Magic Power and its base cost is 160, against 0.5 Magic Power for Adventure at a base cost of 200.
• Memory only up to 8, with Intelligence at 10, the needs of Gust.
• Max Chill on rings and bracers. With the three max consume nodes, Frost Javelin can eat far more than its base amount, but only if the target carries that much.
• Ice Damage and Magic Damage on the damage slots. The Ice Damage line is the larger roll (6 against 4).
• Critical Damage before Critical Chance: Critical Strike Chance Increase and Time-focused Sight already give crit chance.
• Health on the defensive slots. Physique gives 10 Health per point, but the plan leaves it at the start value.

The planner link trains them in this order up to level 25. A point costs base x (1 + (points above your start - 1) / 3) ^ 1.1 + 100 x your level in XP, so the order changes the total.

Every slot, as a target: Mythical, 3 stars, forge level 12. That is the best piece a player can own in this version of the game. The planner link carries this gear, so the planner shows its totals and damage.

Damage slots roll Ice Damage and Magic Damage. An Ice Damage line starts at 6 and a Magic Damage line at 4; Magic Damage also helps the crossbow ice arrows and every other spell. Bracers and rings take Max Chill, because each extra stack is more for Frost Javelin to eat. The amulets and badges take Critical Damage (a line starts at 8) over Critical Chance (3), since the tree gives Critical Chance and crit against Chilled enemies. Undercoat, belt and charm cannot roll damage, so they carry Health, Concentration and defences.

The stat values follow the game's forge rule for each piece's stars and forge level. The planner uses the same rule.

• Rune · Frostward · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 16.5 Ice Damage
  Extra stats: 8.2% Magic Damage, 10.3 Ice Piercing, 6.2 Magic Piercing, 23.5% Chill Power, 5.6 Attack Speed, 14.1 HP
• Ring 1 · Frostward · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 16.5 Ice Damage
  Extra stats: 8.2% Magic Damage, 2.1 Max Chill, 2.1 Chill Duration, 9.8 Ice Piercing, 5.6 Attack Speed, 14.1 HP
• Ring 2 · Frostward · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 11% Magic Damage
  Extra stats: 12.4 Ice Damage, 2.1 Max Chill, 2.1 Chill Duration, 9.8 Ice Piercing, 5.6 Magic Piercing, 14.1 HP
• Bracer 1 · Frostward · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 2.8 Max Chill
  Extra stats: 12.4 Ice Damage, 8.2% Magic Damage, 6.2 Spell Haste, 2 Chill Duration, 5.6 Attack Speed, 14.1 HP
• Bracer 2 · Frostward · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 8.3 Spell Haste
  Extra stats: 12.4 Ice Damage, 8.2% Magic Damage, 2.1 Max Chill, 2 Chill Duration, 11.2 Armor, 14.1 HP
• Badge 1 · Frostward · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22% Critical Multiplier
  Extra stats: 6.2% Critical Rate, 12.4 Ice Damage, 8.2% Magic Damage, 5.9 Attack Speed, 11.2 Armor, 14.1 HP
• Badge 2 · Gusting · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22% Critical Multiplier
  Extra stats: 6.2% Critical Rate, 12.4 Ice Damage, 8.2% Magic Damage, 5.9 Attack Speed, 11.2 Armor, 14.1 HP
• Amulet 1 · Gusting · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 8.3% Critical Rate
  Extra stats: 16.5% Critical Multiplier, 12.4 Ice Damage, 8.2% Magic Damage, 5.9 Spell Haste, 5.6 Attack Speed, 14.1 HP
• Amulet 2 · Gusting · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22% Critical Multiplier
  Extra stats: 6.2% Critical Rate, 12.4 Ice Damage, 8.2% Magic Damage, 5.9 Spell Haste, 5.6 Attack Speed, 14.1 HP
• Charm · Gusting · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22 Concentration
  Extra stats: 6.2 Spell Haste, 16.5 HP, 16.5 Stamina, 15.7 Stamina Regen, 11.2 Armor, 10.6 Resistance
• Under-coat · Convergence · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22 HP
  Extra stats: 12.4 Armor, 12.4 Resistance, 8.2 Movement Speed, 11.8 Ice Resistance, 11.2 Decay Resistance, 14.1 Stamina
• Belt · Convergence · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22 HP
  Extra stats: 12.4 Armor, 12.4 Resistance, 8.2 Movement Speed, 11.8 Ice Resistance, 11.2 Decay Resistance, 14.1 Stamina

While levelling

• Early on, the Goblin Basher drops Frostward runes, undercoats and belts. 2 pieces add Ice Damage, and you meet these goblins in the first areas.
• Pick up Convergence pieces from the Wildwood Wolf and the dryads such as the Dryad Rivercaller in the Wildwood for Magic Damage and Spell Haste.
• Later in the Wildwood, the Wildwood Aetherfang Wolf drops Gusting. At 3 pieces it turns Gust into your second Chill spell.
• At the level cap, the goblin cave chests and the chests of the corrupted Wildwood give Frostward rings, amulets, badges and bracers. That is where the target set comes from.

A character wears 12 runes. The bonuses listed are the ones these piece counts switch on.

• Frostward 6 pieces

  Ice Damage, Health, Armor, and at 6 pieces Chilled enemies deal less damage to you. With Chill on every target, that is a steady defence. The Goblin Basher drops it.

  • 2 pieces: +8 Ice Damage
  • 3 pieces: +4% HP
  • 6 pieces: +16 Armor, Winterguard: Chilled enemies deal 10% less damage to you

  Where it drops: Goblin Basher: 33.33% per kill.

  Where to farm it · Every source in the drop finder

• Gusting 4 pieces

  Ice Damage and Magic Damage at 4 pieces, and it turns Gust into an ice spell. The Wildwood Aetherfang Wolf drops it.

  • 3 pieces: Frostbiting Gust: Gust deals Ice Damage and applies 6 Chill
  • 4 pieces: +12 Ice Damage, +8% Magic Damage

  Where it drops: Wildwood Aetherfang Wolf: 3% per kill.

  Where to farm it · Every source in the drop finder

• Convergence 2 pieces

  2 pieces for Magic Damage and Spell Haste in the last slots.

  • 2 pieces: +5% Magic Damage, +3 Spell Haste

  Where it drops: Dryad Beastwarden: 33.33% per kill; Dryad Beastwarden Corrupted Beast Key: 33.33% per kill.

  Where to farm it · Every source in the drop finder

Everything the tree and the target gear add, stat by stat. Tree nodes give a flat amount or a percent; gear counts each piece at its target stars and forge level, plus the set bonuses the piece counts switch on.

Conditional stats (against Bleeding, Burning or Stunned targets) only count against those targets. Spell upgrades and keystones are not stats and are listed under the key nodes.