If you’re planning a cold-based build for your class or simply want to learn how to handle enemies with cold-related powers in Diablo 4, this article is for you. In this guide, we will delve into the intricacies of cold damage, chilled enemies, and the freeze/frozen status in the game.
What is Cold Damage in Diablo 4?
Cold damage is an elemental damage type that can wreak havoc in fights. It has the ability to make enemies stuck, allowing you to unleash a barrage of attacks and eventually take them down. When enemies are stuck, it means they are either slowed down or completely immobilized due to being frozen in place. After taking cold damage, enemies may turn bluish-white, with icy spikes appearing on their bodies. Similarly, enemies from cold regions on the map possess skills that can render you frozen through ice whirlpools or icy walls.
Understanding the Chill Effect Status in Diablo 4
Chilled is a status ailment that can be applied via skills, weapon modifiers, and more. When you chill enemies with cold damage, they become slower. If you continue chilling them repeatedly, they will eventually freeze up. For example, if you are playing as a Rogue, you can use Cold Imbuement to chill enemies with your attacks. Additionally, skills like Caltrops for Rogues, Cold Skeletal Mages for Necromancers, and Frozen Orb, Deep Freeze, and Blizzard for Sorcerers can all chill enemies. Sorcerers also have a skill called Shimmering Ice Armor that gives you a chance to freeze enemies for 3 seconds. Furthermore, there’s even a freezing mount skill available.
Differentiating Chill and Freeze
Chilled and frozen are two separate status ailments in Diablo 4. When you attack with cold damage, enemies will first become chilled. However, if you keep chilling them, they will then turn frozen. Consider freezing as a higher level of chill. When you kill a frozen enemy, they will explode into pieces. Moments before their demise, they were stopped in their tracks by you, covered in icy armor and rendered unable to move or attack. It feels pretty cool to witness this every single time you defeat a frozen enemy.
Does All Cold Damage Chill in Diablo 4?
Not all cold damage will chill enemies. Only abilities explicitly mentioning the ability to chill enemies will cause the chill effect in Diablo 4.
Differentiating Immobilize and Freeze
In Diablo 4, immobilize is a crowd control mechanic that prevents enemies from moving, but they can still attack. So, if you’re dealing with a ranged enemy, they can still shoot at you. On the other hand, freezing completely disables both movement and attacks. When an enemy is frozen, they are completely helpless.
Increasing Cold Resistance
If you are about to face an enemy or boss who uses cold-based attacks, it is crucial to have cold resistance on your character. You can achieve this by equipping gear with cold resistance stats, using jewelry, adding Sapphire and Diamond gems, consuming elixirs, using incense, and allocating Paragon points to Intelligence. The Intelligence stat not only increases skill damage but also enhances resistance to all elements.
D4 Elixirs of Cold Resistance
To temporarily enhance your cold resistance in Diablo 4, you can use elixirs. Here are some elixirs and their effects:
- Weak Elixir of Cold Resistance (Level 15) – Increases cold resistance by 15% and experience by 5% for 30 minutes.
- Elixir of Cold Resistance (Level 45) – Increases cold resistance by 20% and experience by 5% for 30 minutes.
- Strong Elixir of Cold Resistance (Level 60) – Increases cold resistance by 25% and experience by 5% for 30 minutes.
- Potent Elixir of Cold Resistance (Level 75) – Increases cold resistance by 32% and experience by 5% for 30 minutes.
- Heady Elixir of Cold Resistance (Level 90) – Increases cold resistance by 40% and experience by 5% for 30 minutes.
And that’s everything you need to know about cold damage, chill, and freeze/frozen status ailments in Diablo 4. If you’re curious about what counts as ‘Stunned’ in Diablo 4, we have a guide you might want to read.
