Cold Damage

Cold damage is an elemental Damage Type available in Baldur's Gate 3. Cold damage is available through select Spells and Items. Targets in Baldur's Gate 3 may have Vulnerabilities, Resistances, and Immunities to certain Damage Types that affect how much damage they receive from such sources.

Cold damage has an association with conditions and effects that interfere with ground movement, particularly Ice Surfaces, that makes it valuable to disrupt moving Targets. The conditions and effects of Cold damage often run counter to those related to Fire damage.

^{*Given the extensive support for Ice Surfaces, and in turn Water Surfaces, both they and aspects interacting with them will be treated as factors of Cold Damage for this page.}

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Equipment

Traveling across the Sword's Coast in Baldur's Gate 3 players will be able to find many unique pieces of equipment to aid them in combat. From weapons to armors, arrows to potions, bottled water to barrels of explosive smokepowder, the equipment you can discover can drastically change the way players approach and handle conflict. More so, many pieces of equipable gear offer unique modifiers and effects that enable players to inflict Cold damage, or impact their actions and afflicted damage with greater abilities.

Below are tables listing the known equipment that inflict and/or impact the Cold damage players can deal, their base Cold damage, and Cold modifiers and effects.

Cold Gear

Gear that Inflicts Cold Damage
	Name	Item Type	Base Cold Damage	Enables Spell	Unlocks	Special Cold Factors
	Allandra's Whelm	Tridents	1d4 (1~4)Cold		Frigid Blade weapon action, once per Short Rest	Frigid Blade applies Frostbite condition on attack hit, and deals weapon Proficiency bonus as Cold damage.
	Arrow of Ice	Arrows	2d4 (2~8)Cold			Arrows are consumed upon use Creates Ice Surface
	Cold Snap	Daggers	1d4 (1~4)Cold		Chilling Counter effect	When a Target misses you with an attack it must make a Constitution Saving Throw of be Chilled for 2 turns.
	Flail of Ages	Flails	1d4 (1~4)Cold*	✓	Cast Elemental Age spell, once per Long Rest Elements of an Epoch effect Tenacity effect	+1 Bonus to weapon attack roles, and an additional 1d4 damage depending on the elemental age selected (i.e. Cold). Depending on the kind of damage chosen from Elemental Age (i.e. Cold), your attack also inflicts a related condition (i.e. Chilled). When you miss a main hand attack, you deal 1 bludgeoning damage anyways.
	Frost Prince	Amulets	2d6 (2~12)Cold*	✓	Cast Level 1 Ice Knife spell, once per Long Rest	Standard effects of Ice Knife spell.
	Mourning Frost	Quarterstaves	1d4 (1~4)Cold 1d8 (1~8)Cold*	✓	Heart of Ice effect Insidious Cold effect Cast Ray of Frost cantrip	When dealing Cold damage, the wielder deals an additional 1Cold damage. Dealing Cold damage with a spell possibly inflicts Chilled upon the Target. Standard effect of Ray of Frost cantrip.
	Ring of Elemental Infusion	Rings	1d4 (1~4)Cold*		Elemental Infusion effect	After dealing Elemental damage (i.e. Cold) using a spell or cantrip, until the end of your next turn, you deal an additional 1d4 of that element on a successful weapon attack.
	Snow-Dusted Monastery Gloves	Gloves	1d4 (1~4)Cold* 2d6 (2~12)Cold*	✓	Chilling Strike effect Cast Ice Knife spell	Your unarmed attacks deal an additional 1d4 (1~4)Cold damage. Standard effects of Ice Knife spell.
[Image Pending]	Wavemother's Sickle	Sickle	1d4 (1~4)Cold		Watery Guidance effect	This weapon has Advantage against Wet Targets.
^{* Damage is indicative of unlocked spell/effects, not the base gear}

Gear that Impacts Cold Damage
Name	Item Type	Unlocks	Special Cold Factors
Amulet of Elemental Torment	Amulets	Nature's Vengeance effect	When the wearer stands in certain surfaces (i.e. Ice Surface) and casts a spell that deals damage, the target also suffers the surface's effects (i.e. Prone).
Boots of Elemental Momentum	Boots	Elemental Momentum effect	Whenever the wearer deals Elemental damage (i.e. Cold) with spells or cantrips, they gain Momentum for 2 turns.
Cloak of Elemental Absorption	Cloaks	Absorb Elements action, once per Short Rest	Take half damage from the next Elemental damage (i.e. Cold) attack targeting you, and deal an additional 1d6 of that element type on your next attack.
Cloak of the Weave	Cloaks	Absorb Elements action, once per Short Rest	Take half damage from the next Elemental damage (i.e. Cold) attack targeting you, and deal an additional 1d6 of that element type on your next attack.
Coldbrim Hat	Hats	Coldbrim Chill effect	Once per turn, any condition inflicted on a (single) target also applies 2 turns of Encrusted with Frost.
Darkfire Shortbow	Shortbows	Resistance to Cold damage Resistance to Fire damage Cast Haste spell, once per Long Rest	3. Standard effects of Haste spell.
Elixir of Cold Resistance	Potions Elixirs	Resistance to Cold damage	Can be thrown to act as an AOE Does not stack with other Elixirs Lasts until Long Rest Potions are consumed upon use
Hoarfrost Boots	Boots	Hoarfrost Balance effect	You cannot fall prone while traversing Ice Surfaces.
Icebite Robe	Clothing	Resistance to Cold damage Cast Armour of Agathys, once per Long Rest	2. Standard effect of a Level 3 Armour of Agathys spell.
Necklace of Elemental Augmentation	Amulets	Elemental Augmentation effect	When one of your cantrips deals Elemental damage (i.e. Cold), add your Spellcasting Modifier to the damage dealt.
Rain Dancer	Quarterstaves	Cast Create Water, once per Short Rest	Standard effects of Create Water spell.
Robe of Summer	Clothing	Resistance to Cold damage
Snowburst Ring	Rings	Snowburst effect	When the wearer deals Cold damage, they also create an Ice Surface around the Target(s).
Trident of the Waves	Tridents	The Water Caller effect	On a hit, create a Water Surface centered on the Target.
Water	Consumables		Consumables are consumed upon use. Creates Water Surface Gives Wet condition
Water Barrel	Consumables
Wavemother's Robe	Clothing	Temperature Adjustment effect Watery Rejuvenation effect Cast Create or Destroy Water, once per Short Rest	Wearer has Resistance to Fire and Cold Damage. If the wearer is standing in a Water Surface at the start of their turn, they heal for 1d4 Hit Points. [Ice Surfaces melt into Water Surfaces] Standard effects of Create or Destroy Water spell.
Winter's Clutches	Gloves	Winter's Clutches effect	When the wearer deals Cold damage, inflict 2 turns of Encrusted with Frost upon the Target(s).

Actions

Actions are the primary interaction options players can make in Baldur's Gate 3. Everything from weapon attacks, casting spells, crouching to hide, or throwing enemies headfirst at their allies are potential actions that can be made during one's turn. Selecting your actions is important to determine how you handle the immediate situation, and even set up conditions to benefit yourself later. Many of these actions are poised to directly inflict Cold damage; or impact the environment, nature of your attacks, and conditions your Targets will face.

Below are tables listing the known actions that inflict and/or impact the Cold damage players can deal, their base Cold damage, and Cold modifiers and effects.

Cold Actions

The equipment you select in Baldur's Gate 3 affords players distinct actions, dependent on your proficiency with the weapon type, or by equipping unique one-of-a-kind items. Below are actions unlocked by such equipment that inflict or impact

Cold damage.

Equipment Actions
	Name	Base Cold Damage	Special Cold Factors	Source
	Absorb Elements	1d6 (1~6)Cold*	Take half damage from the next Elemental damage (i.e. Cold) attack targeting you, and deal an additional 1d6 of that element type on your next attack. Once per Short Rest	Cloak of Elemental Absorption Cloak of the Weave
	Frigid Blade	Deal weapon Proficiency bonus as Cold damage	Applies Frostbite condition on attack hit	Allandra's Whelm
	Frost of Dark Winter	N/A	Cast Cone of Cold, once per Short Rest Cast Ice Storm, once per Short Rest Gain Conduit of Kereska's Ice effect, until Long Rest Once per Short Rest	Markoheshkir, Kereska's Favour
^{* Damage is indicative of unlocked spell/effects, not the base action}

Miscellaneous Actions
	Name	Base Cold Damage	AOE	Saving Throw	Special Cold Factors	Source
	Frost Breath	2d6 (2~12)Cold	✓	Constitution: Halve	Once per Long Rest	Dragonborn race, Silver or White Subrace
	Rage: Bear Heart	N/A			Gives Resistance to all Damage Types (i.e.Cold) except Psychic. 10 turn duration	Level 3 Barbarian, Wildheart

Upon reaching Level 3, Monks can select the subclass Way of the Four Elements which provides them unique Ki actions that mirror various spells. This allows Monks to inflict different elemental damage (i.e.

Cold) to diversify their attacks and offer immense variations to their playstyle.

Monk Actions
	Name	Ki Points	Bast Cold Damage	AOE	Saving Throw	Special Cold Factors
	Blade of Rime	2	2d6 (2~12)Cold	✓	Dexterity: Negate	Creates Ice Surface Identical to Ice Knife
	Chill of the Mountain	1	1d10 (1~10)Cold 2d10 (2~20)Cold*			Monk version of Ray of Frost Damage upcast at Monk Level 9
	Shaping of the Ice	1	N/A			Creates a climbable ice cube 10 turn duration
^{* Damage is indicative of unlocked spell/effects, not the base action}

Spells serve as a core aspect for combat, exploration, and interaction in Baldur's Gate 3. Spells offer the ability to easily switch between damage types (i.e.

Cold), and attacks/effects against Targets from a distance and in various ways. Except cantrips, out of combat Ritual spells, or spells achieved through Spell Scrolls all spells will consume the Spell Slot resource.

All classes can make use of spells, by them being a core aspect of their class (or subclass) combat, or by utilizing Spell Scrolls to achieve the result. This makes it extremely valuable, and potentially easy, to prepare companions ahead of time to cooperate their abilities and spells towards common goals.

Spells that Inflict/Impact Cold Damage
	Name	Spell Level	Base Cold Damage	Upcast Cold Damage	Concentration	AOE	Saving Throw	Special Cold Factors
	Armour of Agathys	1	5Cold*	5Cold*				Damage inflicted upon being melee attacked
	Chromatic Orb: Cold	1	2d8 (2~16)Cold	1d8 (1~8)Cold		✓		Creates Ice Surface
	Cone of Cold	5	8d8 (8~64)Cold	1d8 (1~8)Cold		✓	Constitution: Halve
	Conjure Elemental: Water Elemental	5	Consult Summoned Elemental Actions table	N/A				Only one entity can be summoned from Conjure Elemental at a time
	Conjure Elemental: Water Myrmidon	6
	Conjure Minor Elemental: Ice Mephits	4						Summons 2 Ice Mephits
	Elemental Weapon: Cold	3	1d4 (1~4)Cold*	N/A	✓			Damage added to weapon attack roles +1 bonus to weapon attack roles
	Fire Shield: Chill	4	2d8 (2~16)Cold*	N/A				Damage inflicted upon being melee attacked 10 Turn Duration
	Glyph of Warding: Cold	3	5d8 (5~40)Cold	1d8 (1~8)Cold		✓	Dexterity: Halve	Inflicts damage upon contact with Hostile Target
	Hunger of Hadar	3	2d6 (2~12)Cold	N/A	✓	✓		Damage inflicted to Targets starting their turn in AOE 10 turn duration
	Ice Knife	1	2d6 (2~12)Cold	1d6 (1~6)Cold		✓	Dexterity: Negate	Creates Ice Surface Identical to Monk Ki spell, Blade of Rime
	Ice Storm	4	4d6 (4~24)Cold	N/A		✓	Dexterity: Halve	Creates Ice Surface
	Otiluke's Freezing Sphere	6	10d6 (10~60)Cold	N/A		✓	Constitution: Halve	Creates Ice Surface
	Protection from Energy: Cold	3	N/A	N/A	✓			Gives Resistance to Cold damage
	Ray of Frost	0	1d8 (1~8)Cold	1d8 (1~8)Cold				Inflicts Ray of Frost (Condition) Damage upcast added at Spellcaster Level 5 and again at 10
	Sleet Storm	3	N/A	N/A	✓	✓	Constitution: Concentration	Creates Ice Surface Interrupts Concentration 10 turn duration
	Wall of Ice	6	10d6 (10~60)Cold	N/A	✓	✓	Dexterity: Halve	Initial damage to enemies in spell path Upon wall destruction leaves Ice Cloud Breaking concentration destroys wall 10 turn duration
^{* Damage is indicative of effects, not the base spell}

There are numerous useful creatures players can summon to assist them in combat by inflicting damage, aiding allies, applying conditions, or changing the Surfaces of the battlefield. The elemental summons stand as the most iconic and accessible summons players can bring forth, and those that deal and interact with

Cold damage are listed below with their unique actions.

Summoned Elemental Actions

The Ice Mephit is the first and weakest

Cold damage dealing elemental summon in Baldur's Gate 3. Brought forth through the Level 4 spell, Conjure Minor Elemental: Ice Mephits. The Ice Mephit is a useful ally in combat being able to attack and distract enemies, create Ice Surfaces, and inflicting damage even in death. 2 Ice Mephits are summoned at a time, conflict with any other entities summoned through Conjure Minor Elemental, do not conflict with entities summoned through Conjure Elemental, and persists until death or Long Rest.

Ice Mephit Cold Actions
	Name	Base Cold Damage	AOE	Saving Throw	Special Cold Factors
[Image Pending]	Freezing Claws	2d6 (2~12)Cold
	Chromatic Orb: Cold	2d8 (2~16)Cold	✓		Creates Ice Surface
[Image Pending]	Ice Breath	2d6 (2~12)Cold		Dexterity: Halve	Once per turn
	Death Burst: Cold	4d6 (4~24)Cold	✓	Dexterity: Halve	Kills Ice Mephit
	Death Burst: Cold (Auto)	2d6 (2~12)Cold	✓	Dexterity: Halve	Automatically activates upon natural death

The Water Elemental is the second

Cold damage dealing elemental summon in Baldur's Gate 3. Brought forth through the Level 5 spell, Conjure Elemental: Water Elemental. The Water Elemental is a strong ally in combat applying, and exploiting, Conditions on Targets and creating plenty of Surfaces for battlefield management. 1 Water Elemental is summoned at a time, conflicts with any other entities summoned through Conjure Elemental, and persists until death or Long Rest.

Water Elemental Cold Actions
	Name	Base Cold Damage	AOE	Saving Throw	Special Cold Factors
	Slam	1d6 (1~6)Cold			Inflicts Chilled for 2 turns Creates Water Surface
	Winter's Breath	4d6 (4~24)Cold2d6 (2~12)Cold*	✓		Burning Targets take additional Cold damage, and become Brittle for 3 turns Creates Ice Surface
	Multiattack: (Water)	2d4 (2~8)Cold2d4 (2~8)Cold			Once per turn
^{* Damage is indicative of unlocked spell/effects, not the base action}

The Water Myrmidon is the third and most powerful

Cold damage dealing elemental summon in Baldur's Gate 3. Brought forth through the Level 6 spell, Conjure Elemental: Water Myrmidon. The Water Myrmidon can be a costly ally to summon using the valuable 6th level spell slot, but offers great strength and utility in combat. 1 Water Myrmidon is summoned at a time, conflicts with any other entities summoned through Conjure Elemental, and persists until death or Long Rest.

Water Myrmidon Cold Actions
	Name	Base Cold Damage	AOE	Special Cold Factors
	Trident of the Depths	1d6 (1~6)Cold
[Image Pending]	Hiemal Strike	1d6 (1~6)Cold 1d10 (1~10)Cold		Inflicts 2 turns of Chilled
[Image Pending]	Explosive Icicle	3d8 (3~24)Cold3d8 (3~24)Cold 3d8 (3~24)Cold	✓	Once per turn 3 targetable attacks
[Image Pending]	Healing Vapours	N/A	✓	Creates Water Surface Only available in combat

Effects

Progressing through Baldur's Gate 3 players will earn impressive powers through gear and unlock significant features by leveling up. These aspects can be regarded as effects, that alter how the player's actions play out in combat, exploration, and interaction. From offering or ignoring damage Resistances, inflicting or immunizing against particular effects, increasing damage or providing healing, effects are major changes to how players fight.

The effects that directly concern Cold damage and behavior are listed below with their descriptions.

Cold Effects

Features will remain permanently active on the player upon unlock (barring things such as class respec).

Features that Impact Cold Damage
Name	Effect Description	Source
Animal Aspect: Crocodile	On slippery surfaces (i.e. Ice Surface) you have Advantage on Saving Throws against being knocked prone.	Level 6 Barbarian Wildheart
Draconic Ancestry	You have Resistance to a particular damage type depending on your Dragonborn subrace (i.e. Silver & White Dragons are Cold).	Dragonborn Race
Draconic Ancestry		Dragonborn Race
Elemental Adept: Cold	Your spells ignore Resistance to Cold. When you cast Cold spells you cannot role a 1.	Feat
Elemental Affinity: Damage	When you cast a spell that deals damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry (i.e. Silver & White Dragons are Cold), you add your Charisma modifier to the damage.	Level 6 Sorcerer, Draconic Bloodline
Elemental Affinity: Resistance	When you cast a spell that deals damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry (i.e. Silver & White Dragons are Cold), you can spend one Sorcerery Point to gain Resistance to that damage type.	Level 6 Sorcerer, Draconic Bloodline
Fiendish Resilience	Choose a damage type (i.e. Cold) to become Resistant to, you can change this each Short Rest.	Level 10 Warlock Fiend
Wasteland Wanderer: Cold	Resistance to Cold damage.	Ranger Natural Explorer

Gear Effects will remain active on the player so long as they have the necessary piece of gear equipped; Except for the effects given by the spell Kereska's Favour unlocked by Markoheshkir. This effect must be reapplied after every Long Rest and can be changed after every Short Rest (awaiting confirmation if the spell effects remain after switching weapons).

Gear Effects that Impact Cold Damage
Name	Effects Description	Source
Chilling Counter	When a Target misses you with an attack it must make a Constitution Saving Throw of be Chilled for 2 turns.	Cold Snap
Chilling Strike	Your unarmed attacks deal an additional 1d4 (1~4)Cold damage.	Snow-Dusted Monastery Gloves
Coldbrim Chill	Once per turn, any condition inflicted on a target also applies 2 turns of Encrusted with Frost.	Coldbrim Hat
Conduit of Kereska's Ice	Cast Cone of Cold and Ice Storm, once per Short Rest Cold spells deal additional Cold damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus. Resistance to Cold damage. When you deal spell damage, you inflict 1 turn of Encrusted with Frost on the Target.	Markoheshkir, Kereska's Favour Can be changed, once per Short Rest Must be reapplied, after Long Rest
Elemental Augmentation	When one of your cantrips deals Elemental damage (i.e. Cold), add your Spellcasting Modifier to the damage dealt.	Necklace of Elemental Augmentation
Elemental Infusion	After dealing Elemental damage (i.e. Cold) using a spell or cantrip, until the end of your next turn, you deal an additional 1d4 of that element on a successful weapon attack.	Ring of Elemental Infusion
Elemental Momentum	Whenever the wearer deals Elemental damage (i.e. Cold) with spells or cantrips, they gain Momentum for 2 turns.	Boots of Elemental Momentum
Elements of an Epoch	Depending on the kind of damage chosen from Elemental Age (i.e. Cold), your attack also inflicts a related condition (i.e. Chilled).	Flail of Ages
Heart of Ice	When dealing Cold damage, the wielder deals an additional 1Cold damage.	Mourning Frost
Hoarfrost Balance	You cannot fall prone while traversing Ice Surfaces.	Hoarfrost Boots
Insidious Cold	Dealing Cold damage with a spell possibly inflicts Chilled upon the Target.	Mourning Frost
Nature's Vengeance	When the wearer stands in certain surfaces (i.e. Ice Surface) and casts a spell that deals damage, the target also suffers the surface's effects (i.e. Prone).	Amulet of Elemental Torment
Snowburst	When the wearer deals Cold damage, they also create an Ice Surface around the Target(s).	Snowburst Ring
Temperature Adjustment	Wearer has Resistance to Fire and Cold Damage.	Wavemother's Robe
The Water Caller	On a hit, create a Water Surface centered on the Target.	Trident of the Waves
Watery Guidance	This weapon has Advantage against Wet Targets.	Wavemother's Sickle
Watery Rejuvenation	If the wearer is standing in a Water Surface at the start of their turn, they heal for 1d4 Hit Points. [Ice Surfaces melt into Water Surfaces]	Wavemother's Robe
Winter's Clutches	When the wearer deals Cold damage, inflict 2 turns of Encrusted with Frost upon the Target(s).	Winter's Clutches

Conditions

Conditions are unique effects that can strengthen or weaken Targets to particular damage types, status impairments, or ability score roles. The conditions that directly concerned Cold damage have been compiled here with their descriptions and relevance to Cold damage.

Conditions related toCold Damage
Name	Condition Description	Special Cold Factors
Chilled	Target becomes Vulnerable to Cold damage, and Resistant to Fire damage	Vulnerable Targets take double Cold damage
Encrusted with Frost	If there are 7 or more turns remaining Targets must succeed a Constitution Saving throw, or take 1d4 (1~4)Cold damage and become Frozen. If Target succeeds a Saving throw they take half damage and lose Encrusted with Frost. Targets have Disadvantage on Dexterity Saving throws. Removed by Burning.	Can apply FrozenCan inflict Cold damage Targets have Disadvantage on Dexterity Saving throws, making it easier to become Prone.
Frostbite	Targets hit by Cold damage receive an additional 1Cold for every turn of Frostbite remaining.	Increases Cold damage received on every Cold attack
Frozen	Target is trapped in ice and cannot perform Actions or Reactions. If Target recieves Bludgeoning, Thunder, or Force damage the condition ends. While Frozen Target becomes Vulnerable to Bludgeoning, Thunder, and Force damage.	Applied by 7 turns of Encrusted with Frost
Prone	Target is knocked down and cannot move, and consume half their movement speed to stand back up. Attacks made against a Prone Target have Advantage when made within 3 m / 10 ft, and Prone Target's have Disadvantage on Strength and Dexterity Saving throws. Targets break Concentration when becoming Prone. While Prone they cannot perform Actions, Bonus actions, or Reactions.	Caused by Ice Surfaces Consumes half a Target's movement speed
Ray of Frost	Reduces Target movement speed by 3 m / 10 ft. Only applied by Ray of Frost cantrip.	Reduces Target's movement speed
Wet	Target becomes immune to Burning and has Resistance to Fire damage for the duration. Target becomes Vulnerable to Cold and Lightning damage for the duration. This condition also washes away blood and grime that appears on the player character.	Vulnerable Targets take double Cold damage

Surfaces

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Name	Surface Description	Special Cold Factors
[Image Pending] Ice Cloud
Ice Surface
Steam Cloud
Water Surface

Ice Surface

Ice Surface are the signature Surface of Cold damage being directly created by many Cold spells with area effects. Ice Surfaces can also be created by Blood and Water Surfaces when they, or a target standing in them, are hit by a Cold damage or another Ice Surface is created that connects to them.

Ice Surfaces cause Targets to make Dexterity Saving Throws to avoid becoming Prone. Prone targets are more open to attack and attacks made within melee range role with Advantage.

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Steam Cloud

Steam Cloud is a valuable Surface to inflict the Wet Status on Targets making it highly useful when dealing Cold damage. Steam Clouds can be created by igniting Water Surfaces with Fire damage. Water Surfaces naturally form from Ice Surfaces that melt after 2 Rounds or after being hit by Fire damage.

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