Cold Damage

⁠Cold damage is an elemental Damage Type available in Baldur's Gate 3. Representative of the aspects of chill, ice, and water⁠Cold damage often serves as a counter to ⁠Fire damage. ⁠Cold has a strong association with conditions and effects that reduce Targets ground movement speed making it very useful for manipulating the environment of a battlefield and impeding melee attackers.

^{*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.}

Equipment

Many pieces of equipable gear offer unique modifiers and effects that enable characters to inflict ⁠Cold damage, or impact the damage and effects they inflict with greater abilities. Below are tables listing the known equipment that inflict or impact the ⁠Cold damage characters can deal, their base ⁠Cold damage, and ⁠Cold modifiers and effects.

Gear that Inflicts Cold Damage

Gear that Inflicts Cold Damage
Item	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.
Wavemother's Sickle	Sickles	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

Gear that Impacts Cold Damage
Item	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
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).

Attacks

Spells

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. The spells that inflict or impact ⁠Cold damage are listed below with their damage values and descriptions.

Spells that focus on ⁠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 Breaking concentration destroys wall Creates Ice Surface and battlefield barrier Wall destruction leaves Ice Cloud 10 turn duration
* Damage is indicative of effects, not the base spell

Actions

Many actions are poised to directly inflict ⁠Cold damage; or impact the environment, nature of attacks, and conditions the targets must face. Below are tables listing the known actions which inflict or impact the ⁠Cold damage characters can deal, their base ⁠Cold damage, and ⁠Cold modifiers and effects.

Effects

Features granted by leveling up, and abilities given by gear aspects can be regarded as effects that alter how the player's actions play out in Baldur's Gate 3. 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 Aspect of the Beast: Crocodile On slippery surfaces (i.e. Ice Surface) you have Advantage on Saving Throws against being knocked prone. Level 6 Barbarian Wildheart Draconic Ancestry: Silver (Cold) You have Resistance to a particular damage type depending on your Dragonborn subrace (i.e. Silver & White Dragons are ⁠Cold). Dragonborn Race Draconic Ancestry: White (Cold) 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

Depending on the Surface Targets can face immediate detrimental effects like taking damage, conditions, reduced movement speed, and more. The Surfaces that form from and pair with ⁠Cold Damage are listed below.

Surfaces that Interact with ⁠Cold Damage
Name	Special Cold Factors	Sources
Ice Cloud	Targets who pass through are inflicted with Icy Cloud that deals 10d6 (10~60)⁠⁠Cold damage, per turn	Wall of Ice, created when sections of the wall are broken
Ice	Difficult Terrain halves movement speed for Targets moving on it Signature surface of ⁠Cold damage Targets must make Dexterity  Saving Throws to avoid becoming  Prone, massively reducing the target's ground movement speed	⁠Cold spells that create Ice Surfaces Hitting liquid surfaces, like  Blood and Water Surfaces, with ⁠Cold damage
Steam Cloud	Targets standing within have Wet condition making them vulnerable to ⁠Cold damage	Hitting Water Surfaces with ⁠Fire spells that create  Fire surfaces
Water	Can be frozen with ⁠Cold spells into Ice Surfaces, or vaporized with  Fire surfaces to create Steam Clouds	Breaking Water Barrels and Jugs Create Water spell Ice Surfaces melt into Water Surfaces