The Cold spells have less raw damage than fire or lightning, but add the bonus effect of chilling or freezing the target, and thanks to Cold Mastery’s ability to lower resistances, these spells can be the strongest in the game, despite their lower total damage numbers.
Cold vs. Frozen
Chilled monsters are slowed, often for quite a time. They have a % chance to shatter into pieces when they die.
Frozen monsters are stunned into motionless until they thaw. The Freezing effect usually lasts just a second or two. Boss monsters can not be frozen (just chilled). All frozen monsters will shatter into ice cubes when they die, leaving no corpse.
Ice Bolt
Required Level: 1 Prerequisites: None Synergies: The damage of Ice Bolt is boosted by points in the following skills:
Frost Nova: +15% Cold Damage Per Level
Ice Blast: +15% Cold Damage Per Level
Glacial Spike: +15% Cold Damage Per Level
Blizzard: +15% Cold Damage Per Level
Frozen Orb: +15% Cold Damage Per Level
Details: This spell shoots a small snowball that damages and slows the target. There is no splash, the spell slows rather than freezes, and the damage isn’t high enough to use it long term, even with the huge cluster of synergies added in recent patches.
Mana: 3
Skill Level Progression
Slvl
Damage
Duration
Slvl
Damage
Duration
Slvl
Damage
Duration
Slvl
Damage
Duration
1
3-5
6.0
6
8-12
13.0
11
16-23
20.0
16
26-36
27.0
2
4-6
7.4
7
9-14
14.4
12
18-25
21.0
17
29-39
28.4
3
5-8
8.8
8
10-15
15.8
13
20-28
22.8
18
32-42
29.8
4
6-9
10.2
9
12-18
17.2
14
22-30
24.2
19
35-46
31.2
5
7-11
11.6
10
14-20
18.6
15
24-33
25.6
20
38-49
32.6
Frozen Armor
Required Level: 1 Prerequisites: None Synergies: Frozen Armor is boosted by points in the following skills:
Shiver Armor: +10 Seconds Per Level
Shiver Armor: +5% Freeze Length Per Level
Chilling Armor: +10 Seconds Per Level
Chilling Armor: +5% Freeze Length Per Level
Details: Provides a defense bonus and freezes any melee attackers that strike the Sorceress. Only one of the Frozen Armor, Shiver Armor, Chilling Armor defensive spells may be active at once.
PVP: Chills, rather than freezes.
Since few Sorceresses choose their equipment with an eye to raising their defense, this spell isn’t especially useful to most builds.
Mana: 11
Skill Level Progression
Slvl
Defense
Duration
Freeze
Slvl
Defense
Duration
Freeze
Slvl
Defense
Duration
Freeze
Slvl
Defense
Duration
Freeze
1
+30%
120
1.2 sec
6
+55%
180
1.8 sec
11
+80%
240
2.4 sec
16
+105%
300
3.0 sec
2
+35%
132
1.3 sec
7
+60%
192
1.9 sec
12
+85%
252
2.5 sec
17
+110%
312
3.1 sec
3
+40%
144
1.4 sec
8
+65%
204
2.0 sec
13
+90%
264
2.6 sec
18
+115%
324
3.2 sec
4
+45%
156
1.5 sec
9
+70%
216
2.1 sec
14
+95%
276
2.7 sec
19
+120%
336
3.3 sec
5
+50%
168
1.6 sec
10
+75%
228
2.2 sec
15
+100%
288
2.8 sec
20
+125%
348
3.4 sec
D2R Patch 2.4 Changes – 14 April 2022
Base duration increased from 120 seconds to 144 seconds
Frost Nova
Required Level: 6 Prerequisites None Synergies: Frost Nova’s damage is boosted by points in the following skills:
Blizzard: +10% Cold Damage Per Level
Frozen Orb: +10% Cold Damage Per Level
Details: Creates and expanding ring of ice that damages enemies with cold damage and slows enemies. The radius is the same as that of Nova, about 2/3 of the visible screen.
This spell doesn’t do enough damage to kill effectively with, but it’s a great defensive aid, instantly chilling every monster within a dozen yards of the Sorceress.
Skill Level Progression
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Chill
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Chill
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Chill
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Chill
1
9
2-4
8 sec
6
14
12-16
13 sec
11
19
25-32
18 sec
16
24
40-49
23 sec
2
10
4-6
9 sec
7
15
14-19
14 sec
12
20
28-35
19 sec
17
25
44-54
24 sec
3
11
6-9
10 sec
8
16
16-21
15 sec
13
21
31-39
20 sec
18
26
48-58
25 sec
4
12
8-11
11 sec
9
17
19-25
16 sec
14
22
34-42
21 sec
19
27
52-63
26 sec
5
13
10-14
12 sec
10
18
22-28
17 sec
15
23
37-46
22 sec
20
28
56-67
27 sec
D2R Patch 2.4 Changes – 14 April 2022
Damage level scaling increased by about 25%
Ice Blast
Required Level: 6 Prerequisites: Ice Bolt Synergies: Points in the following skills boost the damage of Ice Blast.
Ice Bolt: +8% Cold Damage Per Level
Glacial Spike: +10% Freeze Length Per Level
Blizzard: +8% Cold Damage Per Level
Frozen Orb: +8% Cold Damage Per Level
Details: Shoots a large snowball that hits with cold damage, freezing the target. Damage scales up extremely quickly as you place points in this skill.
PVP: Players are chilled, not frozen.
Bosses, Champions, and SuperUniques can not be frozen.
Skill Level Progression
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Freeze
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Freeze
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Freeze
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Freeze
1
6.0
8-12
3.0 sec
6
8.5
46-53
4.0 sec
11
11.0
106-116
5.0 sec
16
13.0
182-194
6.0 sec
2
6.5
16-21
3.2 sec
7
9.0
54-61
4.2 sec
12
11.5
122-132
5.2 sec
17
14.0
205-218
6.2 sec
3
7.0
23-29
3.4 sec
8
9.5
61-69
4.4 sec
13
12.0
137-147
5.4 sec
18
14.0
227-241
6.4 sec
4
7.5
31-37
3.6 sec
9
10.0
76-85
4.6 sec
14
12.0
152-163
5.6 sec
19
15.0
250-264
6.6 sec
5
8.0
38-45
3.8 sec
10
10.5
91-100
4.8 sec
15
13.0
167-179
5.8 sec
20
15.0
273-287
6.8 sec
Shiver Armor
Required Level: 12 Prerequisites: Frozen Armor, Ice Bolt, Ice Blast Synergies: Shiver Armor receives bonuses from points placed in the following skills:
Frozen Armor: +10 Seconds Per Level
Frozen Armor: +9% Cold Damage Per Level
Chilling Armor: +10 Seconds Per Level
Chilling Armor: +9% Cold Damage Per Level
Details: Provides a larger defensive bonus than Frozen Armor, and damages melee attackers. It chills, rather than freezes, as Frozen Armor does.
Mana: 11
Skill Level Progression
Slvl
Defense
Damage
Duration
Slvl
Defense
Damage
Duration
Slvl
Defense
Damage
Duration
Slvl
Defense
Damage
Duration
1
+45%
+6-8
130
6
+75%
+17-22
190
11
+105%
+31-39
250
16
+135%
+47-58
310
2
+51%
+8-11
142
7
+81%
+19-25
202
12
+111%
+34-43
262
17
+141%
+52-63
322
3
+57%
+10-14
154
8
+87%
+21-27
214
13
+117%
+38-46
274
18
+147%
+56-68
334
4
+63%
+13-16
166
9
+93%
+25-31
226
14
+123%
+41-50
286
19
+153%
+61-73
346
5
+69%
+15-19
178
10
+99%
+28-35
238
15
+129%
+44-54
298
20
+159%
+65-77
358
D2R Patch 2.4 Changes – 14 April 2022
Damage level scaling increased by about 25%
Base duration increased from 120 seconds to 144 seconds
Glacial Spike
Required Level: 18 Prerequisites” Ice Bolt, Ice Blast Synergies: Points in the following skills provide a bonus to Glacial Spike.
Ice Bolt: +5% Cold Damage Per Level
Ice Blast: +5% Cold Damage Per Level
Blizzard: +3% Freeze Length Per Level
Frozen Orb: +5% Cold Damage Per Level
Details: Shoots a large snowball that hits with substantial damage and a large splash effect, freezing the targeted monster and anything within 2.6 yards.
A very popular support skill; many Sorceresses map this to their left click button for emergency use (clicking on open space with targeted spells on the left click will simply run to that spot, just as having Attack or other melee skills on the left click does).
Skill Level Progression
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Freeze
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Freeze
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Freeze
Slvl
Mana
Damage
Freeze
1
10.0
17-26
2.0 sec
6
12.5
56-67
2.6 sec
11
15.0
114-128
3.2 sec
16
17.5
185-202
3.8 sec
2
10.5
25-34
2.1 sec
7
13.0
63-75
2.7 sec
12
15.5
128-143
3.3 sec
17
18.0
201-218
3.9 sec
3
11.0
33-42
2.2 sec
8
13.5
71-84
2.8 sec
13
16.0
143-158
3.4 sec
18
18.5
216-234
4.0 sec
4
11.5
40-51
2.3 sec
9
14.0
85-99
2.9 sec
14
16.5
157-173
3.5 sec
19
19.0
232-250
4.1 sec
5
12.0
48-59
2.4 sec
10
14.5
100-113
3.0 sec
15
17.0
171-188
3.6 sec
20
19.5
247-266
4.2 sec
Blizzard
Casting Delay: 1.8 Seconds Required Level: 24 Prerequisites: Ice Bolt, Ice Blast, Frost Nova, Glacial Spike Synergies: Points in the following skills boost the damage of Blizzard:
Ice Bolt: +5% Cold Damage Per Level
Ice Blast: +5% Cold Damage Per Level
Glacial Spike: +5% Cold Damage Per Level
Details: Blizzard is an area effect spell, calling down an icy storm that chills and cold damages everything over a wide area. Targets are chilled, not frozen, and the damage is dealt over time instead of all in one blast, but the total damage dealt is the highest of any spell in this tree.
Blizzard requires a certain play style, since its damage is dealt over several seconds to an area, instead of in a more targeted shot like most Sorceress spells. Monsters will need to be herded together, or a tank used to get them to hold still while Blizzard rains down its damage.
Duration: 4 Seconds
Skill Level Progression
Slvl
Mana
DPS
Slvl
Mana
DPS
Slvl
Mana
DPS
Slvl
Mana
DPS
1
23
51-86
6
28
138-178
11
33
276-322
16
38
448-500
2
24
69-104
7
29
155-196
12
34
310-357
17
39
500-553
3
25
86-123
8
30
172-215
13
35
345-393
18
40
552-606
4
26
103-141
9
31
207-250
14
36
379-428
19
41
603-658
5
27
120-159
10
32
241-286
15
37
414-464
20
42
655-711
D2R Patch 2.4 Changes – 14 April 2022
Casting Delay will no longer share its cooldown with other skills that have Casting Delays
Tooltip updated to now display Casting Delay
Chilling Armor
Required Level: 24 Prerequisites: Frozen Armor, Ice Bolt, Ice Blast, Shiver Armor Synergies: Points in the following skills boost the effects of Chilling Armor.
Frozen Armor: +10 Seconds Per Level
Frozen Armor: +7% Cold Damage Per Level
Shiver Armor: +10 Seconds Per Level
Shiver Armor: +7% Cold Damage Per Level
Details: Chilling Armor provides a slightly smaller defensive bonus than Shiver Armor (but larger than Frozen Armor). While the other two boost special effects against melee attackers, this one reacts to incoming projectiles by firing an Ice Bolt back in the direction of the missile.
Since most Cold Sorcs have a constant stream of ice covering most of the screen, the damage returned from this defensive spell is largely irrelevant at higher levels.
Contrary to popular belief, Chilling Armor does NOT negate or block ranged attack damage; it only provides automatic retaliation.
Mana: 17
Skill Level Progression
Slvl
Defense
Damage
Duration
Slvl
Defense
Damage
Duration
Slvl
Defense
Damage
Duration
Slvl
Defense
Damage
Duration
1
+45%
+5-8
170
6
+70%
+11-17
200
11
+95%
+21-30
230
16
+125%
+34-45
260
2
+50%
+6-10
176
7
+75%
+12-18
206
12
+100%
+22-33
236
17
+130%
+37-49
266
3
+55%
+7-11
182
8
+80%
+14-21
212
13
+105%
+26-35
242
18
+135%
+41-53
272
4
+60%
+9-13
188
9
+85%
+17-24
218
14
+110%
+28-38
248
19
+140%
+44-57
278
5
+65%
+10-15
194
10
+90%
+19-27
224
15
+120%
+30-41
254
20
+4-6
164
—
D2R Patch 2.4 Changes – 14 April 2022
Damage level scaling increased by about 200%
Duration bonus per level increased from 6 seconds to 12 seconds
Chill length bonus per level for level 16+ increased from 1 second to 2 seconds (matching Shiver Armor)
Defense baseline increased from 45% to 60%
Defense bonus per level increased from 5% to 7%
Frozen Armor damage synergy increased from 7% to 9%
Chilling Armor damage synergy increased from 7% to 9%
Frozen Orb
Casting Delay: 1 Second Required Level: 30 Prerequisites: Ice Bolt, Ice Blast, Frost Nova, Glacial Spike, Blizzard Synergies: Each skill point in Ice Bolt adds: +2% Cold Damage Per Level Details: One of the more awesome spells in the game, Frozen Orb fires out a glowing orb of ice that spins across most of the visible screen, emitting dozens of tiny Ice Bolts in all directions.
Frozen Orb requires some skill to use, since the damage is highest right where the orb is targeted, and especially at the point it expires with one final swirl of ice. Enemies must therefore be within effective range, and not blocked by walls or other obstacles.
As with all casting delay Sorceress skills, Frozen Orb can and should be teamed with another spell that can be cast during the second delay.
In earlier versions of D2, this spell was bugged so that monsters the Orb passed over took minimal damage. It was therefore necessary to aim just to the side of targets. This bug was fixed in v1.09.
Skill Level Progression
Slvl
Mana
Cold
Cold Dur.
Slvl
Mana
Cold
Cold Dur.
Slvl
Mana
Cold
Cold Dur.
Slvl
Mana
Cold
Cold Dur.
1
25
+40-45
8
6
27
+90-95
13
11
30
+146-151
18
16
32
+206-211
23
2
25
+50-55
9
7
28
+100-105
14
12
30
+158-163
19
17
33
+220-225
24
3
26
+60-65
10
8
28
+110-115
15
13
31
+170-175
20
18
33
+234-239
25
4
26
+70-75
11
9
29
+122-127
16
14
31
+182-187
21
19
34
+248-253
26
5
27
+80-85
12
10
29
+134-139
17
15
32
+194-199
22
20
34
+262-267
27
D2R Patch 2.4 Changes – 14 April 2022
Casting Delay will no longer share its cooldown with other skills that have Casting Delays
Tooltip updated to now display Casting Delay
Cold Mastery
Required Level: 30 Prerequisites: None Synergies: None Details: Cold Mastery provides a constant passive bonus by lowering the resistance of all the targets of her spells.
Resistance is only lowered to her spells; not for others in her party, including cold-using minions.
Cold Mastery does not break immunities, but can reduce resistances into negative values, greatly increasing the damage of her spells.
