If you’re looking to level up your Intelligence Build in Elden Ring, then this Frostbite Mage Build is exactly what you need to take you through the late-game areas.
Elden Ring’s world is massive and challenging. It seems that everywhere you look, a new boss is waiting to stand in your way.
But thankfully, there are also plenty of weapons, items, and abilities that are there to help you build the strongest Tarnished the Lands Between has ever seen.
There are even Spirt Ashes you can summon to help you in battle.
Another aspect players will also want to keep an eye on is the different damage types they can inflict on their enemies. Things like bleed and scarlet rot are excellent for taking down some of the most formidable enemies.
But for Intelligence Builds, one status alignment that can make all the difference is frost.
Not only does Frost damage slow down enemies, but it allows you to do an increased amount of damage while enemies are in that frail state.
Read More: Elden Ring: How to Complete Sorceress Sellen Quest
Best Frostbite Mage OP Frost Damage Build in Elden Ring
This chillingly overpowered Frostbite Mage Build uses the Hoarfrost Stomp Ash of War and Adula’s Moonblade Sorcery to turn enemies into fragile icicles and do an immense amount of damage.
Frostbite is a status effect that players can inflict on their enemies in Elden Ring. It’s one of the more potent status alignments and can affect most bosses in The Lands Between.
This is huge because Frostbite not only lowers the inflicted enemy’s damage by 20% for a short period, but it also staggers their stamina.
This means that inflicting Frostbite will slow the enemy down long enough for you to pull off a strong attack or heal.
What’s incredible about this build is that you can make your weapon have Frost Damage and allow it to scale off Intelligence.
This is where the Frostbite Mage Build starts to show its power.
Elden Ring: Frostbite Mage Build Weapons
The Frostbite Mage Build uses the Hoarfrost Stomp to power up the Uchigatana into a mighty ice blade that inflicts bleed onto enemies.
Hoarfrost Stomp
The Hoarfrost Stomp Ash of War is a vital piece of this build and one that you need if you want to be an all-powerful Frostbite Mage.
An Ash of War is an ability that players can add to certain weapons in Elden Ring. The Hoarfrost Stomp is a frost ability.
It allows players to deliver a stomp attack with a cone-like area of effect.
The initial hit is the initial ice wave that you send out when you stomp. The second hit comes when that ice wave explodes, damaging anything near it. Two of these stomps and most enemies you encounter will be hit with the frostbite status alignment.
This means you can come in with either your Uchigatana or Adula’s Moonblade to inflict a massive amount of damage to the enemy. The stomp even has a chance to stagger your enemies.
You also need to have the Glinstone Whetstone, which you find at Raya Lucaria Academy in Liurnia of the Lakes. This will allow you to imbue the Uchigatana with Frost when applying the Hoarfrost Stomp to make it into the Cold Uchigatana.
Imbuing your weapon with frost will also allow it to scale with Intelligence, which is essential for the Frostbite Mage Build.
Another Ash of War that players will find useful as an Intelligence Build is Bloodhound’s Step!
Uchigatana
The Uchigata is the best choice for this build because it is a lighter weapon that won’t slow down your Intelligence build and because it will allow players to inflict frost and bleed build-up at the same time.
Being able to deal two status alignments on enemies in a short amount of time will ensure that players are dealing an incredible amount of damage in a short amount of time.
Due to Frostbite only lasting a few seconds, being able to get up close with the Uchigatana will help maximize this status alignment in your favor.
Even the most challenging bosses in Elden Ring will be weak to frost, which means you can use this weapon for most of your playthrough. You can upgrade the Uchigatana with regular Smithing Stones, which are a lot easier to find than Somber Smithing Stones.
You’ll be able to find the Uchigatana in Deathtouched Catacombs in Limgrave.
Need a second weapon in hand that also does bleed damage? The Moonveil is a great secondary weapon for the Frostbite Mage Build!
Carian Regal Scepter
The Carian Regal Scepter will allow you to cast the strongest sorceries in Elden Ring. You can upgrade it with Somber Smithing Stones and keep improving its sorcery scaling.
This means that the more you upgrade it, the more potent the sorceries you cast with it will be. It also scales with Intelligence which is the main attribute you’ll be focused on with the Frostbite Mage Build.
You’ll be able to purchase the Carian Regal Scepter from the Twins at the Roundtable Hold after defeating Rennala Queen of the Full Moon in Raya Lucaria Academy. Just take her Remembrance to them, and you’ll have the option to purchase her Scepter or her Full Moon spell.
You won’t need the spell since you’ll be using Ranni’s Dark Moon instead for this build.
Elden Ring: Frostbite Mage Build Sorceries
The Frostbite Mage Build uses the two most potent frost spells in Elden Ring, Adula’s Moonblade & Ranni’s Dark Moon, to inflict deadly frost damage on most bosses.
It is worth noting that to obtain both of these spells, you will need to progress through Ranni’s Questline.
Adula’s Moonblade
Adula’s Moonblade will be your ultimate attack with the Frostbite Mage Build. This mighty ice blade can easily cut through most enemies in Elden Ring. One slash is capable of inflicting multiple hits of frost damage if you’re close enough.
Even if enemies are at a range, Adula’s Moonblade sends an ice wave following its slash.
It’s quick to cast, and once enemies are inflicted with Frostbite damage, it’s capable of decimating your enemies’ health bar.
The best combo is to use Adula’s Moonblade after successfully using the Hoarfrost Stomp to stagger an enemy. Since Adula’s Moonblade has a short casting time, you’ll be able to dish our two or three before you need to dodge any attacks.
You will be rewarded Adula’s Moonblade once you defeat Glinstone Dragon Adula in the Cathedral of Manus Celes. You’ll only be able to get here after defeating Astel Naturalborn of the Void.
Ranni’s Dark Moon
Ranni’s Dark Moon doesn’t do as much damage as it should for a spell that requires 68 INT, but what it does do is instantly inflict most enemies with Frostbite. This is huge for some of the larger enemies.
It’s also a homing spell that will track your enemies and allow you to attack in multiple ways.
For example, you can start Ranni’s Dark Moon, and while the moon follows the enemy and they try to avoid it, you can do an Hoarfrost Stomp to make them stagger.
Follow up with Adula’s Moonblade, and you’ll be able to inflict a ton of damage to your enemy.
Another potent spell that players can add to their inventory is Comet Azur! Don’t miss this attack capable of one-shotting a boss.
Elden Ring: Frostbite Mage Build Armor
The Snow Witch Hat is the only necessary piece of armor for the Frostbite Mage Build since it will allow players to increase the amount of damage they do with cold sorceries.
Snow Witch Hat
The Snow Witch Hat is useful for players looking to increase their damage output while also sporting one of the most excellent looking helms in Elden Ring.
Players will find the Snow Witch Hat in Renna’s Rise after fully completing Ranni’s questline, which you should have done to obtain the Sorceries in this build.
Just make your way to the top of Renna’s Rise, and you should find a chest there with the complete Snow Witch Set. Only the Snow Witch Hat will give your sorcery a boost. The other items are for aesthetics.
Elden Ring: Frostbite Mage Build Talismans & Items
The talismans and items in the Frostbite Mage Build will allow you to increase the potency of your sorceries while helping keep your Focus Point consumption at bay.
Stargazer Heirloom
The Stargazer Heirloom will allow players to boost their Intelligence by 5, which means that all the items in your build that scale with Intelligence will be given a substantial boost.
This includes your sorceries and Frost Uchigatana.
You’ll be able to find the Stargazer Heirloom in the Divine Tower of Liurnia. You can pick it up from a corpse.
Graven School Talisman
The Graven School Talisman will increase the potency of your sorceries. This means that Adula’s Moonblade and Ranni’s Dark Moon will increase damage.
You’ll be able to find the Graven School Talisman in Raya Lucaria Academy. It’ll be in a room that you can get to from the School Classroom Site of Grace.
Radagon’s Soreseal
With Radagon’s Soreseal, you will be able to increase your vigor, endurance, strength, and dexterity by five points. But you will also increase the damage that you can take by about 18%.
This is worth it because you want to pump as many points as you can into Intelligence with the Frostbite Mage Build.
The Radagon’s Sorseal will allow you to make up for lost endurance that you may need to be nimble on your feet and avoid attacks.
You’ll be able to find Radagon’s Soreseal at Fort Faroth in Caelid. Make your way until you find a giant rat enemy. You’ll discover Radagon’s Soreseal on the ground.
Carian Filigreed Crest
The Carian Filigreed Crest will allow players to lower the number of focus points they consume with their skills.
Using most of the frost abilities in this build will require players to consume Focus Points, so negating that is important.
You’ll be able to purchase the Carian Filigreed Crest from Iji in the Liurnia of the Lakes. South of Caria Manor.
Focus Points can be gained by increasing the Mind attribute when you level up.
Mimic Tear Ashes
The Mimic Tear Ashes will be fantastic with any build. But with, the Frostbite Mage Build will allow you to build up frost more quickly in some of the more intense boss battles.
It’s also great at distracting the boss and helping you to replenish your health or Focus Points.
You’ll find the Mimic Tear Ashes in the Night’s Sacred Ground.
Wondrous Physick Magic Mix
The Wondrous Physick will allow you to buff your sorceries for a short amount of time. This boost can be the difference between life and death during a boss battle.
For the Frostbite Mage Build, you will need the Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear, which temporarily boosts magic attacks, and the Cerulean Hidden Tear, which temporarily eliminates all Focus Point consumption.
This will allow players to use powerful sorceries without using up any of their Focus Points or Cerulean Flasks.
You’ll be able to find the Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear by defeating the Erdtree Avatar in Liurnia of the Lakes. The Cerulean Hidden Tear will be dropped after defeating the Ulcerated Tree Spirit in Mt. Gelmir.
We recommend this setup, but you can try out different Crystal Tears to see which better suits your playstyle.
If you still want to up your attributes and increase your damage for this build, you’ll also be able to use one of the Great Runes in the game to give yourself some boosted stats.
If you’re reading this, but you’ve already gone for a Strenght Build, then don’t panic. You can always respec your character! All you need is to defeat Rennala in Liurnia of the Lakes and find some Larval Tears.
And if you’re looking for a different sort of build, check out all our other build guides here:
Wednesday 30th of March 2022
What is the armor set you are using with the witch hat?
Tuesday 15th of March 2022
This build has several inconsistencies which need to be addressed. For talismans, the carian filagree crest specifically says "SKILLS" for reduced FP. Note fp reduction isn't that important for sorcery. Suggestion would be to use magic scorpion charm gained while doing seluvis' questline, along with graven mass talisman found in alberic's rise in the snowfield. Coupled with radagon icon for reduced cast time, a dex of 20 to hit a breakpoint for said cast times, and for the final talisman likely stargazer heirloom, or graven talisman.
Also note that keeping staff in offhand, while using a dagger with domination, or royal knights resolve, can boost sorcery damage by 60-100 percent.
Final note, not only does dark moon orb proc frostibe, it reduces magic resistance for a short time.
Monday 14th of March 2022
For the stats what should we put them in? If we were going from a level 125 and wanted to respect. What should we put those points into?
Tuesday 15th of March 2022
@Luis, All you really need to focus is Intelligence, Vigor, and Mind. I'd get INT to at least 60 then Vigor to 35 then mind 30. Endurance can stay around 14/15
