Freezing
Template:Version030 Template:Flavour The freezing brand does the following:
- Adds an average of roughly +25% cold damage (0% - 50%) to attacks, applied after AC and all damage factors (including slaying).<ref>Template:Source ref
Specifically, if you dealt damage, freezing adds(1d<damage_dealt>/2) + 0.5cold damage, rounded down. Therefore, freezing's boost is slightly bigger than 25%. This is more noticeable on weak attacks, e.g. if you dealt 1 damage, you'd always get +1 freezing damage (for an average of +100%).</ref> - Slows down cold-blooded monsters that are not resistant to cold.
Sources
Along with finding freezing weapons as random loot, or using a scroll of brand weapon, freezing can be found on a few monsters:
- Wights frequently carry weapons of freezing.
- Frost giants usually generate with freezing battleaxes.
- Fannar always comes with a staff of cold or a quarterstaff of freezing
Strategy
Freezing is one of a couple percentage-based brands that's good enough to beat a 3-rune game. It's especially good against cold-blooded creatures, including the reptiles in the Lair and draconians in Zot. Unlike flaming, freezing works against orbs of fire, so its somewhat better for Zot:5.
As freezing applies its percentage boost after AC reduction, it is no better or worse when considering strength, weapon type, slaying, or AC. An executioner's axe of freezing receives the same +25% boost to final damage as a quick blade of freezing. It's just that a quick blade's base damage is weak, so a brand like electrocution or pain will be stronger for it.
History
- Prior to 0.15, unbranded weapons could be temporarily given this brand with the level 2 spell Freezing Aura. This temporary brand could be made permanent by reading a scroll of vorpalise weapon.
References
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