Frostbite is an effect in Dark Souls 3 that many consider being overpowered, for when the corresponding bar fills up, the afflicted will lose 11% of their total health as well as 85 more from additive flat damage. On top of this, it lowers their stamina regeneration by a debilitating 15%. Furthermore, as if that wasn't bad enough, it also increases damage taken from all sources by 7%. All these numbers add up to mean that those affected by Frostbite are more likely to die.
If players wish to get use this mighty force of freezing cold on their foes, there are 6 weapons that have this effect. Each with their of movesets and skills that can bring out the full potential of this deadly effect.
Updated on September 28, 2021, by Reyadh Rahaman: Before each of these armaments can be used, they must be found. And, in true Dark Souls 3 fashion, they will sometimes be tedious or dangerous to acquire...sometimes both at once.
It's important to note that each also requires a different playstyle to use optimally. Practice makes perfect, though, it can also be useful to observe some of the enemies and bosses that use a few of the Frost weapons against the player. When doing so, it would be best to stock up on ways to reduce Frost build-up or be able to remove it after being afflicted.
Thankfully, there are some ways to reduce Frost build-up, such as the following:
- Fleshbite Ring: raises resistance to all status effects by 40 points each
- Chillbite Ring: raises resistance to Frostbite by 140 points
- Mossfruit: raises resistance to all status effects by 80 points each for 120 seconds
- Deep Protection (miracle): raises resistance to all status effects by 20 points each for 60 seconds (among many other effects)
- Profuse Seat (pyromancy): raises resistance to all status effects by 80 points each for 60 seconds
- Leveling up the Vigor stat: permanently raises the Frost Defense stat by a few points every few levels (an uneven curve that stops increasing at level 50)
- Pieces of armor that possess innate Frost resistance
There are also a few items that can cure this status ailment when consumed (and also provide other effects not mentioned):
- Rime Blue Moss Clump
- Divine Blessing
- Caressing Tears (miracle)
Irithyll Straight Sword
Wielded by the fearsome Outrider Knights, the Irithyll Straight Sword is one of the deadliest straight swords for possessing a balanced, simple moveset as well as an innate Frost build-up of 55 points per hit. One can use it like any other straight sword for a very high reward-low effort situation in many melee exchanges.
This blade's weapon skill, Stance, is a common one, yet adds to its versatility, encouraging players to use it in a lot of scenarios. At the maximum upgrade of +5, the Irithyll Straight Sword receives 216 physical attack as well as C-tier scaling in Strength and D-tier in Dexterity.
How To Get The Irithyll Straight Sword
- Head to the elevator in the Undead Settlement area and go down
- In the chamber below, before one reaches the Road of Sacrifices, is an Outrider Knight
- This Outrider Knight is guaranteed to drop an Irithyll Straight Sword
Vordt's Great Hammer
This massive mace can be wielded by the player in a similar manner to its former owner. It applies 110 Frost build-up per each devastating swing for a chilling result on every damage-trade. The moveset consists of typical great hammer overhead slams with light attacks and horizontal swings with heavy attacks that can be applied the best in open areas and against anything slow enough to get hit. Most will try to dodge, so try to delay one's attacks to throw off the target's evasion-timing.
Vordt's Great Hammer's weapon skill, Perseverance, is one seen on many of the greater weapons, though is particularly effective on this great hammer for it grants all exchanges with the foe better chances of poising through and delivering a crucial blow. At +5, it gains a notable 320 physical attack along with B-tier scaling in Strength.
How To Get Vordt's Great Hammer
- Players must defeat Vordt of the Boreal Valley to acquire his soul
- Players must then talk to Ludleth of Courland at Firelink Shrine to transpose the Soul of Boreal Valley Vordt into Vordt's Great Hammer
Pontiff Knight Great Scythe
A wicked curved bladed polearm that is a force to be reckoned with for its sweeping diagonal slashes that applies 55 points of Frost build-up per slice, though only after the weapon skill is used. The simple and aptly named Frost skill temporarily grants the desired freezing effect; having it for a short period is all one will need if one can manage to use this scythe's length to out-space foes.
In addition to being able to cause Frost build-up, the Pontiff Knight Great Scythe has 30 points of innate Bleed build-up, for even deadlier strikes upon the enemy. When fully upgraded to +5, it attains 174 physical attack along with low E-tier scaling with Strength and incredible S-tier scaling with Dexterity, making it heavily favor builds focusing on the latter stat.
How To Get The Pontiff Knight Great Scythe
- The only way to acquire the Pontiff Knight Great Scythe is to find it as a rare drop from a Pontiff Knight wielding one
- There is one such foe just before Pontiff Sulyvahn's boss room in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley that would be easy to farm after defeating the boss and spawning the bonfire within the room
Irithyll Rapier
There are few thrusting swords as terrifying as the Irithyll Rapier, for there is no true defense against it. It delivers 55 points of Frost per stab and can jab at foes in quick and lethally piercing pokes. It can also be paired with a shield to attack while one's guard is up.
The Shield Splitter weapon skill punishes those hugging their shields by penetrating through their guard to deliver a devastating blow. At +5, it achieves 202 physical attack and C-tier scaling in both Strength and Dexterity, making it an excellent choice for any quality build.
How To Get The Irithyll Rapier
- This weapon is a guaranteed drop from defeating the Outrider Knight at Lothric Castle
- The knight in this area is found in the room somewhat below the white dragon on the left of the bridge entering the castle's inner grounds
- In this room, head down the stairs to find the Outrider Knight
Pontiff Knight Curved Sword
For those seeking an awesome curved sword, it is recommended to try out the Pontiff Knight Curved Sword, as it possesses all the boons from the scimitar-like weapon class with the added benefit of inflicting 55 points of Frost build-up on every successful hit.
However, it can apply 110 per hit for a short period upon using the weapon skill, Frost Weapon, which enhances the blade with a chilling enchantment that also extends its range. It should be noted that to get the 110 Frost build-up per hit, one needs to land blows with the blade of the weapon, not just the frosty extension. At +5, this long and thin blade gets 214 physical attack and D-tier scaling in Strength along with C-tier Scaling in Dexterity.
How To Get The Pontiff Knight Curved Sword
- Can be dropped by defeated Pontiff Knights in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley who wield them
- Can be bought from Greirat for 6,000 souls after he returns from his first expedition
- Can also be bought from the Shrine Handmaid for the same price if Greirat dies and the player gives the Shrine Handmaid Greirat's Ashes
Friede's Great Scythe
Two scythes that were designed to reap souls with chilling efficiency. They have so many effects and specializations that there is no defense or playstyle that can completely defend against one wielding Sister Friede's renowned armament. Unlike most reaper-class weapons, players are encouraged to use a more aggressive playstyle due to there being no damage penalty from hitting the target with the shaft of the weapon as opposed to the bladed portions. Furthermore, landing hits applies between 36 and 67 points of Frost build-up, depending on which combos are used.
The weapon skill, Elfriede's Stance, emulates what Sister Friede can do in her boss fight, where one summons a secondary scythe in the offhand. The larger one in the main hand deals pure physical damage while the offhand one does pure magical damage. At +5, Friede's Great Scythe receives 200 physical attack and 140 magic attack. It also scales with all four of the possible stats, gaining E-tier with Strength and Faith as well as a phenomenal A-tier with Dexterity and Intelligence.
How To Get Friede's Great Scythe
- Players must defeat Sister Friede to acquire her soul
- Players must then talk to Ludleth of Courland at Firelink Shrine to transpose the Soul of Sister Friede into Friede's Great Scythe
Dark Souls 3 is available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.