Baldur's Gate 3 - The Cryomancer (Build Request)

Hi all! I've got another build request for you today, this one being one of my most requested, the Cryomancer. I've been asked a few times to do an Ice build, and I'm happy to say that this was surprisingly fun to build and use! It wasn't expecting the sheer amount of status effect you could inflict and how much control you have over the battlefield.

Cryomancer
Draconic Sorcerer 1 (White)/Tempest Cleric 1/Evocation Wizard 10

Weapons:

Armour:

Accessories:

[jtirri]

Funny, last night, I was just scheming over a cryomancer build and party setup aimed at making the most out of the frozen status effect. I hadn't settled on the plan, so this vid is very timely. J

[covilderagnaros]

Another cool way to build this character is 10 Mage (Evocation)/2 Cleric (Tempest). The aim is to take advantage of the "Frozen" condition which grants vulnerability to Thunder damage and which is acquired by combining the "Wet" and "Chilled" conditions.

Race: Any

-Evocation School: Excellent as described in the video, it will increase the damage of most of your ice spells and protect your allies.

-Tempest Domain: Allows you to maximise the Thunder damage roll, which is doubled due to the enemy's vulnerability. You can use this combo 2 times p/long rest with the "Amulet of The Devout" which grants +2 Spell Save DC + 1 Channel Divinity Charge

[MissFaithSims]

Man I love your videos- I'm using your Dancer of Eilistraee build in my current playthrough! But I find your videos are really good for people like me who aren't great at making builds 🙏🙏

[sphinxoforion]

I decided to throw my own spin on this build, and when you enter Wyrm Crossing, I respec into 2 sorc & 10 wiz. Drop the cleric and pick up the Elven mail from the blacksmith in Wyrms crossing, you still keep the medium armor prof, but gain metamagic which can be very potent in some battles. You could also grab Wiz 11 instead and gain you level 6 spells from that instead. I also see use in taking the genial striding boots to ignore the effects of Difficult terrain, and grabbing another ring. Great build man, I love these unique builds thats different from your generic wizard or sorc.

[DeedeeDirt]

I've been playing full storm sorc and lean heavily into ice, it's great plus you can throw lighting at em when the ice melts for extra damage, plus flying any turn after casting is so fun

[sean.alphonse]

I did a similar kind of build for my Durge run, although it was more sorcerer and a little bit wizard and cleric. I really enjoyed the utility of metamagic for twin spell or quickened spell for create/destroy water - being able to either cover the immediate map in water for someone else with lightning or ice, or to use water as a bonus action then enhancing my damage and being able to fly away. It was really useful in the house of grief especially, but I love how early an ice mage can come online for crowd control

[godoflemmings]

Damn, thanks for this! Been mulling over trying to build Anri from Shining Force for a run who's very ice-centric, and this suits her perfectly. Wee suggestion too - the Hoarfrost Boots in the Githyanki creche just prevent slipping on ice, and that frees up the Night Walkers for someone else if desired.

[maximecrepin]

Thanks for the video ! If I may, I would just have added to that build -when reaching act 3 (you can go collect it as soon as you enter it)- the dual wield Mourning Frost with Markoheshkir. Its added bonuses are great to pass the encrusted in frost tests but mostly for Kereska's favor which will boost further more you ice damages, it really makes the cryomancer go a whole other level, and dual staff wielding is cool

[leonlacroix]

I'm comparing this to my current cryomancer build.
I made gale pure ice, wyll is pure thunder and lightning and they compliment eachother so well.
Gale freezes up the battlefield and wyll lights them up.

My gale is 1 level in Cleric, 3 levels in wizard and the rest in scorcery.
I went with war Cleric (mystra) for the heavy armor.
3 levels in wizard for the evocation spell safety. (Abiltiy to learn spells like ice wall)
The the rest in scorcery for the scorcery points, and the ability to twin spells. Evocation is important because alot of ice spells like ice storm has a massave aoe but now leaves your allies untouched. Same with lightning.
The only thing you have to worry about is the icy floor or the electrified water, and that's not even a big deal.

Wyll is almost the opposite.
3 levels in wizard evocation for spell safety, 3 levels in warlock (for the bind pack weapon) and the rest in tempest Cleric (lathander).
Tempest Cleric gives him the necessary spells and wizard will garentee I get all the lightning spells I need.
I also have equipped a Warhammer that does extra lightning damage if it's bound as a pack weapon. (Thus the 3 in warlock)

My main is a light Cleric (selune) mixed with paliden (devotion) split 6 and 6
A in your face holy knight with the blood of lathander.
(Also stocked up on cloud giant elixir. I got naturally a 8 for strength but that boosts it to 27 untill I get the hill giant gloves) *this is my 3rd playthrough*

And changed shadowheart to a life cleric (was shar now selune) and ranger 6 and 6
Maximum healing and sharpshooter from a distance.

Another thing very useful is every character has sanctuary so I have alot of control over who gets hit.
(Especially useful for protecting low hp npcs)

[BucketKingu]

Another thing you can do with this build is put one more level into Sorcerer for the Twinned Spell Metamagic, letting you cast both an ice spell and Create Water on the same turn for situations where you get ambushed or just can't get that sneaky swet off first.

[setoredan]

Very nice build. I was tentatively thinking about an ice mage last night after I assembled that 3 pc staff in the underdark. Now I have something to work on

[EbonScribe]

Great video and I been enjoying your take on the builds you create. I am currently playing a Svirfneblin (Deep Gnome) Cryomancer. I went full Evocation Wizard utilizing Coldbrim Hat and Icebite Robe, for Armour of Agathys.

[austin]

Currently in act 3 with your phantom trickster and it’s been really fun. Looks like I’m gonna have to respec and try this now lol. Love these builds 👍

[chrishoppner]

Bone Chill is nice to prevent targets from healing, but only gives disadvantage to undead. I find the poison or acid cantrips to be useful more frequently.

[kd]

Thank you this build looks great. I just started a run wanting to use Gale as a companion since I never really use him and was going to do some type of ice mage so i think this build will be perfect!

[waterenchantress]

I've been waiting for a build in this style. Great video

[primozstamcar]

Thank you for this build, i was one of the guys requesting it, and im glad u went with wizard, as summons, fire shield and lvl 6 spells is smth i also wanna use if im gonna play an ice mage🙃

I would also swap out elemental affinity for dual wield - wet enemies take double (normal if resistant) damage anyway, and dual wield gives you the option of going frost/ensnaring staff untill you get to act 3 (ensnaring staff works with ice cc ☺️)

Anywho...very nice and ty

[caseyrs]

I did a similar thing as a druid! They get a good chuck of the ice spells as well, but definitely not as good as wizard.

[jpperron]

Respecced into cold build after starting a/reading up on/ shock stuff in game and realizing shock items were limited to lightning charges. Much happier now haha

[spamfilter]

A great starting race for this build would also be the Dragonborn, either Silver or White for the freezing breath weapon and resistance to cold damage right out of the gate.