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Frost Mantle - Version 29 vs Version 30
May 23, 2026, 03:50 PM
Added internal wikilinks (2026-05-23)
Jun 8, 2026, 11:44 PM
Removed duplicate in-body wikilinks
11Overview22Frost Mantle is an elemental skill in Crimson Desert, available to Kliff and Damiane. It belongs to the Health (Red) branch of the skill tree. Frost Mantle creates a barrier of frost around the caster, providing defensive protection and dealing frost damage to enemies that come into contact with it. It is one of three elemental skills unlocked through Abyss puzzle challenges.44When activated, Frost Mantle freezes enemies in the immediate area around the player. The skill is activated by holding R2 + Square on PlayStation (or RT + X on Xbox). Unlike a one-time activation, Frost Mantle continuously consumes Spirit while it remains active. This makes it a powerful but resource-intensive defensive tool. Players should manage their Spirit carefully and keep spirit recovery items on hand when relying on it heavily.66Completing the Spire of Ringing Truth grants Frost Mantle and unlocks the Imbue Element capability with Frost. This opens up a wide range of combat options by allowing other skills to carry ice damage and freeze effects. In particular, combining Frost with Turning Slash is widely considered one of the most powerful skill combinations in the game, capable of freezing and instantly shattering enemies in a single move.88While there is no confirmed prerequisite requiring main quest completion, the community recommends completing through the end of chapter 4 before attempting the Frost Mantle unlock path due to the difficulty of the Priscus the Ancient boss fight at the Spire of Ringing Truth.1111Skill Details1313DetailInfoCharactersKliff, DamianeSkill TreeHealth (Red)CategoryElementalSpirit Cost10 Spirit (activation) + continuous drain while activeInputR2 + SquareHow to UnlockFrost Lv 1PrerequisitesFrost Lv. 1Also UnlocksImbue Element (Frost)1515Recommended Preparation1616Before attempting the Spire of Ringing Truth, players should prepare thoroughly. The Spire contains both a boss fight and lengthy puzzle sections, so running out of supplies mid-run can force a restart. The following preparations are highly recommended:1818Equip the Frostcursed Plate armor set: The full Frostcursed Plate set provides frost resistance that is especially helpful inside the Spire. All five pieces (helm, armor, cloak, gloves, and boots) can be found in Demeniss. Most pieces are hidden in waterfall caves that require the Stab ability (R1 + Triangle) to enter, while others are behind vine-covered walls that need Blinding Flash (L1 + R1 + L1) to burn away.Stock up on revive pills: The boss fight against Priscus the Ancient can be punishing, and the puzzle sections afterward are long. Carry several revive pills to avoid losing progress.Bring food and spirit recovery items: Food items restore health over time, while spirit recovery items let you use abilities more freely during the boss encounter. Since the Spire run includes puzzle platforming, combat, and the boss fight all in sequence, having ample consumables is essential.Have a ranged weapon ready: A bow is nearly mandatory. Several sections of the Spire require shooting at distant targets (broken beams, wooden planks), and the boss Priscus is a floating enemy best handled from range. Consider equipping skills like Evasive Shot, Multi-Shot, or Charge Shot before entering.2020How to Unlock Frost Mantle2222Frost Mantle requires unlocking Frost Lv. 1 by completing the Path of Trials, an Abyss challenge accessible through the Spire of Ringing Truth. The Spire is located in western Pailune, situated between the Wayward Woods and Upper Nas River in the Five-Finger Mountain area. It sits just west of the Pylon in Demeniss. This is an optional location that is not visited during any main quest, so players must seek it out on their own. The full route through the Abyss is:2424Travel to the Spire of Ringing Truth in western Pailune.Climb the Spire from the inside and outside, navigating ladders, wooden planks, and platforms.At the top, use your bow to shoot the broken beams supporting the bell, causing it to crash down and reveal the basement entrance.Descend into the basement and defeat Priscus the Ancient, a floating boss. Arrows are the most effective weapon for this fight.Enter the Abyss Gate in the basement after defeating Priscus.Complete the Ether Rest puzzle (first island). Extend the sky bridge to proceed.Cross to Frostbitten Paradise and complete its puzzle.Continue to the Path of Trials and activate the final Abyss Gate. Completing the Path of Trials automatically unlocks Frost Lv. 1, grants Frost Mantle, and awards a skill point.2626After the Path of Trials, the Abyss route continues through the Sanctorum of Darkness and Loop of Life, eventually reaching the Tree of Slumber where Flame Strike is unlocked. Players who want both elemental skills should complete the entire Abyss chain in one run.2828Spire Climbing Section3030The initial challenge is reaching the top of the Spire itself. Climb the wooden ladder at the base, then turn around and jump to the platform behind you. Shoot down the next platform with your bow to create a path. Use the chandelier to cross, then climb the stairs up. Walk to the far side after shooting another platform, continue up a second ladder, cross using narrow wooden planks, and take another ladder up. Near the top, jump to a higher platform, turn right, take the final ladder, and use your bow to shoot the wooden beams holding the bell. The bell crashes through the floor and reveals the way down to the basement.3232Priscus the Ancient Boss Fight3434In the basement of the Spire, you face Priscus the Ancient, a floating enemy from the Delesyia Faction. Because Priscus hovers in the air for much of the fight, melee attacks are often out of reach. A bow is the most reliable tool here. Evasive Shot lets you dodge incoming projectiles while returning fire, Multi-Shot deals consistent chip damage, and Charge Shot delivers heavy single hits during openings.3636Priscus periodically fires a laser projectile. If you have Nature's Snare, you can absorb this projectile and use Nature's Snare Retribution to stagger Priscus, creating a window for heavy damage. During these vulnerable windows, Turning Slash is the highest-damage option for closing out the fight quickly.3838Abyss Puzzle Sections4040After defeating Priscus and entering the Abyss Gate, you face a series of puzzle challenges spread across floating islands. These puzzles include fan mechanisms that blow you across gaps, spinning towers that must be timed correctly, cube-pushing puzzles, light-based puzzles that require redirecting beams, and a lava room that tests your platforming. Each island's puzzle extends a sky bridge to the next area. The puzzles are not combat-heavy but require patience and spatial awareness. Falling off platforms sends you back to the start of that puzzle section.4242Either Rest: Detailed Walkthrough4444At Either Rest, use the fans to glide up to the central structure. Spin the outer gate with Axiom Force, ride the air current, and use Nature's Grasp on the stone structure. Spin the inner structure to reveal the exit, glide up smaller currents, slot the abyss core into the receptacle, and activate the final device.4646Frostbitten Paradise: Detailed Walkthrough4848The Frostbitten Paradise is the trickiest of the three islands. It involves using laser cubes on receptacles in a specific order. Place a laser cube, stand on a button, place a rectangle battery, then place another laser cube. Use the conveyor belt along with the abyss core, retrieve cubes, and bring the battery back to the first room. The goal is to position everything correctly to reach the final room and plug the rectangle battery into the floor socket.5050Path of Trials: Detailed Walkthrough5252The Path of Trials is the third and final island before unlocking Frost Mantle. Unlike the earlier puzzle islands, the Path of Trials is a survival and platforming challenge in extreme cold. The minimap will show an extreme cold status, which slowly drains health, locks off certain abilities, and increases stamina consumption.5454Torch Navigation: The area has scattered torches that warm you up when you stand near them. You must hop between torches to stay alive. If you stay in the extreme cold too long, you will die and restart from the fast travel point. Plan your route between torches before jumping.5656Reaching the Interior: From the starting torches, look east for a platform above you. Triple jump and glide to reach it (you should have enough heat to make it). There is a torch at the top. Enter the cliff opening and turn left to find a room with lava and contraptions. This room contains the key puzzle components.5858Removing the Battery: From the lava room, go back and up the left ice path. At the top is a contraption with a battery slotted in. Stand near the torch to stay warm, then use the Axiom grapple to pull the battery out of its slot. Find the right angle to pull it free. Leave the battery there; you do not need it again.6060Defrosting the Frozen Chip: Return to the lava room and climb the platforms to reach the outside. Near another electrical socket you will find a frozen chip (covered in ice). Grab it, carry it inside, and lower it into one of the lava pots below. You must release your grip on the chip while it is in the lava. Simply holding it over lava does not work. Once released, the ice melts and the chip turns blue, indicating it is now electrically active.6262Placing the Chip: Grab the now-defrosted chip and carry it back to the electrical socket. Slot it in and do a jump punch to lock it in place. This activates the mechanism. Look up for the button on the wall and either Axiom-grab and punch it, or climb up to it.6464Final Ascent: After pressing the button, triple jump into the sky and climb to the top of the tower. The ice debuff will drain your stamina, but with 5 stamina levels you should just barely make it to the top. At the summit, you automatically receive your reward and unlock Frost Mantle.6666Abyss Island Sequence6868After defeating Priscus the Ancient at the Spire of Ringing Truth, three abyss islands must be completed in order:7070Either Rest (first island)Frostbitten Paradise (second island, the trickiest of the three)Path of Trials (third island, relatively quick)7272Skill Effect7474Activating Frost Mantle surrounds the character with a frost barrier that serves both defensive and offensive purposes. The barrier absorbs a portion of incoming damage and deals frost damage to enemies that enter its radius. The frost effect can also slow and freeze enemies, reducing their attack speed and movement. When enemies are frozen, they become vulnerable to follow-up attacks and can be shattered by high-damage skills.7676Unlike instant-cast abilities, Frost Mantle is a sustained skill. Holding the activation input (R2 + Square or RT + X) keeps the frost barrier active, but it continuously drains Spirit. The initial cast costs 10 Spirit, and the drain continues for as long as the barrier is maintained. Because of this, Frost Mantle works best as a short defensive burst rather than a permanent buff. Activate it when surrounded by multiple enemies to freeze them in place, then release to conserve Spirit before your bar empties.7878Additionally, unlocking Frost Lv. 1 enables Frost as an option for Imbue Element. When Frost is imbued, weapon attacks carry additional frost damage and can freeze enemies on hit. This extends the ice theme beyond Frost Mantle itself and opens up devastating combos with other skills.8080Frost Imbue and Elemental Turning Slash8282Completing the Path of Trials and unlocking Frost Lv. 1 does more than just grant Frost Mantle. It also unlocks the Frost element for the Imbue Element skill. Imbue Element allows you to apply elemental effects to your weapon during combat, and with Frost active, your melee attacks deal bonus ice damage and have a chance to freeze targets.8484Once you level Imbue Element to Lv. 1, it automatically unlocks Elemental Turning Slash. This powerful variant of Turning Slash can be triggered by pressing L2 + R2 during a normal Turning Slash. When combined with the Frost element, Elemental Turning Slash unleashes a devastating ice-infused spin attack that can freeze every enemy it hits. Frozen targets are then shattered by the same attack's damage, often killing them outright.8686The combination of Frost imbue and Turning Slash is widely considered the most powerful skill synergy in the game. In the "Ice King" build popularized by the community, players focus on maximizing Frost Mantle for defense while using Elemental Turning Slash with Frost imbue as their primary damage tool. Against groups of enemies, a single Frost-imbued Turning Slash can freeze and eliminate an entire crowd in one move.8888Ice King Build9090The "Ice King" build is a popular combat setup that centers on Frost Mantle and the Frost element. It combines defensive frost barriers with devastating ice-imbued attacks for a well-rounded playstyle that excels in both survivability and area damage. The core components are:9292ComponentRoleFrost MantlePrimary defense; freezes nearby enemies when activatedImbue Element (Frost)Applies frost damage and freeze chance to all melee attacksElemental Turning SlashMain damage skill; freezes and shatters groups of enemiesFrostcursed Plate ArmorFull set provides frost resistance and complements the ice themeBow (ranged)Handles flying enemies and ranged encounters; Charge Shot for burst damage9494The basic gameplay loop for this build is to engage groups by activating Frost Mantle to freeze nearby threats, then follow up with a Frost-imbued Turning Slash to shatter everything in range. Against tougher enemies and bosses, use Frost Mantle defensively when surrounded, and save your Spirit for Elemental Turning Slash bursts during vulnerability windows.9595Related Skill: Nature Snare9797The Nature Snare skill, which is useful for the Priscus the Ancient boss fight, is unlocked via Keen Senses Lv. 3, Focus Lv. 2, and 1 Abyss Artifact. To use it, enter focus mode and look around in a circular motion to create a vortex. This vortex activates fan devices in the environment and can stagger airborne enemies like Priscus.9999Combat Tips101101Frost Mantle is one of the best defensive skills in the game because it provides both protection and passive damage. Activate it when you are surrounded by multiple enemies to freeze them in place, giving yourself breathing room to reposition or line up a powerful follow-up attack.Because Frost Mantle continuously drains Spirit while active, treat it as a short defensive burst rather than a permanent shield. Activate it, freeze the enemies around you, then release and follow up with Turning Slash or other high-damage skills before they thaw.The frost barrier is particularly useful when fighting in cold environments like the Salisian Mountains, where enemies already have reduced resistance to frost effects.At 10 Spirit per activation plus the ongoing drain, Spirit management is important. Pair Frost Mantle with Focus to regenerate Spirit more quickly. Keep spirit recovery consumables in your inventory as a safety net for extended encounters.Use Frost Mantle as a gap-filler between combos. The passive damage from the barrier continues to chip at enemies while you reposition or heal.Frost Mantle pairs exceptionally well with Imbue Element (Frost) for a full frost-themed build. The barrier freezes enemies in your immediate area while imbued weapon attacks add frost damage and freeze chance to every melee swing. Combined with Elemental Turning Slash, this setup can clear entire groups of enemies in seconds.The frost barrier is equally useful for both Kliff and Damiane. Kliff benefits from the added defense during sword-and-shield play, while Damiane can use it to supplement her rapier's low defensive options.Against bosses that have AoE attacks, pop Frost Mantle just before the hit lands. Even if the boss is too strong to freeze, the barrier absorbs damage and can slow the boss's follow-up attacks, giving you more time to dodge.103103Comparison with Other Elemental Skills105105Elemental SkillCharacter(s)TypeUnlock LocationFrost MantleKliff, DamianeDefensive barrier + frost damagePath of Trials (Spire of Ringing Truth, Pailune)Flame StrikeKliffOffensive fire burstTree of SlumberLightning StrikeDamianeElectric burst + staggerCourtyard of Precision (Spire of the Stars)107107Build Importance108108The Frost Mantle is considered one of the most important equipment pieces for Cliff's build. Players who focus on elemental attacks will find this item essential for their playstyle, as it significantly enhances frost-based damage output and synergizes with cold-element abyss gears.110110How to Obtain112112The Frost Mantle is obtained through the Abyss content. Specifically, you must solve the puzzle that unlocks elemental attacks within the Abyss dungeon system. This puzzle is tied to the progression path that also opens up the Elemental Force Palm and other elemental abilities.114114For a full breakdown of the Abyss gear acquisition process, see the Abyss Gear article. Players looking to optimize their skill tree around frost and elemental damage should prioritize obtaining the Frost Mantle early in their Abyss progression.116116Rebirth Cliff XP and Abyss Artifact Farm118118Frost Mantle anchors the highest-throughput Abyss Artifact and XP loop currently known to the community: the Rebirth Cliff archer line south of Demeniss. The full setup and step-by-step loop are written up under the Abyss Artifacts Farming Guide entry for the loop. The piece worth flagging on this page is that Frost Mantle is the centerpiece of the run. The Right Trigger shatter version of the skill catches the entire cliff archer line in one swing and ends each archer in a single hit when paired with the Shaoran Frost Abyss Gear and the Frost element.120120The loop works on all three playable characters, which matches the skill's availability. Frost Mantle is unlocked on Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka through the same Spire of Ringing Truth unlock described above, so a single account that has cleared the Spire on the active character is ready to farm. The per-character 100 Abyss Artifact cap on the XP bar source rewards rotating through all three characters, since each character's bar resets independently and the cliff archers respect each character's progress.122122Required Gear Stack124124SlotPickWhyActive ElementFrostFrost Mantle's shatter swing only one-shots the cliff archers when Frost is the active element.SkillFrost Mantle (Right Trigger shatter)The held shatter pulse is the area-of-effect swing that catches the line.Damage Abyss GearShaoran FrostExtracted from the Icewing Plate Armor reward of House Celeste's Frozen Outertale quest. Slot onto your farming armor.XP Abyss GearShadow Frost (Attitude family)Optional but doubles XP gain per loop. Stack alongside Shaoran Frost when both are available.PetBird PetAuto-loots the cliff line so no manual ground sweep is needed.126126Refinement on the farming armor does not matter for the cliff archers. The Shaoran Frost gear carries the damage, and a base-tier armor set is reported to one-shot them just as cleanly as a refined one.127127Quest Gate129129Frost Mantle itself unlocks at the Spire of Ringing Truth, but the Shaoran Frost Abyss Gear is gated behind House Celeste's Frozen Outertale quest. Frozen Outertale sits at the end of a long faction chain that runs through House Alfonso, House Circus, House Felix, House Grace, the Vellua Fishermen's Guild, and the Beggars' Alliance. The full step-by-step path is laid out under Abyss Artifacts Farming Guide under the Frozen Outertale Quest Chain section. Players who have only just unlocked Frost Mantle but never touched the House Celeste bounty board will need to back-fill that chain before the farm is available.131131Lockout133133The community-reported lockout for the cliff loop is the main quest Shackled God: the Saeran Great Serpent. The cliff archers have been reported to despawn after that mission resolves, ending the loop on that save. The exact trigger has not been independently confirmed for every account, but the safe call is to hold a save from before the final step of Shackled God: the Saeran Great Serpent if Rebirth Cliff is in the long-term plan. The serpent body the archers fire at is part of Aeserion, the Great Serpent, which is the in-world entity tied to the mission.135135Why It Matters for Frost Mantle's Tier137137The community tier rating for Frost Mantle leans heavily on boss parry windows, where Shattering Frost interrupts unparriable charge attacks. The Rebirth Cliff loop adds a second axis: a farming role that is unmatched at its niche. No other elemental skill currently turns a cliff line into a one-swing wipe with the same reset cadence, which is part of why Frost Mantle stays at the top of the conversation through patch cycles even when other elemental skills receive damage buffs.139139See Also141141SkillsImbue ElementElemental Turning SlashTurning SlashSpire of Ringing TruthPriscus the AncientFrostcursed PlateKliff SkillsDamiane SkillsElemental EffectsElemental SkillsCombat System143143Community Tier Rating145145Frost Mantle is widely considered one of the best skills in Crimson Desert, largely because of how it behaves against bosses. Unlike Lightning Surge, which asks Kliff to stand still and eat damage while the electric pulse channels, Frost Mantle functions as a large-window parry. The window size scales with the Spirit bar, so a full bar effectively covers a long boss combo. Successful parries reflect shards of ice outward, adding a small but steady damage contribution while opening enormous counter-attack windows.147147Tier placement: A tier overall, and in the conversation for best boss skill. Ice is not the S tier element (that honor goes to fire), but Frost Mantle alone puts ice just behind fire in most rankings. Against mob groups, Frost Hail and Shattering Frost add freeze procs that lock trash and elites in place, giving ice roughly A tier utility on top of the parry skill. Bosses resist freeze almost universally, so the tier-defining value is Frost Mantle itself.149149Best Use Cases151151Frost Mantle earns its tier rating in boss phases, where the parry window and ice shard reflect combine into the most reliable defensive option in the game. It is also a strong panic button for mob encounters, but the parry scaling means it is genuinely best reserved for named fights.153153Use regardless of active element. Frost Mantle, like Storm Veil, is tied to unlocking an element (Ice Lv. 1) but can be cast with any active imbue. This means a player running a fire imbue build with Flame Strike and Volcanic Eruption can still press Frost Mantle during boss fights for the parry without losing fire damage on the active element slot. This cross-element rule is the single reason most advanced builds unlock ice even when running fire as the main damage element.Boss parry. Against named bosses, build Spirit before committing to a parry attempt. A near-full Spirit bar opens a large enough window to cover almost any combo. Upon a successful parry, follow with a fire-imbued Turning Slash or a charged heavy for maximum payoff during the stagger window.Mob freeze. When Ice is the active imbue, Frost Hail and Shattering Frost proc freeze on trash mobs reliably. Frost Mantle is less important in these encounters, but still functions as a safety parry if several mobs line up an attack at once.Not a cure-all. Red-glow, unparriable attacks still cannot be countered with Frost Mantle. Dodge through those and save the parry for standard combos. A wasted Frost Mantle against an unparriable attack is a wasted Spirit bar and a huge opening for the boss.Pair with ice imbue for mob farming. Run Ice as the active element in mob-heavy zones. Shattering Frost freezes clusters, Frost Mantle covers any attack that slips through, and Turning Slash finishes frozen targets in one swing. Swap to fire or ice imbue per content without respeccing.
