Frozen Anguish

Overview

Frozen Anguish is a unique two-handed weapon found inside the Spire of Frost in the Demeniss region. Classified as a longsword, it is widely regarded as one of the most powerful weapons players can obtain during the early chapters of the game. With a base attack of 25, an attack speed bonus, and the Stamina Siphon special effect, the Frozen Anguish gives players a significant damage advantage over anything they would normally have access to at that point in the story.

Despite its name and icy appearance, the Frozen Anguish does not inherently carry a frost element or apply freeze effects to enemies. It is a raw physical damage weapon. The sword also comes with additional equipment slots for Abyss Artifacts, which can be customized at a Witch NPC to further enhance its capabilities.

Obtaining the weapon requires venturing into a harsh frozen environment that inflicts constant cold damage, so players need adequate preparation before attempting the trip. The effort is well worth it, however, as the Frozen Anguish can trivialize many early encounters and remain useful well into the mid-game.

Weapon Stats

The attack value of 25 is considerably higher than most weapons available in the opening chapters. For comparison, the Hwando, another strong two-handed weapon obtainable through normal story progression, reaches approximately 27 to 30 attack only after being refined at a Witch. The Frozen Anguish, by contrast, delivers competitive damage right out of the chest with no upgrades needed.

Stamina Siphon

The Stamina Siphon Lv1 special effect is one of the most valuable passive abilities a weapon can have in early-game combat. It allows the wielder to recover stamina as they land attacks on enemies. This is particularly useful during prolonged encounters and boss fights where stamina management is critical for dodging, blocking, and chaining combos.

Because the Frozen Anguish provides both high raw damage and stamina recovery, players can afford to be more aggressive in combat. The combination of attack speed bonuses and stamina regeneration creates a fluid fighting style where players can maintain constant pressure without running out of stamina for defensive maneuvers.

Location

The Frozen Anguish is found inside the Spire of Frost, a tower structure located in the frozen landscape along the border of Demeniss and Beighen. More precisely, the Spire sits at the southeastern tip of Pailune, accessible by traveling east from Beighen village. The area is part of the broader frozen region sometimes referred to as the Eye of Ice.

The Spire of Frost is not visited as part of any main story quest. It is an entirely optional location that players must seek out on their own. The surrounding area is covered in snow and ice, with hostile undead enemies (Skull Knights) patrolling the approach.

How to Obtain

Reaching the Frozen Anguish is more of a survival challenge than a combat one. The frozen zone around the Spire of Frost inflicts constant cold damage to players who lack sufficient ice resistance. Without proper preparation, health will drain rapidly, potentially killing the player before they even reach the chest.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1. Travel to the frozen region in northern Demeniss, heading toward the Spire of Frost. The tower is visible from a distance due to its height.

2. Approach the Spire from the southern side. You will find a doorway blocked by ice with a stone lantern in front of it.

3. Strike or melt the ice on the lantern. You can do this by using Blinding Flash and pressing the Concentrating Light prompt, or by hitting the lantern with fire-imbued weapons such as spears or arrows.

4. Once the ice melts, press the interaction prompt to light the stone lantern. This causes the hidden door to open.

5. Enter the Spire and look underneath the first set of stairs. There is a treasure chest tucked beneath the staircase, surrounded by blooming flowers.

6. Open the chest to receive the Frozen Anguish and a Refined Palmar Pill.

The weapon can be obtained without lighting all seven lanterns or completing the full Spire puzzle. Players who want to grab the sword and leave can do so immediately after opening the entrance.

Surviving the Cold

The frozen environment around the Spire of Frost deals continuous environmental damage. Players without frost resistance gear will see their health steadily drain. There are several ways to prepare for the trip.

Frost Resistance Gear

• Reindeer Cloak: Provides Level 5 ice resistance, which significantly reduces cold damage. This is one of the best options for the trip.

• Bear Hide Cloak: Crafted from a bear kill, this cloak also provides Level 5 ice resistance. Players who have hunted bears earlier in the game may already have this.

• Frostcursed Plate Cloak: Provides Level 5 frost resistance. This piece can be found at the Sanctum of Expiation in Demeniss, which is along the general route to the Spire. Picking it up on the way is highly recommended.

Food and Consumables

• Stock up on as much healing food as possible. Cooking meals, raw meat, and any health-restoring consumables will keep you alive while the cold chips away at your HP.

• Meat Soup: Purchasable from the Hernand Inn, this consumable provides Level 4 ice resistance and a +520 health bonus, making it an excellent choice for the journey.

• Recovery Items: Bring as many as you can carry. The more food you have, the longer you can stay in the frost zone.

General Tips

• Prioritize speed over thoroughness. Fighting every enemy on the way to the Spire wastes time and resources while cold damage stacks. Sprint past enemies whenever possible.

• Level 5 ice resistance is the threshold for comfortable exploration. Below that, cold damage will be aggressive and require constant healing.

• If you plan to complete the full Spire puzzle (lighting all seven lanterns), bring significantly more supplies than you think you need.

The Spire of Frost

While the Frozen Anguish can be grabbed quickly from the chest under the stairs, the Spire of Frost itself is a larger exploration area with its own puzzle and quest. Players who want to fully explore the tower can complete The Frostwarden side quest by lighting all seven stone lanterns scattered throughout the structure.

The Seven Lanterns

The Spire contains seven stone lanterns that must be lit to complete the puzzle. Each lantern is encased in ice and must be melted using fire before it can be activated. The lanterns are distributed across the interior and exterior of the tower as you climb upward.

1. Entrance lantern (southern door, used to open the Spire)

2. Interior staircase, partway up the spiral

3. Exterior steps, along the outdoor spiral path

4. Upper floor, inside the tower interior

5. Exterior section, continuation of the outer stairs

6. Outer steps, visible after exiting the upper chamber

7. Top chamber, the final lantern near the tower's peak

Rewards for Completing the Spire

Lighting all seven lanterns completes The Frostwarden side quest and grants the following rewards:

• Frostwarden Plate Boots: Quest completion reward

• Frozen Anguish: Found in the chest under the stairs (obtainable without completing the full puzzle)

• Refined Palmar Pill: Also in the chest with the Frozen Anguish

• Access to the Passage of Malice: An Abyss Gate appears in the top chamber after the final lantern is lit. Interacting with it opens the Passage of Malice, the first stage of the Abyss branch connected to this location.

Upon completion, the region surrounding the Spire becomes marked as liberated by the Greymanes faction.

Combat Applications

The Frozen Anguish excels as an early-game powerhouse. Its 25 base attack is higher than most weapons players encounter during the first several chapters, and the Stamina Siphon effect ensures that aggressive playstyles are not punished by stamina depletion. The attack speed bonus further complements this by allowing faster swing combos.

Because the weapon is a two-handed sword, it benefits from the reach and damage multipliers associated with two-handed combat. Players who have invested skill points into two-handed weapon abilities will find the Frozen Anguish pairs well with sweeping attacks that hit multiple enemies.

The two Abyss Artifact slots on the weapon allow for further customization. Players can visit a Witch NPC to socket artifacts that add elemental damage, defensive bonuses, or other passive effects. This flexibility keeps the Frozen Anguish relevant even as players progress into the mid-game and start encountering tougher enemies.

Recommended Pairings

• Elemental Effects: Since the Frozen Anguish has no innate element, players can imbue it with fire, frost, lightning, or wind using elemental skills. This makes it versatile against enemies with specific elemental weaknesses.

• Abyss Cores: Equipping offensive Abyss Cores can amplify the weapon's already high damage output.

• Frost resistance armor: Pairing the Frozen Anguish with ice resistance gear allows players to comfortably farm the frozen regions of Demeniss for additional loot and experience.

Comparison to Other Early Weapons

The Frozen Anguish stands out because it delivers strong damage with no refinement or upgrade investment. The Hwando can surpass it in raw attack after being refined, but this requires materials, time, and visits to a Witch NPC. For players who want immediate power without the grind, the Frozen Anguish is the clear choice.

Trivia

• Despite being found in a frozen tower and having an ice-themed name, the Frozen Anguish does not deal frost damage. This has been a source of confusion among players who expect frost effects from the weapon.

• The Spire of Frost chest also contains a Refined Palmar Pill, a valuable consumable. Players looking to stock up on Palmar Pills can check the How to Get Palmar Pills Fast guide for additional farming methods.

• The weapon is a popular recommendation in the Best Early Weapons community discussions, though some players argue the trip is not worth the effort when the Hwando offers comparable stats through normal progression.

• The Spire of Frost is one of several optional spire locations in the game. Other spires include the Spire of the Stars and the Spire of Soaring, each with their own puzzles and rewards.

Related Articles

• Weapons

• Two-Handed Weapons

• Best Early Weapons

• The Frostwarden

• Ice Resistance

• Demeniss

• Abyss Artifacts

• Gear Refinement

• Stamina

• Frost Element