Ice

Ice is the specialist runeword in Diablo 2 Resurrected for cold-focused bow builds. Created with Amn + Shael + Jah + Lo in missile weapons, this Freezing Arrow powerhouse provides a Level 18 Holy Freeze Aura When Equipped and the game's best cold damage scaling for Amazons specializing in the Frostmaiden archetype.

Purpose-Built for Freezing Arrow

Ice is practically custom-made for Freezing Arrow builds, offering synergistic bonuses that elevate cold damage to extraordinary levels. The combination of +25-30% to Cold Skill Damage and -20% to Enemy Cold Resistance represents an enormous damage multiplier that no other bow can match. When these mods combine with maxed Freezing Arrow and its synergies, Ice produces devastation that rivals caster builds in terms of area-of-effect damage.

The Holy Freeze aura adds critical battlefield control, slowing enemies in a 15.3-yard radius while adding 155-320 cold damage to every arrow. This cold damage applies to Freezing Arrow's explosion radius, spreading freeze effects across entire packs. The 25% Chance to Cast Level 22 Frost Nova on Striking provides additional crowd control, creating layers of freeze that keep enemies perpetually immobilized.

Damage Profile & Trade-offs

Ice provides solid fundamentals with +140-210% Enhanced Damage, Ignore Target's Defense, +20% Increased Attack Speed, and 20% Deadly Strike. However, the physical damage component sits noticeably below Faith or Windforce, making Ice less effective for hybrid physical/cold builds. The 7% Life Stolen Per Hit helps with sustainability, though cold-focused builds rely more on freezing enemies before they become threatening.

The unique 100% Chance to Cast Level 40 Blizzard When You Level Up is more novelty than utility, creating a dramatic visual effect when you gain experience but offering minimal practical benefit. The substantial Gold Find bonus is similarly underwhelming, as Bowazons aren't typically run as gold-finding characters.

The Frost Maiden Build

Ice enables the Frostmaiden—a Freezing Arrow specialist who trades raw damage for unparalleled crowd control and safety. With high Pierce chance (typically 69%+ from skill investment), each Freezing Arrow can trigger multiple explosions as it passes through frozen enemies, creating chain reactions that clear entire screens. This build excels in areas without cold immunes like Ancient Tunnels, Chaos Sanctuary (with Sunder Charm support), and the Secret Cow Level.

The biggest challenge for Ice builds is cold immune enemies. Without a Cold Sunder Charm (ladder-only), even an Infinity mercenary cannot break most cold immunities. This limits farming efficiency in mixed-immunity areas unless you supplement with elemental damage charms or accept slower clear speeds. Sunder Charms dramatically improve Ice's viability by enabling access to Terror Zones and endgame farming routes.

Rune Economics

Ice's rune cost is nearly identical to Faith, requiring both Jah and Lo—two of the game's most valuable runes. The Amn and Shael are easily obtainable, but those high runes represent the same investment that could create Enigma or other top-tier items. This makes Ice a calculated decision: you're committing to a specialized cold build rather than a generalist setup.

Originally a ladder-only runeword, Ice became available in non-ladder after Patch 2.4, democratizing access to this specialized weapon. The variable stats include the cold damage bonus (25-30%) and enhanced damage roll (140-210%), with perfect rolls commanding premium prices.

Best Bases

• Matriarchal Bow - Top choice for Freezing Arrow, faster attack speed helps reach optimal breakpoints with moderate IAS investment
• Grand Matron Bow - Higher physical damage base, useful if incorporating some physical damage strategies
• Diamond Bow - Easier stat requirements, reasonable alternative with good minimum damage consistency

Superior bases with +3 to Bow and Crossbow Skills are highly desirable but difficult to find with exactly 4 sockets, making them expensive investments.

Mercenary Considerations

Frostmaiden builds typically employ an Act 2 mercenary with Infinity to reduce enemy resistances, though Insight remains popular for mana sustain. Some players opt for Act 1 Cold Arrow Rogues with Ice to double down on freeze effects, creating maximum battlefield control at the cost of raw damage.

The Specialist's Choice

Ice isn't for everyone—it's a specialist weapon for players committed to the Frostmaiden playstyle. Those who embrace cold-focused gameplay receive the game's most potent freezing effects, satisfying area-of-effect damage, and battlefield control that makes Hell difficulty feel manageable. Ice transforms Freezing Arrow from a utility skill into a primary killing mechanism, rewarding players who optimize around its strengths with one of D2R's most visually spectacular and tactically sound builds.