Rime's Binding Ice: Stone Cold
Spell Level: 2
School: Evocation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self (30-foot cone)
Duration: Instantaneous
Components: S, M (a vial of meltwater)
A burst of cold energy emanates from you in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 3d8 cold damage and is hindered by ice formations for 1 minute, or until it or another creature within reach of it uses an action to break away the ice. A creature hindered by ice has its speed reduced to 0. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage and isn’t hindered by ice.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, increase the cold damage by 1d8 for each slot level above 2nd.
Review by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold
The ice-wizard fantasy is surprisingly light in 5e. You’ve got Ray of Frost, a mediocre cantrip that’s movement impairment rarely comes up, and Frost Fingers, a worse version of Burning Hands. Now, with Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons, Rime’s Ice Binding is here to finally satisfy your frost mage fantasies in a powerful and engaging way.
3d8 cold damage in a 30 ft. cone is mediocre for a 2nd level spell; you can get more damage out of an up-cast Burning Hands. In exchange for the slight damage dip, you’re getting a wider area affected and an incredibly powerful condition. Freezing creatures in place until they spend actions to move, regardless of size or CR, can debilitate certain enemies. This is a 2nd level spell that throughout all tiers of play can force enemies to waste actions while also dealing solid damage.
5e’s combat is all about action economy; your end goal is to take more actions than the other team to have the best chance at success. Spending one action to both reduce enemy HP and eat their actions can be a massive swing. This won’t debilitate every monster; frenzied goblins that survive the cold may just opt to pull out their shortbow and fire from wherever they’re stuck. If something has a decent ranged option at its disposal, it isn’t majorly affected here, in which case you’re probably better off using a high damage spell instead or a different tool to hinder its actions. Big bads with hordes of tiny helpers may find the condition near pointless, as having one of their two dozen lackeys spend their action to break the big bad free isn’t a huge action cost in that kind of fight. Still, if initiative order puts them before their minions, they’re going to have to deal with having no speed at least once, and that can be all you need.
Rime’s Binding Ice is the perfect execution of the ice mage fantasy. It delivers solid damage while simultaneously applying a meaningful condition that satisfies the “freeze them solid” dream the caster has. If you’re looking for a damage/utility spell hybrid, or are looking for another reason to make cold puns while freezing baddies, Rime’s Binding Ice easily can find a home on your character sheets.
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