Difference between revisions of "Ice cave"

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{{flavour|A desolate cavern shaped from solid ice and filled with the echoes of bestial howls. The intricate carvings and statues which once lined its walls have been warped and obscured by centuries of slow melting and refreezing.}}
 
{{flavour|A desolate cavern shaped from solid ice and filled with the echoes of bestial howls. The intricate carvings and statues which once lined its walls have been warped and obscured by centuries of slow melting and refreezing.}}
  
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[[File:Ice cave portal.png]] The '''Ice cave''' is a temporary sub-[[branch]] of varying difficulty, filled with frost-themed (and sometimes [[undead]] or [[demon]]ic) creatures. Easier Ice Caves can be found on [[Dungeon]] levels 11-15, [[the Lair]] and [[the Orcish Mines]], while harder versions appear in [[the Elven Halls]], [[Swamp]], [[Snake Pit]], [[Shoals]], or [[Spider's Nest]], though not all games will have one. These entrances are often guarded by a pack of [[ice beast]]s, [[white imp]]s, [[ice devil]]s, or even by an [[ice dragon]] and you can tell when you're near one when you see ice-covered floors and walls.
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[[File:Ice cave portal.png]] The '''Ice cave''' is a temporary sub-[[branch]] of varying difficulty, filled with frost-themed (and sometimes [[undead]] or [[demon]]ic) creatures.  
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* "Easy" ice caves can be found on [[Dungeon]] levels 11-13, [[Lair]], and [[Orc]].
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* "Hard" ice caves can be found on [[Dungeon]] levels 14-15, [[Elf]], and the Lair branches ([[Swamp]], [[Snake Pit]], [[Shoals]], or [[Spider's Nest]]).
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These entrances are often guarded by a pack of [[ice beast]]s, [[white imp]]s, [[ice devil]]s, or even by an [[ice dragon]]. You can tell when you're near one when you see ice-covered floors and walls.
  
 
==Layout==
 
==Layout==
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==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
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*While [[Fire Magic]] or a [[flaming]] weapon will go a long way toward wiping out anything you find in the caves, having [[cold resistance]] is much more important. Without it, almost all enemies will be dealing significant amounts of extra damage to you, and walking through freezing clouds without resistance is quickly and horribly lethal. Fortunately for those who come in without rC+++, much of the equipment you find will provide cold resistance. Unfortunately, most of this equipment can only be found at the very end of the cave.
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* [[Fire Magic]] or a [[flaming]] weapon can go a long way towards killing ice-themed monsters, but you'll always want to have [[cold resistance]]. Without it, almost all enemies deal significantly more damage. [[Simulacra]] deal massive damage, walking through ice clouds is quickly lethal, and boss enemies are even scarier. "Easy" ice caves can spawn with a [[frost giant]], while "Hard" ice caves can spawn [[ice fiend]]s or even a [[shard shrike]].
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*If you have [[Mephitic Cloud]] and [[poison]] resistance, a safe way past areas with freezing clouds is to place mephitic clouds in empty tiles and only walk on them; new clouds cannot form in tiles that already have another kind of cloud. If you have [[scrolls of fog]] to spare (or the [[cloak of the Thief]]), simple fog clouds also work nicely.
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* Clouds cannot replace other clouds. If you have [[Mephitic Cloud]] and [[poison]] resistance, you can place a mephitic cloud to prevent freezing vapours from spawning. In a pinch, a [[scroll of fog]] or [[scroll of poison]] can be used instead.
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*Use [[wands of digging]] to get past areas guarded by [[ice statue]]s or to bypass freezing cloud zones. Many ice caves have rivers of deep water designed to make you walk the long way around, but flight or controlled blinks will get you over them, allowing you to skip much of the level.
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* You can use [[wands of digging]] to get past areas guarded by [[ice statue]]s, or to bypass freezing cloud zones. Many ice caves have rivers of deep water designed to make you walk the long way around, but [[flight]] will get you over them, allowing you to skip much of the level.
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*If you start encountering powerful demons midway through your explorations, be aware that an [[Ice fiend]] is probably waiting for you at the end, along with a pack of [[simulacra]] and [[ice devil]]s. Act cautiously from this point on! You don't want to enter melee with the Ice fiend if you have any alternative, but getting mobbed by its friends while it torments you can be just as deadly. Lure enemies into combat one at a time as best you can, and don't be afraid to run or teleport away if need be: discretion is the better part of valor.
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*If you start encountering powerful demons midway through a hard ice cave, be aware that an [[ice fiend]] is probably waiting for you at the end, along with a pack of [[simulacra]] and [[ice devil]]s. Act cautiously from this point on! You don't want to enter melee with the Ice fiend if you have any alternative, but getting mobbed by its friends while it torments you can be just as deadly. Lure enemies into combat one at a time as best you can, and don't be afraid to run or teleport away if need be: discretion is the better part of valor.
 
*Characters who specialize in [[Hexes]] and [[Stabbing]] ([[spriggan]] [[enchanter]]s, for instance) should bear in mind that monsters with cold resistance are immune to [[Ensorcelled Hibernation]]. Stick with [[Confusing Touch]] or use [[net]]s instead.
 
*Characters who specialize in [[Hexes]] and [[Stabbing]] ([[spriggan]] [[enchanter]]s, for instance) should bear in mind that monsters with cold resistance are immune to [[Ensorcelled Hibernation]]. Stick with [[Confusing Touch]] or use [[net]]s instead.
  
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==Boss monsters==
 
==Boss monsters==
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'''Easy'''
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{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
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|-
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| {{White|u}} [[File:Ugly_thing5.png]] '''White [[ugly thing]]''' ||  {{White|p}} [[File:Necromancer_(monster).png]] '''[[Necromancer_(monster)|Necromancer]]''' || {{White|u}} [[File:Very_ugly_thing5.png]] '''White [[very ugly thing]]'''
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|-
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| {{monsterlink|Ice dragon}} || {{monsterlink|White draconian}} || {{monsterlink|Bog body}}
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|-
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| {{monsterlink|Reaper}} || {{monsterlink|Ironbound frostheart}} || {{monsterlink|Frost giant}}
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|}
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'''Hard'''
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
|-
 
|-
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| {{monsterlink|Ice dragon}} || {{monsterlink|Frost giant}} || {{monsterlink|White draconian}}
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| {{monsterlink|Bog body}} || {{White|u}} [[File:Very_ugly_thing5.png]] '''White [[very ugly thing]]''' || {{monsterlink|White draconian}} || {{White|d}} [[File:White_draconian.png]] '''White [[draconian knight]]'''
 
|-
 
|-
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| {{White|p}} [[File:Necromancer_(monster).png]] '''[[Necromancer_(monster)|Necromancer]]''' || {{White|u}} [[File:Ugly_thing5.png]] '''White [[Ugly thing]]''' || {{White|u}} [[File:Very_ugly_thing5.png]] '''White [[Very ugly thing]]''' 
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| {{monsterlink|Blizzard demon}} || {{monsterlink|Frost giant}} || {{monsterlink|Reaper}} || {{monsterlink|Azure jelly}}
 
|-
 
|-
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| {{monsterlink|Reaper}} || {{monsterlink|Blizzard demon}} || {{monsterlink|Ice fiend}}  
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| {{monsterlink|Golden dragon}} || {{monsterlink|Lich}} || {{monsterlink|Ice fiend}} || {{monsterlink|Shard shrike}}
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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*In [[0.27]], ice caves were adjusted. Hard ice caves no longer appear on D:14-D:15. Many maps were adjusted.
 
*In [[0.14]], Ice caves received fancy new ice block walls and new floor tiles.
 
*In [[0.14]], Ice caves received fancy new ice block walls and new floor tiles.
 
*In [[0.8]], Ice caves were given two difficulty levels, depending on where they are generated in the dungeon.
 
*In [[0.8]], Ice caves were given two difficulty levels, depending on where they are generated in the dungeon.

Revision as of 13:35, 16 June 2023

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
A desolate cavern shaped from solid ice and filled with the echoes of bestial howls. The intricate carvings and statues which once lined its walls have been warped and obscured by centuries of slow melting and refreezing.

Ice cave portal.png The Ice cave is a temporary sub-branch of varying difficulty, filled with frost-themed (and sometimes undead or demonic) creatures.

These entrances are often guarded by a pack of ice beasts, white imps, ice devils, or even by an ice dragon. You can tell when you're near one when you see ice-covered floors and walls.

Layout

There are many different layouts possible for the ice cave. A common simple one is a series of large rooms, each of which is defended by ice beasts or ice statues. An even shorter, simpler one tosses you into one large room filled with foes which has a strangely colored tile in the middle of the room. Stepping on it will teleport you to an identical chamber with even more guards. More elaborate ice caves will be long, narrow tunnels, often choked with harmful freezing clouds and concluded with a well-defended stone structure. In all cases, the majority of the loot will be found in the very back of the cave, though lesser caches can sometimes be found along the way.

Strategy

  • Fire Magic or a flaming weapon can go a long way towards killing ice-themed monsters, but you'll always want to have cold resistance. Without it, almost all enemies deal significantly more damage. Simulacra deal massive damage, walking through ice clouds is quickly lethal, and boss enemies are even scarier. "Easy" ice caves can spawn with a frost giant, while "Hard" ice caves can spawn ice fiends or even a shard shrike.
  • Clouds cannot replace other clouds. If you have Mephitic Cloud and poison resistance, you can place a mephitic cloud to prevent freezing vapours from spawning. In a pinch, a scroll of fog or scroll of poison can be used instead.
  • You can use wands of digging to get past areas guarded by ice statues, or to bypass freezing cloud zones. Many ice caves have rivers of deep water designed to make you walk the long way around, but flight will get you over them, allowing you to skip much of the level.
  • If you start encountering powerful demons midway through a hard ice cave, be aware that an ice fiend is probably waiting for you at the end, along with a pack of simulacra and ice devils. Act cautiously from this point on! You don't want to enter melee with the Ice fiend if you have any alternative, but getting mobbed by its friends while it torments you can be just as deadly. Lure enemies into combat one at a time as best you can, and don't be afraid to run or teleport away if need be: discretion is the better part of valor.
  • Characters who specialize in Hexes and Stabbing (spriggan enchanters, for instance) should bear in mind that monsters with cold resistance are immune to Ensorcelled Hibernation. Stick with Confusing Touch or use nets instead.

Monsters

Y Yak.png Yak Y Death yak.png Death yak h Wolf.png Wolf h Polar bear.png Polar bear
Y Ice beast.png Ice beast k Rime drake.png Rime drake 8 Ice statue.png Ice statue Z Simulacrum small humanoid.png Simulacrum
5 Ufetubus.png Ufetubus 5 White imp.png White imp 4 Ice devil.png Ice devil W Freezing wraith.png Freezing wraith

Boss monsters

Easy

u Ugly thing5.png White ugly thing p Necromancer.png Necromancer u Very ugly thing5.png White very ugly thing
D Ice dragon.png Ice dragon d White draconian.png White draconian n Bog body.png Bog body
2 Reaper.png Reaper p Ironbound frostheart.png Ironbound frostheart C Frost giant.png Frost giant

Hard

n Bog body.png Bog body u Very ugly thing5.png White very ugly thing d White draconian.png White draconian d White draconian.png White draconian knight
2 Blizzard demon.png Blizzard demon C Frost giant.png Frost giant 2 Reaper.png Reaper J Azure jelly.png Azure jelly
D Golden dragon.png Golden dragon L Lich.png Lich 1 Ice Fiend.png Ice fiend b Shard shrike.png Shard shrike

History

  • In 0.27, ice caves were adjusted. Hard ice caves no longer appear on D:14-D:15. Many maps were adjusted.
  • In 0.14, Ice caves received fancy new ice block walls and new floor tiles.
  • In 0.8, Ice caves were given two difficulty levels, depending on where they are generated in the dungeon.
  • Ice caves were added in 0.5.
Temporary Portals
Early Game Ossuary • Sewers
Mid Game Bailey • Gauntlet • Ice cave • Volcano
Late Game Desolation of Salt • Wizard Laboratory • Ziggurat (Mega-Zig)
Peaceful Bazaar • Treasure trove
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