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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{{Flavour|A permanent cold front seems to surround this portal. Whatever lives on the other side, they will be full of grim and arctic fury. You note that the archway is melting away.}}
 
 
 
[[File:Ice cave portal.png]] '''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]], [[Shoals]], or [[Spider]], though not all games will have one. These entrances are often guarded by a pack of [[ice beast]]s, [[white imp]]s or [[freezing wraith]]s, and you can tell when you're near one when you see ice-covered floors and walls.
 
  
 
==Layout==
 
==Layout==
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==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
*While [[Fire Magic]] or a [[flaming]] weapon will go a long 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 can damage your health quickly. 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.
+
*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.
 
*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.
 
*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.
*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 blink will get you over them, allowing you to skip much of the level.
+
*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.
 
*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.
 
*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.
*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 [[Confusion]] and [[Enslavement]] 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.
  
 
==Monsters==
 
==Monsters==
 
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
|-
 
|-
 
| {{monsterlink|Yak}} || {{monsterlink|Death yak}} || {{monsterlink|Wolf}} || {{monsterlink|Polar bear}}  
 
| {{monsterlink|Yak}} || {{monsterlink|Death yak}} || {{monsterlink|Wolf}} || {{monsterlink|Polar bear}}  
 
|-
 
|-
| {{monsterlink|Ice beast}} || {{monsterlink|Rime drake}} || {{monsterlink|Ice statue}} || {{monsterlink|Simulacrum}}
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| {{monsterlink|Ice beast}} || {{monsterlink|Rime drake}} || {{monsterlink|Ice statue}} || {{Blue|Z}} [[File:Simulacrum small humanoid.png]] '''[[Simulacrum (monster)|Simulacrum]]'''
 
|-
 
|-
 
| {{monsterlink|Ufetubus}} || {{monsterlink|White imp}} || {{monsterlink|Ice devil}} || {{monsterlink|Freezing wraith}}
 
| {{monsterlink|Ufetubus}} || {{monsterlink|White imp}} || {{monsterlink|Ice devil}} || {{monsterlink|Freezing wraith}}
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==Boss monsters==
 
==Boss monsters==
 
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0;"
 
|-
 
|-
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==History==
 
==History==
*In [[0.14]] Ice cave received fancy new ice block walls and new floor tiles.
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*In [[0.14]], Ice caves received fancy new ice block walls and new floor tiles.
*In [[0.8]] Ice cave was given two difficulty levels, depending on where it was generated in the dungeon.
+
*In [[0.8]], Ice caves were given two difficulty levels, depending on where they are generated in the dungeon.
*Ice cave was added in [[0.5.0]]
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*Ice caves were added in [[0.5]].
  
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{{Portals}}
  
 
[[Category:Portals]]
 
[[Category:Portals]]

Revision as of 22:41, 29 January 2022

Version 0.25: 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. 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 beasts, white imps, ice devils, or even by an ice dragon and 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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 or controlled blinks will get you over them, allowing you to skip much of the level.
  • 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 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

D Ice dragon.png Ice dragon C Frost giant.png Frost giant d White draconian.png White draconian
p Necromancer.png Necromancer u Ugly thing5.png White Ugly thing u Very ugly thing5.png White Very ugly thing
2 Reaper.png Reaper 2 Blizzard demon.png Blizzard demon 1 Ice Fiend.png Ice fiend

History

  • 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
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Peaceful BazaarTreasure trove