Winter’s Embrace

Prerequisite: Winter’s Embrace Rank 12

Cast Time: Instant

Target: Area

Radius: 10 meters

Duration: 8 seconds

Cost: 200 Ultimate

This ability summons a giant storm around the caster, causing nearby enemies to take Frost Damage each second of the spell’s duration. Affected targets also have their movement speed reduced by 70%. Additionally, nearby allies gain Major Protection, reducing incoming damage by 30%.

Sleet Storm offers a great balance of damage and utility, making it a solid choice for any Warden build.

Northern Storm

Your Maximum Magicka is increased by 8% while this ability is slotted.

Permafrost

Targets that suffer three hits of the damage effect are then stunned for three seconds.

Prerequisite: Winter’s Embrace Rank 1

Cast Time: Instant

Target: Area

Radius: 8 meters

Duration: 21 seconds

Cost: 4050 Magicka

This ability wraps a thick cloak of ice around the caster and nearby allies. Affected targets gain Major Resolve, increasing Physical Resistance by 5280, and Major Ward, increasing Spell Resistance by 5280.

Frost Cloak is an excellent defensive ability, making it a great option for Healers, Tanks, and anyone looking for increased survivability. While the Magicka cost might deter some Stamina Wardens, the featured buffs ensure that your chosen build has no effect on Frost Cloak’s usefulness.

Expansive Frost Cloak

This ability features a larger radius and a reduced casting cost.

Ice Fortress

The caster also gains Minor Protection, reducing incoming damage by 8% for the duration of the ability.

Prerequisite: Winter’s Embrace Rank 4

Cast Time: Instant

Target: Area

Radius: 6 meters

Duration: 12 seconds

Cost: 3511 Magicka

This ability calls forth icy shards, dealing Frost Damage to all nearby enemies for 12 seconds; the damage done is based on the caster’s Maximum Health. Affected targets also suffer a 30% decrease to movement speed for three seconds.

Because the damage done by Impaling Shards scales off the caster’s Maximum Health, it’s an excellent area-of-effect attack for dedicated Tanks, and the brief Snare effect makes it a useful tool in PvP situations. It’s also worth noting that one of the available morphs causes damage done to scale based on Maximum Magicka and Spell Damage.

Gripping Shards

Casting this ability also immobilizes nearby enemies for three seconds.

Winter’s Revenge

The ability can now target any location within 28 meters. Damage is now based on the caster’s Maximum Magicka and Spell Damage.

Prerequisite: Winter’s Embrace Rank 20

Cast Time: Instant

Target: Area

Radius: 8 meters

Duration: 10 seconds

Cost: 4321 Magicka

This ability envelops the caster in winter winds, healing 10% of Maximum Health instantly and an additional 2% of Maximum Health every two seconds for 10 seconds.

Because Arctic Wind’s effects scale off the caster’s Maximum Health, this self-heal is an efficient option for heartier builds. It may not match the burst healing offered by other Warden abilities, but it’s a solid choice for overall survivability.

Polar Wind

Casting this ability also heals a nearby ally for 10% of your Maximum Health.

Arctic Blast

The ability also deals Frost Damage to nearby enemies.

Prerequisite: Winder’s Embrace Rank 30

Cast Time: Instant

Target: Self

Duration: 6 seconds

Cost: 2701 Magicka

This ability spins a shield of ice around the caster that can absorb up to three incoming projectiles. Each projectile absorbed restores some of the caster’s Magicka.

Crystalized Shield offers a mix of defense and resource generation that works particularly well in PvP situations, but it’s a good option for any Warden with a focus on survivability.

Crystallized Slab

The shield also returns absorbed projectiles, dealing Frost Damage to the source of the attack.

Shimmering Shield

A successful absorption also provides Major Heroism, granting the caster 3 Ultimate every 1.5 seconds for six seconds.

Prerequisite: Winter’s Embrace Rank 42

Cast Time: Instant

Target: Ground

Range: 28 meters

Radius: 5 meters

Duration: 30 seconds

Cost: 2701 Magicka

This ability summons a portal at the target location. The first enemy to run over the portal is teleported to the caster and rooted for three seconds. The caster can only have one portal at a time, and an active portal vanishes once it’s triggered.

While Frozen Gate can be used as a trap, it can also be placed directly under a target enemy. It’s particularly useful for Tanks who need to keep enemies away from vulnerable allies, but the Snare effect makes it a good crowd-control/support option for any Warden. It’s also worth noting that one of the available morphs features the Frozen Retreat Synergy, allowing allies to teleport directly to the caster.

Frozen Device

The teleported enemy is also afflicted with Major Maim, decreasing damage done by 30% for four seconds.

Frozen Retreat

The gate also grants nearby allies the Frozen Retreat Synergy, allowing them to teleport directly to the caster.