Frost Brand - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ word choice

2026-07-02T00:56:22Z

‎Description: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ astral

2026-07-01T12:38:57Z

‎Generation: astral

Umbire the Phantom: nh5 updates

2026-06-28T05:07:05Z

nh5 updates

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ match up with Fire Brand

2026-06-28T03:51:32Z

‎Variants: match up with Fire Brand

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ fix up

2026-06-26T12:57:47Z

‎Variants: fix up

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ same as fire brand

2026-06-21T15:20:21Z

‎Variants: same as fire brand

Umbire the Phantom: temp

2026-06-04T18:32:23Z

temp

Umbire the Phantom: ditto

2025-10-12T02:49:13Z

ditto

Umbire the Phantom: /* Encyclopedia */ ditto

2025-10-12T02:44:45Z

‎Encyclopedia: ditto

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ tweaks

2025-10-07T19:34:02Z

‎dNetHack: tweaks

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 ==Description==
-While [[wielded]], Frost Brand grants [[cold resistance]] that has a {{frac|99|100}} chance per item of preventing the wielder's open [[inventory]] from being frozen, and it has a +1d5 [[to-hit]] bonus and deals [[double damage]] against monsters without cold resistance{{refsrc|src/zap.c|5685-L5689|nethack=5.0.0|name="prot_item"|comment=protection via extrinsic resistances}}&mdash;the [[cold]] damage has a {{frac|4}} chance of freezing and destroying [[potion]]s in the target's open inventory.{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|1506-L1511|nethack=5.0.0}}
+While [[wielded]], Frost Brand grants [[cold resistance]] that has a {{frac|99|100}} chance per item of preventing the wielder's open [[inventory]] from being frozen.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|5685-L5689|nethack=5.0.0|name="prot_item"|comment=protection via extrinsic resistances}} As a weapon, the artifact has a +1d5 [[to-hit]] bonus and deals [[double damage]] against monsters without cold resistance&mdash;the [[cold]] damage has a {{frac|4}} chance of freezing and destroying [[potion]]s in the target's open inventory.{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|1506-L1511|nethack=5.0.0}}
 A hero [[invoking]] Frost Brand can cast an Expert [[skill]] {{+ of|cone of cold}} spell at a targeted square.{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|2039-L2051|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>invoke_storm_spell()</tt> function}}{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|2169-L2171|nethack=5.0.0}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:38, 1 July 2026
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	Frost Brand can be given to any [[hero]] as a [[sacrifice gift]] for a sacrifice with a value of 9 or higher{{refsrc\|include/artilist.h\|151\|nethack=5.0.0}}—Frost Brand will not have anything added to its [[enchantment]] when randomly generated or given as a sacrifice gift, and heroes that do not have a guaranteed first gift are less likely to be gifted Frost Brand compared to a co-aligned artifact.		Frost Brand can be given to any [[hero]] as a [[sacrifice gift]] for a sacrifice with a value of 9 or higher{{refsrc\|include/artilist.h\|151\|nethack=5.0.0}}—Frost Brand will not have anything added to its [[enchantment]] when randomly generated or given as a sacrifice gift, and heroes that do not have a guaranteed first gift are less likely to be gifted Frost Brand compared to a co-aligned artifact.
		+
		+	[[Player monster]]s on the [[Astral Plane]] that generate with a long sword have a {{frac\|2}} chance of that mace being turned into a compatible artifact, which then has a {{frac\|5}} chance of being made into Frost Brand if no artifact long swords have been generated.{{refsrc\|src/mplayer.c\|264-L266\|nethack=5.0.0\|comment=Artifact generation for Astral Plane player monsters}}

	==Description==		==Description==

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 ==Generation==
-A long sword randomly generated on the ground (including in a [[shop]]) or as a [[death drop]] has a base {{frac|20}} chance of being made into an artifact, which has a {{frac|6}} chance of being made into Frost Brand, assuming no artifact long swords have been generated. Frost Brand can be given to any [[hero]] as a [[sacrifice gift]], though it will never be the first one given.
+A long sword randomly generated on the ground (including in a [[shop]]) or as a [[death drop]] has a base {{frac|20}} chance of being made into an artifact, which then has a {{frac|5}} chance of being made into Frost Brand if no artifact long swords have been generated.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|889-L893|nethack=5.0.0|comment=artifact generation}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|b1a5a9c3903a0282f82787d20fd70f13196e2465}}, [[Demonbane]]'s base item is a changed to a [[mace]], so any long sword made into an artifact has a {{frac|5}} chance of being made into Frost Brand.
+Frost Brand can be given to any [[hero]] as a [[sacrifice gift]] for a sacrifice with a value of 9 or higher{{refsrc|include/artilist.h|151|nethack=5.0.0}}&mdash;Frost Brand will not have anything added to its [[enchantment]] when randomly generated or given as a sacrifice gift, and heroes that do not have a guaranteed first gift are less likely to be gifted Frost Brand compared to a co-aligned artifact.
 ==Description==
-While [[wielded]], Frost Brand grants [[cold resistance]], and has a +1d5 [[to-hit]] bonus and deals [[double damage]] against monsters without cold resistance&mdash;the [[cold]] damage may also destroy [[potion]]s in the target's open inventory upon hitting.
+While [[wielded]], Frost Brand grants [[cold resistance]] that has a {{frac|99|100}} chance per item of preventing the wielder's open [[inventory]] from being frozen, and it has a +1d5 [[to-hit]] bonus and deals [[double damage]] against monsters without cold resistance{{refsrc|src/zap.c|5685-L5689|nethack=5.0.0|name="prot_item"|comment=protection via extrinsic resistances}}&mdash;the [[cold]] damage has a {{frac|4}} chance of freezing and destroying [[potion]]s in the target's open inventory.{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|1506-L1511|nethack=5.0.0}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|85de51a69a5e4aa3ac0256ef3ab4aca07ef6e973}}, [[invoking]] Frost Brand casts an Expert [[skill]] {{+ of|cone of cold}} spell at a targeted square.}}
+A hero [[invoking]] Frost Brand can cast an Expert [[skill]] {{+ of|cone of cold}} spell at a targeted square.{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|2039-L2051|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>invoke_storm_spell()</tt> function}}{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|2169-L2171|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Strategy==
-Frost Brand is more popular than its counterpart Fire Brand, due to many of [[Gehennom]]'s denizens being [[Fire resistance|fire-resistant]] [[M2_DEMON|demons]] whose [[vulnerability]] can be exploited by the artifact, and it also does not destroy as much valuable loot when used to attack. Frost Brand makes an excellent artifact to utilize as a main weapon in the long term, and is considered the best artifact weapon to have for Gehennom after [[Grayswandir]]: it deals slightly more damage on average against non-resistant large monsters that are not weak to [[silver]], though Grayswandir naturally still has the advantage against silver-hating large monsters.
+Frost Brand is more popular than its counterpart Fire Brand, due to many of [[Gehennom]]'s denizens being [[Fire resistance|fire-resistant]] [[major demon]]s whose [[vulnerability]] can be exploited by the artifact, and it also does not destroy as much valuable loot when used to attack. Frost Brand makes an excellent artifact to utilize as a main weapon in the long term, and is considered the best artifact weapon to have for Gehennom after [[Grayswandir]]: it deals slightly more damage on average against non-resistant large monsters that are not weak to [[silver]], though Grayswandir naturally still has the advantage against silver-hating large monsters.
-Frost Brand is also weaker than Grayswandir and sometimes even Fire Brand on the [[Astral Plane]], whose denizens will most often resist cold damage but do not always resist [[Fire (element)|fire]]&mdash;at this point, however, the hero is nearing the finish line and will prefer clearing paths to the high altar, rather than becoming bogged down in combat unless it becomes absolutely necessary.
+Frost Brand is also weaker than Grayswandir and sometimes even Fire Brand on the [[Astral Plane]], whose denizens will most often resist cold damage but do not always resist fire&mdash;however, the hero is nearing the finish line at this point, and will prefer clearing paths to the high altar rather than becoming bogged down in combat (unless it becomes absolutely necessary).
 ===Average damage calculation===
@@ Line 54: / Line 50: @@
 ==History==
-Frost Brand is introduced alongside Frost Brand in [[NetHack 3.0.0]].
+Frost Brand is introduced alongside Frost Brand in [[NetHack 3.0.0]]. From [[NetHack 3.0.3]]&ndash;which introduces alignments for artifacts&ndash;to [[NetHack 3.2.3]], Frost Brand is neutral&mdash;[[NetHack 3.3.0]] makes Frost Brand non-aligned.
-From [[NetHack 3.1.0]] to [[NetHack 3.2.3]], Frost Brand is neutral-aligned - Frost Brand and Fire Brand become unaligned in [[NetHack 3.3.0]].
+[[NetHack 5.0.0]] reworks artifact balance and sacrifice gifts to their current behavior via {{commit|d87cadaf73f8ebbfbeb04c1b64249ff6d966d2d6}} and {{commit|c2c797fa357bef663fa3d962850196350a9cdb3b}}. This version also grants Frost Brand its invoked ability via {{commit|85de51a69a5e4aa3ac0256ef3ab4aca07ef6e973}}
 ==Messages==
-{{message|The ice-cold blade <hits/freezes> <you/the monster>!|Frost Brand was used to attack a hero or monster, with "hits" used only if the target has cold resistance.}}
+{{message|The ice-cold blade freezes <you/the monster>!|Fire Brand was used to attack a hero or monster.{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|1503-L1505|nethack=5.0.0}}}}
 ==Variants==
@@ Line 105: / Line 104: @@
 |[ Fire and Ice, by Robert Frost ]
 }}
-{{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Artifact weapons]]

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 ==Variants==
-Some [[variants]] of ''NetHack'' enable a hero to pair Frost Brand with Fire Brand in some manner, and may even change the weapon types that both artifacts can generate as.
+Some [[variants]] of ''NetHack'' enable a hero to pair Frost Brand with Fire Brand in some manner, and may even change the weapon types that both artifacts can generate as. Variants created prior to NetHack 5.0.0 may not include the engraving and invoking abilities from that version.
 ===NetHack: The Next Generation===
 In [[NetHack: The Next Generation]], Frost Brand is one of the artifacts that can be created by [[Duri]] at [[The Forge]], with a base price of 6750 (slightly higher than Fire Brand). This also applies to [[SlashTHEM]].
 ===dNetHack===
@@ Line 72: / Line 77: @@
 ===NetHack Fourk===
-In [[NetHack Fourk]], Frost Brand can be two-weaponed with Fire Brand.
+In [[NetHack Fourk]], Frost Brand can be wielded in [[two weapon combat]] with Fire Brand.
 ===xNetHack===
-In [[xNetHack]], Frost Brand has its base item changed to a [[short sword]], and it can be two-weaponed with Fire Brand or [[Mirror Brand (xNetHack)|Mirror Brand]].
+In [[xNetHack]], Frost Brand has its base item changed to a [[short sword]], and it can be wielded in two weapon combat with Fire Brand or [[Mirror Brand (xNetHack)|Mirror Brand]].
 ===SpliceHack===
@@ Line 81: / Line 86: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], Frost Brand has its base item changed to a [[steel]] [[short sword]]. It can be combined with Fire Brand at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] to create [[Dichotomy]], an artifact [[runesword]].
+In [[EvilHack]], Frost Brand has its base item changed to a [[steel]] short sword, and it can be wielded in two weapon combat with Fire Brand. Frost Brand and Fire Brand can be combined at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] to create the artifact [[runesword]] [[Dichotomy]], which has traits of both weapons.
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], Frost Brand has its base item changed to a steel short sword as in EvilHack.
+In [[Hack'EM]], Frost Brand has its base item changed to a steel short sword and behaves as it does in EvilHack, including being twoweaponed with Fire Brand. [[Flame Mage/Hack'EM|Flame Mages]] cannot handle Frost Brand and will never receive it as a sacrifice gift.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==

@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 In [[NetHack: The Next Generation]], Frost Brand is one of the artifacts that can be created by [[Duri]] at [[The Forge]], with a base price of 6750 (slightly higher than Fire Brand). This also applies to [[SlashTHEM]].
 ===dNetHack===
 {{main|Frost Brand (dNetHack)}}
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], Frost Brand and Fire Brand can have multiple possible base items, but will always be generated as matching base items. Frost Brand can also be reshaped into a different base item by [[dipping]] it into a [[fountain]], with the available item types depending on what weapons the hero has type-identified or trained to Skilled level in&mdash;there are also base item choices that are only available to certain races and roles. See the article linked at the top of the section for more details on how Frost Brand functions in these variants.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], Frost Brand and Fire Brand can have multiple possible base items, but will always be generated as matching base items&mdash;Frost Brand can also be reshaped into a different base item by [[dipping]] it into a [[fountain]], with the available item types depending on what weapons the hero has type-identified or trained to Skilled level in. Some base item choices are only available to certain races, roles and alignments of hero. See the article linked at the top of the section for more details on how Frost Brand functions in these variants.
 ===NetHack Fourk===

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
    |name=Frost Brand
    |base=long sword
-   |smalldmg=1d8 '''&times;2'''
+   |smalldmg=1d8 '''&times;2''' (2-16)
-   |largedmg=1d12 '''&times;2'''
+   |largedmg=1d12 '''&times;2''' (2-24)
    |tohit='''+1d5'''
    |bonusversus=targets without [[cold resistance]]

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
    |material=iron
 }}
 '''Frost Brand''' is an [[artifact]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is [[unaligned]], and its [[base item]] type is a [[long sword]].
-[[Fire Brand]] is the [[Fire (element)|fire]]-aligned counterpart of Frost Brand.
+[[Fire Brand]] is the [[Fire (element)|fire]]-attuned counterpart of Frost Brand.
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 In [[notnotdNetHack]], Frost Brand behaves as in dNetHack, but can be generated as any bladed weapon other than a vibroweapon or runesword.
-==Encyclopedia==
+==Encyclopedia entry==
 {{encyclopedia|
 Some say the world will end in fire,

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 In [[dNetHack]], Frost Brand and Fire Brand can be generated or [[wish]]ed for as any of the following:
-* [[Gauntlets]] (for [[Monk]]s)
+* [[Gauntlets]] (for [[Monk/dNetHack|Monks]])
 * Any bladed weapon that is one-handed for medium-sized characters with the exception of:
 ** Any [[vibroweapon]]
@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 ** [[Mirrorblade]]
-When given as a sacrifice gift, Frost Brand has a {{frac|3}} chance of being created as a long sword, and will otherwise be created as one of the following, with an equal probability of each: a [[saber]], a [[scimitar]], [[gauntlets]], a [[broadsword]], an [[axe]], a [[short sword]], or an [[athame]]. Any valid object that is randomly generated on the ground has the normal chance to be made into a Brand, but once either one has generated, the other can only be generated as the matching object type.
+When given as a sacrifice gift, Frost Brand has a {{frac|3}} chance of being created as a long sword, and will otherwise be created as one of the following, with an equal probability of each: a [[saber]], a [[scimitar]], [[gauntlets]], a [[broadsword]], an [[axe]], a [[short sword]], or an [[athame]]. Any valid object that is randomly generated on the ground has the normal chance of being made into a Brand, but once either one has generated, the other can only be generated as the matching object type.
 Frost Brand appears as an '''ice-runed''' variation of its base item, and has +1 [[to-hit]] and deals double cold damage: the damage of its base dice is dealt as explosion damage, making it much harder to resist. Frost Brand does not resist being used in [[two weapon combat]] with Fire Brand and vice versa.