Ray of Frost

Ray of Frost is a Wizard Tier 5 skill unlocked at level 14, shooting a constant beam of cold from the hands of the Wizard.

Background

Diablo III Skill [e]
Ray of Frost Active, 5 ranks
Used by:	Wizard
Skill Description:
Project a beam of cold energy that deals X cold damage per second.
Skill Details:
Type:	Direct Damage
Quantity:	8 damage/sec
Effect:	Line
School:	Cold
Arcane Power cost:	16
Cast time:	Instant
Duration:	Concentration
Cooldown:	1.5 sec
Synergies:	None
Requires:	N/A
Prereq of:	N/A

The Wizard uses her powers of the elements to gush forth a beam of pure cold, damaging anyone that comes in its way.

Skill Design

This skill sounds like a cold based Disintegrate, minus the piercing ability, but it's never been seen in use since the very first Wizard gameplay movie, from BlizzCon 2008. It was too high level to try out at BlizzCon 2009.

Skill Rank Table

• Rank 1: 8 damage per second.

Synergies

Ray of Frost benefits directly from the following Wizard traits:

• Black Ice: Frozen targets take 25% more damage from all sources.
• Glass Cannon: Increases damage done by spells and increases armor.
• Intimidation: Increases damage done and reduces vendor costs.
• Quickening: Increases spell casting speed.
• Beast Hunter: Damage bonus against beasts.
• Demonsbane: Damage bonus against Demons.
• Just...Stay...Dead!: Damage bonus against undead.
• Power Surge: Increase critical strike damage.
• Penetrating Spells: Reduces the resistances of your target to your spells by 20%.

Note: The current trait list is very out-of-date and will no doubt be overhauled before game release.

Skill Rune Effects

• None known.

Development

Ray of Frost was first seen at BlizzCon 2008, but only in the gameplay movie; the Wizard used it against the trap laid out by the Skeleton King. It was available in the gameplay demo at BlizzCon 2009, but was unfortunately too high level to try out by the fans. The skill is assumed to still be available in Blizzard's internal game build today.

Previous Versions

See the Wizard skill archive for more details on previous versions of Ray of Frost and other Wizard skills.

Trivia

This is one of the spells that seem to be coming from the dungeons & Dragons inspiration we've seen in Diablo III. The new D3 Team obviously spent a lot of time in mom's basement...

Media

You can find pictures in the Diablo III screenshot and picture gallery:

• Diablo III screenshots and pictures
• Ray of Frost specific gallery contents

• 

  Ray of Frost used in the middle of the Skeleton King trap.

• 

  Casting the spell before the hordes of skeletons arrive.

References

• BlizzCon 2009 Full Wizard Skill Trees