Wall of Frost

School	Destruction
Level	Expert
Magicka Cost	137 per second
Casting	Concentration
Delivery	Aimed
Effect	Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of frost that does 50 points of frost damage per second.
Duration	-
Perk	Expert Destruction (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Wall of Frost
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Wall of Frost is an Expert Destruction spell that paints a line of ice on the ground. Each patch lasts for 30 seconds and deals 50 points of frost damage per second to any enemy who walks through it. The ice on the ground spares the caster and followers, so it makes a good barrier against a charging enemy.

Wall of Frost belongs to the late game, once Destruction reaches the Expert rank. Faralda at the College of Winterhold, Enthir and Talvas Fathryon on Solstheim sell the tome.

Spell Tome

Wall of Frost is learned by reading Spell Tome: Wall of Frost. Enthir, Faralda and Talvas Fathryon sell the tome.

How It Plays

Wall of Frost is a concentration spell. The caster sprays frost at the ground, and the ice stays where it lands. Every enemy who crosses it takes frost damage and slows down. A slowed enemy spends even longer inside the ice, so the damage piles up quickly.

The spell works like a much stronger version of Frostbite. Cast straight at an enemy, it deals about the same damage as the Novice spray. The real damage comes from the frozen patch left at the target's feet.

The ice spares the caster and followers. A line of ice between the caster and a charging group slows the whole group and softens it before it arrives.

Compared with the Other Walls

All three Expert walls last 30 seconds and deal the same base damage. Wall of Flames sets enemies on fire. Wall of Storms uses shock, which few enemies resist. Wall of Frost is the only one that slows the enemies crossing it, which makes it the best barrier of the three.

Frost has more resistant enemies than the other elements. Nords and vampires resist it, and Frost Atronachs ignore it. Against those foes, a fire or shock wall does more.

Perks and Builds

The Expert Destruction perk halves the cost of Wall of Frost. Deep Freeze can paralyze an enemy whose health runs low while it stands in the ice. The Dukaan dragon priest mask from the Dragonborn DLC raises frost damage by 25%.

The Staff of the Frost Wall creates the same icy barrier from its own charge.

Tactics

Enemies tend to walk straight through the icy line rather than around it. A line of frost between the caster and a charging group slows every member and drains their stamina before they arrive. Warriors with heavy weapons then reach the caster tired and unable to land power attacks.

Another plan is to ring the caster with frost and stand in the middle. Melee enemies take damage and slow down every time they step in to attack. With the Deep Freeze perk, a badly hurt enemy can freeze solid inside the ice.

Cost and Limits

Wall of Frost costs 137 magicka per second of spraying at a skill of zero. Wall of Flames costs 118 and Wall of Storms 145. A higher Destruction skill only lowers the cost of the spray, while dual casting raises the damage of each patch.

Higher level enemy mages sometimes carry the tome, and it also turns up as random loot in chests.

Enemy Casters

Ice wraiths cast a weak form of Wall of Frost as they swoop in to attack. The patches they leave behind slow anyone who steps on them. Ice wraiths are vulnerable to fire, so Flames or Fireball answers them well.

Gameplay Tips

Up to 10 patches can lie on the ground at once. Spraying more makes the oldest patches fade.
Each wall spell keeps its own count, so Wall of Flames and Wall of Storms can be laid alongside it.
The Deep Freeze perk paralyzes enemies when their health runs low.

Spell Categories

All Destruction Spells

Novice

Novice spells are the first a mage learns and cost the least magicka.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Flames	14 per second	Concentration	A gout of fire that does 8 points per second. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Frostbite	16 per second	Concentration	A blast of cold that does 8 points of damage per second to Health and Stamina.
Sparks	19 per second	Concentration	Lightning that does 8 points of shock damage to Health and Magicka per second.
Choking Grasp	39	Fire and Forget	Absorb 8 points of health per second from target, for 3 seconds.
Elemental Flare	45	Fire and Forget	An elemental explosion for 15 points of fire damage, 15 points of shock damage, and half as much damage to stamina.

Apprentice

Apprentice spells need a little practice in the school.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Fire Rune	234	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes for 50 points of fire damage when enemies come near.
Firebolt	41	Fire and Forget	A blast of fire that does 25 points of damage. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Frost Rune	293	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes for 50 points of frost damage when enemies come near.
Ice Spike	48	Fire and Forget	A spike of ice that does 25 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina.
Lightning Bolt	51	Fire and Forget	A bolt of lightning that does 25 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka.
Lightning Rune	323	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes for 50 points of shock damage when enemies come near.
Elemental Bolt	62	Fire and Forget	An elemental explosion for 20 points of fire damage, 20 points of shock damage, and half as much damage to stamina.
Strangulation	84	Fire and Forget	Absorb 16 points of health per second from target, for 3 seconds.

Adept

Adept spells are the middle rank and hit noticeably harder.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Chain Lightning	156	Fire and Forget	Lightning bolt that does 40 points of shock damage to Health and half to Magicka, then leaps to a new target.
Fireball	133	Fire and Forget	A fiery explosion for 40 points of damage in a 15 foot radius. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Flame Cloak	289	Fire and Forget	For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range take 8 points fire damage per second. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Frost Cloak	316	Fire and Forget	For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range take 8 points frost damage and Stamina damage per second.
Ice Storm	144	Fire and Forget	A freezing whirlwind that does 40 points of frost damage per second to Health and Stamina.
Lightning Cloak	370	Fire and Forget	For 60 seconds nearby opponents take 8 points of shock damage and half magicka damage.
Whirlwind Cloak	338	Fire and Forget	For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range have a chance of being flung away.
Elemental Burst	96	Fire and Forget	An elemental explosion for 30 points of fire damage, 30 points of shock damage, and half as much damage to stamina.
Hangman's Noose	143	Fire and Forget	Absorb 26 points of health per second from target, for 3 seconds.

Expert

Expert spells are powerful and expensive to cast.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Icy Spear	320	Fire and Forget	A spear of ice that does 60 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina.
Incinerate	298	Fire and Forget	A blast of fire that does 60 points of damage. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Thunderbolt	343	Fire and Forget	A Thunderbolt that does 60 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka.
Wall of Flames	118 per second	Concentration	Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of fire that does 50 points of fire damage per second.
Wall of Frost	137 per second	Concentration	Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of frost that does 50 points of frost damage per second.
Wall of Storms	145 per second	Concentration	Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of lightning that does 50 points of shock damage per second.
Elemental Blast	144	Fire and Forget	An elemental explosion for 40 points of fire damage, 40 points of shock damage, and half as much damage to stamina.
Mara's Wrath	329	Fire and Forget	For 30 seconds, opponents in melee range take 16 points fire damage per second. Undead up to level 26 flee for 30 seconds. Swim unharmed in freezing cold water.
Touch of Death	316	Fire and Forget	Absorb 40 points of health per second from target, for 4 seconds.
Unbounded Flames	78 per second	Concentration	Casts a stream of long-distance fireballs in an arc. Impact creates a wall of fire that does 50 points of fire damage per second.
Unbounded Freezing	69 per second	Concentration	A freezing wind envelops the caster, knocking down nearby enemies and freezing them for 50 points of damage per second to Health and Stamina.
Unbounded Storms	69 per second	Concentration	Targets in melee range take 40 shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka. Random lightning strikes deal an additional 30 damage.

Master

Master spells are the strongest in the school and need the most skill.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Blizzard	1106	Fire and Forget	Targets take 20 points of frost damage for 10 seconds, plus Stamina damage.
Fire Storm	1426	Fire and Forget	A 100 point fiery explosion centered on the caster. Does more damage to closer targets.
Lightning Storm	138 per second	Concentration	Target takes 75 points of shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka.