Freeze

Freeze
Frozen characters lose their next attack.

A Frozen minion

A Frozen hero

Freeze is an ability that marks a minion or hero as Frozen. Frozen characters miss their next possible attack. After this, the Frozen status is removed.

Frozen status only affects combat. Frozen heroes can take all other actions as usual, including using their Hero Power, playing cards, equipping weapons and commanding minions. Frozen characters will also still defend themselves if attacked. Silencing a Frozen character will remove the Frozen status.

Freeze effects are mostly limited to the mage and shaman classes.

Notes

• Minions that have a Battlecry ability to attack one or more targets multiple times (e.g. Warmaul Challenger, Deathwing, Mad Aspect) will not stop their attack if they attack a minion that freezes during their attack.

Strategy

Freeze effects are useful for stopping strong minions before they become a problem. Alternatively, they can be used to buy time to defeat the targets, or simply to reduce incoming damage by preventing attack this round, especially when using multi-target Freezes such as Frost Nova.

Duration

Frozen characters are unable to attack, and will not thaw until the end of the turn on which they did not attack. The exact duration of the Frozen effect therefore varies depending on whether the character has already attacked that turn. Note that it does not matter whether or not the character is able to attack (such as if they have 0 Attack or the "Can't Attack" text), only whether or not they attacked. This behaviour can be significant when attacking with characters with Windfury, and in predicting vulnerability to Ice Lance. The game rule is therefore:

• After a player ends their turn (just before the next player's Start of Turn Phase), un-Freeze all characters they control that are Frozen, don't have summoning sickness (or do have Charge) and have not attacked that turn.

This rule produces varying durations depending on circumstances:

• For enemy characters on your turn, the result is very simple: if you Freeze an enemy character during your turn, it will thaw at the start of your next turn.
• For friendly characters on your turn, it depends on whether or not they have attacked that turn.
  • If a friendly character gets Frozen before attacking, they will un-Freeze at the end of the turn. This includes characters which were unable to attack, such as a 0 Attack minion or hero.
  • If a friendly character gets Frozen after attacking, they will un-Freeze at the end of the next turn. This includes characters with Windfury who have only attacked once this turn.

Examples:

• If a mage Freezes herself and ends the turn, she will immediately become un-Frozen.
• If a player Freezes his own minion before it attacks and ends the turn, that minion will immediately become un-Frozen.
• If a player Freezes his own minion with Windfury that has only attacked once so far this turn, and ends the turn, that minion will remain Frozen until the end of the player's next turn.
• If a player plays a Charge minion, Freezes it and ends the turn, that minion will immediately become un-Frozen.
• If a player plays a minion that does not have Charge, including Can't Attack minions such as Ancient Watcher and 0 Attack minions, Freezes it and ends the turn, that minion will remain Frozen. The next time the player ends their turn, the minion will finally un-Freeze. The reason it did not un-Freeze the first turn is because the minion had summoning sickness.
• If a player Freezes and takes control of an enemy minion (either order), it has summoning sickness, so it will remain Frozen until the end of that player's next turn. (If it had Charge, it will immediately become un-Frozen when ending turn.)
• If a minion begins the turn Frozen, and the player duplicates it (for example, with Emperor Wraps), the duplicate will be Frozen and will have summoning sickness. At the end of the turn, the original minion will become un-Frozen, but the duplicate will remain Frozen until the end of the player's next turn.
• If a hero is frozen, and they play a Hero card, the hero will become un-Frozen.

Cards with Freeze

Collectible

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Frost Shock	Free	Spell		Shaman	1			Deal 1 damage to an enemy character and Freeze it. FROST SHOCK!
Frostbolt	Free	Spell		Mage	2			Deal 3 damage to a character and Freeze it. It is customary to yell "Chill out!" or "Freeze!" or "Ice ice, baby!" when you play this card.
Frost Nova	Free	Spell		Mage	3			Freeze all enemy minions. Hey man, that's cold. Literally and metaphorically.
Water Elemental	Free	Minion	Elemental	Mage	4	3	6	Freeze any character damaged by this minion. Don't summon a water elemental at a party. It'll dampen the mood.
Ray of Frost	Common	Spell		Mage	1			Twinspell Freeze a minion. If it's already Frozen, deal 2 damage to it. If you have zero chill, this can help.
Invocation of Frost	Common	Spell		Shaman	2			Freeze an enemy. Invoke Galakrond. Galakrond adores a little frosting.
Frozen Shadoweaver	Common	Minion	General	Any	3	4	3	Battlecry: Freeze an enemy. She still wears her Frozen Shadoweave set despite the many, many nerfs. She just can't let it go!
Cone of Cold	Common	Spell		Mage	4			Freeze a minion and the minions next to it, and deal 1 damage to them. Magi of the Kirin Tor were casting Cubes of Cold for many years before Cones came into fashion some 90 years ago.
Frost Elemental	Common	Minion	Elemental	Any	6	5	5	Battlecry: Freeze a character. When a Water elemental and an Ice elemental love each other VERY much...
Brain Freeze	Rare	Spell			1			Freeze a minion. Combo: Also deal 3 damage to it. "The professor called on me, and I totally froze!"
Blizzard	Rare	Spell		Mage	6			Deal 2 damage to all enemy minions and Freeze them. This spell can be very Entertaining.
Deep Freeze	Rare	Spell		Mage	8			Freeze an enemy. Summon two 3/6 Water Elementals. "Dancing with the Satyrs… on Ice!"
Showing all 12 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Freezing Potion	Common	Spell		Mage	0			Freeze an enemy. This is delicious! Oh no. BRAIN FREEEEEEEZE!
Breath of Sindragosa	Common	Spell		Mage	1			Deal 2 damage to a random enemy minion and Freeze it. Is it cold in here or is it just Sindragosa?
Glacial Shard	Common	Minion	Elemental	Any	1	2	1	Battlecry: Freeze an enemy. Ice, ice, baby!
Ice Lance	Common	Spell		Mage	1			Freeze a character. If it was already Frozen, deal 4 damage instead. The trick is not to break the lance. Otherwise, you have "Ice Pieces." Ice Pieces aren't as effective.
Brrrloc	Common	Minion	Murloc	Shaman	2	2	2	Battlecry: Freeze an enemy. He may be frozen fish, but he fights fresh!
Snap Freeze	Common	Spell		Mage	2			Freeze a minion. If it's already Frozen, destroy it. Lick the ice block. I triple-double-dog-dare-you.
Snowchugger	Common	Minion	Mech	Mage	2	2	3	Freeze any character damaged by this minion. Do the slow chant when he waddles by: "Chug! Chug! Chug!"
Hyldnir Frostrider	Common	Minion	General	Any	3	4	4	Battlecry: Freeze your other minions. Don't be fooled, that polar bear's the one in charge.
Ice Walker	Rare	Minion	Elemental	Mage	2	1	3	Your Hero Power also Freezes the target. Ice Walker you say? He doesn't have feet!
Avalanche	Rare	Spell		Shaman	4			Freeze a minion and deal 3 damage to adjacent ones. One of our more snowbally cards.
Demented Frostcaller	Rare	Minion	General	Mage	4	2	4	After you cast a spell, Freeze a random enemy character. He prefers that you refer to him by his nickname: 'Frostwaker.'
Voodoo Hexxer	Rare	Minion	General	Shaman	5	2	7	Taunt Freeze any character damaged by this minion. The Silver Hand recruits shuddered in terror when they saw the dreaded totem of the Hexxer: A tiny little snowman, impaled with pins.
Frozen Crusher	Rare	Minion	Elemental	Any	6	8	8	After this minion attacks, Freeze it. Goes by the online handle "KoolKrusher99."
Cryostasis	Epic	Spell		Shaman	2			Give a minion +3/+3 and Freeze it. We'll thaw you out when we find a cure!
Showing all 14 cards

Uncollectible

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Malygos's Frostbolt	None	Spell		Mage	0			Deal 3 damage to a character and Freeze it.
Ice Shard	None	Minion	Elemental	Any	1	1	1	Freeze any character damaged by this minion.
Malygos's Nova	None	Spell		Mage	1			Freeze all enemy minions.
Ray of Frost	Common	Spell		Mage	1			Freeze a minion. If it's already Frozen, deal 2 damage to it.
Showing all 4 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Emergency Coolant	None	Spell		Any	1			Freeze a minion.
Kazakus Potion	None	Spell			1
Kazakus Potion	None	Spell			5
Kazakus Potion	None	Spell			10
Showing all 4 cards

Sources of Freeze

Freeze-generating cards

This section lists cards which generate Freeze effects.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Ray of Frost	Common	Spell		Mage	1			Twinspell Freeze a minion. If it's already Frozen, deal 2 damage to it. If you have zero chill, this can help.
Hailbringer	Common	Minion	Elemental	Any	5	3	4	Battlecry: Summon two 1/1 Ice Shards that Freeze. Knows every way to greet someone.
Deep Freeze	Rare	Spell		Mage	8			Freeze an enemy. Summon two 3/6 Water Elementals. "Dancing with the Satyrs… on Ice!"
Showing all 3 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Icy Touch	None	Hero Power		Mage	2			Hero Power Deal 1 damage. If this kills a minion, summon a Water Elemental.
Frost Lich Jaina	Legendary	Hero card		Mage	9			Battlecry: Summon a 3/6 Water Elemental. Your Elementals have Lifesteal for the rest of the game. "Arthas was a spoiled child, playing with toys he could neither control nor understand. Come into the cold. I will show you the true power of the Frozen Throne."
Showing all 2 cards

Related cards

These cards have special - and often lethal - synergy with Frozen targets.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Ray of Frost	Common	Spell		Mage	1			Twinspell Freeze a minion. If it's already Frozen, deal 2 damage to it. If you have zero chill, this can help.
Ray of Frost	Common	Spell		Mage	1			Freeze a minion. If it's already Frozen, deal 2 damage to it.
Living Dragonbreath	Common	Minion	Elemental	Any	3	3	4	Your minions can't be Frozen. If you want that muscular physique, you've really gotta feel the burn.
Icicle	Epic	Spell		Mage	2			Deal 2 damage to a minion. If it's Frozen, draw a card. This may appear weak at frost glance, but it's actually a very ice spell.
Showing all 4 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Ice Lance	Common	Spell		Mage	1			Freeze a character. If it was already Frozen, deal 4 damage instead. The trick is not to break the lance. Otherwise, you have "Ice Pieces." Ice Pieces aren't as effective.
Shatter	Common	Spell		Mage	2			Destroy a Frozen minion. What's cooler than being cool?
Snap Freeze	Common	Spell		Mage	2			Freeze a minion. If it's already Frozen, destroy it. Lick the ice block. I triple-double-dog-dare-you.
Coldwraith	Common	Minion	General	Mage	3	3	4	Battlecry: If an enemy is Frozen, draw a card. He's freezing his bones off!
Cryomancer	Common	Minion	General	Mage	5	5	5	Battlecry: If an enemy is Frozen, gain +2/+2. She loves Frozen. I mean who doesn't?
Ice Breaker	Rare	Weapon		Shaman	3	1	3	Destroy any Frozen minion damaged by this. A great way to end a conversation.
Ice Cream Peddler	Epic	Minion	General	Any	4	3	5	Battlecry: If you control a Frozen minion, gain 8 Armor. I scream, you scream, we all scream when we see a Freeze Mage.
Moorabi	Legendary	Minion	General	Shaman	6	4	4	Whenever another minion is Frozen, add a copy of it to your hand. Most disturbing is how Moorabi covers all those frozen minions with flavored syrup.
Showing all 8 cards

References

	Cards
By type	Hero card Minion (Permanent) Spell Weapon
By class	Demon Hunter Druid Hunter Mage Paladin Priest Rogue Shaman Warlock Warrior
By minion type	All Beast Demon Dragon Elemental Mech Murloc Pirate Totem General
By ability	Evergreen keywords	Battlecry Choose One Combo Deathrattle Discover Divine Shield Freeze Lifesteal Outcast Overload Poisonous Rush Secret Silence Spell Damage Stealth Taunt Windfury
	Other keywords	Adapt Casts When Drawn Charge Choose Twice Dormant Echo Immune Inspire Invoke Jade Golem Lackey Magnetic Mega-Windfury Overkill Passive Quest Reborn Recruit Sidequest Spare Part Spellburst Start of Game Twinspell
	Other abilities	Can't attack Cast spell Copy Deal damage Destroy Discard Draw cards Elusive Enrage Equip Force attack Forgetful Gain Armor Generate Highlander Joust Modify cost Put into battlefield Put into hand Recurring Refresh Mana Remove from deck Replace Restore Health Return to hand Shuffle into deck Spend mana Summon Take control Transform Unlimited attacks Upgradable
	Non-Constructed	Auto-Attack Auto-cast Shrine Start of Combat
By effect type	Area of effect In-deck effect In-hand effect On-discard effect On-draw effect Ongoing effect Positional effect Random effect Resurrection effect Triggered effect
By card set	Standard	Basic Classic Rise of Shadows Saviors of Uldum Descent of Dragons Galakrond's Awakening Demon Hunter Initiate Ashes of Outland Scholomance Academy
	Wild	Hall of Fame Curse of Naxxramas Goblins vs Gnomes Blackrock Mountain Grand Tournament The League of Explorers Whispers of the Old Gods One Night in Karazhan Mean Streets of Gadgetzan Journey to Un'Goro Knights of the Frozen Throne Kobolds & Catacombs The Witchwood The Boomsday Project Rastakhan's Rumble
By rarity	Free Common Rare Epic Legendary