The Fathomless Frost Mage: d4 #89

For our D&D 5e character build this week we have one rule: any damage that we do must include cold damage. Let it go, Frost Mage. Let it go.
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Character Concept:(0:00)
Level 1:(6:36)
Levels 2-6:(14:31)
dScryb (sponsor):(34:53)
Levels 7-9:(36:56)
Levels 10-13:(40:54)
Levels 14-17:(50:53)
Final Thoughts:(58:19)
Outtakes:(1:00:47)
Math/Graph for this episode: docs.google.co...
Sustained DPR Comparisons (3 Tabs): docs.google.co...
Thanks to LudicSavant for the amazing DPR calculator! forums.giantit...)
Music Credits:
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[@DnDDeepDive]

Errata: As many have pointed out, Hunger of Hadar's Blackness /= Darkness so Devil's Sight wouldn't do much. Also, I forgot to mention that Sleet Storm heavily obscures the area so no blasting those within unless they're close enough and you have Blind Sight or something, or you're comfortable with disadvantage :). Two more reasons to just keep using Spirit Shroud for Concentration :P.

[@glenstack7406]

This might be a topic for Slidin’ Into My DMs but from my understanding of the rule you still know the location of any creature in combat unless they take the hide action even when they are within a heavily obscured area. So, if the spell you use does not require you to see your target, then you can still target them. You do get disadvantage as you can not see the target but if the target can’t see through the heavily obscured area with feature like blind sight or tremor sense you also get advantage on the attack as the target is treated as having the blind condition. This results in a normal roll, so you can’t make use of your elven accuracy on the last beam, but you are not dealing with disadvantage. This does also apply to the enemies in the heavily obscured area, so they don’t have disadvantage to attack out of the area.

[@hcporto]

Also: Spirit Shroud does work on the tentacle, but Spirit Shroud says YOU have to be within 10ft from the enemy. So you'll have to be almost on melee range with the enemy the tentacle will hit. "Until the spell ends, any attack you make deals 1d8 extra damage when you hit a creature within 10 feet of you."

[@Durankil]

I have a question to Hunger of Hadar. In my understanding of the spell it says that you are blinded, if you are fully covered by the Spell. It doesn´t seem to interact with the vision of characters who are standing outside. Am i missing something?

[@SCh1m3ra]

@@Durankilnope. It's a void tear expressly for those inside, a spot of non-advanced darkness for everyone else, "No light can illuminate this space". I would argue that it *should* be advanced darkness, given that no light can illuminate at all and darkvision is similar to but not the same as nightvision. But that's not what was written or errata'd. I'd also argue that firing into the space requires guesswork of where people are under those circumstances, or if you are inside it otherwise. But vision is poorly cared for in 5e

[@Venzynt]

Don't mind me, just homebrewing a new vision, *icevision* lol

[@the_ceeman]

Summon shadowspawn would be a perfect spell for the build, since it deals cold damage, can slow nearby enemies by 20 feet and frighten them. I'd probably reflavor it as an ice golem

[@GabrielRicardoFreeman-Gabe]

I totally forgot about that spell! Spot on!

[@KnicKnac]

Or just a frost specter

[@knightghaleon]

Shadow spawn is such a good summon just to cover/control enemies and the boost of upcasting is worth it.

[@normal6483]

Shadowspawn are technically the leftover essences of Simulacra from the Simulacrum spell, meaning they're made of ice and snow infused with shadow. So they're kind of already ice golems.

[@ichliebelongboarden]

Great point! Though in my mind, we are playing Elsa so the shadow spawn is actually Olaf, but just a scary version.

[@0_Body]

Frost Mage: I set them to absolute zero Party: Hitpoints? Mage: No, move speed!

[@rodneyrossow]

As a physicist, I approve this statement!

[@BLynn]

Level 1:(see above) [sorcerer 1, sub-class & race] Level 2:(see above) [warlock 1 & patron] Level 3:(@20:40) [warlock 2 & eldritch invocations] Level 4:(@20:58) [warlock 3 & sub-class] Level 5:(@22:36) [warlock 4 & ASI] Level 6:(@23:32) [warlock 5 & eldritch invocation] Level 7:(see above) [warlock 6] Level 8:(@) [warlock 7 & eldritch invocation] Level 9:(@) [warlock 8 & ASI] Level 10:(see above) [warlock 9 & eldritch invocation] Level 11:(@44:49) [warlock 10] Level 12:(@46:19) [warlock 11] Level 13:(@49:11) [sorcerer 2] Level 14:(see above) [sorcerer 3 & meta-magic] Level 15:(@54:47) [sorcerer 4 & ASI] Level 16:(@55:56) [sorcerer 5] Level 17:(@56:07) [sorcerer 6]

[@nickrafuse984]

Where have you been all my life... (thanks for this!)

[@BLynn]

@@nickrafuse984 probably taking care of my wife, kids or playing D&D.

[@paigemackie8942]

Absolute king

[@theshadowbadger]

Not all heroes wear capes… unless you’re wearing a cape right now.

[@BLynn]

@@theshadowbadger you caught me on a good day that is all I'm wearing.

[@guilhermesapuda9538]

That "Bom dia" got me of guard. Bom dia for you too!

[@asilva4956]

Me too i was like wait wtf

[@polares01]

Total vei do nada o gringo mete um qualé que é rapaziada kkkk

[@guilhermesapuda9538]

@@polares01 que isso, tem BR que assiste vídeos dele além de mim?

[@polares01]

@@guilhermesapuda9538 brasileiro é tipo barata vei, a gente da em todo buraco kkkk

[@gustavosegatto4980]

Manda um salve em qualquer vídeo vc acha um brasileiro

[@authorindisguise5173]

I think Hunger of Hadar could be reflavored as a unified understanding of cold. Cold is the lack of energy, so removing the light energy and kinetic energy is fairly appropriate.

[@fuzzysquirrel]

Agreed!

[@capncaviar]

Yes finally a template for Popsicles (pronounced like Hercules or Damocles), the lizard blizzard wizard. I have had that idea in my mind for months but haven't had a clue how too until now

[@samuelelliott4508]

Love the build. Bonus points if you can find a way to get the spell Command to tell people to "Freeze!"

[@aussiechicken6737]

Ahhhh.... the old "Charlie's Angels" feat...half feat with a +1 to Charisma lololol

[@Jaxom35x]

I really do love the theme builds as opposed to just mechanical superiority. Finding a theme and AFTER that, then trying to make it useful as well is what is fun. Thank you for so many builds and ideas.

[@callmeaboomer]

Could only agree with you. ✌️

[@tristanwellisch2637]

My choice for a song with this character: "I'm Mister White Christmas, I'm Mister Snow. I'm Mister Icicle; I'm Mister Ten below. Friends call me Snow Miser, whatever I touch, turns to snow in my clutch. I'm too much." Really enjoyed this episode Colby. Thanks a bunch!

[@hakkesho12]

Insert chorus of minions singing: Tooooo much!

[@michaelseparovich]

IMPOSTER!

[@aussiechicken6737]

.... the "Big Bad Voodoo Daddy" big band/swing version... I'd vote for that 😎

[@SwamPoke10]

"WHAT KILLED THE DINOSAURS? THE ICE AGE!"

[@KatotsuSama]

I forgot about this and now I'm bothered that I can't remember what it's from! Mind reminding me?

[@toufexisk]

A fantastic and very thematic build! Thank you! Just a small flavor addition: 1-Dont make you tentacles, tentacles but pieces of ice that you move around the battlefield 2-After taking the slowing effect on you Eldritch Blast flavor it as ice as well and start using EB right after taking this invocation, instead of waiting for the cold damage.

[@roderickrmint]

I would also love extra conditions for damage specific stuff, also the "Shocked" condition is what Solasta (a game based on 5e) calls the condition from Shocking Grasp (cant take reactions). Awesome video as always!

[@snazzyfeathers]

The Dm I play with uses Dazed as a condition. When you're inflicted with it you lose concentration on spells and can't take reactions.

[@joshuawinestock9998]

I like the idea of more accessible tools to counter shield and counterspell; not all characters can deal lightning damage, and those who can might have more effective spells/abilities, but they can make that tradeoff in context to deny reactions. I like that!

[@TheRedDevil7494]

@@snazzyfeathers That's just Incapacitated condition tho..

[@snazzyfeathers]

@@TheRedDevil7494 You can still move and make attacks/make actions when you're Dazed though. There's a lot you can't do when you're incapacitated.

[@jamesmullen3068]

Mechanically it's a silver dragon but story wise it's an arctic dragon turtle

[@KCSutherland]

Fathomless added an amazing option for playing a Cryomancer, and I even made one for that. But adding in a level of Draconic Sorcerer for better cantrips and an awesome flavor option of an icy coating for armor? Amazing addition.

[@JudeCranberry]

Loving these thumbnails! I really hope more people start to see your videos because of them, you’re really one of the best dnd channels out here!

[@fuzzysquirrel]

Cheers 😁 🥂

[@DnDDeepDive]

@@fuzzysquirrel Right! Thanks! And a huge thanks to my friend Preston for his amazing photoshop/artistic skills :).

[@aussiechicken6737]

I concur. Your builds inspire ideas I'd never considered. Keep on keeping on Colby 😎

[@whiskeySe7en]

I agree with the elemental dmg types having a secondary effects.... Which is why I've added them into the campaign's I'm running since the very first time I dm'd

[@MEIZimm]

Would you mind sharing your own ideas for what different damage types do? I think it's a neat idea too :)

[@614Amsterdam]

Levistus tiefling is a cool cold themed tiefling race. Maybe u could ask the dm to switch the resistance to cold too!

[@dragonhearthx8369]

Maybe you can ask for the feat "infernal constitution"? Or get it at some point.

[@Guyoverthere07]

@@dragonhearthx8369 My guys, Fathomless 6 is already resist cold. Don't ask the DM to take your resistance to fire! Although, fun fact--with our swim speed and underwater breathing from level 1, we could submerge to gain fire resistance as well. Ya know, whenever we know a fireball is coming and we can jump in a pond. Levistus has some great racial spells--wow. I could see this theme being used as a gish frost warrior. Sorcadin with Blind Fighting, and a lot more Rime's Binding Ice action. Narrate Darkness as not just sapping the light from the surrounding area, but all the heat from the Sun and other sources. You'll still know locations within the area, and can bring foes to absolute zero as they become frozen in the already bone-chilling dark with Binding Ice. Might argue that enemies wouldn't be able to free anyone from the ice. How are they going to safely break away at it when they can't see? They'll hit their ally! RAW I think it'd still be doable, but would enemies outside of the area even realize their allies are frozen solid in the dark? Shouldn't. This combo is only happening once per day so it's not too cumbersome for a DM to worry about. Once gaps are closed, and higher level spells are burned through it's time for Glacial Freeze Blade and Blistering Blade! Transmute spell on your cantrips! This is the counter balance to your ridiculous ask with the Binding Darkness combo! Else, ya know. Scribes Wizard 2. Perhaps just narrate as you wish: "The blade crashes down on the enemy as bits of ice shards fly off. A deep, blue chill begins to spread up from the monster's feet. As it turns to flee in horror, the cold snaps! Ice shoots up its legs, causing immense tissue damage. It roars out in pain andtakesthreethunderdamage."

[@dragonhearthx8369]

@@Guyoverthere07 What if your game only goes to level 5?

[@camclemons]

Fire resistance is already a perfectly thematic resistance for a cold themed caster

[@swcsomeonewhocares8707]

Love the fact that you are creating characters that use control. The strategy for these are exactly what I wanted to convey in most of my builds

[@caster-]

yeah! Bom dia! I love these elemental specific builds. Ice and Lightning are the best elements

[@dragonhearthx8369]

Acid devolves the competition

[@caster-]

@@dragonhearthx8369 acid is badass

[@williamtaylor6886]

Super fun build. Love how race, subclass, spell, and feat choices all built on the theme - even when theoretically more “optimized” options were available. Optimizing the theme while still making a strong character helps optimize the fun.

[@nicklambert6631]

I swear Colby is reading my mind. 3 videos in a row I was theorycrafting a build idea only to have it appear in my KZbin feed. Great video as well.

[@jamesadams6360]

I've done this, and it's amazing. Hunger of Hadar, Lance of Lethargy, Repelling Blast, and Tentacle of the Deeps. I was able to corral a group of enemies in Hunger of Hadar and them there until they died. It completely broke the encounter and was a blast.

[@insertphrasehere15]

I played a 'Cryomancer" which was a re-skinned 'Pyromancer' Sorcerer, which is a third party subclass released in Galder's Gazetteer.

[@tylerwebb2495]

I'm so happy, I'm playing a fathomless warlock right now, it's so fun. I decided to play a control style, with repelling blast to push into my Hunger of Hadar, and the tentacle slows the enemy as well. I even took pact of the chain too! Plus it's a pirate campaign, so the swim speed is very nice 😁👍

[@tylerwebb2495]

@@aumnamonarayanaya9856 it was a homebrew pirate campaign. Sadly my warlock died last session 😢

[@spectralfire4842]

When you talked about conditions from different elements I thought electric could be losing your reaction. Since shocking grasp does that. Maybe you lose your reaction and from then on each time you try to use your reaction you have to make a save. If you succeed the shocked effect ends but if you fail you lose your reaction that round.

[@Thoth728]

I've been playing a draconic sorlock for the past 2 years, she has a white dragon ancestor so all her spells have been flavored to be cold/ice themed. This build speaks to me on a spiritual level.

[@theblindbuildergrandminuti5648]

Love the theme, really love the feel, style and chooses. This is going to be in the back of the mind.

[@cueball6969]

What I love about the ice theme is that so many spells can be so easily reflavoured to match the theme and mechanics Hold Person could be an encasing ability, Grease could be a slippery ice patch, Cloud of Daggers could be made of razor sharp icicles etc

[@robbiesrevelations3096]

For electricity, they could also do a shocking effect for a certain number of rounds or until they saved. I got this idea from a lesson that taught me getting shocked ain't always instant. People thought they got shocked, feel fine throughout the day, then because they didn't get checked up, they wake up well dead

[@Bfdidc]

I always loved playing a frost mage in WOW and wanted to create a similar build for 5e. This is a nice version of that concept.

[@jkchannel3149]

Come now, you wait that long for the busted Rime's Binding Ice?!?! it doesn't even limit the size of the creature. I flipped my DM's mind by literally transmuting it to fire. So much for playing it RAW

[@tymekx014]

Elemental Affinity only triggers once per spell on the turn you cast it. It's worded "when you cast a spell" similarly to the Arcane trickster's featute Magical Ambush which also applies an effect during a casting rather than anytime during the spell's duration.

[@brettmajeske3525]

One of my homebrews is special effects for every damage type that triggers on crit hits/ nat ones on saves.

[@brettmajeske3525]

Cold reduces movement by 10 feet, (so crit hit with ray of frost reduces by 20), fire and acid does 1d4 damage at start of turn until they take an action to stop, drop, and roll. Thunder deafens until end of next turn. Lightening, disadvantage on attack rolls until end of their next turn. Necrotic, can't recover hit points until the end of next turn, and radiant, disadvantage on saves until end of next turn. Some effects are pretty powerful, but only on crit hits/ nat one saves.

[@MVCx_xB]

Clicked on this because I had a gut feeling that you were going to use the Ray of Frost + Bonus Action Tentacle synergy and I'm glad I wasn't the only one that thought of it. My build was slightly different being a divine soul sorcerer x fathomless warlock whose main deal was being a distant relative to a dead demigod related to the god that created hydras (so divine soul for the healing flavored as regeneration). There is so much flavor and potency in basically getting 5th level cantrip damage by level 2 with a stacking debuff up to 20 feet on a single target, cant wait to play it some time. Theoretically you could do this with a straight tomelock but getting so many cantrips from sorcerer is fun.

[@narunavez9465]

Love every character concept in this channel. 😀

[@Sonareklipse]

Really neat build. There is a warlock greater invocation in d&d 3.5 that allows black tentacles to be cast at will with a cold damage typing. That would be a neat one to transcribe to 5th edition for DMs with a player looking into similar builds but maybe not fathomless.

[@OldManRogers]

As a 90%/10% DM/Player I really love your channel, your videos are clear, fun, non-pretentious and I think your vids are of great quality and value.

[@Rashagar]

I really like how this is a character trope I've played before, but is built entirely differently from anything I would have done!

[@frostbound]

Currently playing a Bladesinging Winter Eladrin based on Jack Frost from Rise of the Guardians (And your Bladesinger 2.0 build :) ). I absolutely love it, and I love seeing love (lol) for cold based builds. Everyone always brings up that cold is one of the most resisted damage types in the game..but so is fire. The only difference is Fireball. Cold spells were really missing some power at lower levels but I see that changing with things like Frost Fingers, Ice Knife, and Rime's Binding Ice. No one disputes the power of Cone of Cold. Ice Storm is also brutal. But the sheer power of having this kind of control, slowing foes to a crawl, diving in with bladesong then gliding away with Mobile and they can't catch up is so satisfying. (Also Slow combined with Hunger of Hadar from my party's Warlock is just gross.) Also what I love is how easy it is to flavor spells as Ice-themed spells: Shield as like Ice-Man solidifying and attacks just bounce off, Slow as freezing foes to a crawl, even Booming Blade as being the sound of a lake freezing over or a frostquake.

[@ErikkuBlade]

When you were listing off the primary changes to Eladrin - I was personally waiting for you to mention the change to Trance which gives you up to two tool proficiencies, which can be potentially useful for crafting magical items, such as a Staff of Frost, later on down the line. That could help with the downsides multiclassing usually brings, however I understand most tables probably won’t allow you to craft magical items, but it is something that helps with this build potentially!

[@user-vn9qd6tj7d]

I was so excited when i saw the title of this video, i played Saltmarsh not very long ago a Fathomless Warlock. Besides the race, my build was extremely similar. I love control builds, and Fathomless performed far better than i originally expected.

[@hcporto]

Spirit Shroud does work on the tentacle, but Spirit Shroud says YOU have to be within 10ft from the enemy. So you'll have to be almost on melee range with the enemy the tentacle will hit.

[@DannyD_GoF]

Finally a Portuguese start to the video. You had me at "Olá" Mr Colby :D

[@adamxei9073]

I saw a costume class for Frost mage just a few days ago. It was warlock like, had a unique feature called Frozen soul that gave it extra stuff similar to a battle masters superiority.

[@codeful]

I've started watching your builds about a a month ago, and this one is my favorite so far. I enjoy the fact that it does not go overboard on dipping a level here and a level there. I'm definitely using it the next time we start a longer campaign!

[@horbi3683]

Very nice, thematic take on the Sorlock. Thanks! I imagine this character stepping up to their party the first time and while Corey is reading DScrybe's description of them, Colby's singing Cold as Ice as background music 😄

[@t-mango2491]

I really like this build, I did a similar one with different theming, and less about control, with an Abberant mind + fathomless, and I took slasher and infernal constitution on a levistus tiefling, lots of icy spells, (level 2 armor of Agathys 1/day is nice) and I took pact of the blade, a mage armored warrior using the tentacle for support and moving around the battlefield, once you get quickened spell you can slash, bonus action eldritch blast, and push a creature away, reduce its movement to 0, while dropping a whole heap of dice, lots of fun!!

[@theolambert7759]

Lowkey probably my favorite build I've ever played

[@oliverwallington4657]

regarding the intro, you should consdiering poking around in pathfinder. Lots of elemental spells have various extra theme effects. Like produce flame causing persistence damage, or electric arc forking to a nearby foe

[@iplaydums]

So this is really weird and fun: I built almost this exact same character about a month ago and played it for the first time last night! The only difference that I made was that I took Divine Soul rather than Draconic Bloodline as my Sorcerer subclass. I have only played the character for one session, and one combat, but pushing targets and reducing movement is really fun to do. I was able to keep the baddies away from me by pushing and keep them there with the reduced movement all while doing good damage. I played this build at level 8 (1 Sorcerer, 7 Warlock) and plan on going to level 11 Warlock minimum to get that 3rd spell slot and the Grasping Tentacles ability, but I'll probably go to 12 to get the ASI. One feat I wanted to shout out on this build is Metamagic Adept. Since you have some Sorcerer levels you are going to eventually get a decent amount of sorcery points. Not only does this feat help you get more sorcery points, but also gives you more options for which metamagics you choose. I plan on taking most of the single point metamagics like subtle, and careful spell so that I can make those points last even longer. Great video as always!

[@Solenum756]

I like this build so much so that I might actually play it one day. I've never really been a fan of the bottomless warlock but this makes it more interesting to me. I would however probably focus more on sorcerer and I would take the spell Spike growth because that could definitely be flavored as icicles. I think you could also flavor the slow spell to be because of cold.

[@FabulousJejmaze]

I always like listening to your videos in the evening, you have such a smooth and calming voice

[@videomasterdos]

Hola! just pronounce the d harder and you are golden. Love your videos, they have given me a lot of ideas to try characters and i've finally decided to try D&D with my friends. Thank you very much

[@rachelespiritu4215]

So thankful for this video, definitely one of my favorites among your recent builds. Strikes just the right balance between theming and mechanical uniqueness for my tastes. I've been trying to come up with a good frost mage build for the past month or so, ever since I realized how busted Rime's Binding Ice is, but it never quite came together for me. Still kind of a struggle to integrate the concepts here since I mostly play AL and there's no telling who my allies will be, but I still really appreciate all the ideas on display!

[@kirtandave7158]

Thanks for doing the fathomless build I asked for. Gonna be a great video to watch ☺️

[@Goku__]

That bell icon does tell you fast haha

[@ErikkuBlade]

I’ve also created a dragon themed warlock subclass, The Greatwyrm. It focuses heavily on the dragonsight aspects of greatwyrms, allowing you to gain a proficiency that you can swap out on a short rest and when you deal damage with spells you can change it to one of the primary dragon types (Metallic or Chromatic) and while Gem dragons were out at the time, I thought it’d be too strong to include those damage types (in the future I may adjust it where you choose from two sets of damage types between chromatic/metallic and the gem options) It’s a very support heavy warlock meant to give it a versatile role in the party while not being overly strong. Thought it’d be a nice mention sense I think it also fits this type of theme and Im sure my players would love it

[@mocockah]

I'm Brazilian, and the beginning of this video was super cute! Thanks dude!

[@victorprado9276]

As a native portuguese speaker, I was really surprised hearing portuguese on the beginning of the video. Was fun, I liked it hahaha

[@istudyhistory1]

Im playing this as my Tav in my current BG3 game using mods to add the Fathomless Warlock mod and the Eladrin mod and it is awesome since there is a ton of cold-based equipment in that game. I did the one level of warlock and 2 and then proceeded with sorcerer early to get Rime’s Binding Ice and it has been so cool and right on theme. Edit to add: if you are playing this build in BG3 the Eladrin teleport feature sometimes competes with your bonus action tentacle attack so I would actually recommend the water genasi with its daily free casting of create or destroy water for double damage on all your cold spells!

[@J.sh_CDN]

I'm so excited for this build!! As a Canadian, I've always had a love hate relationship with the cold, and love thinking of it as an offensive weapon. Love seeing fathomless in a build, I've been curious about it vs a genie warlock for cold spells. I've often thought about a Swarmkeeper Ranger as a Ice themed Gish. A single level of genie warlock gives ice damage on either an attack or spell attack, and the gathering swarm also works on both. I'd flavourful your swarm as swirling ice energy, which works for it being piercing damage. You can then use cantrips, ranged or melee and still get both genies wrath and gathering swarm. Druidic warrior can give you some cantrips, thornwhip just does piercing, could easily be icy rather than thorns. Could also go arcana cleric for wizard cantrips like ray of frost to keep the spells wisdom based. Otherwise go more warlock and prioritize charisma and dexterity, using ranger spells without saves.

[@danielalmeida532]

Just entered a random DnD video, and this started talking portuguese, i thought i was going mad and hearing things Hahahaha. You spoke it very well!

[@paulnamesa]

Now you need to do bladesingers+fathomless+slasher feat+Lance of lethargy for a potential: action - bladesingers attack with slashing weapon + cantrip eldritch blast bonus action: tentacle attack for a total speed reduction of 30ft. If all three attacks hit and the target has normal speed they would be completely immobile, they couldn't even dash to get anywhere. And if you used a whip or with another form of reach you could do it all while staying out of melee range so no opportunity attacks.

[@DnDDeepDive]

I've got this on my to do list :).

[@drumlineking07]

Les than a min in and I'm already excited about my favorite element! Will edit this comment after watching the full video 🤗 Minor errata: Devil's Sight would not allow you to see in Hunger of Hadar (if you are inside) as it causes blindness. If you are outside, this is debatable and depends on the DM's ruling. Really enjoy the thematic quality of the build. I wish the damage was higher, but I can't complain about the enemy control and the fact that it's focused on dealing cold damage which again is probably my favorite damage type.

[@lypiberri7173]

1:06 1 hour of calming voice talking about dnd? Couldn't ask for anything more right when I'm about to sleep

[@thedwarf4121]

I did an Acid based mage and pretty much cheated with the Scribe Wizard route. But had fun because the GM let me take the Orzhov Functionary background from Ravnica to fit my "Accountant of the Dead" vibes. I ended up using acidic spirit guardians several times. Lol. I do wish, like you said, there was a generic boost to damage types and how they functioned even if it was a feat called let's say Elemental Mastery and it unlocks a boost to an elemental type and you choose one of the list. I'd even be fine with it requiring you to take Elemental Affinity first (tho I do wish this rerolled damage instead of just turning a one into a two). Just my thoughts. Have a great day and thank you for being an inspiration and one of my personal heroes.

[@T0beyeus]

Hey the 6th level ribbon is actually pretty cool. You can cast Watery Sphere on an NPC and step into it and now communicate with them. It is better version of Universal Speech but with an aquatic component. Universal Speech lets anyone understand you, but doesnt give you the ability to understand others, Oceanic Soul lets you do both.

[@G-Blockster]

I've been scratching my head for weeks trying to imagine a Darkness/Cold build without using Dragonborn. Color me impressed. By far, this build is my favorite you've created. It's thematic, it's utilitarian, it's dangerous, and most of all, it's fun! Take a bow, sir.

[@keep_on_harpin8267]

This build he did is fantastic, but you mention darkness as well, check out the highlighted comment and it's replys, Colby made a suggestion to me that might get you thinking of a true cold/dark class combo.

[@traceharrison9864]

Very awesome Colby! We were literally talking about you doing this last week and gotta say you're bloody brilliant. I can't wait to try this either.

[@DnDDeepDive]

Thanks! :)

[@iamscottbowdown]

I was totally ready for some frozen in the outtakes and it was delivered! ...though I wanted them high notes.. Fun build to make your DM suddenly give every monster misty step out of frustration!

[@rivenstone7035]

I'm playing a fathomless warlock through Wild Beyond the Witchlight and it's been really fun. I didn't focus on the cold but did focus on the movement reduction (and tentacles). I went blade pact and use a whip with the slasher feat. Summon Shadowspawn (despair), Tentacle of the Deep, and Slasher can really lock down the battlefield in certain fights.

[@brannenpfister2579]

Same here!! I flavor the whip like katara from avatar the last air bender. He doesnt own an actual whip, but uses the water from his flask to mechanically do the same thing! Roleplaying eldritch smite as wrapping the whip around their legs for the prone part haha

[@hakkesho12]

This idea has probably already been discussed and wouldn’t be pleasant for many players to deal with, but it’d be interesting if damage types like acid/cold/fire/lightning/thunder did extra damage (d4 maybe) to anyone wearing metal-based armor 😬. It’d actually give Druids a mechanical insensitive to keep their hide armor lol, plus it’d make sense for them to be less affected by the elements!

[@jerzane5617]

The coolness of this character is.... fathomless..... ;) Jokes aside, thank you for yet another sweet build and inspiration! Ever since I stumbled upon your channel I've been devouring videos

[@robmongar7933]

It gave me goosebumps when I saw the "Fathomless" in the title! I played a dragonic(bronze)-flavoured Fathomless when it was first available, it was so good!

[@GabrielRicardoFreeman-Gabe]

Love seeing you take more of a look at control and other things outside straight damage! And will definitely pull some of the thoughts here for my silver dragon sorcerer 😁

[@myweapons8445]

Hey Colby, im gonna be playing this build in a new campaign starting next week. I absolutly love the flavor of this character, so thank you so much for the content.

[@jak-jaydavis50]

My current fave character concept is pretty normal but it’s a necromancer and his “pet” an eldritch knight that’s been raised from the dead . I sorta made it work with echo knight and wizard multi class

[@danieldeleon5216]

Would love to see you tackle the Graviturgy Wizard. So incredibly flavorful and underrated!

[@DnDDeepDive]

On the to do list!

[@ryadinstormblessed8308]

Those are 2 of my favourite classes! I'm currently playing a Draconic Sorcerer at Level 7, Silver Dragon ancestry (his great great grandmother). As part of my love of his back story (that he wants to some day meet his great great grandma Prata'aisa and impress her), I home brewed a modification of the Melf's Minute Meteors spell to make it Finnan's Tiny Comets, dealing cold damage instead of fire (since comets are balls of rock and ice, with tails of ice). I love the Minute Meteors spell for its versatility of AoE damage over time as a bonus action, but got my DMs approval for saying that upon reaching level 8, Finnan had finally mastered that spell plus his ice elemental control (also took Elemental Adept feat) to the level of creating his own icy version of that spell. Also for dpr purposes, since one of his classes features says he can add Cha modifier to 1 damage roll of an ice based spell, that's +4 on one of those comets. His favorite combat sequence against 2 or more foes is to start by casting that spell before initiative, then on Turn 1 use BA to throw 2 comets where they'll both hit a group of enemies, then twin cast Chromatic Orb at 3rd level for the Action. Rinse and repeat. And another character I'm waiting an opportunity to play is a Fathomless Warlock, which seems like such an awesome flavor!

[@jasco666]

Wow love the race you went with.

[@KnicKnac]

I enjoy the focus of being a CC character and not a huge damage dealer. I could see a dhampir working as a choice as well just being a cold fearful person.

[@bouboulroz]

For Sleet Storm users, a friendly reminder that RAW War Caster doesn't give advantage on concentration checks imposed by Sleet Storm (as War Caster only gives you advantage when you take damage), but Eldritch Mind does.

[@Torthrodhel]

This was inspiring! I made a completely different type of ice mage. You went ranged controller, so I went close-up smasher. She's a "backpack" who gets a piggyback from a medium-sized ally, causing with her Mounted Combatant feat to redirect attacks from her mount to herself instead... and casts super-upcast Armor of Agathys so each time she's hit she deals 25-40 cold damage back (depending which slots she has left - never less than 25 thanks to font of magic). Lvl16 white draconic sorceror, Lvl3 mutant bloodhunter, Lvl1 marid genie warlock (warlock = starting). Bloodhunter to push strength to 22 and be able to get past immunity rather than only resistance (without resorting to changing damage type, thus keeping flavourful). Swings a maul I conceptualize as a short handle with an enormous block of magically maintained ice at the end. :D custom lineage gruul anarch goblin called "Happy Winterday". Very much bright-foggy-cold as opposed to dark-watery-cold. Damage works out 36 average with a +10 to hit, figured that's not bad (only one attack tho - the feedback damage took priority over extra attack, which would not be affected by as many damage bonuses anyway - yeah, I really like to specialize!). Planned it to level 20 of course. How can you ever not, right? Still I feel would be fun going through the levels regardless. Also made up a history based on reading a spell description. So I figure, for a Soul Cage user, you might want some sort of servant "canary" who rushes into danger, dies, you get the soul, syphon life from it as you wade in and mop up, and then revive the servant. So that's her history, she was such a servant (to a group of wealthy half-giants who liked having goblins around to feel less-like-outcasts in comparison to)... up until a passing clan of ex-gruul troublemakers liked her style of having died a bunch, and invited her along to live in the rubble with them. Which she eventually got bored of, because they weren't very interesting or motivated sorts, doing the same things all the time for no particular reasons. Bit fed up of being expected to die, too. Wants to seek out folks who don't expect that, fight with them instead. Is quite old for a goblin when she begins adventuring (beyond her actual years in both looks and lifespan, from having died and been revived so many times over as daily employment). Wants to protect someone who is there and does care, instead of those who say go first and care only as far as you're useful. Her dragon bloodline ancestor got trapped in a weapon during its life (she learns as she levels up), and she gets into dabbling with mutagens in order to try and rechannel that power into her own weapon in a similar way, thus transforming an ordinary greatmace into her signiature "ice block mallet". :D Of course this is all dependant on a DM's interpretation of what's physically capable of being mounted. She'll carry around an exotic saddle made for humanoids but a DM could still potentially say that's not enough. So if a DM decides yes, I go with this character, if they decide no, I go with another. :)

[@DnDDeepDive]

Love it!

[@Torthrodhel]

@@DnDDeepDive ahhh thanks! :D

[@-hunt2567]

Kudos on the subtle penguin shirt to fit with the theme

[@DnDDeepDive]

/tip hat ;)

[@professionalbutler533]

My favorite is using wish to instantly cast hallow for cold vulnerability if you can do so before combat, having metamagic adept and 2 levels of fighter with evocation wizard on the rest. Use max damage on 5th level spirit shroud and then use action and action surge to do an 8th and 7th level scorching ray meta magiced into cold damage. Gets pretty nutty. The insane damage is conditional though, but still decent anyways.

[@volitant998]

I love your videos so much, trying to keep up with them every week. More relevant, I love the cold theme. I’m even playing an Ice Sorcerer in my current campaign. Definitely going to replicate some of the things you did in this video. Keep up the good work.

[@vinspad3]

Current campaign my buddy is a fathomless warlock. Previous campaign he was a draconic sorc. Next campaign - by your powers combined! Love the build, I like movement over other control options because it is often easy for everyone else to play with. So often fear or holds end up being 'until someone else attacks' or charm is 'only charmed by you' which does make the game more tactically challenging but also makes the spells useless half the time (can't cast hypnotic pattern cuz the barbarian and the monk engaged in melee already) Reducing movement is nearly always helpful and rarely a negative - even if it reduces my allies as well, slowing down the whole battlefield is a zero-loss outcome much like throwing Fog Cloud on everyone.

[@meiofauna2267]

Love this. I’ve played pretty much the same build but blade pact and a couple barbarian levels to optimize around armor of agathys. Surprisingly flexible since rage doesn’t interfere with fey step or the ‘tentacle’. Fathomless is the best frostmage in the game if you completely reflavor it.😅

[@redmenace7832]

Hey Colby! Great video as usual. I wanted to put you on to a great channel called Map Crow. He drafts a lot of DnD (and other fantasy) maps and just talks theory about how games can be run and how aesthetics play into storytelling. Not sure how directly this might play into your content, but I wanted to try to expose you to a KZbinr whose really blown me away and is criminally under-recognized.

[@DnDDeepDive]

Will have to check it out!

[@snarkyrogue118]

I just started a cryomancer build in skyrim this last weekend to get a frost mage fix and here we are. Hell yeah.

[@J.sh_CDN]

Lots of slowing enemies there. They got the types of elements doing special things there. Fire spells are cheap and add a small amount of after burn damage, frost drains stamina and slows speed, and lighting saps magicka. Not sure how to best translate lightning to dnd other than making it hard to cast a spell next round? After burn and slow are easier, especially if slow also gave a chance to be effected by a slow spell for one round for attacks

[@danielcachopo6645]

Love the flavor of this build! One of my favorites you did so far! If I could make a suggestion, I would love to see a Sand Caster build, I tried to do it but I don't think there's enough stuff in 5e to help with this concept.

[@jiiaga5017]

For a different and slightly tankier flavor, you could go Stygian Tiefling from Mordenkainens, assuming your DM allows you to *know* the granted spells. It gives you Ray of Frost, Armor of Agathys, and Darkness. And instead of elven accuracy you could take Infernal Constitution which gives cold and poison damage resistance, +1 con, and advantage on saves against poison. For a similar variation, you could replace the fathomless with the genie pact: Marid. You don't have to wrestle internally with using or not using evard's black tentacles then, too.

[@the1niddo]

Fathomless Warlock is underrated, or at least overshadowed due to Hexblade and Undead. Your built here more or less leans into what I always felt was a fantastic part of Fathomless: you get a lotta control with them and a BA option which most Warlocks sorely lack outside of bouncing Hex around, and a freebie "might as well" reaction. If you're not sticking to a strict Ice theme, take all of the Eldritch Blast invocations (Push, Pull, Slow), combine with the tentacle, and you have a Warlock who's really solid at moving and slowing enemies down into optimal positions for your allies. All without using your Pact Magic so you're free to pickup whatever spells you want for that. Probably Sleet Storm or Cone of Cold a lot of the time, but having the ability to pull out Lightning Bolt or Summon Elemental if needed because you aren't relying on your Pact Slots to power your game plan? Its really nice and lets you dip your toes into multiple branches safely because you don't need a particular spell to make things work. On top of the constant soft control you can be an occasional AoE damage burst or pocket summoner. Or go even more in on control with Bigby's Hand or upcasted Cause Fear. Or pull out Raulothim's Psychic Lance for some "that's enough out of you" magical backhands. All without multiclassing. One of the very few Warlocks who can make a strong argument for being a straight built or at least going all the way up to 12th before multiclassing. Its a complete package, not a dip and run.

[@dimitriepitacio1065]

Wait, did i just herd a "bom dia" ? Bom dia indeed! There is no better way to start the day than hear your silk voice talking about dnd.

[@bz7672]

I was just thinking of how to make a frost mage yesterday. What great timing.

[@Nikotheos]

This is awesome! My favorite build you’ve ever presented! Thank you!!!

[@knightghaleon]

I would love a soaked condition along with some water spells that you could combo with ice spells to reduce movement/attack rolls/damage. Think of a fire spell that could put a fear effect on the target as they attempt to put themselves out. Perhaps cutting their movement speed in half while requiring spending an action to pat out the flames.

[@calebseaton5200]

Love your channel man haven't found a video yet that hasn't helped me a ton keep up the great work Colby!

[@DnDDeepDive]

Thanks!

[@dieu2282]

For the backstory you could say that you draw your warlock powers from your ancestor who, after death, now resides in the elemental plane of ice. Because the fathomless is water themed but ice is just water in it's solid state the fathomless theme still fits here.

[@fasterpet]

Dragon breath would also be a fun spell to add to your invisible familiar. Depending on the ruling at your table, the extra action from the spell may not break invisibility for your familiar, which you could argue would give enemies disadvantage on saves vs the damage. Takes your concentration, but not your action or bonus action...