(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions)Melee and ranged attacks cause frostbite (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) Increases melee and ranged damage by 10% (Old-gen console and 3DS versions)Melee and ranged attacks cause frostburn
It's either really hot or really cold. Either way it REALLY hurts
Chance
100% (Old-gen console and 3DS versions)
Duration
5–14 seconds
Internal Buff ID: 324 (Desktop, Console and Mobile versions), 44
Frost armor is a Hardmodearmor set that grants the ability to inflict Frostbite(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) / Frostburn(Old-gen console and 3DS versions) on enemies with melee or ranged attacks for 5–14 seconds when the whole set is worn, as well as causing all ranged and melee attacks to give off light. Frostbite is a variant of the Frostburn debuff that deals 25 DPS instead of 8.
Visually, wearing the set causes a "snow trail" to be left behind the player as they walk, similar to running with Hermes Boots. Also, the sound when the player takes damage is replaced with the shattering sound heard when breaking through Thin Ice.
The Desert's Forbidden armor(Desktop, Console and Mobile versions) is the counterpart to this armor set, buffing magic and summon abilities instead of melee and ranged.
It takes 46 Adamantite or Titanium Bars (Hallowed in the Old-gen console version) as well as 3 Frost Cores to craft a full set of Frost armor.
A full set of Frost armor will provide the following stats:
Frost Core(Desktop, Console, Old-gen console and Mobile versions)
Tips
The Frost armor set can easily be farmed by creating a large one-sided trench with a roof over the top of it containing a one-block wide hole. The Ice Golem will not be able to shoot the player because of its laser spawning off-center when being above it. Using Water Candles increases the spawn rate.
(Old-gen console and 3DS versions) The Dungeon Guardian is not immune to the debuff, thus making Frost armor useful in obtaining the Bone Key.
The Frostbite / Frostburn debuff is particularly devastating when used against worm enemies because it affects each segment, thereby multiplying the damage dealt by the number of affected segments. Additionally, the light and particles from the debuffs allow the player to track them through tiles.
Unfortunately, The Destroyer is immune to the debuff, thus limiting the effectiveness of this strategy.
When used with a Flymeal or Rotten Eggs, Frost armor is a highly efficient way to kill friendly NPCs.
The Frostburn effect adds light to all melee and ranged attacks, including tools such as pickaxes and drills, and to ordinary ammunition, such as that used by the Endless Quiver and Endless Musket Pouch.
This makes the armor set very useful for exploring caves.
Selling Frost armor results in less profit than selling its crafting ingredients.
For melee users, pairing this armor with Magma Stone/Fire Gauntlet and a flask will inflict three different debuffs on a single hit, possibly more if the weapon itself inflicts another debuff. This proves particularly useful when used with the Shadowflame weapons.
(Old-gen console and 3DS versions) For ranged users, this armor has slightly more defense than Hallowed armor with the Hallowed Helmet, however, the damage bonuses are only equal to those from Mythril armor.
As a ranged user with Adamantite armor, it may be better to change the Adamantite Breastplate for the Frost Breastplate, as this will result in 11% more critical strike chance and 4 more defense at the cost of 8% damage and its set bonus, which only reduces ammo consumption by 25%.
Trivia
Prior to 1.3, if the Frost Breastplate and Leggings were paired with a Gold Helmet, and all pieces were dyed with Blue Flame and Black Dye, it would cause an afterimage and pulsing aura, akin to Hallowed armor. This was the armor Red used to wear before his specific set was added.
The sound effect when a player is struck while wearing Frost armor takes priority over other items that also alter the sound effect of a player being struck, such as the Moon Charm at night.
Unlike other armors, the Frost Leggings increase melee attack speed instead of just melee speed; but in terms of gameplay, they both mean the same.