Resist Cold (spell)
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Resist cold is a spell that allows the caster to grant protection to recipients against natural cold exposure and cold-based attacks. The spell provides some improvement over the ambient comfort of the weather, allowing the recipient to withstand colder conditions with greater ease. However, the brief duration of the spell makes this an ineffective tool for travel in the outdoors.
| Range | touch |
| Duration | 3 rounds per level |
| Area of Effect | 1 creature per level |
| Casting Time | 1 round |
| Saving Throw | none |
| Level | cleric (1st) |
In cases where the weather is chilly or colder, the spell improves the recipient’s comfort so that the conditions feel no worse than brisk. However, this improvement is limited to a maximum of four better temperature grades, meaning that cold conditions cannot be improved beyond chilly, and very cold conditions cannot be improved beyond frosty. The spell's effectiveness diminishes further in bitterly cold, arctic, and polar conditions, where the sheer severity of the cold cannot be fully mitigated.
Defense Against Unnatural Attacks
When the character is subjected to cold-based spells, such as ice storm, or faces the icy breath of a dragon, as well as other similar attacks, the spell grants a +3 saving throw against both magic and breath weapons that deal cold damage. In addition to this resistance, the spell reduces the total damage taken from such attacks by one-half, lessening the impact of freezing magic and supernatural cold.
Damage that results from ambient cold, such as the unnatural chill radiating from an ice toad, is similarly mitigated. This spell reduces such harm by 1 hit point per die, or, in cases where the effect is weak enough, it may nullify the whole amount entirely.
Bringing the Spell into Play
Where cold presents a direct threat, the caster can employ the spell just prior. For example, if it's necessary to dive into freezing water, or bypass a deadly cold trap, such as an enchanted frost-covered floor or an ancient corridor rimed with ice, the spell would be very useful.
In extreme weather, the spell is best suited for short sprints through deadly conditions. A party caught in an unexpected Arctic storm could use it to run for nearby shelter. If a companion were to fall unconscious in subzero conditions, the spell could be cast to buy time for rescue before the cold claims them.
See also,
Endure Cold & Heat (spell)
Hypothermia
