the Ice is one of the most notable bosses in Diablo 4
The Beast in the Ice is one of the most notable bosses in Diablo 4, especially in the Season of the Infernal Hordes. Blizzard made some significant changes to this boss fight, removing it from the Nightmare Dungeon system and reintroducing it as a pinnacle boss that players can farm. This boss presents a great opportunity to acquire Mythic Unique items, especially when faced with Tormented difficulty. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know, from summoning the Beast in the Ice to its mechanics and drop tables.
How to Summon the Beast In The Ice
In Season of the Infernal Hordes, Blizzard has adjusted the summoning mechanics for Beast in the Ice. This boss is located in the Glacial Fissure Dungeon in the Fractured Peaks, south of Kyovashad. Unlike past seasons, you no longer need to craft a Nightmare Dungeon Sigil to summon it. Simply walk into the dungeon and interact with the summoning altar.
Here's what you'll need to summon the boss:
Normal Difficulty:
x9 Distilled Fear
Tormented Difficulty:
x1 Stygian Stone
x27 Distilled Fear
Distilled Fear can be obtained from various sources, including slain Elites, Treasure Goblins, Helltide monsters, and Whisper Caches. Stygian Stones, which are required for the Tormented version, are rarer and can be earned from Pit Runs, the Infernal Hordes Resource Chest, and through the Season Journey.
Tormented Version of Beast in the Ice
The Tormented version of this boss is significantly tougher. The boss will be at Level 200, with greatly enhanced damage. As such, most builds won't be able to face tank its mechanics, so it's recommended that you prepare carefully. However, the loot rewards are five times higher, and if you can defeat it, you'll gain access to high-value loot like Mythic Uniques.
Beast In The Ice Boss Mechanics
Beast in the Ice is a massive demon wielding an icy blade that deals with Cold Damage. Before engaging, make sure to maximize your Cold Resistance and Armor. Here's how the battle plays out:
Initial Phase:
The fight begins with the Beast crashing into the arena and swinging its blade at you. You'll need to dodge these initial attacks while staying out of the way of its blade swings.
After a short while, the boss will envelop the arena in wind and shrink the available space into a small circle. You'll need to dodge its attacks carefully as they come in quick succession.
Invulnerability Phase (Quarter Health Milestones):
As the Beast in the Ice loses health, every quarter of its health triggers an invulnerability phase.
The boss will fly into the air and blanket the floor with ice-based attacks. You'll need to find safe gaps between the ice to avoid damage.
On Normal Difficulty, you can tank these hits with enough Cold Resistance.
On Tormented Difficulty, the Tormented Debuff will apply, causing you to take increased damage. If this debuff stacks to three, you'll be one-shotted unless you're running an extremely tanky build.
Damage Phase:
After successfully dodging the ice attack, the Beast will crash to the ground. This is your opportunity to deal damage.
Burst DPS builds can skip future phases by melting the boss's HP quickly before it can fly away again.
If you can't kill the boss quickly, you'll need to repeat the dodging mechanics for each quarter of its health, which makes for a longer fight.
Final Phase:
Once the Beast in the Ice reaches 10% health, it will enter its final phase.
By this time, you should have avoided enough of its attacks and dealt enough damage to finish it off.
Beast In The Ice Drop Table
The Beast in the Ice has a dedicated loot drop table, making it a prime target for farming Uniques and Mythic Uniques. Here's what you can expect:
Normal Drop: Each time you defeat the boss, it has a high chance to drop Unique items for your class.
Mythic Uniques: Like all pinnacle bosses in Diablo 4, there's a 1.5% chance of dropping a Mythic Unique. On Tormented Difficulty, this chance is multiplied, giving you five chances per kill to earn a Mythic Unique. Some of the most sought-after Mythic Uniques include items like Harlequin Crest, which has a huge impact on endgame builds.
Tips for Farming the Beast In The Ice
Prepare for Cold Resistance: This is essential to surviving the cold damage from the boss's attacks, especially in Tormented Difficulty.
Use Burst DPS Builds: These builds are excellent for skipping phases by quickly reducing the boss's health before it can retreat into invulnerability.
Upgrade Your Gear: Make sure you're fully equipped with high-level gear to withstand the Tormented Debuff and the other mechanics of the fight.
Bring Friends: If you're struggling to solo the fight on Tormented difficulty, teaming up with others can make the encounter much more manageable.
Conclusion
Farming Beast in the Ice is a rewarding challenge, especially in Tormented Difficulty. While the fight itself can be tough, it provides one of the best opportunities to farm for Mythic Uniques like Harlequin Crest, making it a must-farm for endgame players. Ensure you're well-prepared with high Cold Resistance and armor to handle the Beast's deadly cold-based attacks. With patience and practice, you can farm this boss effectively, gearing up your character and improving your chances of obtaining rare and powerful loot.
Good luck, and may your Diablo 4 gold and Diablo 4 items flow freely!