Hoarfrost Stomp is one of the most powerful Ashes of War in Elden Ring, offering an area-of-effect frost attack that can quickly shred through enemies and bosses alike. Its low FP cost and rapid buildup of the frostbite status make it an extremely valuable asset for a wide variety of builds, whether you’re using a dexterity-based weapon or a heavy-hitting greatsword. Many players seek this skill early in the game due to its strength, and acquiring it is relatively simple if you know where to look. Understanding how to get Hoarfrost Stomp will give you a major advantage in combat throughout the Lands Between.
Where to Find Hoarfrost Stomp in Elden Ring
Hoarfrost Stomp is located in the Liurnia of the Lakes region, just a short ride northwest from the early game areas. The Ash of War is not found in a dungeon or purchased from a vendor, but instead dropped by a specific invisible enemy hidden in the landscape. To obtain it, you’ll need to find and defeat a Teardrop Scarab located near a small frozen pond.
Location Overview
- Region: Liurnia of the Lakes
- Nearest Site of Grace: Caria Manor or Royal Moongazing Grounds
- Target: Invisible Teardrop Scarab
The scarab leaves behind glowing footprints as it moves, making it a unique and slightly tricky enemy to deal with. It circles a particular area and must be killed quickly before it disappears. Once defeated, it drops the Hoarfrost Stomp Ash of War, which you can then apply to a variety of weapons via a Site of Grace.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Hoarfrost Stomp
Getting Hoarfrost Stomp can be done early if you follow the right steps. You don’t need to complete any boss fight to reach it, but you will need access to the Liurnia region, which becomes available shortly after defeating Margit and entering the northern parts of the game.
Step 1: Reach Liurnia of the Lakes
To reach Liurnia, defeat Margit the Fell Omen and continue through Stormveil Castle, or use the secret path around the castle. Once you exit onto the lakes region, activate the Site of Grace near the Liurnia Lake Shore.
Step 2: Travel to the Pond Northeast of Caria Manor
The location you’re looking for is just southeast of the Caria Manor or north of the Royal Moongazing Grounds. Open your map and find the shallow frozen pond area on the western cliffs above the lake. The scarab circles this area, and you’ll see its glowing footsteps running in a loop.
Step 3: Observe the Footprints
The invisible scarab isn’t visible directly, but it leaves behind shimmering footsteps. Watch its path for a moment and prepare to strike. It moves in a predictable loop, so wait until it’s close and time your attack carefully.
Step 4: Defeat the Invisible Scarab
Stand in its path and attack as it moves past. You can use melee weapons, magic, or even arrows to hit it. If you miss, wait for the loop and try again. Once defeated, it will drop Hoarfrost Stomp immediately.
How to Use Hoarfrost Stomp
After acquiring the Ash of War, you can equip it at any Site of Grace. It can be applied to a wide range of melee weapons, especially those that can take magic or cold infusions. When activated, the skill causes your character to stomp on the ground, sending out a frost wave that spreads in a wide arc.
Effect and Stats
- Skill Type: Ash of War
- FP Cost: 10 FP per use
- Status Effect: Causes frost buildup and frostbite
- Weapon Affinity: Can apply Cold affinity for increased Frost buildup
The stomp deals frost damage and quickly builds up frostbite, which deals a chunk of damage and reduces enemy defenses temporarily. This makes it effective against both mobs and bosses, especially those with large health pools.
Recommended Weapons for Hoarfrost Stomp
- Greatswords and curved swords for their wide attack range
- Straight swords and katanas for balanced damage and speed
- Spears and halberds for reach combined with the area effect of the stomp
Pairing Hoarfrost Stomp with weapons that also build up status effects like bleed or poison can overwhelm enemies with multiple debuffs, giving you a massive combat advantage.
Tips for Maximizing Hoarfrost Stomp Effectiveness
Even after the nerfs in certain patches, Hoarfrost Stomp remains a strong option when used strategically. Here’s how to get the most out of it:
1. Use It at Mid-Range
The frost wave extends forward a considerable distance, making it ideal for hitting enemies before they reach you. Use it as an opener or when mobs are grouped together to deal damage to multiple foes at once.
2. Stack Frost with Cold Affinity
When infusing your weapon with Cold via the Ash of War menu, it increases frost buildup on both weapon hits and skill use. This synergy makes Hoarfrost Stomp even more potent, especially against tough enemies.
3. Time the Stomp Properly
The animation is fairly quick, but still leaves you vulnerable for a moment. Time the stomp right after a dodge or while enemies are recovering from their own attacks to avoid interruption.
4. Combine with Intelligence Builds
If you’re using a magic-focused build, Hoarfrost Stomp complements Intelligence scaling weapons. It doesn’t scale with Intelligence directly, but adding it to a magic weapon or using it alongside spells can round out your offense.
Why Hoarfrost Stomp Was Nerfed
Originally, Hoarfrost Stomp was incredibly overpowered and became a staple of both PvE and PvP. It dealt massive damage, built up frostbite almost instantly, and had very low cost. This led to it being nerfed in later patches, reducing its damage and increasing casting time slightly.
Despite this, the skill remains one of the most efficient and accessible Ashes of War for players seeking a strong area-of-effect ability early or mid-game. If used correctly, it can still clear rooms and deal substantial damage in boss fights.
Getting Hoarfrost Stomp in Elden Ring is a smart move for any player who wants a powerful crowd-control skill early in the game. Found near a frozen pond in Liurnia of the Lakes, this Ash of War is earned by defeating an invisible Teardrop Scarab. Once obtained, it offers reliable frost damage, fast buildup, and wide-range impact, making it one of the best utility skills in the game. Whether you’re playing solo, exploring dangerous regions, or engaging in boss battles, learning how to get Hoarfrost Stomp and use it effectively can drastically improve your combat experience in Elden Ring.