| Ice Block | |
|---|---|
| |
| Properties | |
| Class | Mage |
| School | Frost |
| Cooldown | 4 minutes |
| Talents | |
| Talent required |
 [Prismatic Barrier] or  [Blazing Barrier] or  [Ice Barrier] |
| Improvements |
 [Cryo-Freeze],  [Ice Cold],  [Winter's Protection] |
| Related buff | |
| |
| Related debuff | |
| |
Ice Block is a row 2 mage talent. It makes the caster immune to damage and negative effects for a short time.
Using Ice Block debuffs the caster with Hypothermia, preventing them from using Ice Block again for 30 seconds.
Tips and tactics
A gnome mage using Ice Block.
- When Ice Block is active, casting it again will cancel it.
- Ice Block can be removed by an enemy's
[Mass Dispel]. - Ice Block can be used while afflicted by loss of control effects such as stuns or fear effects.
- Ice Block can prevent fall damage. It can also prevent damage from drowning and fatigue, but it will not reset the breath bar or the fatigue bar, so as soon as the block ends the damage will continue.
- Since mobs will not attack immune targets, Ice Block causes them to ignore the caster for its duration. It does not reduce threat levels.
- A stopcasting macro can be used to make Ice Block more responsive, by having it immediately stop any in-progress spellcasts when its button is pressed:
/stopcasting/cast Ice Block
Notes and trivia
In the TCG.
- Ice Block is...
- A rare mage ability in the Trading Card Game.
- An epic mage spell in Hearthstone. Its flavor text reads: "Ice is nice, and will suffice!"
- "Improved Ice Block" is one of Jaina's abilities in Heroes of the Storm. It functions similarly to Ice Block, but with the added effect of chilling nearby enemies when it ends.
- This spell has been occasionally used in the lore. Khadgar uses it to protect himself from Garona Halforcen on alternate Draenor, and again against Gul'dan within the Tomb of Sargeras. Several formerly captured magi use it to shield themselves from Sindragosa in the Pit of Saron after the defeat of Scourgelord Tyrannus.
Patch changes
Patch 10.0.0 (2022-10-25): Now a row 2 class talent (was a level 22 ability). 
Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Now learned at level 22 (was 50). 
Patch 7.1.5 (2017-01-10): Now learned at level 50 (was 26). Cooldown reduced to 4 minutes, down from 5 minutes. Mana cost removed (was 15 mana). - Hotfix (2016-12-06): Ice Block's cooldown will correctly reset at the end of an encounter.
- Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Now learned at level 26 (was 15).
Patch 6.0.2 (2014-10-14): Now learned at level 15 (was 26). 
Hotfix (2012-10-12): No longer incorrectly removes 
[Battle Fatigue]. - Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): Now learned at level 26 (was 30).
Patch 2.3.2 (2008-01-08): Ice Block is no longer a talent, and is now trainable at level 30 (was a tier 5 Frost talent). - Patch 2.3.0 (2007-11-13): Ice Block has been reverted back to its old behavior.
- Originally, a player who Ice Blocked in midair would continue to fall normally. At one point this was changed so an Ice Blocked player hovered while the spell was active, then began to fall when it expired.
- Originally, a player who Ice Blocked in midair would continue to fall normally. At one point this was changed so an Ice Blocked player hovered while the spell was active, then began to fall when it expired.
- Patch 2.1.0 (2007-05-22): Hypothermia debuff added.
- Prior to this, a mage with Ice Block and
[Cold Snap] could be protected for 20 consecutive seconds, with only a short interruption to use Cold Snap.
- Prior to this, a mage with Ice Block and
- Patch 2.0.3 (2007-01-09):
Patch 1.12.0 (2006-08-22): Fixed a bug that was causing Ice Block to trigger a 5 minute cooldown on the 
[Gnomish Cloaking Device]. - Patch 1.4.0 (2005-04-19): Fixed race condition where damage would sometimes be applied after Ice Block was activated.
Patch 0.9 (2004-08-17):
- Duration slightly increased.
- Now a buff instead of a debuff (you can cancel it).
External links
| Ice Block | Hypothermia |
|---|---|
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