Snowblind Fractal

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Snowblind Fractal

Snowblind Fractal map.jpg
Map of Snowblind Fractal

Levels
80
Type
Instance
Dungeon
Fractals of the Mists
API
948

Fractals of the Mists loading screen.jpg
Loading screen

Image(s)

Snowblind Fractal.jpg

Click to enlarge.

Defeat the Sons of Svanir in a frigid forest.

— In-game description

The Snowblind Fractal is one of the Fractals of the Mists. This fractal is available at Fractal levels 3, 27, 51, 86 and 93.

Objectives[edit]

  • Event boss (tango icon).png Find the cause of the blizzard to stop it.
    • Fractal Difficulty Scale: x
    • Personal Fractal Level: x
    • Seek warmth or perish in the blizzard.
    • Reach the bonfire at the bottom of the wall.
    • Find a way past the obstruction.
    • Event bar.jpg Event swords (tango icon).png
    • Bonfire
    • Event bar empty2.jpg Event shield (tango icon).png
    • Defeat the ice elemental causing the blizzard.
    • Elemental Source
      Event bar.jpg Event swords (tango icon).png
    • Keep the bonfires lit to weaken the Elemental Source.: x/5
  • Event boss (tango icon).png Search for any surviving villagers.
    • Follow the tracks and look for survivors.
    • Kill the Son of Svanir Shaman.
      Event bar.jpg Event boss (tango icon).png

Rewards[edit]

Primary article: Fractals of the Mists#Rewards

Freezing cold - core fractal mechanic[edit]

The first half of the fractal will have the players deal with extreme cold until the Elemental Source is terminated. This involves the following two effects:

Ring of Fire.png Warmth
  • Players acquire stacks of Warmth by standing next to a lit bonfire.
Frozen Burst.png Hypothermia
  • Players accumulate stacks of Hypothermia every 5 seconds as long as they're not under the effect of Warmth.
  • Deals damage proportionate to the number of stacks.
  • All stacks are removed from a player upon acquiring a stack of Warmth.

Bonfires[edit]

Bonfires need to be lit using the  Stab (Rusty Old Torch).png Ignite special action skill received by approaching the large bonfire at the start. As Warmth prevent stacks of cold from accumulating, it allows the players a short time to run out to collect firewood and defeat enemies.

Walkthrough[edit]

The fractal starts you off in an alcove next to a bonfire that applies stacks of Warmth; this buff prevents the accumulation of the Hypothermia debuff, which would otherwise deal damage proportionate to the number of stacks.

Proceed forward to the large bonfire.

Melt the Ice Wall[edit]

Bonfire (Snowblind Fractal).jpg

Use the Ignite special action skill to light the bonfire. The way forward is blocked by a wall of ice which needs to be melted by the bonfire. While the wall melts, Ice Elementals, Wolves, and Sons of Svanir will continually spawn. The Ice Elementals will run towards the fire to extinguish it; kill them before they reach the fire. Crowd control skills will be helpful here. Additional firewood bundles to stoke the fire will spawn periodically under the trees around the area.

The time it takes for the ice wall to melt scales down with how stoked the bonfire is. So keeping it almost full makes this puzzle shorter.

Defeat the Elemental Source[edit]

Next, move south toward the Elemental Source, a giant ice elemental surrounded by 5 fire pits. Be sure to light the bonfires using the torches and keep up stacks of Warmth on players and to remove stacks of Rime Shield from the Elemental Source. The Elemental Source has two main abilities:

  1. A slow moving projectile that does a small AoE knockback where it hits the ground.
  2. An ability with a similar visual appearance to the Elementalist's Swirling Winds. This ability is active for a few seconds before it knocks back anyone still inside its animation.

At 75%/50%/25% the Elemental Source will send out projectile AoEs towards the fires, taking out 50% of the fire's health. If all fires are extinguished, a blizzard will be summoned which reduces visibility, and deals additional damage until a fire is lit once again. The fires will also run out of firewood over time. They may be resupplied with bundles found near each hut. The Elemental will also summon various Sons of Svanir throughout the fight. Stability and Reflects are very helpful against the Elemental Source and can be used to reflect the projectiles from the Sons of Svanir. Reflects may also be used to stop or slow the Elemental Source from depleting the fires.

Once the Elemental Source is defeated, any remaining Hypothermia your party has will be removed. Continue to the next area.

Follow the Tracks[edit]

Grab a torch and navigate through the darkened forest toward the village. You will encounter two groups of the Sons of Svanir. It's easy to get lost, so make sure to check the footprints on the ground and follow them. If you find yourself getting too lost, head to the farthest right point on the map from where the elemental area is and hug it as much as you can, you will find the cave with the Legendary Shaman soon enough. With this method as well you can avoid the Svanir forces in the forest. Having a torch is a good idea as you are able to see your surroundings a bit better. Characters with other light sources can also have their surroundings lit without the torch.

Kill the Shaman[edit]

Corrupted Ice Crystals can be reflected and rallied off of.

If the group is separated initially by a wall appearing, interacting with the flaming banner will teleport you to fight.

The Shaman alternates between fighting in melee range and casting Ice Storm from out of range. Once the shaman is defeated the fractal is complete. Before leaving, don't forget to loot both the spawned chest as well as the shaman's.

The Fight[edit]

The Shaman alternates between fighting in melee range and jumping out of the fight completely to cast Ice Storm from afar. When he is down among the party, the Shaman will use his greatsword to cleave the party. The shaman will apply Hypothermia as part of the auto-attack chain. If enough stacks are accumulated, the player will be frozen in a destroyable Ice Shard. The shaman will also summon several allies and three Corrupted Ice Crystals at the start of each melee phase which can provide him with Rime Shield. He will resummon these after each ranged phase. The projectiles of Corrupted Ice Crystals can be reflected. The Crystals have low health, so reflecting their projectiles will kill them quickly. They can also be rallied off of if a player goes down.

There are two main attacks of note:

  1. Ice Spike: The shaman will cast a ring of Ice Spikes around himself.
  2. Icy Breath: The shaman will kneel, thrust his head out and spray a cone of icy breath at a target. He will pivot to face the targeted player as needed.
    • Each second a player is in the icy breath, that player will gain a stacking debuff, which deals damage and stacks in intensity.
Bear Form

If you are targeted by Icy Breath, it is advised to dodge back away in a straight line from the boss rather than run around the boss and risk damaging your allies. Also Guardian icon small.png Guardians can stop the Icy Breath by placing a Sanctuary on top of the shaman. If placed properly, the Sanctuary will not allow the ice breath to hit anyone outside of it. [verification requested]

At 75% and 50% health, the shaman will teleport out of range to the balcony, become invulnerable, and begin raining AoE ice spikes below. He summons several allies. The Elite Icebrood Effigy must be defeated to end this phase. The Effigy has a defiance bar and breaking it is recommended to quickly ending this phase. After this phase ends, the Shaman will summon more Corrupted Ice Crystals and more allies near the entrance to the cave.

At 25% health, he will use Become the Bear and remain transformed until defeated. This transformation is closer to Become the Wolf, giving him increased damage and leap abilities. Players should focus on not getting hit by his leap, as it is an extended knock down.

Achievements[edit]

Snowblind Fractal Stabilizer Fractals of the Mists 5Achievement points
You've completed the Snowblind fractal inside the Fractals of the Mists.I'm so cold, my frostbite has frostbite. 1 Fractal 5Achievement points
If We Only Had Marshmallows Fractals of the Mists Central Tyria mastery point 5Achievement points
Your team lit every bonfire in Snowblind fractal inside the Fractals of the Mists.At least you'll be warm. 1 Challenge 5Achievement points

NPCs[edit]

Foes[edit]

Canines
Icebrood
Norn

Objects[edit]

Dialogue[edit]

On arrival
Dessa: Reading subzero conditions in your area. And I'm registering something unusual coming from a nearby village. Be careful.
During fight with Lornarr
Legendary Shaman Lornarr Dragonseeker: We'll take everything from you. Even your lives. (beginning of battle)
Legendary Shaman Lornarr Dragonseeker: Dragon will devour all! (at 75% health)
Legendary Shaman Lornarr Dragonseeker: Kneel before the might of Dragon or be destroyed! (at 50% health)
Legendary Shaman Lornarr Dragonseeker: Your weakness makes me laugh. (at 25% health)
After Lornarr's death
Dessa Observation Mode: There, the fractal's stable. Let me know when you're ready to go. Statistically speaking, the next fractal must be warmer.

Related achievements[edit]

Upon completion[edit]

Objective during[edit]