Thanks to my Frost Resistance Gear for Naxxramas guide I’ve had a few conversations about hitting the frost resistance cap. I thought I’d also share the information I gathered with everyone here. Hopefully, it’ll help others with their own frost resistance set planning.
It is great to see players planning and wanting to be prepared. It bodes well for themselves and their guild. But before we get into the numbers I want to say I don’t believe anyone will need to reach the frost resistance cap to get through Naxx. Melee DPS will likely need the most, but I think we’ll find most guilds do fine well below the cap. And based on past performance we’ll see some guilds blow through Naxx without any resistance gear.
What Is Frost Resistance Cap?
Frost resistance cap in WoW Classic is 315. That goes for any elemental resistance, they all cap out at 315. That is for your total resistance with gear and buffs. Anything over 315 is wasted, as well as hurtful as you’re giving up other stats for no good use. Your last piece of gear may put you over 315 resistance, at which point it is a personal calculation of which is best. Hitting (and exceeding) the cap for maximum protection? Or giving up some protection to keep other vital stats?
When hit with spell resistance is calculated twice. The first is whether the spell lands at all or not. This is determined purely by caster and target levels, with no resistance gear. In Naxxramas players will be 3 levels below the bosses, putting us at a disadvantage.
The second determines how much damage you take, based on your average resistance. This is a weighted average formula calculated based on your resistance and the caster’s level.
Average Resistance = (Target’s Resistance / (Caster’s Level * 5)) * 0.75
In Naxx the bosses are level 63, which multiplied by 5 is 315. The 0.75 at the end is the maximum average resistance allowed in the game, at 75%. Combine those and that’s where the resistance cap comes from: (315 / 315) * 0.75 = 0.75.
What Is It Worth?
Using the average resistance formula above we can see how much protection frost resistance will provide.
| Amount of Frost Resistance | Average Resistance | |
|---|---|---|
| 315 | Resistance cap at level 60 | 75% |
| 250 | Max frost resistance usually recommended for melee DPS (buffed) | 59.5% |
| 200 | Frost resistance from all Naxx related crafted and quest items (unbuffed). | 47.6% |
| 150 | 35.7% | |
| 100 | 23.8% | |
| 60 | No frost resistance gear with paladin Frost Aura or shaman Frost Resistance Totem. | 14.3% |
| 20 | No frost resistance gear with Gift of the Wild (untalented). | 4.7% |
Frost resistance cap gives you the maximum average resistance of 75%. If you followed my recommended frost resistance gear then you’d have 224 frost resistance with a Gift of the Wild buff. That gets you 53.3% average resistance. In the same gear but a party with a paladin or shaman, you’ll have a 62.9% average resistance. So frost resistance cap is getting you an extra 12.1 to 21.7% average resistance. Keep this in mind when weighing the costs and benefits of reaching the cap.
Note that average resistance is just that, the average amount of damage you’ll resist over time. It is a weighted average, so the further from the average the less likely it is to occur. At frost resistance cap you are as likely to resist only 50% as you are to resist 100%. Resisting less than 50% becomes increasingly unlikely.
Mind Your Health
Going for frost resistance cap will be at the expense of other stats. You really need to pay attention to stamina and what your total health is with and without the extra resistance gear. It doesn’t help to resist an extra 500-1000 in damage if the one time you don’t kills you.
How To Reach Frost Resistance Cap
The best approach for you will depend on the type of armor you can wear and the party buffs you can expect to get. Here I’ll go over an option with and without having the best party buffs. There may be other approaches to reaching the frost resistance cap that I don’t cover here. Especially for paladins and shaman, who can wear several types of armor and will always have the best buff.
If you aren’t an engineer then hitting cap without paladin or shaman buffs are going to be difficult, if not impossible for some. The frost resistance trinkets available to engineers push most of the sets below 315 frost resistance.
Note that the suggestions below ignore the pieces of frost resistance armor that drop in Naxxramas. This is more geared toward players prepping for frost resistance cap before Phase 6 arrives. Or who don’t want to be beholden to the RNG of a drop and winning the loot.
Cloth Armor
Most casters/healers won’t be able to hit the frost resistance cap without a paladin or shaman in their party.
- Start with the Naxx crafted/quest FR gear = 214 (using two Ice Guards)
- Swap in Crown of Caer Darrow instead of T2 hat = 5
- Add Tempestria’s Frozen Necklace = 15
- Add Stormpike Cloth Girdle (Alliance) or Frostwolf Cloth Belt (Horde), requires Honored with AV = 5
- Add a random “of Frost Resistance” ring = Up to 22
- Add two Gyrofreeze Ice Reflector, requires engineering = 30
- If not an engineer you can do one Stormpike Insignia Rank 5 or Stormpike Insignia Rank 6, Alliance only and required Revered or Exalted with AV = 10
- Gift of the Wild = 20
That only gets you to ~309 if an engineer, and only ~289 if not. A mage using Mage Armor/Ice Armor with engineering can hit a frost resistance cap. But you’ll find the Tempestria’s Frozen Necklace is a PITA to get. It comes from a 2-day spawn timer rare, has less than a 20% drop rate, and people farming the elemental invasion in Winterspring will hate you for killing the boss.
With a paladin or shaman in your party, you only need to reach 255 frost resistance on your own. Doable, but still a lot of effort if not an engineer or a mage. Remember Gift of the Wild doesn’t stack with the paladin/shaman buffs.
Leather Armor
Leather wearing engineers can get close to frost resistance cap on their own.
- Start with the Naxx crafted/quest FR gear = 214 (using two Ice Guards)
- Add Icy Tomb Spaulders & Frost Mantle of the Dawn enchant = 15
- Add Frostbite Girdle or Chillsteel Girdle = 10
- Add a random “of Frost Resistance” ring = Up to 22
- Add two Gyrofreeze Ice Reflector, requires engineering = 30
- If not an engineer you can do one Stormpike Insignia Rank 5 or Stormpike Insignia Rank 6, Alliance only and required Revered or Exalted with AV = 10
- Gift of the Wild = 20
If you’re an engineer you can get up to 309 FR. If you’re also a dwarf you can hit cap. If you’re willing to put in a lot of time you can also reach the cap by getting Tempestria’s Frozen Necklace. With an 18% drop rate from a 2 day spawns rare elite in Winterspring who is difficult to solo. And will likely get you to hate whispers for killing, as it ends the elemental invasion in that zone.
With a paladin or shaman in your party, you only need to reach 255 frost resistance on your own. You’ll only need to add the two leather pieces and a decent (16+) frost resistance ring. Or if an engineer you only need to get an extra 11 FR from non-Naxx gear.
Mail Armor
You’ll want to take advantage of some leather pieces as well as mail. Especially if you benefit from agility.
- Start with the Naxx crafted/quest FR gear = 214 (using two Ice Guards)
- Add Icy Tomb Spaulders & Frost Mantle of the Dawn enchant = 15
- Add Frostbite Girdle or Chillsteel Girdle = 10
- Add Radiant Boots = 15
- Add a random “of Frost Resistance” ring = Up to 22
- Add two Gyrofreeze Ice Reflector, requires engineering = 30
- If not an engineer you can do one Stormpike Insignia Rank 5 or Stormpike Insignia Rank 6, Alliance only and required Revered or Exalted with AV = 10
- Gift of the Wild = 20
Engineers can hit the cap with points to spare. Dwarves with high AV rep are really close, needing a +21-22 ring to hit cap. Everyone else will need to add Tempestria’s Frozen Necklace to reach the cap on their own. A lot of effort for those last few points.
With a paladin or shaman in your party, you only need to reach 255 frost resistance on your own. You’ll only need to add two other pieces and a decent (16+) frost resistance ring. Or if an engineer you only need to get an extra 11 FR from non-Naxx gear.
Plate Armor
Plate wearers can mix in some leather and/or mail items to close in on frost resistance cap. Still helps to be an engineer… or a paladin.
- Start with the Naxx crafted/quest FR gear = 222 (using two Ice Guards)
- Add Icy Tomb Spaulders & Frost Mantle of the Dawn enchant = 15
- Add Frostbite Girdle or Chillsteel Girdle = 10
- Or if you want to stick with plate you can add Stormpike Plate Girdle (Alliance) or Frostwolf Plate Belt (Horde), requires Honored with AV = 5
- Add Radiant Boots = 15
- Or for plate add Thorium Boots = 7
- Add a random “of Frost Resistance” ring = Up to 22
- Add two Gyrofreeze Ice Reflector, requires engineering = 30
- If not an engineer you can do one Stormpike Insignia Rank 5 or Stormpike Insignia Rank 6, Alliance only and required Revered or Exalted with AV = 10
- Gift of the Wild = 20
The defensive plate frost resistance set offers more resistance than its peers. Engineers can easily hit the cap. Dwarves with high AV rep can also hit cap. Everyone else will need to add Tempestria’s Frozen Necklace to reach the cap on their own. A lot of effort for those last few points.
With a paladin or shaman in your party, you only need to reach 255 frost resistance on your own. That’s 33 FR from any non-Naxx sourced items, giving you lots of combinations.