Direfrost Keep
A frozen Nord castle taken over by the ice witch Drodda. Three bosses (Guardian of the Flame, Iceheart, Drodda of Icereach) and three minibosses. Everything is easy until Drodda, whose heal-beam ruins pug groups.
- Teethnasher the Frostbound (optional frost troll at the entrance): tank and spank. Tank holds it still; others step out of its frost aura if it hurts.
- Drodda's Apprentice (optional ice mage on a balcony): a rehearsal for Drodda. Break free from his heal-beam (Sapping Freeze), get out of the big red Frost Nova circle, interrupt Void Burst.
- Iceheart is optional for the dungeon but required for the pledge.
- Hard mode: veteran only, read the Scroll of Glorious Battle before Drodda. A full wipe turns it off.
- Trash: large packs of Frozen Soldiers can overwhelm you. Pull carefully.
Guardian of the Flame
BossEasy draugr. Hold him still, block his heavy, stay close.
- Block Uppercut (heavy, knockback). Face him away: his frost breath is a narrow frontal cone.
- Stay close. He leaps to the farthest player, so spreading out makes him jump around.
- Step out of the ice storm dropped on the ground under a random player.
- Draugr warrior by the Direfrost Flame. Wind-up overhead = heavy; icy patch on the ground = ice storm.
More detail
Simple fight that gets messy only if people spread out and he starts leaping. Keep a tight group behind him.
- Xynode calls the ground AoE 'Lightning Splash'; UESP lists it as an Ice Storm (frost damage). Same mechanic: move out.
Drodda's Dreadlord
Miniboss- Exploding adds: he summons small adds that run at people and explode. A couple at once can kill a DPS or healer. Tank grabs them; others roll away if one reaches you.
- Hold him mid-room. Taunt or pull each add as it spawns.
- Block Crushing Blow (heavy, knockback).
- AoE the adds the moment they spawn; they have little health.
- Step out of his spin (Berserker Frenzy, small red circle). Don't run off.
- Draugr with Frostkin adds near the lever room. Red circle around him = spin.
More detail
Guards the lever further into the dungeon. The boss is trivial; the adds are what kill people.
- UESP says the adds are Frostkin; Xynode calls them Exploding Banekins. Both agree they explode and must be controlled.
Iceheart
BossFrost atronach. Mostly tank and spank: tank faces it away, group stays behind.
- Face it away from the group. Block Clobber (red frontal cone, knockback).
- Pick up the ice skeletons that pop out of the icicles.
- Step out of the red circles under you (Arctic Awakening). They burst into icicles that spawn skeletons: kill them fast.
- Step out of the Freezing Stomp circle around the boss.
- Large frost atronach. Red circles under every player, then icicles, then skeleton adds.
More detail
Optional boss, but needed for the pledge. Stay behind it, get out of circles, and AoE the skeletons.
Drodda of Icereach
Final boss- Sapping Freeze: a beam lifts a player and heals her massively. Break free instantly. Save stamina all fight for this.
- Impaling Shards: she teleports to a player and a big red circle grows under her, then ice spikes. Get out; it one-shots DPS and healers.
- Ice Bolt can't be taunted. She picks her own target, often three in a row. Block or shield if it's you; healer focuses that player.
- She can't be taunted. Your job is adds: grab the Ice Wraiths (and later Frost Atronachs) and stack them on her.
- Keep debuffs on her and shield the group if you can.
- Stand spread in fixed spots so you can see who she targets. Don't sprint around; you need the stamina to break free.
- AoE the adds down on top of her.
- Burst-heal whoever she is bolting. Two bolts without a heal can kill.
- Sapping Freeze: a player held in the air with a beam from Drodda to them.
- Impaling Shards: she blinks to someone, red circle grows around her, then ice shards erupt.
- Frost form: the obelisks around the arena light up; when all are lit she turns icy and hits harder.
Activate: Veteran only. Read the Scroll of Glorious Battle before engaging Drodda. A full wipe turns it off (achievement 'A Dish Served Cold').
- More health and more damage. No new mechanics.
- Impaling Shards hits significantly harder (UESP). Treat it as a guaranteed kill.
More detail
The pug-wiper of the dungeon. Simple mechanics, but an unbroken heal-beam can undo a whole burn phase. Hold positions, keep stamina for breaking free, and kill fast: if all the obelisks light up she enters a stronger frost phase.
- Add timing: Xynode says Ice Wraiths spawn below 50% HP and Frost Atronachs below 25%. UESP says wraiths come in the opening phase and atronachs in the frost phase, which starts when all obelisks light up (a timer, not HP).
- Exact spot of the Scroll of Glorious Battle not confirmed. UESP's general rule: on the floor near the final boss arena.