Ice Age (Final Fantasy XVI)

Ice Age is one of Shiva's default Eikonic Abilities in Final Fantasy XVI that the player can assign to Clive's loadout. Clive will launch an avalanche of ice that knocks enemies back. Holding the execute button charges the ability up.
==Obtained==
Clive gains access to Shiva's powers as part of the story, during "Through the Maelstrom", usable in his loadout after the events in Naldia Narrow. Ice Age is already learned when Clive gains Shiva's powers.
==Mechanics==
Clive can use Ice Age in battle whenever it is equipped to his current loadout. He can have two Eikonic Abilities alongside his Eikonic Feat, which for the ice loadout is Cold Snap.
Ice Age has Clive launch an avalanche of ice onto his target, which knocks the enemy or enemies back if they are small enough to be caught in the rapid. Holding the execute button charges the ability up; releasing on the red part of the gauge results in the best version of the attack. Charging widens the range and strengthens the knockback force, but does not deal more damage. Charging Ice Age also allows the player to briefly freeze enemies with the ability, making them momentarily unable to act. Version 1.31 improved both normal damage and will damage from using Ice Age.
Ice Age activates the battle technique, , when damaging multiple enemies with one use of Ice Age.
After being used, the ability has a 15-second cooldown before being able to be used again. Upgrading/mastering the ability has no effect on its cooldown.
The Favor of Ice (Ice Age) accessory increases damage from Ice Age by 12%; it is found in a chest during the main quest "The Final King" after defeating the Purple Bavarois.
AP cost 	Effect
Already learned	Able to equip Ice Age to Clive's ice loadout.
600 (Upgrade) 	Lengthens the red portion of the charge gauge, making the timing more lenient for using the strongest version of the ability.
1000 (Master) 	Able to equip Ice Age to any loadout.
==Use==
Ice Age is likely not worth upgrading unless the player wants to use it outside the ice loadout, as its upgrade only enlarges the red portion of the charge gauge, making timing the ability more lenient; however, as the timing never varies, the player will get a hang of it easily enough.
Ice Age's downside is that charging the ability interrupts the flow of battle and Clive is susceptible to being attacked while charging, unless Clive has Will-o'-the-Wykes active. However, as charging does not make the ability do more damage, the player can simply use Ice Age without charging it. The charged version is best against a group of enemies small enough to suffer knockback, and/or to temporarily freeze enemies in place.
Ice Age has a short cooldown and so the player can use it often. In comparison to Shiva's other default ability, Ice Age tends to do less damage than Mesmerize and has lower stagger power as well, though the ability has since been made more powerful in update 1.31. Its boon is its ability to knock enemies back and freeze them, however, Shiva can already freeze enemies with her ability that has no cooldown.
A good use of Ice Age is as a parry, by unleashing it right as the enemy is about to strike Clive. However, the player may prefer Titan's Windup to Ice Age, as it works similarly but is stronger.
During the chronolith trial with the Shiva's abilities, triggering by charging Ice Age and releasing on the red portion of the gauge earns a 12-second time bonus.
category:Eikonic Abilities in Final Fantasy XVI