Reindeer Knight vs. Frost Giant: Which Ice AoE Reigns Supreme in Wizard101?
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The burning question on the minds of many Ice wizards in Wizard101 is: Is Reindeer Knight better than Frost Giant? The short answer is: yes, Reindeer Knight is generally considered better than Frost Giant, particularly before obtaining Snowball Barrage. While both spells serve as AoE (Area of Effect) attacks for the Ice school, Reindeer Knight offers superior damage output, making it the preferred choice for many players.
Let’s delve into why Reindeer Knight edges out Frost Giant and explore the nuances of each spell.
Why Reindeer Knight is the Top Choice
Damage Advantage
The primary reason Reindeer Knight is superior lies in its raw damage potential. Even its initial hit, without any spellements, exceeds the base damage of Blizzard, a spell that Ice wizards obtain far earlier in their journey. More importantly, Reindeer Knight’s overall damage outstrips that of Frost Giant. This means that Reindeer Knight will inflict more damage across all targets, making battles shorter and more efficient.
Upgradability through Spellements
The true power of Reindeer Knight comes with its easy upgradability through spellements. These spellements drop during seasonal events, notably Christmas in July and December, when holiday-themed packs become available. Specifically, they drop from the Loremaster during these events. Since they are considered seasonal drops, they appear more frequently than standard spell drops from Loremaster, making it easier to obtain enough spellements to significantly enhance Reindeer Knight’s damage. Frost Giant, while a decent spell, lacks this crucial upgrade path.
Early Access to Power
Reindeer Knight is available earlier in a Wizard’s progression than other spells of comparable power. While Frost Giant is a decent AoE, it is often surpassed quickly. Reindeer Knight, however, remains a valuable spell throughout mid-game content, making the time investment in acquiring it worthwhile.
Not Just Damage: A Tactical Edge
Beyond pure damage, Reindeer Knight’s value lies in its ability to efficiently clear groups of enemies. In a game often driven by the need to deal with multiple adversaries at once, a dependable AoE spell is essential. Reindeer Knight fills this role, making it a vital component of an Ice wizard’s arsenal.
Frost Giant’s Place
While Reindeer Knight is superior, it’s important to acknowledge that Frost Giant is not entirely useless. It serves as a mid-game AoE option for Ice wizards before obtaining Reindeer Knight and other powerful spells like Snowball Barrage. For wizards who do not want to engage in the spellements farming route for Reindeer Knight, Frost Giant provides an easier alternative to use as an AoE while progressing through the story. However, considering Reindeer Knight’s advantages, it’s clear why many players prioritize obtaining and upgrading it.
The Archmastery Requirement
It’s crucial to note that both Reindeer Knight and Frost Giant, like many lore spells, require school-specific pips for casting. This means you’ll need to have at least one Ice pip (or school-specific pip related to the school of the spell) in addition to the regular power pips. This change, introduced with the Archmastery update, adds a layer of strategic consideration to spellcasting. You’ll need to manage your pip generation and Archmastery rating to make the most of these spells. You can purchase Cracked Archmastery Opals from the Gem Shop in the Shopping District to increase your Archmastery rating. This allows you to fill up your “Power Orb” quicker, thus allowing you to convert pips into school pips more frequently.
Conclusion: Reindeer Knight Takes the Crown
In summary, while both Reindeer Knight and Frost Giant offer Area of Effect damage options for Ice wizards, Reindeer Knight reigns supreme due to its superior damage output, upgradability through spellements, and overall efficiency. For most players looking for a solid AoE spell during the mid-game and beyond, Reindeer Knight is the clear winner. While Frost Giant isn’t without its merits, particularly as an early-game option, the investment in Reindeer Knight is almost always the more strategic choice for long-term play.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I get the Reindeer Knight spell?
There are multiple ways to obtain the Reindeer Knight spell. You can get it as a drop from the Loremaster during seasonal events (Christmas in July and December), through the Knight’s Spellemental Pack (previously Knight’s Lore Pack), or by crafting it once you reach the recipe vendor in Avalon after defeating the Indigo Giant.
2. What are spellements?
Spellements are items used to upgrade spells, permanently increasing their damage and/or adding secondary effects. They drop from specific enemies and packs and require a certain amount to upgrade a spell.
3. Where does the Loremaster reside?
The Loremaster is located in The Atheneum, Dragonspyre. You can access her instance chamber after completing the side quest “The Lore Master.”
4. What is the Knight’s Spellemental Pack?
The Knight’s Spellemental Pack is a pack available in the Crown Shop that contains the Reindeer Knight spell and its spellements, as well as other lore spells such as Catalan, Handsome Fomori, Burning Rampage, and Sacred Charge.
5. Can I get Reindeer Knight from Loremaster all year round?
No. The Reindeer Knight spellements and the spell itself typically drop from Loremaster only during seasonal events like Christmas in July and the month of December.
6. How much does it cost to craft Deer Knight?
The crafting recipe for Reindeer Knight costs 60,000 gold and can be purchased from the recipe vendor Grady, after completing the quest for defeating the Indigo Giant in the Wyrd in Avalon.
7. What are school pips, and why do I need them for Reindeer Knight?
School pips are pips specific to your school of magic. They are required to cast spells that belong to lore. In the case of Reindeer Knight, you will need one Death pip in addition to regular power pips to cast the spell after the Archmastery update.
8. How does Archmastery work?
Archmastery is a stat that controls the rate at which your “Power Orb” fills. When the Power Orb is full it will convert power pips into school pips. A higher Archmastery rating will allow your Power Orb to fill faster, thus converting pips to school pips quicker.
9. Where can I get gear that increases Archmastery?
Various pieces of gear in the game provide the Archmastery stat. You can also use Cracked Archmastery Opals, sold at the Gem Shop in the Shopping District, to boost your Archmastery rating.
10. Does the Loremaster drop other spells?
Yes. While the spell drop pool from Loremaster was significantly reduced in the Summer 2022 Update, she still drops spells like Luminous Weaver, Goat Monk, Pigsie and Ratatoskr’s Spin, as well as others, though your own school-specific spells are much rarer to obtain.
11. Does Frost Giant still have any value?
Yes, Frost Giant is still a useful AoE spell for Ice wizards before they obtain Reindeer Knight and other superior options like Snowball Barrage. It’s an easier spell to obtain for beginners.
12. Is Storm the strongest school in Wizard101?
According to the article, Storm has the highest average damage output among all the schools in Wizard101, though it is also noted to be the squishiest.
13. Can I get Pigsie from Loremaster?
Yes, you can get Pigsie from the Loremaster. It is a life spell that Loremaster still drops, though it’s not always guaranteed.
14. Where can I get the Reindeer Knight pet?
You can obtain the Reindeer Knight pet through hatching, or by opening packs like the Harrowing Nightmare Pack and the Purreau’s Plentiful Pet Provisions Pack. The Harrowing Nightmare Pack is only available during Halloween.
15. Is it easy to farm Loremaster for spells?
The rate at which you obtain regular spell drops from Loremaster is considerably low, with estimates saying it occurs roughly every 70 battles. However, seasonal drops like Reindeer Knight spellements are much more frequent, appearing at about every 20 battles.