Ice is a weapon of great contrasts and a tool of many uses. For the mightiest of Ice Dragons, it can slow the approach of an advancing army, or provide drinking water to a thirsty village. To harness the abilities of Ice, a Dragon must first learn to understand the nature of water and embrace a cruel resolve deep within themselves, for only then can ice be produced. Moisture is drawn in from the air and, in dire emergencies, from the Dragon's own body. In combat, it is plausible that a master of Ice could increase their defenses by magically covering parts of their body in magically projected pack ice, or when on the offensive, adorn themselves with impressive projections of needle sharp ice. It is the tool of the true survivalist.[1]
In an unusual situation, Spyro and Sparx came towards a pathway in Tall Plains, where they noticed Kane fall from a waterfall during an encounter with Rubble Brutes. Seeing Kane in mortal danger, Spyro's ice abilities were awakened, allowing him blow out a stream of ice to make a large, glacier formation on the river to prevent Kane from falling to his death off the very edge of Tall Plains.[2] Sparx was dumfounded by his abilities and Spyro agreed with it too. However, when utilizing this new trait known as Ice Stream, Spyro took it until he learned how to manipulate his Ice element by Cyril. He later would shoot ice spikes to slow down or take out his foes faster. He learned his Ice Fury, where he at first would create a large swirling area of mist and at its second form, erupt many enormous ice spikes up high until they fall and freeze enemies, or just kill them. The fury would explode once its energy was used up.
Like other elements, Spyro re-obtained his ice element via his Ice Dream. With learning to understand how he could re-use it, he learned more potent abilities. With his Polar Bomb, Spyro would inhale pure, white ice energies to spit out a ball of snow which would freeze liquids to make temporary ice-made platforms, he could use it to freeze enemies and burnt surroundings like before. With Splintering Bomb and Piercing Bomb, the icy sphere would hurt enemies with misty shrapnel. By manipulating ice, Spyro would mimic his past situation with Ice King (using "his" attacks as an example for his inspiration this time) and create an Ice Tail attack which makes the reminiscing ice blade to swirl around him and take out large bits of health. By using fury energy, Spyro levitates and surrounds himself in a huge sphere of ice covered with many icicle blades he used normally, which he gets some swirls of dim blue mist around at the ground. Once he charges enough of an orbit, Spyro commands the sphere and 'ice blades' to explode outwards, taking out all enemies.
Once Spyro had all his elements awakened, he could utilize his past Ice spikes but now he could execute Snow Storm where he spins in a icy vortex. His Snow Storm could shoot out ice spikes in every angle while using the twister attack, similar to the previous Ice Fury and he could improve his speed with it. However, during a battle with Malefor by using any magic-exclusive attack on him, Spyro's Ice abilities will create a wide frost cloud for a short period of time.
Starting Breath: Spyro breathes a small, fairly weak stream of ice that can be breathed for as long as desired. If it is used on an enemy that is smaller than or close to Spyro's size, it will become a snowball for a few seconds, but it will not deal damage. If used on a larger enemy, it will gradually take damage, and after about three seconds, it will be temporarily frozen.
Ice Stream of Chilled Rapids: Two streams of ice are shot together, and enemies freeze faster.
Ice Stream of the Midnight Frost: Ice streams damage is increased, wave alternatingly from side to side, and overlap.
Bissthalan's Hypothermic Ice Stream: Adds a third ice stream and sprays about chaotically, blanketing a wide area.
Ice Shards
Starting Blast: Spyro fires rapid shards of ice that gradually deal damage to enemies they touch, and they also slow down said enemies.
Ice Shards of the Cutting Crystal: The ice shards have a higher rate of fire and ricochet off walls once.
Ice Shards of the Biting Tooth: The damage is increased and the ice shards bounce off walls and enemies thrice.
Hydrax's Ice Shards of Arctic Hail: The damage and rate of fire is at maximum. Ice shards will bounce off walls and enemies four times.
Ice Fury
Starting Fury: Spyro freezes the surrounding area and creates a powerful cold wave that does great damage.
Fury of Perisher's Unending Blizzard: This is unlocked by obtaining Bissthalan's Hypothermic Ice Stream and Hydrax's Ice Shards of Arctic Hail. Adds a barrage of icicles from the sky that rain down on enemies before the blast, doing immense damage
Starting Bomb: Spyro charges and launches a sphere of condensed ice that explodes on impact and freeze enemies. Smaller enemies around Spyro's size will be turned into snowballs. The longer the charge, the farther it will be launched. Platforms of ice can be created if shot onto a liquid surface.
Piercing Polar Bomb: The damage is increased and a freezing mist will linger for a brief moment and slow down enemies that enter.
Splintering Polar Bomb: The damage and blast radius is increased, and the freezing mist has a higher duration.
Fayveer's Cryogenic Polar Bomb: The damage and freezing mist duration reach their maximum.
Ice Tail
Spyro incases his tail in ice and spins rapidly in place for a brief moment, knocking back and slowing down all surrounding enemies in close proximity. Each upgrade level only increases the damage for this attack.
Ice Fury
Rising in the air, snow and large icicles form around Spyro, they spin and a series of cold waves condense before exploding outward, launching the sharp icicles as projectiles. The aftereffect of the fury causes Spyro to briefly freeze enemies with melee attacks.
The Dawn of the Dragon symbol in the Nintendo DS version
Trivia
According to lead concept artist, Jared Pullen, Ice Dragons are more aloof and elitist when dealing with their more affable and flexible 'cousins', the Water Dragons.[3]
Previous dragons who mastered Ice are mentioned in the final upgrades in A New Beginning and The Eternal Night, named Bissthalan, Hydrax, Perisher and Fayveer.