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Borderlands 4

Cryo Stasis Harlowe Build

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Borderlands 4 - Cryo Stasis Harlowe Build

The Cryo Stasis Harlowe Build focuses on improving her Cryo damage capabilities while using both her weapons and her Stasis to defeat mobs and bosses in Borderlands 4. See the best builds, skills, weapons, and gear to use for Harlowe, along with the best skill tree abilities and character playstyle.

All Harlowe Guides
Best Builds Cosmetics Skill Trees and Voice Actor
Leveling Build Boss Farm Build Cryo Stasis Build

Cryo Stasis Harlowe Build Updates

October 2 Patch

Action Skills - Zero-Point
Stasis Slam Damage increased by 30%
Stasis Immune Damage increased by 14.7%

Note: Only Changes that affect this build are listed above

With the October 2 update, additional buffs were given to Harlowe, which target her Zero-Point damage specifically.

For the Cryo Stasis Build, Zero Point now has increased Slam and Immune Damage, giving a significant increase to your overall DPS, making this build now stronger than before!

October 2 Update and Patch Notes

Cryo Stasis Harlowe Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths Weaknesses
✔︎Very high skill damage
✔︎Great for mobbing
✔︎High Cryo damage
✖︎Less ideal against Bosses
✖︎Requires stacking Cooldown Reduction
✖︎Requires Class Mod for higher DPS

Harlowe's Cryo Stasis build relies mostly on using Zero Point to entangle and slam enemies down, usually enough to clear out mobs instantly, or leave them with very low HP.

Since the build relies on repeat usage of your Action Skill, investments towards reducing Action Skill cooldown rate is required, and the Bio-Robot Class Mod is required for this build to further increase your damage by dealing Cryo and Radiation hazards after entangling enemies.

Cryo Stasis Harlowe Best Skills

Best Action Skill

Action Skill Zero Point Icon
Zero-Point
Skill Tree: Seize the Day

Upon using the Action Skill, Harlowe will place an enemy in Stasis, trapping them in a bubble which prevents them from attacking. Some enemies, usually bosses, are immune to Stasis, and will take damage instead.

While in Stasis, Harlowe and her allies can shoot at the trapped enemies. Harlowe can also retrigger her skill to slam the enemy in Stasis wherever Harlowe is aiming. This makes it perfect for crowd control and AoE damage.

Best Passive Skills

Seize the Day
Creative Bursts
Cosmic Brilliance
Skill Tree Priority Skills
Zero Point IconSeize the Day
Pulse Drive Icon Periodic Table Flip Icon Ripple Effect Icon Too Coolant For Schoolant Icon Cryodynamics Icon Unstable Ice-otope Icon Keep Ice On That Icon Endothermic Reaction Icon Flash Freeze Icon Heat Sink Icon Triple Point Icon
Skill Tree Priority Skills
Chroma Accelerator IconCreative Bursts
Fuzzy Math Icon
Skill Tree Priority Skills
Flux Generator IconCosmic Brilliance
Action at a Distance Icon

The best skills for the Cryo Stasis Harlowe Build revolve around maximizing Cryo damage and improving Harlowe's chance to Freeze enemies.

Most of the Passive Skills will come from the Seize the Day tree (Blue Tree), with one skill each coming from the Creative Bursts tree (Red Tree) and the Cosmic Brilliance tree (Green Tree).

Recommended Skill Progression

Recommended Skill Progression
Pulse Drive Icon Lvl 2 Pulse Drive Icon Lvl 3 Pulse Drive Icon Lvl 4 Pulse Drive Icon Lvl 5
Pulse Drive Icon Lvl 6 Periodic Table Flip Icon Lvl 7 Periodic Table Flip Icon Lvl 8 Periodic Table Flip Icon Lvl 9
Periodic Table Flip Icon Lvl 10 Periodic Table Flip Icon Lvl 11 Too Coolant For Schoolant Icon Lvl 12 Too Coolant For Schoolant Icon Lvl 13
Too Coolant For Schoolant Icon Lvl 14 Too Coolant For Schoolant Icon Lvl 15 Too Coolant For Schoolant Icon Lvl 16 Keep Ice On That Icon Lvl 17
Keep Ice On That Icon Lvl 18 Keep Ice On That Icon Lvl 19 Keep Ice On That Icon Lvl 20 Keep Ice On That Icon Lvl 21
Endothermic Reaction Icon Lvl 22 Flash Freeze Icon Lvl 23 Endothermic Reaction Icon Lvl 24 Endothermic Reaction Icon Lvl 25
Endothermic Reaction Icon Lvl 26 Triple Point Icon Lvl 27 Endothermic Reaction Icon Lvl 28 Cryodynamics Icon Lvl 29
Cryodynamics Icon Lvl 30 Cryodynamics Icon Lvl 31 Heat Sink Icon Lvl 32 Heat Sink Icon Lvl 33
Heat Sink Icon Lvl 34 Heat Sink Icon Lvl 35 Heat Sink Icon Lvl 36 Fuzzy Math Icon Lvl 37
Fuzzy Math Icon Lvl 38 Fuzzy Math Icon Lvl 39 Fuzzy Math Icon Lvl 40 Fuzzy Math Icon Lvl 41
Action at a Distance Icon Lvl 42 Action at a Distance Icon Lvl 43 Action at a Distance Icon Lvl 44 Action at a Distance Icon Lvl 45
Unstable Ice-otope Icon Lvl 46 Unstable Ice-otope Icon Lvl 47 Unstable Ice-otope Icon Lvl 48 Unstable Ice-otope Icon Lvl 49
Unstable Ice-otope Icon Lvl 50

From Levels 1-30, your goal is to stack points in the Seize the Day tree (Blue Tree) until you unlock Cold Storage and Cold Plunge. Once Cold Plunge is unlocked, with the skills leading up to it equipped, you should reach a point where you can effectively farm bosses or clear waves of enemies alone.

Once you reach Level 31, continue getting Passive Skills from the Blue Tree before swapping over to the Creative Bursts tree (Red Tree) and the Cosmic Brilliance tree (Green Tree). Fuzzy Math from the Red Tree will provide Status Effect Chance, while Action at a Distance increases the chance of passing Status Effects to all Entangled enemies.

Afterward, return to the Blue Tree and continue buying the needed Passive Skills.

Best Augment

Lvl 6 Lvl 16
Peer Review Icon Peer Review Cold Storage Icon Cold Storage

Starting at level 6, equip the Peer Review Augment to provide healing to you or your Allies after you Slam, or kill an enemy in Stasis. The healing also activates if the Stasis ends on its own. The healing comes in the form of a Rejuvenation Projectile, which not only heals the target, but also decreases Action Skill Duration and increases Action Skill Cooldown Rate, and provides Second Wind if the target is in Fight For Your Life.

Once you reach level 16, swap to the Cold Storage Augment to improve your AoE capabilities. Additionally, Slamming down an enemy in Stasis with Cold Storage equipped automatically Freezes nearby enemies, including Bosses. This makes it a perfect way to activate some of Harlowe's Passive Skills, such as Endothermic Reaction and Heat Sink.

Best Capstone

Cold Plunge Icon Cold Plunge
Tree Seize the Day
(Branch 2)
Effect
Whenever Harlowe Slams an enemy, create a Singularity on that enemy, followed by a Cryo Explosion.

Cold Slam is the best Capstone for Cryo Stasis Harlowe as it creates a Singularity upon Slamming an enemy before exploding in a Cryo Explosion. This synergizes well with Cold Storage as it pulls in nearby enemies before exploding twice.

Best Specializations

Specialization Tree and Effect
Riddle You This Icon Riddle You This
Brute Icon Brute Tree

Whenever the Vault Hunter deals Gun Damage, gain a Stack of Riddle You This, increasing Gun Damage.
Stacks are lost if a new Stack has not been gained for a Duration.

Gun Damage: +1% per Stack
Maximum Stacks: 50
Duration: 6 seconds
Now With Caffeine Icon Now With Caffeine
Daredevil Icon Daredevil Tree

Reduce Action Skill Cooldown whenever a Repkit is activated.

Action Skill Cooldown Reduction: 25%
I Am A Gun Icon I Am A Gun
Daredevil Icon Daredevil Tree

Action Skill Damage now benefits from increases to Gun Damage.

Action Skill Damage: 50% of increases to Gun Damage.
A Honed Mind Icon A Honed Mind
Daredevil Icon Daredevil Tree

Action Skills gain a chance to Critically Hit enemies, and also gain increased Action Skill Critical Hit Damage.

Action Skill Critical Hit Chance: 5%
Action Skill Critical Hit Damage: +50%

List of All Specializations

Cryo Stasis Harlowe Best Equipment

Jump to a Section!
Weapons Class Mod
Enhancement Firmware Sets

Best Wepaons

Best Legendary Weapons

Legendary Gun Overview
Ohm I GotOhm I Got Type: Submachine Gun
Manufacturer: Maliwan
Energy Transfer - When Energy Shield is active, grants +50% Damage by consuming the Shield's energy instead of Ammo. When Overshield is also active, Energy Shield will not deplete.
AegonAegon's Dream Type: Assault Rifle
Manufacturer: Vladof
Prophetic Legendary Mod

Ohm I Got is a Maliwan Submachine Gun that depletes shields to deal more damage. Additionally, if Overshield is active, it does not deplete shields, effectively giving it infinite ammo as long as you have overshields. This synergizes well with the Passive Skills Keep Ice On That and Triple Point, which can give you unlimited Overshields as long as you are attacking an Entangled enemy.

An alternative is the Aegon's Dream, a Vladof Assault Rifle that deals both Cryo and Incendiary damage. This also synergizes with the same Passive Skills as Ohm I Got, as Triple Point will increase the Cryo damage it deals, while providing bonus Cryo Damage when it shoots Incendiary bullets. This then activates Keep Ice On That, providing continuous Overshields.

List of All Legendary Weapons

Best Manufacturer for Harlowe: Maliwan

If you do not have Ohm I Got or Aegon's Dream, the next best choice is Cryo Maliwan weapons, as you will want to quickly Freeze enemies to enjoy the full range of buffs you get from the build.

Best Weapon Type for Harlowe: Submachine Guns

Submachine Guns with their high rate of fire make it easy to apply status effects, so a Maliwan Submachine Gun is perfect for Harlowe.

Elemental Weakness Chart and Damage Guide

Best Class Mod

Bio-Robot

The Bio Robot Class Mod is the best Class Mod for Harlowe as it makes it easier for her to apply Status Effects on enemies, specifically Irradiated. This synergizes well with her build, creating a loop that continuously deals Radiation damage and increases Harlowe's Action Skill Cooldown Rate.

Alternatively, try to look for Class Mods that add skill points to important Passives, specifically those that increase Skill or Radiation damage, as well as those that increase her Action Skill Cooldown Rate.

Best Enhancement Mods

Enhancement Effects
Maliwan Enhancement Transfuser - On Kill, Weapons with Maliwan-Licensed parts spread their active Status Effect to up to 3 nearby targets.
Vladof Enhancement Bullet Hose - Guns with Vladof-licensed parts have a 30% Chance to add an extra Projectile per shot.

If you are running the Ohm I Got or other Maliwan weapons, then Transfuser is the best Enhancement for you as it allows you to spread Status Effects to nearby targets, ideally Freeze.
If you are using Aegon's Dream instead, Bullet Hose is the Enhancement you should use as it gives the chance to shoot additional projectiles, which helps increase Status Effect buildup.

Best Firmware Sets

Set Bonus Effects
Deadeye
3/3
・Gun Accuracy is increased by 30%
・Gun Critical Hit Damage is increased by 25%
・Every Critical Hit grants 15% Critical Damage per Stack (5 max stacks) for 10s
High Caliber
2/3
・Projectile Speed is increased by 25%
・Gun Damage is increased by 10%

List of All Firmware Sets

Cryo Stasis Harlowe Gameplay Guide

Use Stasis on Mobs and Slam Them Down

Whenever you start a fight, try to use your Action Skill to quickly apply Stasis on an enemy before slamming them down on other enemies. This will immediately freeze affected enemies, making it easy to deal damage to them.

Additionally, as slamming down an enemy in Stasis pulls everyone in thanks to the Cold Plunge Capstone, they will all be affected by the damage that Endothermic Reaction will deal. The enemies clumping together also makes it easier to damage everyone, be it with guns or grenades.

Try to Freeze Enemies Continuously

This build relies on Harlowe Freezing enemies, as it not only provides additional damage from Endothermic Reaction activating, but it also increases Action Skill Cooldown Rate.

This recharges your Stasis faster, allowing you to Stasis and Slam enemies more frequently, which then Freezes enemies thanks to the Cold Storage Augment. This combo results in a loop of Cooldown reduction and Action Skill Activation.

Cryo Stasis Harlowe Build Playstyle

Multi-Purpose Build

Thanks to its AoE Capabilities from Cold Storage and Cold Plunge, this build can still be used for leveling and clearing the story. It can also deal a decent amount of damage to Bosses, especially those that summon mobs to fight with them.

If you are facing difficulties in using this build for leveling, you can try investing more skill points into Health Regeneration with Passive Skills like Quantum Immortality. You can also use our designated Best Build for Leveling Harlowe!

Best Harlowe (Gravitar) Build and Leveling Guide

UVHM Ready Build

Once you have finished the game's main campaign, you will be able to create a Level 30 character in Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode (UVHM). This build's skill progression works in UVHM, especially if you have appropriately leveled equipment stored in your bank.

It's important to note that even if you do not have the proper equipment or have not unlocked UVHM yet, this build is still able to deal great damage. Use whatever you have at your disposal, then slowly make your way toward the final build goal.

What is Ultimate Vault Hunter?

Borderlands 4 Related Guides

Borderlands 4 - Builds

Best Builds for Each Vault Hunter

All Character Builds

Character Build
Vex the Siren IconVex
Rafa the Exo-Soldier IconRafa
Amon the Forgeknight IconAmon
Harlowe the Gravitar IconHarlowe
Zero Point IconCryo Stasis Harlowe Build

Comment

1 Anonymous Anonymous 2 months

Why not post a screenshot of the skill tree itself as well as include the icons (as already shown) to the guide, so you're not sifting through icons/names to find the correct thing to level. Just makes it simpler.

Author

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