HAILSTORM
Active skill - Deals 600% damage to 2 random enemies, as well as an additional enemy if Locke has over 150 Energy or 2 additional enemies if Locke has over 200 Energy, and has a 70% chance to Freeze them for 2 rounds. If the target is already Frozen, deal 400% damage to all enemies. Additionally, for each Frozen enemy, heal self for 15% of Max HP.
Not great for mech. 70% Freeze chance has some CC utility but mechs demand raw boss damage, not control. Revive from Frost Nova is a defensive crutch, not a damage strategy.
No multi-hit scaling, no meaningful boss damage output. Mech slot is far better spent on dedicated damage dealers or support buffers like Laguna.
Perma-freeze specialist in Smash brawls. Hailstorm's 70% Freeze to 2 random enemies plus 400% AoE to all frozen targets creates devastating chain freezes. Heals 15% max HP per frozen enemy for sustain.
Frost Nova freezes killer for 4 rounds on death and enters Ice Tomb for 2-round revive. Arctic Vortex slows attackers. Crane's advantage over Kodiak in Smash matchups benefits Locke's freeze-heavy kit.
Top-tier arena fighter. Part of the consensus best PvP lineup: Nyx + Raja + Scythe / Laguna + Locke + Pyra. At 270+, perma-freezes 4 enemies with Yamata + Zhulong/Fan Axe setup. Tank build with Naga + Zhulong + Kunai enables non-stop ults.
Ice Tomb revive forces opponents to deal with him twice. +125% damage to Frozen targets means his offense scales with his own CC. Immune to Freeze prevents mirror-match lockdown.
Core Crane hard mode support. Perma-freeze at 270+ locks down 4 enemies per round, trivializing minion waves and stalling bosses. Part of the essential Crane HM team (Xeno + Scythe + Locke + Laguna).
Duke boss counter: backline Locke absorbs repeated attacks via Ice Tomb revives. Arctic Vortex's speed reduction stacks with freeze for total enemy shutdown. Gains 50 Energy and 20% Skill Damage per frozen enemy.
Strong Crane sewer control fighter. Perma-freeze locks down sewer waves, allowing damage dealers to clean up safely. Ice Tomb revive provides attrition value in long sewer runs.
Part of the optimal Crane sewer lineup (Chancer, Scythe, Locke, Laguna). +125% damage to frozen targets means Locke contributes damage alongside control. Freeze immunity prevents being shut down by enemy Crane fighters.
Fantastic for campaign — never dies. Ice Tomb revive and Frost Nova's death-freeze provide multi-wave staying power. Perma-freeze controls late-game campaign enemies that would otherwise one-shot.
Part of every good campaign team. Useful for freezing Fenrus in high campaign stages (~1758+). Locke's gravestone prevents Katar buff interactions. Campaign clearable without Hana by using Locke as the alternative control option.
