Need some advice here (Daikara, oh god why)

[Wanderer]

So, after the horrendous deaths of Lifekill Manslay IV, Jorgan Thunderdick V, Doomfist the Unslayable ETC, I've run into a problem. I go through the basic early game areas (including the one with all the sandworms) to farm and grind, then I hit Daikara which I've heard is infamously deadly. Main issue seems to be I can't figure out how to beat the boss Drake (the rest of the level is usually pretty easy for me) and it takes me about two hours to even reach there. It seems to be freezing me out of field of view, knocking most of my health down in the process. God forbid a champion comes in nearby. Stopped playing roguelike mode due to the champions/number of enemies/brand new death traps making the early levels ridiculously hostile, in fact. Those things are like mini Saurons. Anyone got a strategy for fighting that frost drake? And yes, I'm having trouble killing it with even the Archmage and Summoner.

[azrael]

Depends on your character and playstyle.

The most important thing to remember is that Rantha really, really likes freezing you.
When it casts freeze, use a wild infusion or break the ice, and then blast the hell out of him while he approaches. Once he gets a few spaces away he's going to cast Ice Storm. Don't let him freeze you with it; retreat back towards an area you've already cleared until it's effect fades.

If he freezes you again at this point, then just use your wild infusion again (it should have cooled down by now) and finish killing him.

[Wanderer]

Managed to kill him on alchemist by doing that blasting thing you mentioned (been focusing on explosions/staff damage). Also judicious use of teleportation rune/gem portal. Should have tried that on the archmage, might have blown him away even faster!

Now I don't know where to go. I've never gotten this far.

[azrael]

Have you finished all of the tier two dungeons and level-scaling miscellaneous dungeons (hidden compound, halfling ruins, etc.)?
If you're above level twenty, you can probably do anything else available except for the Ancient Elven Ruins (and if you're strong, those too).

[Wanderer]

Exploded immediately in dredfell (NEVER AGAIN), also having a bit of trouble locating the other places. Level 19 at the moment. Well, at least the halfling one.

Edit: NEVERMIND

[Kaeoschassis]

One piece of advice I've been giving since I managed to claw my way out of complete newbie status is actually kind of obvious, but I missed it and a lot of other people seem to as well;
stockpile equipment! In particular stockpile resists for things you know give you trouble. Know Rantha is tough for you? Right from the very start of the game, hold onto any items you can use that give cold resistance or stun/freeze resistance.
Identifying the things that give you most trouble and preparing for them from very early on makes a huge difference, and one of the best ways to do that is to hold onto anything that might even remotely help you.
Obviously it's harder to do on low strength characters that can't carry much, but even then it's worth it. Supposing you only use that item once and then ditch it, at least it helped.

[ohioastro]

My usual sequence is the two starter dungeons, Derth Arena, then whatever of the 6 "open" starters are left (4 elvish, 2 human.) Usually Trapped! and the lumberjacks get done when I get the various alchemist quests. Then the halfling ruins (with a caster; melee I delay); then the 4 basic dungeons. I usually find Maze, Sandworm, Old Forest, Daikara to work best; but depending on the class you could do any of the first 3 in any order. I like to delay Old Forest a bit to get the fortress cracked safely. After that, ruined dungeon, and if the toon is a beast elven ruins + spell blaze. Then it's grit the teeth and go through Dreadfall. In Dreadfall, by the way, linger around the stairs a bit before you venture out. The undead who can walk through the walls will come at you, and it's easiest if they do while you're not already in a tough fight.

One survival trip, by the way, is to avoid peeking your head around blind corners and opening doors unprepared. It's tedious to raise a shield before you open a door, but it can save you. Other tricks would be tossing an area effect into a room out of line of sight - let them come to you. Of course, this can cause issues if there are summoners inside. Invest in ESP skills or save ESP items. The game gets much, much easier if you consistently fight on terrain that you choose. And you can simply skip events that don't work well for your particular class. You can skip most bosses without issue.

[skein]

The movement speed infusion is like gold as well. It stops you from getting pinned, frozen, stunned, or dazed for several turns (usually 4-5) and you can use it even while silenced. You know she is going to try and freeze you as soon as she gets to 10 so just have the anti freeze effect up at that range bracket and this will give you several rounds of pounding at range as she walks closer.

If you are not seeing the dragon in daikira early enough she will certainly freeze you as soon as you are in range (10). Daikira is lighted though so you really have no excuse for letting her get the drop on you.

Most deaths to the dragon happen exactly the same way every time. She freezes you from range 10 and just walks closer to breathe or snowswirl you. If you have high damage you can just break the ice, without high damage you need some other way to get out of the ice.

What you can certainly NOT do is run away once she has closed to 10 or closer at simple walking speed. You need a port or a movement infusion to get out of range, otherwise she will just cycle again and refreeze you.