Resisting effects?

[Salmonberg]

What are the best means of preparing for encounters featuring detrimental effects? I'm thinking specifically of The Master and Freeze here, but general advice is welcome. In the specific case of Freeze, does cold resistance help or is freeze 'simply' a physical effect requiring that I reduce the chances of being hit, have freeze resist/immune gear/abilities, or can remove physical effects (wild infusion)?

[Davion Fuxa]

Generally with detrimental effects, the 'preferred' way of handling them is to not be affected by them in the first place. Getting Stun/Freeze Immunity will help you against getting frozen (or Stun, or Dazed), and bar that having really high Physical Save can possibly give you a chance against it as well. There are other ways of avoiding effects too such as through prodigies like Spine of the World or with the use of the Movement Infusion - which can prevent you from getting locked down.

However, you'll likely be a ways off from totally being able to outright preventing these effects, so the 'reliable' way of handling them is to cleanse yourself of them after they are applied. Wild Infusions can allow you to purge harmful detrimental effects, and Heat Beam Runes, Biting Gale Runes, and Acid Wave Runes can also help out in that department as well - you just need to know what type of effects are on you and what specifically you may (or may not) remove with your Inscriptions. Some talents can also help you such as Unflinching Resolve or Providence.

In regards to 'Cold' Resistance, that will only help you reduce Cold Damage. If you don't want to take a lot of damage from Freeze, that will help soften the incoming damage. It won't help against not getting Frozen.

[Tyren]

Can't receive new detrimental effects if you stay frozen. Otherwise, use movement infusion for stun, pin, daze immunities.

You can get physical effect immunity every 5 turns with spine of the world. If you have the prodigy target yourself with something manageable (fire burn or poison).

[Number43]

Freeze immunity is the same as stun immunity for some reason, so the longer effect of movement infusions help (use it, then don't worry about the 1 turn movement speed effect). Some people run 2 movement infusions for 100% uptime stun immunity, as stuns are so terrible if you get affected with a long one and can't cure it.

Wild infusions are generally preferable to the status cure runes due to shorter cooldowns, the resist all being better than the offensive rune secondary effects, and some wild infusions can cure 2 effect types (though they are rarer than single type ones). However, remember you have to use runes instead of infusions if you are an undead race or a necromancer who goes lich.

You can resist effects with saves, though it is really hard to get enough saves to have a good chance against stronger enemies. Status immunities are really nice if you can get enough to get 100%. Cold resist won't help you resist freeze, that's just for reducing cold element damage.