Skyrim: How to Stay Warm in Survival Mode

Recognize cold before it removes all available health

In Survival Mode, snowy or rainy areas increase Cold. Cold reduces available health, shown by a dark area inside the health bar, and eventually affects movement, lockpicking and pickpocketing. At the highest level, exposure reduces health to zero. The compass’s sun or snowflake indicator shows whether you are warming or cooling. [1]

Warm up at a fire or with hot soup

Steps

1. When Cold is building, stand near a fire, eat hot soup or move to a warmer location to warm up. [1]
2. Use fire salts when cooking hot soup. The publisher says these soups reduce cold and also grant a warmth-rating bonus. [1]

Choose warmth gear and carry a torch

Warmth slows the effects of cold environments. Most clothing and armor display a warmth value in the item description, and the publisher notes that some armor protects against cold much better than other sets. Warmth is a rate-control measure, so it should be considered alongside ways to recover from Cold already accumulated. [1]

Steps

1. Compare the warmth values shown on clothing and armor before traveling through a cold area. [1]
2. Hold a torch or eat hot soup when you need a temporary warmth-rating increase. [1]

Leave freezing water immediately

Swimming in freezing areas immediately increases cold and causes health damage. Bethesda identifies Flame Cloak and the Dunmer Ancestor’s Wrath ability as temporary immunity to freezing water’s effects. That exception is specific to water exposure; the source does not describe it as permanent immunity to every Survival Mode condition. [1]

Steps

1. Exit freezing water as soon as possible so you can begin warming and stop losing health from that exposure. [1]