Welcome, aspiring strikers and playmakers of Blue Lock: Rivals! Navigating the complex world of Styles, Flows, and the ever-shifting meta can be as intense as a Blue Lock selection trial. You’ve spun the wheel, maybe used a code, and landed the “Ice Flow.” Now the big questions arise: What does it really do? Is it any good? And crucially, should you keep it or reroll?
You’ve come to the right place. Forget surface-level explanations. This is your definitive guide to the Ice Flow in Blue Lock: Rivals. We’ll break down its abilities, its infamous connection to Hiori Yo, why it consistently ranks low on tier lists, and whether there’s any situation where this Flow can actually shine on the virtual pitch.
Before we dissect Ice, let’s quickly recap the core mechanic it belongs to.
Understanding the “Flow” System
In Blue Lock: Rivals, “Flows” are temporary buffs you can activate mid-match (usually by pressing ‘T’ once your Flow bar is full). They provide various statistical advantages – boosting speed, shot power, dribbling, or, in the case of Ice, passing. Flows differ from “Styles” (which represent characters like Isagi or Bachira and their unique skills). Flows come in different rarities, impacting how powerful and hard-to-get they are:
- World Class (Hardest to get)
- Mythic
- Legendary
- Epic
- Rare (Where Ice Flow sits)
- Common (Easiest to get)
Introducing Ice: The Basics
The Ice Flow is classified as a Rare Flow. This means it’s relatively common compared to the flashy Mythic or Legendary options. When activated, players often notice a light blue, almost white aura, sometimes described with diamond shapes around the eyes – visually distinct, if nothing else.
How to Get the Ice Flow
Being a Rare Flow, obtaining Ice is fairly straightforward, though subject to the game’s gacha probabilities:
- Normal Spins: You have a 62.5% chance of rolling any Rare Flow from a standard spin (costing in-game cash). Since there are multiple Rare flows (sources mention 3, though this can change with updates), your specific chance of getting Ice from a normal spin is roughly 1/3 of that 62.5%, assuming equal odds among Rares.
- Lucky Spins: Ice Flow cannot be obtained from Lucky Flow spins, which are reserved for Legendary tier and above.
- Codes/Events: Keep an eye out for developer codes or special events that might reward Flow spins.
Deconstructing Ice Flow’s Abilities: Precision Passing Power
Okay, you’ve got Ice Flow active. What benefits does it actually provide on the field? Its effects are laser-focused on passing:
Core Effect 1: Increased Pass Strength
Your passes travel faster and harder. This can be useful for:
- Quickly moving the ball upfield.
- Getting the ball through tight defensive lines.
- Making long-distance passes more viable.
Core Effect 2: Slight Auto-Track on Passes
This is a subtle but potentially helpful effect. The game provides a minor assist in guiding your pass towards your intended teammate. It won’t magically curve around three defenders, but it can slightly improve accuracy, especially during fast-paced moments or when passing under pressure.
Core Effect 3: Buffing Your Teammate’s Shot
This is perhaps the most unique aspect of Ice Flow. When a teammate successfully receives a pass from you while your Ice Flow is active, their subsequent shot gets a strength increase. This is the only Flow documented (as per sources) that directly buffs a teammate based on your action. It theoretically turns a good pass into a setup for a more powerful finish.
You can’t talk about Ice Flow without mentioning Hiori Yo. Several sources explicitly state that Ice is the “Personalized Style” Flow for Hiori in Blue Lock: Rivals.
Hiori’s Passing Prowess
This connection makes perfect sense thematically. Hiori’s Style in the game is built around elite passing and playmaking, mirroring his role in the manga/anime. His key abilities often include:
- Laser Pass: Extremely accurate long-distance passes.
- Ice Dribble: A dribble move designed to flow seamlessly into a precise pass.
- Curved Pass: Passes that can bend around opponents.
Synergy Explained: Why Ice Suits Hiori (Theoretically)
Pairing Ice Flow with Hiori seems like a natural fit:
- Enhancing Strengths: Ice Flow amplifies what Hiori already does well – passing. Increased strength and auto-tracking make his already good passes even better.
- Team Play Focus: Hiori is a playmaker. The receiver shot buff from Ice Flow directly rewards his assist-focused gameplay, empowering the teammate he sets up.
On paper, it looks like a perfect combination for a dedicated support player. But does theory translate to in-game reality?
The Big Question: Is Ice Flow Actually Good? (The Meta vs. Reality)
Here’s where we get brutally honest. Despite the Hiori synergy and its unique team buff, Ice Flow consistently finds itself near the bottom of community tier lists.
Community Consensus & Tier List Placement
Across various community rankings (like those found on Beebom, YouTube analysis videos, and wiki discussions), Ice Flow is almost universally placed in the D-Tier or sometimes C-Tier. This puts it alongside Flows generally considered the least effective or impactful in the game. Players often advise rerolling it immediately if obtained.
Why the hate?
Why is Ice Flow Ranked So Low? The “Ego” Meta
The primary reason lies in the prevailing meta of Blue Lock: Rivals. Much like the source material, the game often rewards individual “ego”:
- Scoring is King: Flows that directly boost your own shot power (like Emperor, Prodigy, Crow) or allow you to create your own chances through dribbling (like Dribbler) are highly valued.
- Speed & Mobility: Getting past opponents quickly is crucial. Flows enhancing speed or providing unique movement options (like Awakened Genius, Gale Burst) are top-tier.
- Solo Impact: In many matches, especially with random teammates, relying on yourself to score is often seen as more reliable than setting up others.
Where Ice Flow Falls Short
Compared to the top-tier Flows, Ice simply doesn’t offer enough individual impact:
- No Direct Scoring Boost: It doesn’t make your shots stronger (only your teammate’s, after your pass).
- No Speed or Dribbling Enhancements: It won’t help you break away from defenders or create space yourself.
- Reliant on Team Coordination: The receiver buff is useless if your pass doesn’t connect, or if your teammate isn’t in a position to shoot immediately, or if they simply miss the shot anyway.
In a fast-paced game focused on individual playmaking and scoring, a purely supportive, pass-focused Flow like Ice often feels underpowered and less impactful than options that give you the power to change the game directly.
So, is Ice Flow completely useless? Not entirely, but its effective use cases are extremely limited and specific:
The Dedicated Playmaker Role (Hiori Mains)
If you genuinely love playing a pure support role, main Hiori Yo, and derive satisfaction solely from setting up teammates, then Ice Flow could amplify that specific playstyle. You’re doubling down on passing excellence.
Highly Coordinated Team Play
If you play exclusively with a regular team of friends who communicate well and understand how to capitalize on the receiver buff, Ice Flow might have value. Imagine a Hiori using Ice Flow to feed pinpoint passes to a striker teammate who knows the buff is coming – it requires teamwork often absent in random matchmaking.
Specific Positions: CM and GK?
Some sources suggest Ice Flow is decent for Central Midfielders (CM) – logical, as passing is key here. More surprisingly, Goalkeepers (GK) are sometimes mentioned. The rationale might be that increased pass strength helps GKs launch quick, long counter-attacks after making a save. However, GKs often benefit more from Flows improving saves or reactions.
The Verdict: Should You Keep or Reroll Ice Flow?
Let’s cut to the chase. For the vast majority of players, the answer is likely reroll.
Reasons to Consider Keeping Ice (Niche Cases)
- You are a dedicated Hiori Yo main who only wants to play a pure passing/support role.
- You only play with a highly coordinated team that can consistently leverage the receiver buff.
- You are a brand new player and it’s the only Flow you have (but aim to replace it ASAP).
Reasons to Reroll Ice (Most Players)
- You want a Flow that enhances your own scoring or dribbling ability.
- You play primarily solo or with random teammates.
- You want to climb ranks and compete effectively in the current meta.
- You simply want a more impactful and versatile Flow. There are many other Rare and Epic flows that offer broader utility.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Increased Pass Strength | No Personal Speed/Shot/Dribble Buffs |
| Slight Pass Auto-Track | Low Tier Ranking (D/C Tier) |
| Unique Receiver Shot Buff | Reliant on Team Coordination/Receiver Skill |
| Good Synergy with Hiori Style | Highly Niche & Situational |
| Easily Obtainable (Rare) | Generally Outclassed by Other Flows |
Conclusion: Ice Flow – Underestimated Gem or Just Underpowered?
The Ice Flow in Blue Lock: Rivals is a fascinating case study. It’s thematically well-designed, synergizing perfectly with Hiori Yo’s playstyle and offering a unique team-buffing mechanic. However, in the reality of the game’s fast-paced, “ego”-driven meta that heavily favors individual scoring and mobility, Ice Flow feels like a relic of a different kind of soccer game.
Its reliance on passing, teamwork, and setup in a world demanding solo carry potential leaves it consistently ranked among the weakest Flows. While niche scenarios exist where a dedicated playmaker in a perfectly coordinated team might find value, for almost everyone else, the benefits are too situational and lack the immediate impact needed to compete effectively.
So, if you spin the Ice Flow, appreciate its unique design, understand its link to Hiori… and then, most likely, reroll it in search of something that will better fuel your own striker ego on the path to victory. Good luck out there!
