White Album is stated to reduce air temperature down to at least -210 degrees Celsius, and it's implied he can reach near-absolute zero temperatures. To my knowledge, Roy needs to actually ignite the fire he creates and can't simply summon it like it's magic. In that case, the air temperature would be far to cold for any fire to be made. Gasoline for example needs a minimum ambient temperature of -43 degrees Celsius to ignite, and so I'd argue the area is far to cold for any serious explosions to happen (even if Roy is increasing the Oxygen concentration in the area).
White Album is practically instantaneous in how quickly it reduces air temperature. Upon even starting his fight with Giorno and Mista the air was cold enough to freeze their skin solid without them even noticing, and formed an ice barrier around his body. Roy may be fast enough to get off a strike or two, but I don't think he's fast enough to not feel the effects of White Album at all or blitz his armor creation.
I think one or two blows will be enough, their difference in attack potential is almost one and a half times, as well as do not forget about the transmutation capabilities that will allow him to destroy him with a touch, which quite closes the question of close combat.
I don't think close combat really matters in this scenario, since Roy likely leads with his explosions and Ghiaccio has never been seen to fight that close to people ever. Hell even the one time he has, he froze Gold Experience's hands when he tried to barrage him.
We’re kind of at a standstill since both powers activate so fast. But I feel like Ghiaccio suddenly getting blown up would have some impact and slow him from activating White Album since he has no fire resistance. And destruction alchemy could still work, Giorno was able to get hits on Ghiaccio close range. As long as Roy has one working hand, he’ll be able to burn Ghiaccio. And if he ever figures out about his weak spot, he could target that for the win.
Dog, he did that with a MFTL+ Stand that's also 10000000x quicker than Ghiacchio, and it still ended with GE losing an arm.
Assuming both of them use their abilities at the start of the fight, White Album definitely has a faster activation. Roy has to physically snap his fingers to create sparks in the air, while Ghiaccio just kind turns on white album and instantly reduces the ambient temperature. That's kinda the problem for Roy, everything he has while it may be more potent is just too slow to take advantage of. Blitzing with an immediate explosion wouldn't work for the reason above, multiple explosions wouldn't work due to the decrease in air temperature making it practically impossible for Roy to ignite anything, physical contact wouldn't work since it amplifies the freezing, etc. The only thing that he could exploit without repercussion is the hole on the back of Ghiaccio's neck, but that would likely require him surviving a failed frontal assault to even think about.
Tens of meters starting range because of SBA gives Roy a better chance of exploiting Ghiaccio’s weakness. But Ghiaccio does seem to have more advantages. I’ll switch my vote to him.
It's not that he couldn't, just he wouldn't really learn about it unless the fight was longer, which it certainly isn't either way.
