Damage

Damage is the process at which a player or monster's life or energy shield is reduced.

Damage reduction only affects physical damage. The other four damage types each have their own resistance value (e.g. "Fire resistance") which is viewable in the character sheet. Resistances reduce damage taken, and are normally capped at 75%. However, there are passives and items that can increase maximum resistances to allow for values higher than 75%.

If a passive does not specify whether it affects weapon or spell damage, it will affect both.

This page focuses on damage being dealt by the player. For information on how the elements affect him, see status ailments and resistances. For information on when damage is applied see, receiving damage.

Damage Sources

All damage instances have exactly one damage source. Modifiers which apply specifically to one source never apply to the others. There are currently four damage sources:

Attack Damage

Attack damage, or any damage instance caused by a weapon or unarmed. "Attack" is not a generic term for any offensive ability.

Spell Damage

Main article: Spell Damage

Spell damage, or any damage instance whose damage range is defined by the skill itself.

Secondary Damage

Secondary damage is direct damage that is neither a spell nor an attack and as such does not benefit from modifiers to those things. As secondary damage is not an attack or spell it cannot be evaded, blocked, spell blocked, dodged or spell dodged. Secondary damage still benefits from all modifiers where applicable, some examples being cast speed modifiers, elemental damage modifiers, and area of effect modifiers.

On a skill gem, the Cast keyword indicates that a skill deals all or part secondary damage. The following skill gems deal secondary damage:

• Infernal Blow's explosion
• 's explosion

Damage over Time

Main article: Damage over time

Damage over time (DoT) refers to damage inflicted continuously over a period of time. Unlike the other three damage sources, damage over time does not hit.

Damage Types

A hit can be composed of several types of damage, but each type of damage has modifiers applied to it seperately from other types in the same hit. Damage over time effects always consist of exactly one damage type. All damage must have exactly one type; there is no such thing as "typeless" or "multi-typed" damage.

Keywords that are based on damage types are dynamic based on the damage types that a hit consists of. For example, supporting Incinerate with effectively causes all hits dealt by that skill to have the Chaos damage keyword. Currently there are 5 types of damage:

Physical Damage

Main article: Physical damage

Physical damage is usually dealt by attacks but can also come from some spells, like , , , , and . Most sources of life leech and mana leech only apply to physical attack damage when determining how much life or mana is gained. Many passive attack skills only increase physical damage, especially those which apply to a specific weapon type.

Fire Damage

Main article: Fire damage

Dealing a critical strike with fire damage inflicts the ignite status ailment. Fire damage has its own unique term for damage over time called burning damage that applies exclusively to fire damage over time effects.

Cold Damage

Main article: Cold damage

Hitting an enemy with cold damage can inflict the chill status ailment, while dealing a critical strike with cold damage can inflict the freeze status ailment.

Lightning Damage

Main article: Lightning damage

Dealing a critical strike with lightning damage can inflict the shock status ailment. Lightning damage has a greater damage range than other damage types---it tends to deal 10-190% of the average damage, instead of 80-120% as with other damage types.

Chaos Damage

Main article: Chaos damage

Chaos damage ignores energy shield, reducing life directly. Notably, while the poison status ailment is associated with chaos damage it is not inflicted when dealing a critical strike with chaos damage.

Other Keywords

Beyond source and type, there are several other ways to classify damage which are best referred to by their generic name Keywords. In the case of a damage instance triggered by a parent skill (such as ignite), these modifiers are all inherited from the triggering hit. See keywords for more information.

Area

Certain skills have an Area of Effect (AoE for short) and can affect multiple enemies or allies at once.

Elemental

Elemental Damage modifiers affect all types of elemental damage (Fire, Cold and Lightning). Chaos damage is not considered elemental.

Melee

Melee damage is a category of damage exclusive to the attack damage source; in the case of damage instances who inherit keywords from a parent skill (such as ignite or Puncture's bleed) the melee keyword is not inherited.

Mine

Mines are skills which are laid at the characters location and detonated by a separate command.

Minion

Modifiers to minion damage function as a generic damage modifier granted to the minion. This means it will apply to all damage dealt regardless of source, type, or keywords.

Projectile

Note that skills with the bow keyword are considered to implicitly be projectiles.

Totem

Modifiers to totem damage function as a generic damage modifier granted to the totem. This means it will apply to all damage dealt regardless of source, type, or keywords.

Trap

Modifiers to trap damage function as a generic damage modifier granted to the trap. This means it will apply to all damage dealt regardless of source, type, or keywords.

Unarmed

Main article: Unarmed

Unarmed damage is a subcategory of Melee Damage and therefore inherits damage modifiers from the Melee and Attack keywords.

Weapon-specific Keywords

Weapon-specific keywords are derivatives of the Attack damage source and therefore are not inherited by damage instances who inherit keywords from a parent skill (such as ignite, puncture's bleed, or Poison Arrow's poison cloud).

Generic Modifiers

Damage modifiers that have no restrictions or specifications are commonly referred to as generic damage modifiers. These modifiers are potent since they will apply to all damage dealt by the modified skill regardless of source, type, or keywords.

Reflected damage

Main article: Damage reflection

Unique Items and Skills

List of items and skills that increase damage whatever the source:

• Summon Flame Golem
• Bated BreathBated Breath
  Chain BeltRequires Level 22+(9-20) to maximum Energy Shield+(15-25) to Intelligence
  10% increased Damage
  +(20-30) to maximum Energy Shield
  20% increased maximum Energy Shield
  50% increased Energy Shield Recharge RateAt knifepoint, a moment's hesitation means death.
• Berek's PassBerek's Pass
  Two-Stone RingRequires Level 20+(12-16)% to Fire and Cold Resistances(25-30)% increased Fire Damage
  Adds (20-25) to (30-50) Cold Damage to Spells and Attacks
  +(30-40) to maximum Energy Shield
  30% increased Damage while Ignited
  +5000 to Armour while Frozen"From Frost's ice-bound pass
  Berek taunted and jeered
  Until furious Flame scaled the mountain
  Berek escaped through the thaw
  And Frost's tortured moans."
  - Berek and the Untamed - while Ignited.
• BroadstrokeBroadstroke
  Heavy QuiverRequires Level 5Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks30% increased Global Physical Damage
  (10-15)% reduced Enemy Stun Threshold
  (20-30)% increased Stun Duration on EnemiesSeeing only foot soldiers, the Sarn Knights cast aside
  their heavy shields... and paid dearly for their mistake.
• Daresso's PassionDaresso's Passion
  EstocOne Handed Sword
  Physical Damage: (51-59) to (90-100)
  Elemental Damage: (30-38) to (40-50)
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.50%
  Attacks per Second: 1.50
  Weapon Range: 1.4 metresRequires Level 43, 140 Dex+25% to Global Critical Strike MultiplierAdds (30-38) to (40-50) Physical Damage
  Adds (30-38) to (40-50) Cold Damage
  20% reduced Frenzy Charge Duration
  25% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge on Kill
  (60-80)% increased Damage while you have no Frenzy ChargesIt doesn't matter how well the young swordsman trains.
  All form and finesse are forgotten when blood first hits the ground. - while you don't have any Frenzy Charges.
• Doedre's ScornDoedre's Scorn
  Lunaris CircletEnergy Shield: (141-168)Requires Level 39, 83 Int+2 to Level of Socketed Curse Gems
  +(20-30) to Intelligence
  +(100-120) to maximum Energy Shield
  Adds 37 to 71 Chaos Damage for each Curse on the Enemy
  Curse Skills have (30-50)% increased Skill Effect DurationA scar of the flesh you'll never forget,
  A scar of the mind you'll never remember. - per Curse on Enemy.
• Doon CuebiyariDoon Cuebiyari
  Vaal SceptreSceptre
  Physical Damage: 37-70
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
  Attacks per Second: 1.40
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 64, 113 Str, 113 Int32% increased Elemental DamageSocketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Iron Will
  +(50-70) to Strength
  (15-18)% increased Cast Speed
  +(20-30) to maximum Mana
  1% increased Damage per 8 Strength when in Main Hand
  1% increased Armour per 16 Strength when in Off HandMy Iron heart will beat when yours is rust.
  I take your Strength, your power, your lust.
  By Iron Will alone I set my mind in motion.
  Through endless storms of fervent devotion. - when in Main Hand.
• Dying BreathDying Breath
  Iron StaffWarstaff
  Physical Damage: 14-42
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.40%
  Attacks per Second: 1.30
  Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Level 13, 27 Str, 27 Int+18% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff18% increased Cast Speed
  18% increased maximum Mana
  18% increased Area of Effect of Aura Skills
  18% increased Area of Effect of Hex Skills
  Nearby Enemies have 18% increased Effect of Curses on them
  Nearby allies gain 18% increased Damage
  18% increased effect of Non-Curse Auras from your SkillsThe whispers of the dead
  Carry wisdom for the living,
  If you are willing to give your life
  To listen. - you and Ally.
• FencoilFencoil
  Gnarled BranchStaff
  Physical Damage: 9-19
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
  Attacks per Second: 1.30
  Weapon Range: 1.3 metres+18% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a StaffSocketed Gems are Supported by Level 8 Trap
  (40-50)% increased Global Damage
  (10-20)% increased maximum Life
  (10-20)% increased maximum ManaYou've no reason for fear when you're a root in a fen
  - Old Ezomyte saying.
• Gang's MomentumGang's Momentum
  Legion BootsArmour: (270-336)
  Energy Shield: (54-70)Requires Level 58, 54 Str, 54 Int(160-180)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
  +(50-60)% to Fire Resistance
  25% increased Movement Speed
  (10-15)% chance to Ignite
  (25-40)% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments against Ignited EnemiesBecome one with the unstoppable flame. - against Ignited Enemies.
• HeadhunterHeadhunter
  Leather BeltRequires Level 40+(25-40) to maximum Life+(40-55) to Strength
  +(40-55) to Dexterity
  +(50-60) to maximum Life
  (20-30)% increased Damage with Hits against Rare monsters
  When you Kill a Rare monster, you gain its Modifiers for 60 seconds"A man's soul rules from a cavern of bone, learns and
  judges through flesh-born windows. The heart is meat.
  The head is where the Man is."
  - Lavianga, Advisor to Kaom - against Rare Monsters.
• Hidden PotentialHidden Potential
  Viridian JewelLimited to: 1(20-25)% increased Damage for each Magic Item EquippedCorruptedThe difference between the master and his apprentice
  is what they see when they look at the same block of wood.Place into an allocated Jewel Socket on the Passive Skill Tree. Right click to remove from the Socket. - for each Magic Item you have equipped.
• Hyaon's FuryHyaon's Fury
  Legion SwordOne Handed Sword
  Physical Damage: 53-98
  Elemental Damage: 1 to (550-650)
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
  Attacks per Second: (1.28-1.32)
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 62, 122 Str, 104 Dex40% increased Global Accuracy RatingAdds 1 to (550-650) Lightning Damage
  (7-10)% increased Attack Speed
  1% increased Damage taken per Frenzy Charge
  (15-20)% increased Lightning Damage per Frenzy Charge
  20 Life gained on Kill per Frenzy Charge
  Plays Wolf Call sound on Kill (Hidden)"Hyaon the 'Red Wolf'
  Howling mad
  Cloaked in blood
  A banner to his legion
  A terror to his foes."
  - Garivaldi, Chronicler to the Empire - per Frenzy Charge.
• Le Heup of AllLe Heup of All
  Iron RingRequires Level 24Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks+(10-30) to all Attributes
  (10-30)% increased Damage
  (10-30)% increased Rarity of Items found
  +(10-30)% to all Elemental ResistancesExistence is infinite
  A weave of the living and dead
  Beyond the understanding
  Of the many mortal threads
• Leer CastLeer Cast
  Festival MaskEvasion: (77-88)
  Energy Shield: (17-19)Requires Level 28, 33 Dex, 33 Int+(20-30) to Dexterity
  25% reduced Damage
  +(60-100) to maximum Life
  +(60-100) to maximum Mana
  You and nearby allies gain 50% increased DamageFor none of us are as cruel as all of us. - for you and Ally.
• Maligaro's RestraintMaligaro's Restraint
  Chain BeltRequires Level 44+(9-20) to maximum Energy ShieldAdds 1 to (30-50) Lightning Damage to Attacks
  100% increased Shock Duration on you
  Shocks you cause are reflected back to you
  60% increased Damage while Shocked
  15% increased Movement Speed while Shocked"Our genius will pave the way forward.
  May all who are worthy be improved!"
  - Inquisitor Maligaro - while Shocked.
• Maloney's NightfallMaloney's Nightfall
  Vile Arrow QuiverRequires Level 55Gain (10-15)% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage10% increased Attack Speed
  +(50-70) to maximum Life
  +(12-16)% to Chaos Resistance
  (8-10) to (14-16) Added Physical Damage with Bow Attacks
  25% chance to create a Smoke Cloud when Hit
  (40-60)% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments against Blinded EnemiesFear not the dark, the song of night,
  Hear not the arch, the falling cry.
  My giving sun, fight no more,
  Rest alone, my grand nightfall.- against Blind Enemies.
• Natural HierarchyNatural Hierarchy
  Rotfeather TalismanTalisman Tier: 3
  Requires Level 44(25-35)% increased Damage(10-15)% increased Global Physical Damage
  (25-30)% increased Fire Damage
  (20-25)% increased Cold Damage
  (15-20)% increased Lightning Damage
  (30-35)% increased Chaos DamageCorruptedJust as the rat cowers before the dog
  and the dog cowers before Man,
  so too should we cower before the First Ones
  and pray we never learn of what comes next.
• RedbeakRedbeak
  Rusted SwordOne Handed Sword
  Physical Damage: 9-22.5
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
  Attacks per Second: 1.71
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metres40% increased Global Accuracy Rating100% increased Damage when on Low Life
  50% increased Physical Damage
  Adds 2 to 6 Physical Damage
  10% increased Attack Speed
  +(20-30) to maximum Life
  Grants 2 Life per Enemy HitAs battle calms, blood turns to rust. - on Low Life.
• Spine of the First ClaimantSpine of the First Claimant
  Iron SceptreSceptre
  Physical Damage: (54-64.8) to (80-96)
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
  Attacks per Second: (1.16-1.21)
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 20, 38 Str, 38 Int14% increased Elemental Damage(100-140)% increased Physical Damage
  40% increased Damage with Hits against Frozen Enemies
  +(25-35)% to Cold Damage over Time Multiplier
  (30-50)% increased Cold Damage
  (5-10)% increased Attack Speed
  (4-8)% increased Cast Speed
  5% chance to FreezeThousands gazed upon the doors of the great labyrinth,
  at an Eternal Champion in steel and gold,
  The first to challenge its treacherous traps.
  To mark the occasion, Izaro had the Champion's remains gilded. - against Frozen Enemies.
• Self-FlagellationSelf-Flagellation
  Viridian JewelLimited to: 1(10-20)% increased Damage per Curse on you
  An additional Curse can be applied to youCorruptedBeg for forgiveness.Place into an allocated Jewel Socket on the Passive Skill Tree. Right click to remove from the Socket. - per Curse on you.
• Steppan EardSteppan Eard
  Sorcerer BootsEnergy Shield: (106-160)Requires Level 67, 123 Int+(20-30) to maximum Energy Shield
  (50-80)% increased Energy Shield
  30% increased Movement Speed
  20% increased Movement Speed on Shocked Ground
  50% increased Damage on Burning Ground
  Regenerate 2% of Life per second on Chilled Ground
  Unaffected by Desecrated GroundTo fight an enemy on their lands is a tactical mistake.
  Make those lands your own, and the mistake becomes theirs. - on Burning Ground.
• Taryn's ShiverTaryn's Shiver
  Maelström StaffWarstaff
  Physical Damage: 71-147
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.80%
  Attacks per Second: 1.25
  Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Level 64, 113 Str, 113 Int+25% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff(50-60)% increased Spell Damage
  (40-50)% increased Cold Damage
  (10-20)% increased Cast Speed
  +2 to Level of all Cold Spell Skill Gems
  8% chance to Freeze
  Enemies Frozen by you take 20% increased DamageShed by the winged beast of night,
  A scaly frost-encrusted thorn.
  All who feel its wintry light
  Shiver in pain at the frozen dawn. - Enemies Frozen by you take 20% increased Damage.
• The Blood DanceThe Blood Dance
  Sharkskin BootsEvasion: (145-171)Requires Level 44, 79 Dex+(30-40) to Dexterity
  20% increased Movement Speed
  2% increased Movement Speed per Frenzy Charge
  4% reduced Attack and Cast Speed per Frenzy Charge
  Regenerate 0.8% of Life per second per Frenzy Charge
  (20-30)% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge on Kill
  (20-30)% increased Damage per Frenzy Charge with Hits against Enemies on Low Life
  Gore Footprints"Sharks thrash and swirl
  To the pounding drum of their frenzied hearts
  As they dance in the waters red."
  -Lavianga, Guardian of the Karui Way - against Enemies on Low Life per Frenzy Charge.
• The Broken CrownThe Broken Crown
  Prophet CrownArmour: (358-516)
  Energy Shield: (131-214)Requires Level 63, 85 Str, 62 IntSocketed Gems are supported by Level 20 Cast on Death
  +(10-15) to all Attributes
  20% increased Damage when on Low Life
  (60-100)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
  +(50-70) to maximum Energy Shield
  20% reduced Mana Regeneration Rate
  +(43-61)% to Chaos ResistanceEvery rule has an exception. - when on Low Life.
• The TamingThe Taming
  Prismatic RingRequires Level 30+(8-10)% to all Elemental Resistances20% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments per Freeze, Shock or Ignite on Enemy
  +(20-30)% to all Elemental Resistances
  30% increased Elemental Damage
  10% chance to Freeze, Shock and Ignite
  30% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills"Moon after moon did Berek make fools
  Of the great and Untamed Three
  Until malice for a Brother
  Slew the hatred of the Other
  And Berek did hunt
  Alone and free."
  - Berek and the Untamed - per Freeze, Shock and Ignite on Enemy.
• Valako's SignValako's Sign
  Topaz RingRequires Level 38+(20-30)% to Lightning Resistance40% increased Damage with Hits against Shocked Enemies
  20% increased Lightning Damage
  +(20-40) to maximum Mana
  1% of Damage Leeched as Life against Shocked Enemies
  25% chance to ShockA gift from Valako,
  appointing Kiloava as the Herald of War.
  A title Kaom claimed when he ended Kiloava's bloodline. - against Shock Enemies.

List of items and skills that lower damage of all types:

• Enfeeble: Afflicted targets deal less damage.
• Leer CastLeer Cast
  Festival MaskEvasion: (77-88)
  Energy Shield: (17-19)Requires Level 28, 33 Dex, 33 Int+(20-30) to Dexterity
  25% reduced Damage
  +(60-100) to maximum Life
  +(60-100) to maximum Mana
  You and nearby allies gain 50% increased DamageFor none of us are as cruel as all of us.: Wearer deals reduced damage.
• Starkonja's HeadStarkonja's Head
  Silken HoodEvasion: (692-876)Requires Level 60, 138 Dex+(50-70) to Dexterity
  50% reduced Damage when on Low Life
  10% increased Attack Speed
  25% increased Global Critical Strike Chance
  (100-130)% increased Evasion Rating
  +(80-100) to maximum Life
  150% increased Global Evasion Rating when on Low LifeThere was no hero made out of Starkonja's death,
  but merely a long sleep made eternal.: Wearer deals reduced damage while on Low Life.

Ascendancy classes

Notable Passives that increase damage whatever the source:

• Duelist can choice:
  • Slayer class that have notable passives:
    

 "Headsman" (Hits deal 100% increased Damage against Enemies that are on Low Life)

 "Bane of Legends" (40% increased Damage against Rare and Unique Enemies)

 "Brutal Fervor" (30% increased Damage while Leeching)

• Gladiator class that have notable passives:

 "Painforged" (Gain 35% increased Damage if you've taken no Damage from Hits for 4 seconds)

 "Gratuitous Violence" (25% increased Damage against Bleeding Enemies)

 "Blood in the Eyes" (25% increased Damage against Bleeding Enemies)

• Champion class that have notable passives:

 "Inspirational" (You and nearby Allies deal 30% increased Damage)

 "First to Strike, Last to Fall" (30% increased Damage when not on Low Life)

 "Worthy Foe" (Enemies you Taunt take 15% increased Damage)

• Shadow can choice:
  • Saboteur class that have notable passive:

 "Born in the Shadows" (30% increased Damage against Blinded Enemies)

• Marauder can choice:
  • Juggernaut class that have notable passives:

 "Unyielding" (20% increased Damage while you have Fortify)

 "Unrelenting" (4% increased Damage per Endurance Charge)

• • Berserker class that have notable passive:

 "Cloaked in Savagery" (20% increased Damage if you've taken a Savage Hit in the past 4 seconds)

• Witch can choice:
  • Necromancer class that have notable passives:

 "Spirit Eater" (You and your Minions gain 30% increased Damage for 4 seconds when you Consume or Destroy a corpse)

 "Commander of Darkness" (Auras you Cast grant 4% increased Damage to you and Allies)

• Templar can choice:
  • Inquisitor class that have notable passive:

 "Pious Path" (30% increased Damage while on Consecrated Ground)

• Hierophant class that have notable passive:

 "Pursuit of Faith" (4% increased Damage per Enemy Killed by you or your Totems in the last 4 seconds)