Physical damage

Physical damage is a type of damage which includes three subtypes:
 * Blunt damage is usually dealt by hammers. (Some swords inflict blunt damage.)
 * Piercing damage is usually dealt by bows, daggers, and spears. (Some axes and hammers inflict piercing damage.)
 * Slashing damage is usually dealt by swords, axes, daggers, and scythes.

Any source of damage from these types will trigger effects that check for physical damage.

Physical damage is a damage type caused by the majority of non-magical physical attacks, such as those performed by rangers, warriors, dervishes, paragons, and assassins. Physical damage is a common damage type, and as such many skills cause it or prevent it. Many skills are also triggered by this damage type, such as Order of the Vampire. Controlling the damage types of your party or of enemy teams can mean huge changes in damage output.

In addition to blunt, piercing and slashing damage, a few skills, such as Ursan Rage, inflict generic physical damage without any subtype. Some skills (i.e. Splinter Weapon) also deal armor-ignoring damage, which is classified as physical damage by skills which benefit from physical damage.

Equipment that protects against physical damage

 * Armor
 * Any Stalwart Insignia
 * Basic Warrior armor
 * Knight's Insignia
 * Infiltrator's Insignia
 * Saboteur's Insignia
 * Vanguard's Insignia
 * Inscriptions
 * Focus item Inscriptions
 * Survival of the Fittest
 * Focus item or Shield Inscriptions
 * Luck of the Draw (10...20% chance)
 * Nothing to Fear (while hexed)
 * Run For Your Life! (while in a stance)
 * Sheltered by Faith (while enchanted)
 * Suffix upgrades
 * Axe Grip of Shelter
 * Hammer Grip of Shelter
 * Sword Pommel of Shelter
 * Bow Grip of Shelter
 * Dagger Handle of Shelter
 * Spear Grip of Shelter
 * Scythe Grip of Shelter
 * Staff Wrapping of Shelter

Skills that protect against physical damage

 * Enchantments
 * Forms
 * (elite)
 * Stances
 * (also reduces armor vs. Elemental damage)
 * Stances
 * (also reduces armor vs. Elemental damage)

Skills that benefit from physical damage

 * Hex Spells
 * Enchantment Spells
 * (elite)
 * (elite)
 * Well Spells
 * Nature Rituals
 * (elite)
 * Well Spells
 * Nature Rituals
 * Nature Rituals

Skills that inflict physical damage

 * Any
 * Any
 * Any