Critical hit

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A critical hit

A critical hit is a successful attack that deals additional damage, by negating 20 points of armor rating. In addition, player characters deal maximum damage with their weapons. Some skills, notably those with the keyword "critical" or "keen", improve the chances of criticals or depend on crits to trigger additional effects. Critical hits are especially important to Assassins, whose primary attribute, Critical Strikes increases both the chances and the benefits of critical hits.

A critical hit is indicated by a distinct hit sound and larger numbers in the graphical display. A lethal critical hit can be indicated by an even more menacing sound.

Game mechanics[edit]

Scoring a critical hit[edit]

The chance of scoring a critical hit depends on these factors:

  • The target's level compared to the attacker's level.
  • For martial weapons, the attacker's rank in the weapon's attribute.
  • For assassins, their rank in Critical Strikes.
  • Skills and active effects can improve or reduce the likelihood.
  • For animal companions, the owner's Beast Mastery rank is the only factor.
  • Moving targets always suffer critical hits when attacked from behind by a melee weapon.
  • Spirit attacks can cause critical hits, but they don't deal extra damage. This is relevant for skills like Turtle Shell.

Damage[edit]

  • As noted in the introduction, critical hits by players using weapons always deal maximum damage, making axes and hammers especially deadly. In addition, critical hits also do additional damage due to armor penetration. The exact formula is:
[maximum damage] * 1.414

Scythes do less damage (about [maximum damage] * 1.1).

Anomaly Anomaly.Critical hits do not cause Animal companions and minions to hit for maximum damage, but they do get the same bonus factor (1.414...).

Comparison of combined effects[edit]

Critical hit chance in % with Critical Eye, Way of the Assassin (WotA) and Way of the Master (WotM)
Progression
Critical Eye only
WotA only
Critical Eye + WotA
WotM only
Critical Eye + WotM
0
3
5
8
3
6
1
5
8
11
6
9
2
6
10
14
8
12
3
8
13
17
11
15
4
10
16
20
14
18
5
11
18
23
16
21
6
13
21
26
19
24
7
15
24
29
22
27
8
16
26
32
24
31
9
18
29
35
27
34
10
20
32
38
30
37
11
21
34
41
32
40
12
23
37
44
35
43
13
25
40
47
38
46
14
26
42
50
40
49
15
28
45
53
43
52
16
30
48
56
46
55
17
31
50
59
48
58
18
33
53
62
51
61
19
35
56
65
54
64
20
36
58
68
56
67

This is not simple addition: critical chance multiplies between skills. However, there is no way to determine whether there is a maximum critical hit chance; the base rate remains unknown. The calculations above demonstrate that there is no special critical hit synergy between Critical Eye and either the Way of the Master or Way of the Assassin.

Skills that cause criticals[edit]

IconNameDescriptionOtherEnergyActivation timeRecharge timeProf.AttributeCampaign
"Fear Me!".jpg "Fear Me!" Shout. (1...12...15 second[s].) You have +5...25...30% chance of a critical hit with melee attacks against stationary foes. Initial effect: nearby foes lose 1...3...4 Energy. 4 Tango-adrenaline.png 0 0 0066 Tango-recharge-darker.png Tango-quest-icon.pngwarrioraWarriorTacticsZ Prophecies
"Go for the Eyes!".jpg "Go for the Eyes!" Shout. (10 seconds.) Allies in earshot have +30...86...100% to land a critical hit with their next attack. 4 Tango-adrenaline.png 0 0 0 paragonaParagonCommandZ Nightfall
"Go for the Eyes!" (PvP).jpg "Go for the Eyes!" (PvP) Shout. (10 seconds.) Allies in earshot have +30...66...75% to land a critical hit with their next attack. 4 Tango-adrenaline.png 0 0 0044 Tango-recharge-darker.png paragonaParagonCommandZ Nightfall
Critical Eye.jpg Critical Eye Skill. (10...30...35 seconds.) You have +3...13...15% chance to land a critical hit. You gain 1 Energy whenever you land a critical hit. 0 055 Tango-energy.png 0 03030 Tango-recharge-darker.png Tango-quest-icon.pngassassinaAssassinCritical StrikesZ Factions
Critical Strike.jpg Critical Strike Dual Attack. Deals +10...26...30 damage. Automatic critical hit. You gain 1...3...3 Energy. Must follow an off-hand attack. 0 055 Tango-energy.png 0 0066 Tango-recharge-darker.png assassinaAssassinCritical StrikesZ Factions
Decapitate.jpg Decapitate Elite Axe Attack. Deals +5...41...50 damage. Inflicts Deep Wound condition (5...17...20 seconds). Automatic critical hit. You lose all adrenaline and Energy. 8 Tango-adrenaline.png 0 0 0 warrioraWarriorAxe MasteryZ Nightfall
Keen Chop.jpg Keen Chop Axe Attack. Always a critical hit. 3 Tango-adrenaline.png 0 0 0 warrioraWarriorAxe MasteryZ Eye of the North
Malicious Strike.jpg Malicious Strike Melee Attack. If target foe has a condition, this attack deals +10...26...30 damage and is a critical hit. 0 055 Tango-energy.png 0 0066 Tango-recharge-darker.png assassinaAssassinCritical StrikesZ Nightfall
Siphon Strength.jpg Siphon Strength Elite Hex Spell. (5...17...20 seconds.) Target foe deals -5...41...50 attack damage. You have +33% chance to land a critical hit on this foe. 0 1010 Tango-energy.png 01.001 Tango-activation-darker.png 01010 Tango-recharge-darker.png assassinaAssassinDeadly ArtsZ Factions
Way of the Assassin.jpg Way of the Assassin Elite Stance. (20 seconds.) While wielding daggers, you attack 5...17...20% faster and have +5...29...35% chance to land a critical hit. 0 055 Tango-energy.png 0 01212 Tango-recharge-darker.png assassinaAssassinCritical StrikesZ Nightfall
Way of the Master.jpg Way of the Master Enchantment Spell. (60 seconds.) While holding a non-dagger weapon, you have +3...27...33% chance to land a critical hit. 0 055 Tango-energy.png 00.250.25¼ Tango-activation-darker.png 03030 Tango-recharge-darker.png assassinaAssassinCritical StrikesZ Eye of the North
Wild Blow.jpg Wild Blow Melee Attack. Always a critical hit. Removes a stance. Unblockable. Lose all adrenaline. 0 055 Tango-energy.png 0 0088 Tango-recharge-darker.png Tango-quest-icon.pngwarrioraWarriorZ Core

Related skills[edit]

Skills that increase the chance of critical hits[edit]

Skills that prevent critical hits[edit]

Skills that benefit from critical hits[edit]

Other[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • Isaiah Cartwright posted an excel formula for base critical hits on his talk page.
    • The bonus factor of 1.414 is based on the square root of two, which is the amount of extra damage done by lowering armor by 20 points.
  • Since melee attack hits to the back while moving always result in a critical, it is important to kite; simply running away can result in more damage than staying put.
  • Critical hits do not target any specific armor piece, contrary to some users' belief.
  • The Armor of Salvation consumable provides immunity to 50% of critical hits.
  • The Holy Staff offered by the collector Saba Blackstone is the only weapon that decreases critical hit chance, by 5%.

See also[edit]