Armor penetration

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Armor penetration (often abbreviated as AP) is the amount of armor that an attack or spell ignores when calculating damage.

For example, an Air Magic spell that grants 25% armor penetration treats a foe with an armor rating of 80 as if it had only 60 armor, i.e. 80 - 25%*80. This would cause approximately ~41% more damage to the target than otherwise, since the increase in damage is dependent on the base armor rating.

There are two different types of armor penetration: base armor penetration and bonus armor penetration.

Base armor penetration[edit]

Base armor penetration is the non-stackable, fixed amount of penetration listed in a skill's description, e.g. "this attack has 20% armor penetration". If there is more than one source, only the highest value is used.

Source Penetration Requirements/Notes
Warrior Strength 1% per rank When using attack skills
Elementalist Air Magic spells 25% Each one that deals lightning damage
Warrior Penetrating Blow
Warrior Penetrating Chop
20%
Ranger Penetrating Attack
Ranger Sundering Attack
10%
Ritualist Cruel Was Daoshen 10% Affects only Ritualist skills and only while ashes are held
Ritualist Destructive Was Glaive 20% Affects only Ritualist skills and only while ashes are held
Ritualist Destructive Was Glaive (PvP) 10% Affects only Ritualist skills and only while ashes are held
Ritualist Sundering Weapon 10%
Paragon Spear of Lightning 25%

Bonus armor penetration[edit]

Bonus armor penetration is an additional amount of armor penetration, such as "armor penetration +20%". These do stack (adding them together) and add to the largest base armor penetration.

Notes[edit]

The armor provided by "I Am Unstoppable!", Illusionary Weaponry and Mantra of Signets is not reduced by armor penetration: it is only applied at the end of the armor calculation. As such, it is not counted in the bonus armor cap of +25.

Anomaly Anomaly.Armor Penetration does not simply subtract the listed percentage of armor, sometimes it subtracts slightly more. The exact mechanics are unknown.

See also[edit]

Armor calculation#Step-by-step calculations