In Diablo 4, dealing damage is not only half the game, after all, demons don’t die by themselves. You need to bring their HP down to 0, the only way is to deal damage. In this article, we’ll cover how damage is calculated and a number of different ways to deal more damage.
The basic part of damage components that we are referring to are basic damage, attribute bonus, and critical damage, please refer to Part 1.
In this part, we will explore more complex and advanced damage components. They are mainly contributed by debuffs applied to enemies and advanced fixes and aspects on equipment. For Diablo 4 gears with perfect fixes or cheap Diablo 4 consumables, visit U7BUY today to find out the best offers.
Vulnerable
Vulnerable is a valuable stat in Diablo 4 that belongs to its own bucket. It is highly sought after for many builds due to its ability to significantly increase damage output. The Vulnerable bucket includes two main components: the base 20% Damage increase when a target is Vulnerable and the Vulnerable Damage stat found on gear.
The base 20% Damage increase applies when a target is afflicted with a Vulnerable condition. This condition can be triggered through various means, such as specific skills, debuffs, or interactions with certain game mechanics.
In addition to the base 20% Damage increase, gear in Diablo 4 can provide additional bonuses to Vulnerable Damage. These bonuses can be found on gear pieces, such as weapons, armor, or accessories, and further augment the damage dealt to Vulnerable targets.
While every build can benefit from utilizing Vulnerable in some capacity, certain builds may have an easier time applying it or maximizing its effectiveness. When engaging in group content or playing with other players, having the ability to apply Vulnerable can be a straightforward way to ensure you deal more damage, as it enhances the damage output not only for yourself but also for your entire group.
By incorporating Vulnerable into your build and capitalizing on the additional Vulnerable Damage bonuses from gear, you can optimize your damage potential and make significant contributions to group content or encounters in Diablo 4.
Overpower
Overpower is a specialized damage option in Diablo 4, providing niche damage boost with a fixed 3% chance to trigger outside of certain effects.
In the main formula we discussed earlier, Overpower Damage (Overpower DMG) is calculated as follows:
Overpower DMG = (Life + Fortify) + (SkillDMG x (1 + OverpowerBonus))
The Overpower Damage consists of two components. First, it includes the total value of your Life and Fortified Life. These values contribute to the overall damage output when Overpower is triggered. Second, it involves multiplying the base damage of the triggered skill by your Overpower Bonus.
By default, the Overpower Bonus has a base value of 50%. This means that Overpowered hits will deal additional damage equal to 150% of your attack’s base damage, similar to Critical Strikes. Notably, this additional damage from Overpower appears to be added as flat damage after all other damage calculations and buckets have been accounted for.
Additive Damage
Additive Damage, also referred to as AddDMG, encompasses the sum of various damage bonuses that can be added to your character. These bonuses are typically generic in nature, ranging from broad categories like All Damage to more specific modifiers like Damage while Berserking or Damage to Poisoned Enemies.
Every class in Diablo 4 can acquire these types of bonuses through gear, passive abilities, and bonuses from the Passive Tree and Paragon Boards. Regardless of the source, these effects contribute to a single multiplier that enhances your overall damage output.
To differentiate whether a specific stat falls into the Additive Damage bucket or the Multiplicative Damage bucket, you can check the tooltip for the effect. If the tooltip reads as Value%, it indicates an Additive Damage bonus. On the other hand, if it is displayed as xValue%, it represents a Multiplicative Damage bonus.
Understanding the distinction between Additive Damage and Multiplicative Damage is crucial for accurately calculating and optimizing your damage potential in Diablo 4.
Related Topics
- How Damage Works in Diablo 4 (Part 1)
- Diablo 4 – Booms and Sticks, Necromancer Build (Bone Spear + Corpse Explosion)
- Diablo 4 – Earth-focused Tanky Druid Build (Landslide Build)
- Diablo 4 End Game Content Explained
Multiplicative Damage
Multiplicative Damage, denoted as MultiDMG in the formula, encompasses effects that have a global impact and can interact with each other across certain skill bonuses. These effects can be found as Aspects or Passives in Diablo 4.
Similar to Additive Damage, every class in the game has access to the Multiplicative Damage bucket through various means. Skill Tree passives and Legendary Aspects are among the most common sources that contribute to this multiplier. These effects are pooled together into a single multiplier in the formula.
To identify if a bonus is Multiplicative, look for the tooltip to indicate xValue%. In most cases, this indicates that the bonus falls into the Multiplicative Damage category. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as the Attribute bucket mentioned earlier, which is displayed as an Additive bonus but is separate from Multiplicative Damage.
Increasing Damage Output
To effectively increase your damage output in Diablo 4, it’s important to focus on several key strategies. Let’s revisit the original formula mentioned earlier:
DAMAGE = BaseDMG x (1 + AddDMG) x (1 + MultiDMG) x (1.2 + Vuln%) x (1 + CritChance x CritDMG) + OverpowerDmg
To optimize your damage potential, consider the following objectives:
- Enhancing Base Damage: While Base Damage naturally improves as you progress in the game, keep an eye out for weapons that offer higher DPS without compromising important attributes or other bonuses. As you reach higher levels, significant upgrades to Base Damage may become less frequent compared to other aspects of your build.
- Balancing Additive and Multiplicative Damage: Seek gear, skill tree passives, and legendary aspects that provide both Additive and Multiplicative damage bonuses. Striking a balance between these two types of bonuses is crucial for maximizing your overall damage potential. While Additive Damage bonuses may accumulate quickly, don’t neglect the importance of Multiplicative Damage sources to amplify your damage further.
- Consistently Applying Vulnerable and Achieving Critical Strikes: Incorporate abilities, gear, or mechanics that allow you to consistently apply Vulnerable to enemies. Vulnerable significantly increases your damage output. Additionally, prioritize bonuses related to Critical Strikes to increase your chance of landing critical hits. Critical Strikes, when combined with Critical Damage bonuses, can result in substantial damage spikes.
- Maximizing Overpower Damage: Although Overpower Damage has a low triggering chance (3% per attack), you can still work to enhance its effectiveness. Focus on finding ways to consistently trigger Overpower, particularly with skills or area-of-effect abilities that can activate it against multiple enemies simultaneously. Increasing the damage of Overpower can provide additional bursts of damage when it activates.
- Harnessing the Power of Critical Strikes and Vulnerable: Regardless of your chosen build, if your class offers easy access to Critical Strikes and the ability to apply Vulnerable, prioritize these aspects in your gameplay. Incorporate them into your build to maximize your damage potential. Critical Strikes and Vulnerable are powerful multipliers that can significantly boost your overall damage output.
By keeping these objectives in mind and actively seeking opportunities to increase both Additive and Multiplicative Damage sources, consistently applying Vulnerable and achieving Critical Strikes, and optimizing your Overpower Damage, you can enhance your damage output and become a formidable force in Diablo 4.
