View source for Attack speed

[[Attack speed]] is the frequency at which a character [[attacks]]. This rate depends on the type of [[weapon]] wielded or on the specific [[creature]] that is attacking (for pets, minions, spirits, and foes that don't wield weapons) and can be increased (called "IAS") or decreased (called "DAS") by [[skill]]s and other effects.

== Calculating the attack rate ==

The in-game descriptions for skills that affect attack speed are misleading. These modifiers actually apply to the duration of each attack, not to their rate of attacks per second. 

For instance, an effect that makes a character "attack 33% faster" reduces the duration of their attacks by 33%. This has an unintuitive effect on the actual attack speed and [[DPS]].

For example, a [[scythe]] attack usually takes 1.5 seconds, meaning 1 attack per 1.5s or 2 attacks per 3s. If the scythe user "attacks 33% faster", the game reduces that 1.5s duration by 33% to about 1s, so now 3 attacks can be dealt in 3s instead of 2. This represents a 50% increase in attacks and therefore damage, not 33% as the description implies.

Another example and an extreme case would be an effect granting +100% attack speed increase. By the definition of speed this would mean attacking twice as fast, however a reduction of 100% of the attack duration (so instant attacks) would lead to infinite attacks per second.

The real increase in attack speed can be calculated using the formula x/(100-x) where x is the stated attack speed percentage increase. In the scythe example, x is 33 (+33% attack speed), so the actual increase 33/(100-33) = 33/67 which is roughly 0,5 or 50%.

As a rule of thumb, '''increases''' in attack speed are always '''more''' effective than the stated percentage while '''decreases''' in attack speed are '''less''' effective. Therefore, to calculate the impact on a character's DPS, refer to the actual percentage as given in the table below for common values, not the percentage stated in-game:

{| {{STDT}}
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! !! colspan=2 | Increased attack speed (IAS) !! colspan=2 | Decreased attack speed (DAS) 
|-
! Stated % !! +25% !! +33%  !! -30% !! -50% 
|-
! Actual % !! +33% !! +49%  !! -23% !! -33% 
|}

These values have been rounded to whole percentages.

For example, [[Frenzy]] will increase DPS from auto attacks by about 49%, while [[Faintheartedness]] reduces DPS by about 33%.

IAS and DAS effects [[Effect stacking|stack]] multiplicatively, but are capped at +33% and -50%.

== Attack durations and the effects of IAS and DAS ==
All values are listed as seconds between attacks. These are the exact values used by the game.

{| {{STDT}}
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! colspan=2 | &nbsp; !! colspan=2 | Increased attack speed (IAS) !! colspan=2 | Decreased attack speed (DAS) 
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Weapon/[[creature]] !! Normal attack<br>speed !! +25% !! +33%  !! -30% !! -50% 
|- align="center" valign="top"
| [[Axe]], [[Daggers]] <ref name="daggers" />, [[Sword]], [[Racing Beetle]] || 1.33 || 0.9975 || 0.8911 || 1.729 || 1.995
|- align="center" valign="top"
| [[Scythe]], [[Spear]], [[Moa Bird]] || 1.5 || 1.125 || 1.005 || 1.95 || 2.25
|- align="center" valign="top"
| [[Hammer]], [[Staff]], [[Wand]] || 1.75 || 1.3125 || 1.1725 || 2.275 || 2.625
|- align="center" valign="top"
| [[Bone Fiend]] || 1.86 || 1.395 || 1.2462 || 2.418 || 2.79
|- align="center" valign="top"
| [[Attack spirit]], [[Animal companion|Pet]] <ref name="pets" /> || 2 || 1.5 || 1.34 || 2.6 || 3
|- align="center" valign="top"
| [[Flatbow]], [[Shortbow]] || 2.025 || 1.51875 || 1.35675 || 2.6325 || 3.0375
|- align="center" valign="top"
| [[Longbow]], [[Recurve Bow]] || 2.475 || 1.85625 || 1.65825 || 3.2175 || 3.7125
|- align="center" valign="top"
| [[Hornbow]] || 2.7 || 2.025 || 1.809 || 3.51 || 4.05
|- align="center" valign="top"
| Melee [[minion]] || 3.1 || 2.325 || 2.077 || 4.03 || 4.65 
|}
<references>
<ref name="daggers">Daggers end up with a faster effective attack speed due to [[double strike]]s. See [[#Overview of attack speed influences|below]].</ref>
<ref name="pets">All pets except the Racing Beetle and Moa Bird.</ref>
</references>

== Overview of attack speed influences ==

* Various skills increase attack speed.
** Many [[stance]]s improve attack speed; most are balanced by a downside.
** Some [[Beast Mastery]] skills can increase the attack speed of the user, the user's [[pet]], or both.
* Certain [[attack skill]]s (such as [[Mystic Sweep]] and [[Jagged Strike]]) have an [[activation time]] that replaces the weapon's normal attack duration and is usually much shorter.
** These skills' activation times are still affected by IAS and DAS.
** Attacks hit halfway through their duration window. The second half of that duration can be bypassed by activating an attack skill with an activation time, resulting in even quicker attacks.
** Some of these skills, notably ranged attacks (such as Ranger interrupts), have an [[aftercast delay]], limiting their ability to increase overall attack rates.
* Several [[hex]] spells decrease attack speed.
** [[Reckless Haste]] is the only skill that increases attack speed on foes.
* Some [[environmental effect]]s modify attack speed, such as the [[Battle Cry]] shrine in [[Alliance Battles]].
* The [[Blue Rock Candy|Blue]], [[Green Rock Candy|Green]], and [[Red Rock Candy]], [[Essence of Celerity]], and [[Slice of Pumpkin Pie]] [[consumable]]s increase attack speed.
* The [[Battle Fervor]] [[blessing]] increases attack speed.
* Daggers effectively have a faster attack speed due to their guaranteed [[double strike]]s on [[Dual Attack]] skills and chance to double strike on regular attacks.
* [[Hard mode]] enemies attack 25% faster.

== Skills that affect attack speed ==
=== On allies ===
{{ Skill table
 | titlematch="I Will Avenge You!"¦Berserker Stance¦Burst of Aggression¦Dwarven Battle Stance¦Flail¦Flurry¦Frenzy¦I Will Avenge You!¦Primal Rage¦Soldier's Stance¦Soldier's Stance (PvP)¦Tiger Stance¦Seven Weapons Stance¦Bestial Fury¦Call of Haste¦Expert's Dexterity¦Expert's Dexterity (PvP)¦Feral Aggression¦Heket's Rampage¦Lightning Reflexes¦Never Rampage Alone¦Predatory Bond¦Rampage as One¦Rapid Fire¦Tiger's Fury¦Critical Agility¦Way of the Assassin¦Signet of Ghostly Might¦Weapon of Aggression¦Aggressive Refrain¦Soldier's Fury¦Heart of Fury¦Heart of Fury (PvP)¦Onslaught¦Pious Fury¦Drunken Master¦Onslaught (PvP)¦Lightning Reflexes (PvP)¦Pious Fury (PvP)¦Volfen Bloodlust
 | show attribute=y
 | show campaign=y
 | show profession = y
 | extra cost header = [[File:Tango-adrenaline.png|Adrenaline]]
}}

=== On foes ===
{{ Skill table
 | titlematch=Crippling Anguish¦Faintheartedness¦Meekness¦Shadow of Fear¦Shared Burden¦Shared Burden (PvP)¦Sum of All Fears¦Teinai's Heat¦Tryptophan Signet¦Reckless Haste
 | show attribute=y
 | show campaign=y
 | show profession = y
 | extra cost header = [[File:Tango-sacrifice.png|Sacrifice]]
}}

=== Miscellaneous ===
{{ Skill table
 | titlematch="There's not enough time!!"¦"Tango Down!"¦Shadowy Soul Explosion¦Spectral Agony
 | color scheme=
 | show attribute=y
 | show campaign=y
}}

== Notes ==
* [[Monk]]s have no skills that increase or decrease attack speed. However, they are the only profession with skills that prevent foes from attacking (outside PvE-only skills). 

[[Category:Game mechanics]]