50.234.189.23: /* Comparison of combined effects */

2026-10-04T14:59:50Z

Comparison of combined effects

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[[Image:Critical_Hit_effect.jpg|thumb|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 [[weapon]]s. Some [[skill]]s, 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 [[Assassin]]s, 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.
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==Game mechanics==
=== Scoring a critical hit ===
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 companion]]s, the owner's [[Beast Mastery]] rank is the only factor.
* [[Movement|Moving]] targets always suffer critical hits when attacked from behind by a [[melee]] weapon.
* [[Spirit]] [[Ranged attack|attacks]] can cause critical hits, but they don't deal extra damage. This is relevant for skills like [[Turtle Shell]].

=== Damage ===
* As noted in the introduction, critical hits by players using weapons always deal maximum damage, making [[axe]]s and [[hammer]]s especially deadly. In addition, critical hits also do additional damage due to [[armor penetration]]. The exact formula is:
: ''[maximum damage] * 1.414''
[[Scythe]]s do less damage (about ''[maximum damage] * 1.09'').
{{anomaly|Critical hits do not cause Animal companions and [[minion]]s to hit for maximum damage, but they do get the same bonus factor (1.414...).}}

=== Comparison of combined effects ===
Critical hit chance is additive between skills, but multiplicative between the effects of base crit rate, Critical Strikes rank, and the combined effect of skills. The base crit rate depends on the weapon's [[Damage calculation#Weapon Attribute rank threshold|mastery attribute]] and the levels of both the attacker and defender. This relationship is complicated, but if the attacker is level 20, base crit rate is always higher than the weapon's mastery attribute. If the defender is at least level 20, this rate roughly equals the weapon's mastery attribute (within 1).
; Critical hit chance in % from [[Critical Strikes]] rank, [[Critical Eye]], [[Way of the Assassin]] (WotA) and [[Way of the Master]] (WotM), ignoring base crit rate
{{Skill progression
|attribute = [[Critical Strikes]]
|var1 name = Critical Eye * Critical Strikes | var1 at0 = 3| var1 at15 = 27.75
|var2 name = WotA * Critical Strikes| var2 at0 = 5| var2 at15 = 44.75
|var3 name = (Critical Eye + WotA) * Critical Strikes| var3 at0 = 8| var3 at15 = 57.5
|var4 name = WotM * Critical Strikes| var4 at0 = 3| var4 at15 = 43.05
|var5 name = (Critical Eye + WotM) * Critical Strikes| var5 at0 = 6| var5 at15 = 55.8
}}

==Skills that cause criticals==
{{skill table
| category = Skills that cause Critical Hit
| notcategory = Historical content
| show attribute = y
| show campaign = y
| show profession = y
| extra cost header = [[File:Any-tango-icon-20.png|Other]]
}}

== Related skills ==
===Skills that increase the chance of critical hits===
* {{W}} {{skill icon|"Fear Me!"}} — (shout) +{{gr|5|30}}% [[melee attack]]s on non-moving targets
* {{A}} {{skill icon|Critical Eye}} — (skill) +{{gr|3|15}}%
* {{A}} {{skill icon|Siphon Strength}} — (hex) +50% on target
* {{A}} {{skill icon|Way of the Assassin}} — (stance) +{{gr|5|35}}%, if wielding [[dagger]]s
* {{A}} {{skill icon|Way of the Master}} — (enchant) +{{gr|3|33}}%, if wielding a non-[[dagger]] weapon
* {{P}} {{skill icon|"Go for the Eyes!"}} — (shout) +{{gr|30|100}}%, ([["Go for the Eyes!" (PvP)|PvP]]) +{{gr|30|75}}%

===Skills that prevent critical hits===
* {{E}} {{skill icon|Stoneflesh Aura}} — to user (does not prevent extra effects from 'on critical hit' skills)
* {{E}} {{skill icon|Stone Sheath}} — to user and target ally
* {{Rt}} {{skill icon|Armor of Unfeeling}} — to controlled spirits
* {{Rt}} {{skill icon|Dulled Weapon}} — from foe

===Skills that benefit from critical hits===
* {{W}} {{skill icon|Critical Chop}} — [[interrupt]]
* {{R}} {{skill icon|Disrupting Accuracy}} — interrupt, if using a [[bow]]
* {{R}} {{skill icon|Keen Arrow}} — +{{gr|5|25}} damage
* {{A}} {{skill icon|Critical Agility}} — reapplies itself
* {{A}} {{skill icon|Critical Defenses}} — reapplies itself
* {{A}} {{skill icon|Critical Eye}} — gain 1 [[energy]]
* {{A}} {{skill icon|Dark Apostasy}} — remove [[enchantment]]
* {{A}} {{skill icon|Way of Perfection}} — gain {{gr|10|40}} health
* {{P}} {{skill icon|Vicious Attack}} — [[Deep Wound]] for {{gr|5|15}} seconds
* {{P}} {{skill icon|"Find Their Weakness!" (PvP)}} — Deep Wound
* {{monster}} {{skill icon|Stun on Critical Hit}} — Knock down

===Other===
* {{W}} {{skill icon|Balanced Stance}} — prevents extra damage from critical hits

== Notes ==
* [[Isaiah Cartwright]] posted an excel formula for base critical hits on his [https://wiki.guildwars.com/index.php?title=User_talk:Isaiah_Cartwright&diff=prev&oldid=1345890 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 [[kiting|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 ==
* [[Damage calculation]]

[[Category:Game mechanics]]

Critical hit - Revision history

50.234.189.23: /* Comparison of combined effects */