gww>Emily Malkieri: /* Effect caps */

2026-09-07T16:30:26Z

Effect caps

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{{redirect|Non-stacking|stack|other uses of the term stack}}
[[Effect stacking]] refers to the combined impact on a single [[effect]] from multiple sources, including [[equipment]], [[skill]]s, and [[environment effect|environment]]. Typically, effects stack by adding the totals from all sources, however some effects are capped, some sources have their contribution capped, and other effects might combine under a more complex formula.

== Types of stacking ==

=== Equipment bonuses ===

All bonuses on weapons stack. However, weapon bonuses to [[armor rating]] are limited by a shared cap (see below), unless that bonus is from an [[inscription]].

Bonuses on [[armor]] generally stack, but sometimes in unintuitive ways:

; "Non-stacking" armor upgrades

Some effects of [[rune]]s and [[insignia]]s are labeled as ''(Non-stacking)''. This is a bit of a misnomer. Effects labeled as non-stacking don't stack with each other, but still stack with other effects.
* For example, the [[elementalist]] runes of Major and Superior Air Magic both list their [[attribute]] bonus as ''(Non-stacking)''. An elementalist equipped with both will receive only the greater bonus of +3 [[Air Magic]], not a combined +5.
** This "non-stacking" bonus will, however, stack with other sources of Air Magic that aren't labeled as non-stacking, such as the [[Storm Eye]] headpiece or the [[Glyph of Elemental Power]].
** Note that only the attribute bonuses of these runes are labeled as non-stacking, not the health penalties. Both penalties apply to the elementalist, for a total of 110 health lost.
* For another example, a [[Rune of Clarity]] reduces the duration of both [[Blindness]] and [[Weakness]] on you by 20%; both effects are non-stacking. Equipping a second Rune of Clarity won't reduce blindness duration any further, but equipping a shield with the [["I Can See Clearly Now"]] inscription or summoning a spirit of [[Recovery]] will.

; "Local" armor effects

[[Armor rating]] and [[damage reduction]] from insignias, as well as the inherent armor rating of each armor piece, only apply when that specific body part is hit and don't affect other armor pieces.
* For example, if your headpiece has an armor rating of 60 and your other armor pieces have armor ratings of 45, you don't have a combined armor rating of 240. You have an armor rating of 60 against hits to your head and 45 against all other hits.
* For another example, if you upgrade all of your armor pieces with Blessed insignias, which provide +10 armor rating while enchanted, and you are enchanted, your armor rating isn't increased by +50. Rather, your armor rating is consistently increased by +10, regardless of where you are hit.

=== Skill effects ===

Most skill effects ''do not stack'' — the most recent or the most powerful application takes precedence.

; Effects that stack
* The beneficial effects of [[hex spell]]s on ''different targets'' stack.
** [[Life Siphon]] cast on two foes will provide twice as much health regeneration to the [[spellcaster]] compared to only one Life Siphon.
* The beneficial effects of [[hex spell]]s on the ''same target'' stack.
** [[Assassin's Promise]] provides each spellcaster the energy gain and skill recharge when the foe dies.
; Effects that do not stack
* Some skills will not stack with others of the same type: a character can only be affected by one [[stance]], one [[preparation]], one [[party bonus]], one [[glyph]], one [[weapon spell]], and one [[form]] at a time. Activating a new one of the same type will override any existing ones.
* [[Animal companion]]s can only be under the effects of a single [[Pet Attack]] buff.
* Characters can only hold one [[bundle]] at a time, so each new casting of an [[Item Spell]] causes the first urn to be dropped (triggering the ''when dropped'' effects).
* Armor rating bonuses from all skills are capped to a maximum of 25, however there are several bugs associated with this.
* Each [[Binding Ritual]] will result in the death of any allied spirit of the same type. Similarly, [[Nature Ritual]]s will kill existing allied ''and'' enemy spirits of the same type.

=== Non-additive stacking ===

* Random chances stack multiplicatively rather than additively. For example, a character enchanted with both [[Aegis]] and [[Guardian]] (each giving 50% block chance) will have a 75% chance to block rather than a 100% chance.
* [[Attack speed]] and [[movement speed]] stack multiplicatively. For example, a character affected by [[Flail]] and [["Fall Back!"]] will have 89.1% movement speed rather than 100%.
* Percentage modifiers stacking multiplicatively tend to be the rule rather than the exception (for example: healing, adrenaline gain, recharge time, and damage multipliers also).

== Effect caps ==

The game limits the maximum bonus or penalty that can be accrued from multiple sources; the effects stack, but only to a specified amount. In most cases, this cap can be exceeded by a single source.

{| {{STDT|silver}}
|- style="background-color:lightgray;"
! Property !! Positive !! Negative !! Notes

|-
| [[Attack speed]]
| +33%
| -50%
| Specific implementation details distort the potency of this modification. Actually, attack speed bonuses cause up to +49% more or -33% fewer attacks.

|-
| [[Speed boost|Movement speed]]
| +34%
| -50%
|

|-
| Chance to [[block]] or [[miss]]
| 100%
| {{x}}
| Stacks multiplicatively. <br />There are effects that prevent blocking or missing, but none that reduce the chances to block or miss.

|-
| [[Heal]]ing
| {{x}}
| -40%
| Stacks multiplicatively.

|-
| [[Adrenaline]] gain
| +100%
| -50%
|

|-
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | [[Health regeneration|Health]] or [[energy regeneration|energy regeneration]] 
| +10
| -10
| These caps also apply to single effects (not just multiple sources).

|-
| [[Recharge time]]
| {{x}}
| -50%
| A single skill's effect can bypass this limit; item mods cannot stack beyond this limit.

|-
| [[Activation time]]
| +150%
| -25%
| [[Fast Casting]] does not count toward this cap.

|-
| [[Armor rating]]
| +25
| 60 AR
|
* The positive cap is only applied to bonus armor. Core and special armor are uncapped.
* Negative bonus armor can only reduce your armor to 60, or to your core armor rating if that is below 60.
* See [[armor calculation]] for the full formulas.
|-
| [[Attribute]]
| 20
| 0
|
* These caps also apply to single effects (not just multiple sources).
* 21 can be reached using weapons with a chance of boosting an attribute.
|-
| [[Damage]] multipliers
| {{x}}
| {{x}}
|

|-
| [[Projectile]] travel-speed
| +100%
| -50%
|

|-
| Maximum [[health]]
| {{x}}
| 1
| The minimum cap also apply to single effects (not just multiple sources).

|-
| [[Condition]] duration
| {{x}}
| 0s
|
* The cap only applies to the remaining duration; conditions can be re-applied indefinitely (although there is [[Talk:Condition#Max duration|some evidence]] that suggests this is capped at 12 hours, on a practical level, there is no maximum).
* A zero-second duration condition will trigger [[Fragility]] only once (not twice, as expectable if it was on application and on end).

|-
| Combat [[experience]]
| 350%
| {{x}}
|
|}

== Notes ==

* The maximum number of [[Upkeep|maintained enchantments]] is limited only by your energy regeneration; you can never have your net energy regeneration at less than -10 (any maintained enchantments in excess of that cap will be lost). For example, a Monk can maintain a maximum of 14 enchantments.

[[Category:Effects|*]]

Effect stacking - Revision history

gww>Emily Malkieri: /* Effect caps */