Armor rating

AR redirects here. For other uses, see AR (disambiguation).

Armor rating (AR) is a statistic that determines how much damage a creature will take from most sources of physical damage and elemental damage.

Effect of armor on damage reduction

Armor reduces a certain category of damage (as a result called "armor-respecting damage"), done to a creature. Armor-respecting damage includes all damage from attacks and most spells dealing elemental damage. Exact armor depends on the damage type, but also in the player's and heroes' case, on the piece of the armor that is hit.

In broad terms, every gain of 40 points of armor rating cuts 50% of non-armor-ignoring damage and every 40 points lost of AR doubles that same kind of damage. For example, creatures with an AR of 100 take half as much damage as those with AR 60 and twice as much as those with AR 140. Accordingly, it is critical for a character to use armor sets with the maximum armor rating possible.

Each piece of armor protects only one part of a character: a character with 4 pieces with AR 80 and headgear with AR 40 will take double damage any time they take a hit to the head; they will not have AR 360. However, bonuses from skills or weapons are global; those will affect every hit, no matter where it strikes.

Each location has different odds to be hit. The chest has the highest chances (three out of every eight attacks), followed by the legs (two out of eight); the feet, hands, and head have the lowest chances (one in eight). Armor costs and bonuses reflect this, with the material costs and insignia bonuses typically tripled for the chest and doubled for the legs.

Area	Chance	Percentage
Chest	3/8	37.5%
Legs	2/8	25%
Feet	1/8	12.5%
Hands	1/8	12.5%
Head	1/8	12.5%

Armor ratings and stats vary according to a creature's profession. This means each profession will have a different maximum armor rating, different stats and different protection against various types of damage. See basic armor for more information.

The damage multiplier can also be found for non attack skills if the attacker is the same level as you with the equation

Overview

In general, physical and elemental damage is reduced by the target's armor rating. While the majority of attack damage falls under this category, a number of skills, especially under the Mesmer, Necromancer, and Monk lines, deal damage that ignores armor. All bonus damage from attack skills is armor-ignoring, so all Warrior and Ranger skills that confer +XX damage deal the specified damage regardless of armor rating; the base attack damage inflicted at the same time as these skills is affected by armor.

Having 60 armor rating is regarded as the baseline, so a spell that reads "Deals 100 fire damage to target foe" would deal the full 100 damage to a foe with 60 armor but only 50 damage to a foe with 100 armor. The armor rating for creatures in PvE is dependent on level where the actual armor rating can be typically calculated by (creature AR = 3 * Level + Armor bonus), where armor bonus is profession specific. Many creatures in PvE do not follow this formula and may be significantly resistant or vulnerable to certain types of damage.

Note that some effects increase (e.g. Frenzy) or decrease damage without modifying armor; these are effective against all damage regardless of whether it respects armor.

Armor penetration directly reduces the effective armor rating of the target, thereby increasing the damage dealt. For example, hitting a 60 AR target with 25% armor penetration will reduce the effective armor rating of the target to 45, thus increasing damage by approximately 30%.

Armor enhancing skills do not stack beyond +25 armor; without this restriction a player could easily acquire an extremely high armor rating making them nearly impervious to armor-respecting damage. A single skill can still bypass this cap, but using further armor-enhancing skills will have no effect. If several skills are used which bypass this cap (for example Kinetic Armor and Armor of Earth at high attribute ranks), only the skill with the highest armor bonus will apply.

Armor tables

The table below lists how much damage you should take from normal attacks and spells.

Armor	Damage multiplier	Armor	Damage multiplier	Armor	Damage multiplier	Armor	Damage multiplier	Armor	Damage multiplier
0	2.828	40	1.414	80	0.707	120	0.354	160	0.177
5	2.594	45	1.297	85	0.648	125	0.324	165	0.162
10	2.378	50	1.189	90	0.595	130	0.297	170	0.149
15	2.182	55	1.091	95	0.545	135	0.273	175	0.136
20	2.000	60	1.000	100	0.500	140	0.250	180	0.125
25	1.834	65	0.917	105	0.459	145	0.229	185	0.115
30	1.682	70	0.841	110	0.420	150	0.210	190	0.105
35	1.542	75	0.771	115	0.386	155	0.193	195	0.096

The table below lists how much damage you should take from normal attacks and spells, based on a change in armor rating (e.g. if you had 60 armor and were taking spell damage of 100, how much damage would you take if your armor was reduced by 20? 100 * 1.4142).

Armor change	Damage multiplier	Armor change	Damage multiplier	Armor change	Damage multiplier	Armor change	Damage multiplier
-40	2.0000	-20	1.4142	+1	0.9828	+21	0.6950
-39	1.9656	-19	1.3899	+2	0.9659	+22	0.6830
-38	1.9319	-18	1.3660	+3	0.9493	+23	0.6713
-37	1.8987	-17	1.3426	+4	0.9330	+24	0.6598
-36	1.8661	-16	1.3195	+5	0.9170	+25	0.6484
-35	1.8340	-15	1.2968	+6	0.9013	+26	0.6373
-34	1.8025	-14	1.2746	+7	0.8858	+27	0.6263
-33	1.7715	-13	1.2527	+8	0.8706	+28	0.6156
-32	1.7411	-12	1.2311	+9	0.8556	+29	0.6050
-31	1.7112	-11	1.2100	+10	0.8409	+30	0.5946
-30	1.6818	-10	1.1892	+11	0.8265	+31	0.5844
-29	1.6529	-9	1.1688	+12	0.8123	+32	0.5743
-28	1.6245	-8	1.1487	+13	0.7983	+33	0.5645
-27	1.5966	-7	1.1290	+14	0.7846	+34	0.5548
-26	1.5692	-6	1.1096	+15	0.7711	+35	0.5453
-25	1.5422	-5	1.0905	+16	0.7579	+36	0.5359
-24	1.5157	-4	1.0718	+17	0.7448	+37	0.5267
-23	1.4897	-3	1.0534	+18	0.7320	+38	0.5176
-22	1.4641	-2	1.0353	+19	0.7195	+39	0.5087
-21	1.4389	-1	1.0175	+20	0.7071	+40	0.5000

The table below lists how much damage you should take from normal attacks and spells. It is an extended version of the first table, listed to show how the extremes of armor affect damage.

Extended armor rating and damage multiplier table.
0	2.8284	40	1.4142	80	0.7071	120	0.3536	160	0.1768	200	0.0884	240	0.0442
1	2.7798	41	1.3899	81	0.6950	121	0.3475	161	0.1737	201	0.0869	241	0.0434
2	2.7321	42	1.3660	82	0.6830	122	0.3415	162	0.1708	202	0.0854	242	0.0427
3	2.6851	43	1.3426	83	0.6713	123	0.3356	163	0.1678	203	0.0839	243	0.0420
4	2.6390	44	1.3195	84	0.6598	124	0.3299	164	0.1649	204	0.0825	244	0.0412
5	2.5937	45	1.2968	85	0.6484	125	0.3242	165	0.1621	205	0.0811	245	0.0405
6	2.5491	46	1.2746	86	0.6373	126	0.3186	166	0.1593	206	0.0797	246	0.0398
7	2.5053	47	1.2527	87	0.6263	127	0.3132	167	0.1566	207	0.0783	247	0.0391
8	2.4623	48	1.2311	88	0.6156	128	0.3078	168	0.1539	208	0.0769	248	0.0385
9	2.4200	49	1.2100	89	0.6050	129	0.3025	169	0.1512	209	0.0756	249	0.0378
10	2.3784	50	1.1892	90	0.5946	130	0.2973	170	0.1487	210	0.0743	250	0.0372
11	2.3376	51	1.1688	91	0.5844	131	0.2922	171	0.1461	211	0.0730	251	0.0365
12	2.2974	52	1.1487	92	0.5743	132	0.2872	172	0.1436	212	0.0718	252	0.0359
13	2.2579	53	1.1290	93	0.5645	133	0.2822	173	0.1411	213	0.0706	253	0.0353
14	2.2191	54	1.1096	94	0.5548	134	0.2774	174	0.1387	214	0.0693	254	0.0347
15	2.1810	55	1.0905	95	0.5453	135	0.2726	175	0.1363	215	0.0682	255	0.0341
16	2.1435	56	1.0718	96	0.5359	136	0.2679	176	0.1340	216	0.0670	256	0.0335
17	2.1067	57	1.0534	97	0.5267	137	0.2633	177	0.1317	217	0.0658	257	0.0329
18	2.0705	58	1.0353	98	0.5176	138	0.2588	178	0.1294	218	0.0647	258	0.0324
19	2.0350	59	1.0175	99	0.5087	139	0.2544	179	0.1272	219	0.0636	259	0.0318
20	2.0000	60	1.0000	100	0.5000	140	0.2500	180	0.1250	220	0.0625	260	0.0313
21	1.9656	61	0.9828	101	0.4914	141	0.2457	181	0.1229	221	0.0614	261	0.0307
22	1.9319	62	0.9659	102	0.4830	142	0.2415	182	0.1207	222	0.0604	262	0.0302
23	1.8987	63	0.9493	103	0.4747	143	0.2373	183	0.1187	223	0.0593	263	0.0297
24	1.8661	64	0.9330	104	0.4665	144	0.2333	184	0.1166	224	0.0583	264	0.0292
25	1.8340	65	0.9170	105	0.4585	145	0.2293	185	0.1146	225	0.0573	265	0.0287
26	1.8025	66	0.9013	106	0.4506	146	0.2253	186	0.1127	226	0.0563	266	0.0282
27	1.7715	67	0.8858	107	0.4429	147	0.2214	187	0.1107	227	0.0554	267	0.0277
28	1.7411	68	0.8706	108	0.4353	148	0.2176	188	0.1088	228	0.0544	268	0.0272
29	1.7112	69	0.8556	109	0.4278	149	0.2139	189	0.1069	229	0.0535	269	0.0267
30	1.6818	70	0.8409	110	0.4204	150	0.2102	190	0.1051	230	0.0526	270	0.0263
31	1.6529	71	0.8265	111	0.4132	151	0.2066	191	0.1033	231	0.0517	271	0.0258
32	1.6245	72	0.8123	112	0.4061	152	0.2031	192	0.1015	232	0.0508	272	0.0254
33	1.5966	73	0.7983	113	0.3991	153	0.1996	193	0.0998	233	0.0499	273	0.0249
34	1.5692	74	0.7846	114	0.3923	154	0.1961	194	0.0981	234	0.0490	274	0.0245
35	1.5422	75	0.7711	115	0.3856	155	0.1928	195	0.0964	235	0.0482	275	0.0241
36	1.5157	76	0.7579	116	0.3789	156	0.1895	196	0.0947	236	0.0474	276	0.0237
37	1.4897	77	0.7448	117	0.3724	157	0.1862	197	0.0931	237	0.0466	277	0.0233
38	1.4641	78	0.7320	118	0.3660	158	0.1830	198	0.0915	238	0.0458	278	0.0229
39	1.4389	79	0.7195	119	0.3597	159	0.1799	199	0.0899	239	0.0450	279	0.0225

Skills that affect armor rating

See also: Cracked Armor

Increase armor rating on allies

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
File:"I Am Unstoppable!".jpg	"I Am Unstoppable!"	Shout. (16...20 seconds.) You have +24 armor and cannot be knocked-down or Crippled.	0	055	0	03030		a	Norn rankZ	Eye of the North
File:"Save Yourselves!".jpg	"Save Yourselves!"	Shout. (4...6 seconds.) All other party members gain +100 armor.	8	0	0	0		warriora	Allegiance rankZ	Factions
File:"Shields Up!".jpg	"Shields Up!"	Shout. (5...10...11 seconds.) Party members in earshot have +60 armor against projectile attacks.	0	1010	0	03030		warriora	TacticsZ	Core
File:"Stand Your Ground!".jpg	"Stand Your Ground!"	Shout. (5...17...20 seconds.) Party members in earshot gain +24 armor when not moving.	0	1010	0	02020		paragona	CommandZ	Nightfall
File:"Stand Your Ground!" (PvP).jpg	"Stand Your Ground!" (PvP)	Shout. (5...17...20 seconds.) Party members in earshot gain +24 armor when not moving. Ends for an ally if that ally attacks.	0	1515	0	03030		paragona	CommandZ	Nightfall
	"Watch Yourself!"	Shout. (10 seconds.) Party members in earshot have +5...21...25 armor. Ends after 10 incoming attacks.	4	0	0	0044		warriora	TacticsZ	Core
File:"Watch Yourself!" (PvP).jpg	"Watch Yourself!" (PvP)	Shout. (10 seconds.) Party members in earshot have +5...21...25 armor. Ends after 1...3...3 incoming attack[s].	4	0	0	0044		warriora	TacticsZ	Core
	Armor of Earth	Enchantment Spell. (30 seconds.) You have +24...53...60 armor. You move 50...21...14% slower.	0	1010	00.750.75¾	01515		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Core
	Armor of Frost	Enchantment Spell. (10...29...34 seconds.) You have +40 armor against physical damage and have +1 Water Magic.	0	055	01.001	02020		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Prophecies
	Armor of Mist	Enchantment Spell. (8...18...20 seconds.) You have +10...34...40 armor and move 33% faster.	0	1010	01.001	03030		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Prophecies
File:Avatar of Balthazar.jpg	Avatar of Balthazar	Elite Form. (10...74...90 seconds.) You gain +20 armor against physical damage, you gain adrenaline 25% faster, your attacks deal holy damage, you inflict Burning (1...3...3 second[s]) on nearby foes whenever you lose a Dervish enchantment. This skill is disabled for 45 seconds.	0	055	02.002	02020		dervisha	MysticismZ	Nightfall
File:Avatar of Melandru.jpg	Avatar of Melandru	Elite Form. (10...74...90 seconds.) You have +150 maximum Health, +30 elemental armor, and your attacks deal earth damage. Cure 1 condition from all party members in earshot whenever you lose a Dervish enchantment. This skill is disabled for 45 seconds.	0	055	02.002	02020		dervisha	MysticismZ	Nightfall
File:Bladeturn Refrain (PvP).jpg	Bladeturn Refrain (PvP)	Echo. (20 seconds.) Target ally has +10...34...40 armor against slashing damage. Renewal: Whenever a chant or shout ends on that ally. Cannot target spirits.	0	055	01.001	0088		paragona	CommandZ	Nightfall
File:Convert Hexes.jpg	Convert Hexes	Spell. Removes all hexes; +10 armor for each Necromancer hex removed (8...18...20 seconds). Cannot self-target.	0	1515	01.001	01212		monka	Protection PrayersZ	Core
File:Conviction.jpg	Conviction	Flash Enchantment Spell. (10 seconds.) Gain +10 armor while conditioned. Gain 1...3...3 Health regeneration for each condition you have. End Effect: Remove 1...2...2 condition[s].	0	055	0	01010		dervisha	Earth PrayersZ	Nightfall
File:Critical Agility.jpg	Critical Agility	Enchantment Spell. (4 seconds plus 1 second for each rank of Critical Strikes.) You attack 33% faster and gain +15...25 armor. Renewal: every time you land a critical hit.	0	055	01.001	03030		assassina	Sunspear rankZ	Nightfall
	Frigid Armor	Enchantment Spell. (10...22...25 seconds.) You have +10...34...40 armor against physical damage and immunity to Burning.	0	055	01.001	02020		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Nightfall
	Iron Mist	Enchantment Spell. (8...14...15 seconds.) Gain +15 armor. Air Magic spells that target a foe activate and recharge 33% faster, but you are Overcast by 2 points.	0	1010	01.001	02020		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Prophecies
	Kinetic Armor	Enchantment Spell. (12 seconds.) You have +20...68...80 armor. Renewal bonus: cast a spell.	0	1515	03.003	03030		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Prophecies
	Obsidian Flesh	Elite Enchantment Spell. (8...18...20 seconds.) You have +20 armor and enemy spells cannot target you. You cannot attack and have -2 energy degeneration.	0	2525	01.001	03030		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Core
	Stone Sheath	Elite Enchantment Spell. (5...17...20 seconds.) Gives you and target ally +1...24...30 armor and immunity to critical hits. Initial effect: Foes near you and target ally are struck for 15...59...70 earth damage and are Weakened (5...17...20 seconds).	0	1010	01.001	01515		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Nightfall
	Ward Against Elements	Ward Spell. (8...18...20 seconds.) Allies in this ward have +24 armor against elemental damage. Spirits are unaffected.	0	1010	01.001	02020		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Prophecies
	Ward Against Harm	Elite Ward Spell.  [sic](5...13...15 seconds.) Allies in this ward have +1...3...3 Health regeneration, +12...22...24 armor, and +12...22...24 additional armor against elemental damage. Spirits are unaffected. This spell is disabled for 20 seconds.	0	1515	01.001	02020		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Prophecies
	Ward Against Harm (PvP)	Elite Ward Spell. (5...13...15 seconds.) Allies in this ward have +1...3...3 Health regeneration, +12...22...24 armor, and +12...22...24 additional armor against elemental damage. Spirits are unaffected. This spell is disabled for 30 seconds.	0	1515	01.001	02020		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Prophecies

Decrease armor rating on allies

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
File:Aggressive Refrain.jpg	Aggressive Refrain	Echo. (5...21...25 seconds.) You attack 25% faster. Renewal: whenever a chant or shout ends on you. You have -20 armor.	0	1515	01.001	02020		paragona	LeadershipZ	Nightfall
File:Barbed Arrows.jpg	Barbed Arrows	Preparation. (24 seconds.) Your arrows inflict Bleeding condition (3...13...15 seconds). You have -40 armor while activating this skill.	0	1010	02.002	01212		rangera	Wilderness SurvivalZ	Nightfall
	Healing Signet	Signet. You gain 82...154...172 Health. You have -40 armor while using this skill.	0	0	02.002	0044		warriora	TacticsZ	Core

See also

• Armor calculation
• Equipment
• List of armor effects by category
• Interactive calculation

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