Diablo 4 Damage Explained (Part 2)

Vulnerable

Vulnerable is a significant damage modifier in Diablo 4, offering a substantial boost to damage output. The Vulnerable mechanic operates in two ways: a base 20% damage increase for any enemy afflicted with the Vulnerable status and a Vulnerable Damage stat found on gear.

The base 20% damage increase applies when an enemy is under the Vulnerable status, which can be triggered through various means like specific skills, debuffs, or interactions with game mechanics. In addition to the base bonus, certain gear pieces offer additional Vulnerable Damage bonuses, further enhancing the damage inflicted on Vulnerable targets.

While every build can benefit from Vulnerable, some classes may have a simpler time applying it or maximizing its effectiveness. In group content, having the ability to apply Vulnerable is an easy way to deal more damage, benefiting both the individual and the group.

Overpower

Overpower is a special damage component in Diablo 4, providing a unique and potentially powerful damage boost. It operates with a fixed 3% chance to trigger, offering a fixed damage multiplier. The Overpower Damage (Overpower DMG) is calculated using the following formula:

Overpower DMG = (Life + Fortify) + (SkillDMG x (1 + OverpowerBonus))

Overpower Damage consists of two parts. First, the total value of your Life and Fortified Life contribute to the final damage output when Overpower is triggered. Second, the base damage of the triggered skill is multiplied by your Overpower Bonus.

The Overpower Bonus has a base value of 50%, meaning Overpowered hits deal 150% of the attack’s base damage, akin to Critical Strikes. Notably, this damage from Overpower is added after all other damage calculations have been accounted for.

Additive Damage

Additive Damage (AddDMG) includes a variety of damage bonuses that are added together to boost your overall damage output. These bonuses are usually generic in nature, such as “All Damage” or more specific modifiers like “Damage while Berserking” or “Damage to Poisoned Enemies”.

All classes in Diablo 4 can acquire these 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 distinguish between Additive and Multiplicative Damage, look for the tooltip. A Value% indicates an Additive Damage bonus, while an xValue% usually indicates a Multiplicative Damage bonus.

Multiplicative Damage

Multiplicative Damage (MultiDMG) encompasses effects that have a global impact and can interact with each other across certain skill bonuses. These effects are typically found as Aspects or Passives in Diablo 4.

Similar to Additive Damage, all classes have access to this bucket. Skill Tree passives and Legendary Aspects are some common sources that contribute to this multiplier. These effects are pooled together into a single multiplier in the damage calculation.

To identify if a bonus is Multiplicative, check the tooltip for an xValue%. While this usually indicates a Multiplicative Damage bonus, there are exceptions, such as the Attribute bucket, 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, several key strategies are essential. Here’s a recap of the damage formula:

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 increases, look for weapons that offer higher DPS without compromising other important attributes or bonuses. As you reach higher levels, Base Damage upgrades 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. 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 consistently apply Vulnerable to enemies. Also, prioritize bonuses related to Critical Strikes to increase your chance of landing critical hits. Critical Strikes, combined with Critical Damage bonuses, can result in substantial damage spikes.
Maximizing Overpower Damage: Although Overpower Damage has a low triggering chance, focus on finding ways to consistently trigger it, especially with skills or area-of-effect abilities that can activate it against multiple enemies simultaneously.
Harnessing the Power of Critical Strikes and Vulnerable: If your class offers easy access to Critical Strikes and the ability to apply Vulnerable, prioritize these aspects. Critical Strikes and Vulnerable are powerful multipliers that can significantly boost your overall damage output.

By actively seeking opportunities to increase both Additive and Multiplicative Damage sources, consistently applying Vulnerable and achieving Critical Strikes, and optimizing Overpower Damage, you can enhance your damage output and become a formidable force in Diablo 4.

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