How to tell if a skill ignores armor? - Guild Wars Forums

Parson Brown · Apr 17, 2008, 03:12 PM // 15:12

I've been trying to figure this out for a while. Is there any way to tell from the skill description whether a skill ignores armor?

I thought the phrases "Target TAKES xxx damage" or "Target IS HIT for xxx damage" may be a factor, but some skills seem to break the pattern.

Anyone know?

Deathaxe Raizer · Apr 17, 2008, 03:15 PM // 15:15

[skill]Obsidian Flame[/skill]

KartMan · Apr 17, 2008, 03:49 PM // 15:49

basically if the skill indicates a type of damage, like earth, fire, etc then it doesn't ignore armor, otherwise it does, to be confirmed but I'm 99% sure

GD Defender · Apr 17, 2008, 03:52 PM // 15:52

Ultimately since Anet doesn't put a nice "ignores armor" tag on the skills, you're going to have to wiki or use them. There is no universal pattern.

Chthon · Apr 17, 2008, 03:57 PM // 15:57

Look at the damage type. It's somewhat complicated, but try to bear with me here:

Fire, Cold, Lightning, and Earth damage are all sensitive to your base armor, plus your armor against elemental, plus your armor against that specific type. (And clearly not armor-ignoring.)

Slashing, Piercing, and Blunt damage are all sensitive to your base armor, plus your armor against physical, plus your armor against that specific type. (Again, not armor-ignoring.)

Chaos damage and Dark damage are sensitive only to your base armor. (Sill not armor ignoring.)

Damage that has no listed type is armor-ignoring.

Shadow damage is armor ignoring.

Holy damage behaves oddly. If it comes from a weapon (like a monk staff for example), then it is sensitive to your base armor. But, if it comes from a skill, then it is armor-ignoring.

The above will keep you straight on 99% of the damage in the game. There are however a few "buggy" skills that are really armor-sensitive even though their damage type is listed as holy or unspecified. Notable examples are: Great Dwarf Weapon, Whirling Defenses, Lightbringer's Gaze, and Judge's Insight.

Savio · Apr 17, 2008, 04:12 PM // 16:12

Judge's Insight has always worked properly, people incorrectly insisted that Holy damage was always armor-ignoring.

If the damage is from a weapon:
-The base damage is not armor-ignoring.
-Attack skill damage is armor-ignoring.

If the damage is from a spell/non-attack skill:
-If it has a physical or elemental damage type listed, it's usually not armor-ignoring.
-If it doesn't, it's usually armor-ignoring.

Miss Puddles · Apr 17, 2008, 09:50 PM // 21:50

i look for the amount of damage listed in the skill description. for example, empathy should do roughly 35 damage per attack (i'm at work so i can't check, my instinct is 30-40 at max domination), no matter what. you can watch the 35's and see that it doesn't matter what armor level your enemy is.
something like power shot though, is affected by armor. as in, you will likely do less damage than what is given in the skill description. when you use it, you can tell it's not doing the full damage (or even the same amount of damage every time) unless you land a critical hit, then it goes up.
hope that made sense.

Kale Ironfist · Apr 18, 2008, 01:16 AM // 01:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Puddles

something like power shot though, is affected by armor. as in, you will likely do less damage than what is given in the skill description. when you use it, you can tell it's not doing the full damage (or even the same amount of damage every time) unless you land a critical hit, then it goes up.
hope that made sense.

+damage ignores armor, so where did you get this information? Something that people thought was correct back in 2005?

Savio · Apr 18, 2008, 01:44 AM // 01:44

Power Shot has been working correctly since Factions was released.

Apr 17, 2008, 03:12 PM // 15:12	#1
Parson Brown Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In ur base... Guild: The one true [Hope] Profession: E/	How to tell if a skill ignores armor? I've been trying to figure this out for a while. Is there any way to tell from the skill description whether a skill ignores armor? I thought the phrases "Target TAKES xxx damage" or "Target IS HIT for xxx damage" may be a factor, but some skills seem to break the pattern. Anyone know?

Apr 17, 2008, 03:57 PM // 15:57	#5
Chthon Grotto Attendant Join Date: Apr 2007	Look at the damage type. It's somewhat complicated, but try to bear with me here: Fire, Cold, Lightning, and Earth damage are all sensitive to your base armor, plus your armor against elemental, plus your armor against that specific type. (And clearly not armor-ignoring.) Slashing, Piercing, and Blunt damage are all sensitive to your base armor, plus your armor against physical, plus your armor against that specific type. (Again, not armor-ignoring.) Chaos damage and Dark damage are sensitive only to your base armor. (Sill not armor ignoring.) Damage that has no listed type is armor-ignoring. Shadow damage is armor ignoring. Holy damage behaves oddly. If it comes from a weapon (like a monk staff for example), then it is sensitive to your base armor. But, if it comes from a skill, then it is armor-ignoring. The above will keep you straight on 99% of the damage in the game. There are however a few "buggy" skills that are really armor-sensitive even though their damage type is listed as holy or unspecified. Notable examples are: Great Dwarf Weapon, Whirling Defenses, Lightbringer's Gaze, and Judge's Insight. Last edited by Chthon; Apr 17, 2008 at 04:02 PM // 16:02..

Apr 17, 2008, 04:12 PM // 16:12	#6
Savio Teenager with attitude Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]	Judge's Insight has always worked properly, people incorrectly insisted that Holy damage was always armor-ignoring. If the damage is from a weapon: -The base damage is not armor-ignoring. -Attack skill damage is armor-ignoring. If the damage is from a spell/non-attack skill: -If it has a physical or elemental damage type listed, it's usually not armor-ignoring. -If it doesn't, it's usually armor-ignoring. __________________ People are stupid.

Apr 18, 2008, 01:44 AM // 01:44	#9
Savio Teenager with attitude Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]	Power Shot has been working correctly since Factions was released. __________________ People are stupid.

Apr 17, 2008, 03:15 PM // 15:15	#2
Deathaxe Raizer Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Feb 2007 Guild: The Last Pride [EvIL]	[skill]Obsidian Flame[/skill]

Apr 17, 2008, 03:49 PM // 15:49	#3
KartMan Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Grand Line Guild: Plz Use R Instead of Q for [req]	basically if the skill indicates a type of damage, like earth, fire, etc then it doesn't ignore armor, otherwise it does, to be confirmed but I'm 99% sure

Apr 17, 2008, 03:52 PM // 15:52	#4
GD Defender Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Sep 2006 Profession: A/	Ultimately since Anet doesn't put a nice "ignores armor" tag on the skills, you're going to have to wiki or use them. There is no universal pattern.

Apr 17, 2008, 09:50 PM // 21:50	#7
Miss Puddles Jungle Guide Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Guild: Shiverpeaks Search And Rescue [Lost] Profession: Me/	i look for the amount of damage listed in the skill description. for example, empathy should do roughly 35 damage per attack (i'm at work so i can't check, my instinct is 30-40 at max domination), no matter what. you can watch the 35's and see that it doesn't matter what armor level your enemy is. something like power shot though, is affected by armor. as in, you will likely do less damage than what is given in the skill description. when you use it, you can tell it's not doing the full damage (or even the same amount of damage every time) unless you land a critical hit, then it goes up. hope that made sense.