Resistance penetration
Elemental Penetration is a form of resistance reduction. Penetration is applied as damage is dealt, after other resistance calculations. This means that penetration will reduce a target's resistance even if the target's raw resistance value is far above its maximum resistance cap.[1] Both reduction (e.g. from curses), and penetration can reduce a target's resistance below 0%. There is no minimum resistance floor.
Penetration only affects hits, which notably excludes damage over time effects.[2]
Effectiveness
The percent increase in damage due to penetration can be calculated. First, you must be able to calculate damage done after resistances are applied, we used the following formula:
DamageEffective(DamageRaw,Resistance,Penetration) = (DamageRaw)(1 - Resistance + Penetration)
So to calculate the increase in damage from penetration we can use this equation:
+%DamageDueToPenetration = 1 - (DamageEffective(DamageRaw,Resistance,Penetration) / DamageEffective(DamageRaw,Resistance,0)) * 100%
It is a simple exercise then, to prove that 1% penetration produces +1% damage against a monster with 0 resistance, and 1% penetration produces +4% damage against a monster with 75 resistance. Clearly, penetration is more useful against high resistance monsters, and less useful against low resistance monsters.
Examples
Consider a player using a skill with Penetrates 50% Fire Resistance dealing 100 fire damage to an enemy:
- If the enemy has +0% Fire resistance
- The enemy's resistance will be treated at 50 lower than it is, which in this case will result in an effective −50% fire resistance. The enemy will take 150 fire damage.
- If the enemy has +25% Fire resistance
- This will result in an effective −25% fire resistance. The enemy will take 125 fire damage.
- The enemy has +150% Fire resistance, but is capped at their maximum fire resistance of 75%
- This will result in an effective 25% fire resistance. The enemy will take 75 fire damage.
- The enemy has +150% Fire resistance, but is capped at their maximum fire resistance of 75%. The enemy is cursed with Flammability before being attacked, which causes them to lose 30% Fire Resistance.
- The enemy first loses 30% resistance, bringing them down to +120% fire resistance. They are still well above their maximum, and their resistance value remains at 75%. The 50% penetration then results in an effective 25% fire resistance. The enemy will take 75 fire damage.
- The enemy has +10% Fire resistance. The enemy is cursed with Flammability before being attacked, which causes them to lose 30% Fire Resistance.
- The enemy first loses 30% resistance, bringing them down to −20% fire resistance. The 50% penetration then results in an effective −70% fire resistance. The enemy will take 170 fire damage.
Sources
Support Gems
- Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Fire Penetration"
- Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Cold Penetration"
- Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Lightning Penetration"
Unique Items
- The Tempestuous SteelThe Tempestuous Steel
War SwordOne Handed Sword
Physical Damage: (21-24) to (45-50)
Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
Attacks per Second: (1.51-1.60)
Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 20, 41 Str, 35 Dex40% increased Global Accuracy RatingAdds (5-8) to (15-20) Physical Damage
(8-14)% increased Attack Speed
Hits can't be Evaded
Attacks with this Weapon Penetrate 30% Elemental Resistances
Gain 15% of Physical Attack Damage as Extra Fire Damage
Gain 15% of Physical Attack Damage as Extra Lightning DamageThe blade thrums with wild energy
Eager for vengeance against all who walk free. - Agnerod EastAgnerod East
Imperial StaffStaff
Physical Damage: 57-171
Critical Strike Chance: 7.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.15
Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Level 66, 158 Str, 113 Int+18% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff40% increased Strength Requirement
+(80-120) to Intelligence
(30-50)% increased Lightning Damage
+2 to Level of all Lightning Spell Skill Gems
Damage Penetrates 20% Lightning Resistance
100% increased Duration of Lightning AilmentsOne for each corner of the great Vinktar Square. - Agnerod NorthAgnerod North
Imperial StaffStaff
Physical Damage: 57-171
Critical Strike Chance: 7.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.15
Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Level 66, 158 Str, 113 Int+18% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff40% increased Strength Requirement
+(80-120) to Intelligence
(30-50)% increased Lightning Damage
+2 to Level of all Lightning Spell Skill Gems
15% chance to Shock
Damage Penetrates 20% Lightning ResistanceOne for each corner of the great Vinktar Square. - Agnerod SouthAgnerod South
Imperial StaffStaff
Physical Damage: 57-171
Critical Strike Chance: 7.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.15
Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Level 66, 158 Str, 113 Int+18% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff40% increased Strength Requirement
+(80-120) to Intelligence
(30-50)% increased Lightning Damage
+2 to Level of all Lightning Spell Skill Gems
+5% to maximum Lightning Resistance
Damage Penetrates 20% Lightning ResistanceOne for each corner of the great Vinktar Square. - Agnerod WestAgnerod West
Imperial StaffStaff
Physical Damage: 57-171
Critical Strike Chance: 7.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.15
Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Level 66, 158 Str, 113 Int+18% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff40% increased Strength Requirement
+(80-120) to Intelligence
(30-50)% increased Lightning Damage
Adds (5-15) to (100-140) Lightning Damage to Spells
+2 to Level of all Lightning Spell Skill Gems
Damage Penetrates 20% Lightning ResistanceOne for each corner of the great Vinktar Square.
Passive skills
The following passive skills affect penetration: Template:Passive table
Template:Ascendancy passive table
References
- ↑ Mark_GGG (December 11, 2012). "Penetration gems mess up balance between ele/physical". Official Path of Exile Forums. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- ↑ Mark_GGG (November 8, 2013). "Damage over time mechanic change clarification?". Official Path of Exile Forums. Retrieved November 1, 2015.