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Attack Damage
March 27, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Fixed 8 broken wikilinks: overview -> crimson-desert, skill-tree -> skills, refining-system -> gear-refinement, refining-system -> gear-refinement, abyss-core -> abyss-cores, camp-management -> greymane-camp, overview -> crimson-desert, two-handed-weaponss -> two-handed-weapons
Attack Damage (often labeled simply as "Attack" in menus) is the primary offensive stat in Crimson Desert. It determines the base physical damage dealt by each hit. Every weapon has an inherent Attack value that serves as the foundation for all damage calculations.
Unlike the three primary resource stats (Health, Stamina, Spirit), Attack Damage is not upgraded through the skill tree dials. Instead, it comes from your equipped weapon, refinement level, Abyss Cores, and temporary buffs.
Source | How It Works |
|---|---|
Weapon base stats | Each weapon has an inherent Attack value. Stronger weapons found later in the game have higher base values. |
Refinement | Refining a weapon at a Blacksmith raises its Attack by roughly +2 to +3 per level. Even a single refinement noticeably increases damage output. |
Destruction Abyss Core | The Destruction Abyss Core directly increases Attack when socketed into equipment. |
Grindstone buff | Using a Grindstone at a camp or settlement gives a temporary Attack boost. The buff is consumed over time or upon death. |
Well-Fed buff | Eating cooked food at a campfire can grant temporary stat bonuses, including Attack increases depending on the meal. |
Each weapon type in Crimson Desert has a distinct stat profile that determines its raw damage output, speed, and range.
Weapon Type | Damage | Speed | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Medium | Medium | Short | Balanced option; good for learning | |
High | Slow | Long | Large swings that hit multiple targets | |
High | Medium | Long | Reach advantage; good for poking | |
Low per hit | Very fast | Very short | High DPS through rapid hits | |
Hammers / Maces | High | Slow | Medium | Specialize in stagger damage |
Medium | Varies | Long | Ranged; charge time affects damage | |
Medium to High | Medium | Long | Ranged with reload mechanics | |
Very High | Very Slow | Long | Explosive area damage |
Damage in Crimson Desert follows a multi-step formula. The weapon's Attack value is the starting point, then several multipliers and reductions apply:
Base Damage: Your weapon's Attack stat after refinement.
Combo multiplier: Each attack in a combo chain has a multiplier. Basic chains use 1.0x, while advanced combos like Counter Burst (1.6x) and Full Rotation (1.85x) deal more.
Critical hits: When a critical strike lands, the damage is multiplied by the Critical Damage modifier.
Enemy defense: The target's defense reduces damage using a diminishing returns formula. Mitigation = 1 - (Defense / (Defense + 100)).
Armor penetration: Flat reduction applied to the enemy's defense before the mitigation formula runs. Very valuable against high-defense bosses.
Elemental bonuses: Fire, Ice, and Lightning add their own damage layers after the physical calculation.
Visit the Blacksmith before every major fight. Refining your weapon is the single biggest Attack increase available.
Use the Grindstone at camp for a free temporary Attack buff. It costs nothing and stacks with refinement.
Socket Destruction Abyss Cores into your weapon for a permanent Attack boost.
Learn advanced combo strings. The multiplier difference between a basic 1.0x chain and a Full Rotation at 1.85x nearly doubles your effective damage.
Against bosses with heavy armor, prioritize Armor Penetration effects. The diminishing-returns defense formula means that reducing an enemy's defense before the formula runs gives outsized returns.
