Attack speed
Attack speed depends on the type of weapon wielded or on a creature's type (for pets, minions, spirits, and foes that don't wield weapons).
Some skills increase ("IAS") or decrease ("DAS") a character's attack speed. These skills actually modify the duration of each attack, not the rate of attacks per second, two inversely proportional values.
Calculating the attack rate[edit]
A skill which states that a creature "attacks X% faster" reduces the duration of each of that creature's attacks by that percentage. For example, your attack rate with a scythe is usually one attack every 1.5 seconds, or two attacks every three seconds. If you "attack 33% faster", that 1.5 second duration is reduced by 33%. You now attack at a rate of one attack every 1.005 seconds, or three attacks every 3.015 seconds—an actual increase of almost 50%.
Increases in attack speed are more effective than the percentage stated in the skill description; decreases in attack speed are less effective than stated. The table below illustrates this for common increases and decreases, rounded to whole percentages:
Increased attack speed (IAS) | Decreased attack speed (DAS) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Stated % | +25% | +33% | -30% | -50% |
Actual % | +33% | +49% | -23% | -33% |
To calculate the impact on a character's DPS, use the actual percentage, not the stated percentage. For instance, Frenzy will increase DPS from auto attacks by about 49%, while Faintheartedness reduces DPS by about 33%.
Attack durations and effect of IAS and DAS[edit]
All values are listed as seconds between attacks. These are the exact values used by the game.
Increased attack speed (IAS) | Decreased attack speed (DAS) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weapon/creature | Normal attack speed |
+25% | +33% | -30% | -50% |
Axe, Daggers [1], Sword, Racing Beetle | 1.33 | 0.9975 | 0.8911 | 1.729 | 1.995 |
Scythe, Spear | 1.5 | 1.125 | 1.005 | 1.95 | 2.25 |
Hammer, Staff, Wand | 1.75 | 1.3125 | 1.1725 | 2.275 | 2.625 |
Bone Fiend | 1.86 | 1.395 | 1.2462 | 2.418 | 2.79 |
Attack spirit, Pet [2] | 2 | 1.5 | 1.34 | 2.6 | 3 |
Flatbow, Shortbow | 2.025 | 1.51875 | 1.35675 | 2.6325 | 3.0375 |
Longbow, Recurve Bow | 2.475 | 1.85625 | 1.65825 | 3.2175 | 3.7125 |
Hornbow | 2.7 | 2.025 | 1.809 | 3.51 | 4.05 |
Melee minion | 3.1 | 2.325 | 2.077 | 4.03 | 4.65 |
- ^ Daggers end up with a faster effective attack speed due to double strikes. See below.
- ^ All pets except the Racing Beetle.
IAS and DAS are capped at +33% and -50% of the normal attack speed respectively.
Overview of attack speed influences[edit]
- Various miscellaneous skills influence attack speed.
- Many stances improve attack speed; most are balanced by some sort of downside.
- Some Beast Mastery skills can increase the attack speed of the user, the user's pet, or both.
- Certain attack skills (such as Mystic Sweep and Jagged Strike) have an activation time and usually activate more quickly than the normal attack speed; these skills can be used to speed up a single attack.
- These skills are still affected by IAS and DAS.
- Some of them, notably ranged attacks (such as Ranger interrupts) have an aftercast delay, limiting their ability to increase overall attack rates.
- Mighty Throw and Unblockable Throw take twice as long to activate as normal attacks.
- Several hex spells decrease attack speed.
- Reckless Haste is the only skill that increases attack speed on foes.
- Environmental effects can influence attack speed. For example, the Battle Cry shrine of the Alliance Battles increases attack speed.
- The Blue/Green/Red Rock Candy, Essence of Celerity, and Slice of Pumpkin Pie consumables increase attack speed.
- The Battle Fervor blessing increases attack speed.
- Assassin's dagger auto attacks are effectively faster than those listed in the table above: each point of Dagger Mastery adds 2% to the chance that regular attacks will hit twice and dual attacks always hit twice.
Skills that affect attack speed[edit]
On allies[edit]
Icon | Name | Description | Prof. | Attribute | Campaign | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
"I Will Avenge You!" | Shout. You have +3...6...7 Health regeneration and attack 25% faster (10 seconds for each dead ally). | 5 | 45 | Strength | Prophecies | |||||
Aggressive Refrain | Echo. (5...21...25 seconds.) You attack 25% faster. Renewal: whenever a chant or shout ends on you. You have -20 armor. | 25 | 2 | 20 | Leadership | Nightfall | ||||
Berserker Stance | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 33% faster and gain 50% more adrenaline. Ends if you use a skill. | 5 | 20 | Strength | Core | |||||
Bestial Fury | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 25% faster. Your non-attack skills are disabled (5 seconds). | 10 | 10 | Beast Mastery | Factions | |||||
Burst of Aggression | Stance. (2...8...10 seconds.) You attack 33% faster. End effect: lose all adrenaline. | 5 | 12 | Strength | Nightfall | |||||
Call of Haste | Shout. (30 seconds.) Your pet moves and attacks 33% faster. | 10 | 25 | Beast Mastery | Core | |||||
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. | 5 | 1 | 30 | Sunspear rank | Nightfall | ||||
Drunken Master | Stance. (72...90 seconds.) You move and attack 10...15% faster if you are not drunk. You move and attack 25...33% faster if you are drunk. | 5 | 60 | Deldrimor rank | Eye of the North | |||||
Dwarven Battle Stance | Elite Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 33% faster, you gain +40 armor, and your attack skills interrupt actions. No effect unless you have a hammer equipped. | 5 | 20 | Strength | Prophecies | |||||
Expert's Dexterity | Elite Stance. (1...16...20 second[s].) You attack 33% faster and you gain +2 to your Marksmanship attribute. | 5 | 20 | Expertise | Nightfall | |||||
Expert's Dexterity (PvP) | Elite Stance. (1...16...20 second[s].) You attack 15% faster and you gain +1 to your Marksmanship attribute. | 5 | 20 | Expertise | Nightfall | |||||
Feral Aggression | Skill. (5...17...20 seconds.) Your pet attacks 33% faster and deals +3...9...10 damage. | 15 | 20 | Beast Mastery | Eye of the North | |||||
Flail | Stance. (1...12...15 second[s].) You attack 33% faster. You move 33% slower. | 4 | Strength | Nightfall | ||||||
Flurry | Stance. (5 seconds). You attack 33% faster. You do 25% less damage. | 5 | 5 | Prophecies | ||||||
Frenzy | Stance. (8 seconds.) You attack 33% faster. You take double damage. | 5 | 4 | Core | ||||||
Heart of Fury | Stance. (2...8...10 seconds.) You attack 25% faster. | 4 | Mysticism | Nightfall | ||||||
Heart of Fury (PvP) | Stance. (2...8...10 seconds.) You attack 25% faster. | 4 | 6 | Mysticism | Nightfall | |||||
Heket's Rampage | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds). You attack 33% faster. Ends if you use an attack skill. | 5 | 10 | Beast Mastery | Nightfall | |||||
Lightning Reflexes | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 33% faster and have 75% chance to block. | 10 | 30 | Expertise | Core | |||||
Lightning Reflexes (PvP) | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 33% faster and have 75% chance to block. | 10 | 45 | Expertise | Core | |||||
Never Rampage Alone | Skill. (18...25 seconds.) You and your pet attack 25% faster and have +1...3 Health regeneration. | 15 | 20 | Sunspear rank | Nightfall | |||||
Onslaught | Elite Flash Enchantment Spell. (3...13...15 seconds.) You attack, move and gain adrenaline 25% faster. | 10 | 10 | Wind Prayers | Nightfall | |||||
Onslaught (PvP) | Elite Flash Enchantment Spell. (2...7...8 seconds.) You attack and gain adrenaline 25% faster. | 10 | 10 | Wind Prayers | Nightfall | |||||
Pious Fury | Stance. (1...6...7 second[s].)You [sic] attack 25% faster and remove 1 of your Dervish enchantments. Removal effect: this stance lasts twice as long. | 5 | 10 | Mysticism | Eye of the North | |||||
Pious Fury (PvP) | Stance. (1...4...5 second[s].)You [sic] attack 25% faster and remove 1 of your Dervish enchantments. Removal effect: this stance lasts twice as long. | 5 | 15 | Mysticism | Eye of the North | |||||
Predatory Bond | Shout. (5...17...20 seconds.) Your pet attacks 25% faster and you gain 1...25...31 Health whenever your pet makes a successful attack. | 10 | 30 | Beast Mastery | Factions | |||||
Primal Rage | Elite Stance. (1...12...15 second[s].) You attack 33% faster and move 25% faster. You take double damage. | 4 | 10 | Strength | Factions | |||||
Rampage as One | Elite Skill. (3...13...15 seconds.) You and your pet attack 33% faster and move 25% faster. No effect unless your pet is alive. | 25 | 10 | Beast Mastery | Nightfall | |||||
Rapid Fire | Preparation. (5...21...25 seconds.) You attack 33% faster while wielding a bow. | 5 | 2 | 12 | Marksmanship | Eye of the North | ||||
Seven Weapons Stance | Elite Stance. (3...17...20 seconds.) Weapon attributes are increased by +1...12...15. You attack 33% faster. PvE Skill | 5 | 20 | Strength | Core | |||||
Signet of Ghostly Might | Elite Signet. (5...17...20 seconds.) All spirits you control within earshot attack 33% faster and deal +5...9...10 damage. | 1 | 15 | Communing | Nightfall | |||||
Soldier's Fury | Elite Echo. (10...30...35 seconds.) You attack 33% faster and gain 33% more adrenaline if under the effects of a shout or chant. You have -20 armor. | 5 | 1 | 5 | Leadership | Nightfall | ||||
Soldier's Stance | Elite Stance. (5...13...15 seconds.) You have a 75% chance to block. You attack 33% faster while under the effects of a chant or shout. | 5 | 15 | Tactics | Nightfall | |||||
Soldier's Stance (PvP) | Elite Stance. (4...9...10 seconds.) You attack 33% faster while under the effects of a shout or chant. | 5 | 8 | Tactics | Nightfall | |||||
Tiger Stance | Stance. (4...9...10 seconds.) You attack 33% faster. Ends if you fail to hit. | 5 | 20 | Strength | Factions | |||||
Tiger's Fury | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 25% faster. Disables your non-attack skills (5 seconds). | 10 | 10 | Beast Mastery | Prophecies | |||||
Volfen Bloodlust | Shout. (2...7 seconds.) You and nearby allies attack 33% faster. | 10 | Norn rank | Eye of the North | ||||||
Way of the Assassin | Elite Stance. (20 seconds.) While wielding daggers, you attack 5...17...20% faster and have +5...29...35% chance to land a critical hit. | 5 | 12 | Critical Strikes | Nightfall | |||||
Weapon of Aggression | Weapon Spell. (5...13...15 seconds.) You attack 25% faster. | 10 | ¼ | 10 | Channeling Magic | Eye of the North |
On foes[edit]
Icon | Name | Description | Prof. | Attribute | Campaign | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crippling Anguish | Elite Hex Spell. (5...17...20 seconds.) Target foe moves and attacks 50% slower and has -1...7...8 Health degeneration. | 5 | 1 | 12 | Illusion Magic | Core | ||||
Faintheartedness | Hex Spell. (3...13...16 seconds.) Target foe attacks 50% slower and has -0...2...3 Health degeneration. | 10 | 1 | 8 | Curses | Core | ||||
Meekness | Hex Spell. Also hexes foes in the area of target (5...25...30 seconds). These foes attack 50% slower. | 17% | 15 | 2 | 15 | Curses | Nightfall | |||
Reckless Haste | Hex Spell. Also hexes foes adjacent to your target (6...11...12 seconds). These foes have 50% chance to miss, but attack 25% faster. | 15 | 1 | 12 | Curses | Factions | ||||
Shadow of Fear | Hex Spell. Also hexes foes adjacent to target (5...25...30 seconds). They attack 50% slower. | 10 | 2 | 5 | Curses | Prophecies | ||||
Shared Burden | Elite Hex Spell. Also hexes foes near your target (5...17...20 seconds). These foes attack, cast spells, and move 50% slower. | 5 | 2 | 15 | Illusion Magic | Factions | ||||
Shared Burden (PvP) | Elite Hex Spell. Also hexes foes near your target (5...17...20 seconds). These foes attack, cast spells, and move 33% slower. | 10 | 2 | 20 | Illusion Magic | Factions | ||||
Sum of All Fears | Hex Spell. (1...8...10 second[s].) Target foe moves, attacks, and casts spells 33% slower. | 10 | 2 | 10 | Illusion Magic | Eye of the North | ||||
Teinai's Heat | Ward Spell. (10...14...15 seconds.) Causes -2...4...5 health [sic] degeneration. Weakened foes in the ward attack 33% slower. Disabled for 20 seconds. | 15 | 1 | 20 | Fire Magic | Factions | ||||
Tryptophan Signet | Signet. (14...20 seconds.) Target and adjacent foes move and attack 23...40% slower. | 1 | 15 | Ebon Vanguard rank | Eye of the North |
Miscellaneous[edit]
Icon | Name | Description | Attribute | Campaign | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Tango Down!" | Elite Shout. You lose all hexes and conditions. For each dead foe within earshot, you gain 5 seconds of +6 Health regeneration, 5 seconds of +1 Energy regeneration, and 5 seconds of +25% attack speed. | 5 | 15 | Core | |||||
"There's not enough time!!" | Shout. (20 seconds.) Creatures in earshot attack, move, and activate skills 100% faster. | 10 | 20 | Prophecies | |||||
Shadowy Soul Explosion | When an Afflicted Assassin dies, all enemies in the area are struck for 25...57...65 damage, and all Afflicted in the area move and attack 25% faster (10...13...14 seconds). | Winds of Change | |||||||
Spectral Agony | Skill. (5 seconds.) Target foe has -1...30 Health degeneration; moves, attacks, and uses skills 80% slower; and loses 3...81 Health each second. | ¼ | 15 | Prophecies |
Notes[edit]
- Monks have no skills that increase or decrease attack speed. However, they are the only profession with skills that prevent foes from attacking (outside PvE-only skills).