Diablo 4: Understanding Damage Buckets

Diablo 4: Understanding Damage Buckets

Diablo 4: Unveiling the Mysterious Damage Buckets

Prepare to enter the world of Diablo 4, where demons run rampant, abilities dazzle with their flashy effects, and loot gleams with untold treasures. But beneath all the chaos, there lies a secret that every player must uncover – the power of numbers. In this game, it’s all about making those numbers bigger, whether it’s leveling up, amassing wealth, conquering the Nightmare Dungeon, or dealing mind-boggling damage!

Step into the realm of damage calculation as we dissect the enigmatic concept of damage buckets. These buckets not only dictate the magnitude of your damage but also unlock a world of build diversity. Journey with us as we unravel their mysteries and equip you with the knowledge to become an unstoppable force!

Image Source: Gamerant

The Essence of Damage Buckets

What are these elusive damage buckets, you ask? Well, think of them as a collection of damage sources that band together, forming one colossal multiplier. With countless stat modifiers at play in Diablo 4, these buckets ensure that damage numbers don’t skyrocket into oblivion. At least, that’s the theory. Brace yourself for an adventure into the heart of these buckets!

Thanks to the diligent efforts of a player named SnowRaven, we now have a publicly-available Google spreadsheet that categorizes all the damage modifiers in the game according to their respective damage buckets. While still a theory, this invaluable resource will continue to evolve as new information emerges.

Prepare to explore the five elusive damage buckets:

  1. Main Attribute (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Willpower)
  2. [x]% Damage (includes Skill Damage)
  3. Crit Damage
  4. [+]% Damage (includes “Damage vs.,” Damage while,” and “Damage with” affixes)
  5. Vulnerable Damage

Your damage output is directly linked to the weapon you wield. It undergoes five separate multipliers based on the damage buckets mentioned above. Modifiers within the same category are combined to create a mighty multiplier. Note that attack speed has its own bucket, affecting the frequency of damage dealt rather than its sheer power.

For instance, imagine each damage bucket granting a 10% boost. An attack that inflicts 100 damage would blossom into a devastating 165 damage under this hypothetical scenario. Although this example doesn’t reflect the actual game mechanics, it provides a visual representation of how damage buckets interact.

Mastering the Art of Gear

When it comes to gearing up, heed this golden advice: prioritize stacking damage modifiers that are either non-conditional (Main Stat, Vulnerable, and Critical Strike Damage) or have easily attainable conditions (Core Skill Damage, Damage vs. Crowd-Controlled, etc.). This rule of thumb will guide you towards unlocking your true potential and reigning supreme.

To make your loot-hunting endeavors more manageable, enable advanced tooltips. These tooltips reveal whether an item’s affix contributes additive or multiplicative damage. With this knowledge, sifting through the spoils of battle becomes a breeze, especially as you become more familiar with which stats fall under each bucket.

Keep in mind that certain Aspects and skills seem to possess their own individual damage buckets. Take, for instance, the Necromancer’s Aspect of Serration, which appears to act as a separate damage multiplier instead of simply enhancing existing Critical Strike Damage stats. Whether this is an intentional design or a marvelous coincidence remains shrouded in mystery.

Ready to embark on a thrilling journey through the realms of Diablo 4? Brace yourself for a world of demonic delights, boundless adventures, and a glorious feast of numbers!

P.S. Don’t forget to grab your copies of Diablo 4, available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.