Difference between revisions of "Damage Per Second"

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'''DPS''' or '''Damage Per Second''' is generally considered an [[MMO]] term, which describes how much damage a [[character]], [[spell]], skill, ability or item can produce on average per second.
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'''DPS''' or '''Damage Per Second''' describes how much damage a [[character]], [[spell]], skill, ability or item can produce on average per second.
  
All classes in the Diablo games are designed as DPS classes[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/bashiok-speaks/], capable of dealing out big damage and clearing any difficulty playing solo. This is not the case in most [[RPG]]s, especially [[MMO]]s, where classes are divided into roles, some of which, such as healers or clerics, deal little or no damage when playing in group situations.
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==Calculation==
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===Weapon Damage===
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All damage is calculated from weapon damage. This is significantly different from other games where spells and skills may have nothing to do with the damage of the weapon equipped.
  
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[[File:Item-gamescon2010-fist-blade.jpg|frame|Tooltip display for a weapon]]
  
==DPS Class==
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The image to the right shows a typical weapon tooltip.  The largest number is the weapon's DPS. Below that is listed the weapon's damage and attacks per second. 
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*NOTE: "Damage" and "Attacks Per Second"  include all damage and Attack Speed % bonuses from magic affixes and gems.
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To calculate DPS, you take the average damage from the range and multiply by the attacks per second.
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*Example:  2-5 Damage = 3.5 average damage per attack.  3.5 * 1.40 attacks per second = 4.9 DPS
  
DPS as a class role refers to the dichotomy of classes that are pre-designed to serve a specific purpose. There are generally three types of classes when it comes to online games: a [[tank]], a [[heal]]er, and a DPSer. The role of the DPS player is to inflict as much damage as possible to the enemy or enemies in the area, while the tank keeps the enemy's attention, and the healer keeps everyone alive during the entire process.
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===Displayed DPS===
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On the character / inventory screen, the "Damage" displayed is your DPS after accounting for all of your skills, items, and other bonuses. Additionally, the tooltip on items allows you to instantly determine the change in this number in the +/- to damage section.  As a result, the need to manually calculate DPS is usually not required, but can be helpful to understand the game better.  
  
In an [[ARPG]] like Diablo, however, all classes can function effective as killing machines, so there are not such rigid class roles. However, it is possible to build a [[character]] in an ARPG that is capable of controlling enemy movement and absorbing damage to protect other players. This is generally done without the help of a [[threat]] or [[aggro]] system, and it requires the player to be very knowledgeable of game mechanics in order to succeed.
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To calculate this number manually, determine your average damage per attack by totaling your minimum and maximum damages across all items (weapon, rings, off hand items, etc.) and dividing by 2.  
  
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*Base DPS (w/o Crit) = average damage per attack * attacks per second * attack speed % bonuses * primary attribute bonus * Damage bonuses from Skills
  
==On Items==
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Over time, critical hits will raise your DPS.
[[Image:dps.jpg|left|150px|Damage Per Second Display on Mouseover in Diablo 3]]
 
The DPS is part of the display of item stats in Diablo III. There are also pop up damage displays over the heads of other players in Arena combat, and sometimes over the heads of monsters when big damage hits are landed. These are slightly controversial, with some players arguing that they are distracting, or unfitting to the mythological mood.  
 
  
Blizzard's counter-argument[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/bashiok-on-dps-displays/] is that they are optional, since the display can be turned on or off. Note that they show the damage ''taken'' not the damage delivered, which is always at least partially mitigated by [[resistances]] and/or [[defense]].
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*Total DPS = Base DPS * (1 + Critical Chance % * Critical Damage Bonus%)
  
There will not, however, be an on-screen DPS display, listing the actual damage a character is performing during combat. Many players use such a feature in [[World of Warcraft]], but it comes from user-made addons, not from the game itself.[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/no-dps-displays-in-diablo-iii/]
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====Dual Wielding====
 
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When a [[Barbarian]], [[Monk]], or [[Demon Hunter]] [[Dual wield|dual wields]] two weapons, each attack alternates between the two weapons. DPS can be calculated by calculating the DPS for each weapon and averaging the two, remembering to add the + 15 Attack Speed % bonus that is applied while dual wielding.
<blue>There are no DPS charts in World of Warcraft.
 
<br>
 
People have though created add-ons which attempt to compare the DPS of each player, as well as healing output, absorption, etc. These aren’t included in the game, nor are they supported. Personally I think they can be useful to a point, but are abused by people who don’t know how to use and read them properly, and are too commonly relied on as a means to judge the performance of others.
 
 
 
In any case, Diablo III doesn’t provide customizable UI through add-ons, and we have no intent to provide DPS charts. </blue>
 
  
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==Damage On Screen==
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<!-- This should be moved to a different article.-->
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When enabled, the damage delivered to a monster by each "hit" is displayed.  This number shows the damage ''taken'' not the damage delivered, which is always at least partially mitigated by [[resistances]] and/or [[defense]].[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/bashiok-on-dps-displays/]
  
 
==DPS Calculation Complications==
 
==DPS Calculation Complications==
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The DPS displayed on the character / inventory screen is further modified by the character's active skills.  While the tooltips for these skills provide explanations of overt changes to damage (X% of weapon damage), the mechanics of each skill vary.  Some skills are able to target multiple enemies and some deal damage over time.
  
[[File:Item-gamescon2010-fist-blade.jpg|left]]
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==DPS Class Role==
 
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In other games, a class role refers to a class or character build that achieves a specific goal during group combat.  There are generally four types of these classes: a [[tank]], a [[heal]]er, crowd control, and DPS. The role of the DPS player is to inflict as much damage as possible to the enemy or enemies in the area. The tank keeps the enemy's attention, keeping the enemies from damaging other party members, and the healer keeps everyone alive during the entire process.
In terms of dealing damage, DPS refers to the average damage a character will do with a [[weapon]] or a specific attack, averaged out between the base damage and the attack speed. Games rarely will have an accessible way to inform the player of what, precisely, the DPS would be for any weapon or attack due to the complex nature of how numbers work in games.
 
 
 
As an example, a [[fist]] weapon that does 2-5 damage, and hits 1.4 times per second, will have a base dps of 4.9, as displayed in the graphic. However, numerous other factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate DPS. The weapon may have a [[gem]] or [[enchantment]] that increases damage. A [[skill]] likely modifies the damage, as may that skill's [[rune]]. There might be a [[critical hit]] landed. And then monster's [[defense]] or [[resistance]]s must also be factored in.
 
 
 
Hence, the DPS display is just a general indicator of the type of damage a player can expect.  
 
  
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All classes in the Diablo games are designed as DPS classes[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/bashiok-speaks/], capable of dealing out big damage and clearing any difficulty playing solo.
  
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[[category:reference]]
 
[[category:reference]]
 
[[category:combat]]
 
[[category:combat]]
 
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[[category:Other classes]]
 
 
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Latest revision as of 17:37, 29 May 2012

DPS or Damage Per Second describes how much damage a character, spell, skill, ability or item can produce on average per second.

Calculation[edit | edit source]

Weapon Damage[edit | edit source]

All damage is calculated from weapon damage. This is significantly different from other games where spells and skills may have nothing to do with the damage of the weapon equipped.

Tooltip display for a weapon

The image to the right shows a typical weapon tooltip. The largest number is the weapon's DPS. Below that is listed the weapon's damage and attacks per second.

  • NOTE: "Damage" and "Attacks Per Second" include all damage and Attack Speed % bonuses from magic affixes and gems.

To calculate DPS, you take the average damage from the range and multiply by the attacks per second.

  • Example: 2-5 Damage = 3.5 average damage per attack. 3.5 * 1.40 attacks per second = 4.9 DPS

Displayed DPS[edit | edit source]

On the character / inventory screen, the "Damage" displayed is your DPS after accounting for all of your skills, items, and other bonuses. Additionally, the tooltip on items allows you to instantly determine the change in this number in the +/- to damage section. As a result, the need to manually calculate DPS is usually not required, but can be helpful to understand the game better.

To calculate this number manually, determine your average damage per attack by totaling your minimum and maximum damages across all items (weapon, rings, off hand items, etc.) and dividing by 2.

  • Base DPS (w/o Crit) = average damage per attack * attacks per second * attack speed % bonuses * primary attribute bonus * Damage bonuses from Skills

Over time, critical hits will raise your DPS.

  • Total DPS = Base DPS * (1 + Critical Chance % * Critical Damage Bonus%)

Dual Wielding[edit | edit source]

When a Barbarian, Monk, or Demon Hunter dual wields two weapons, each attack alternates between the two weapons. DPS can be calculated by calculating the DPS for each weapon and averaging the two, remembering to add the + 15 Attack Speed % bonus that is applied while dual wielding.

Damage On Screen[edit | edit source]

When enabled, the damage delivered to a monster by each "hit" is displayed. This number shows the damage taken not the damage delivered, which is always at least partially mitigated by resistances and/or defense.[1]

DPS Calculation Complications[edit | edit source]

The DPS displayed on the character / inventory screen is further modified by the character's active skills. While the tooltips for these skills provide explanations of overt changes to damage (X% of weapon damage), the mechanics of each skill vary. Some skills are able to target multiple enemies and some deal damage over time.

DPS Class Role[edit | edit source]

In other games, a class role refers to a class or character build that achieves a specific goal during group combat. There are generally four types of these classes: a tank, a healer, crowd control, and DPS. The role of the DPS player is to inflict as much damage as possible to the enemy or enemies in the area. The tank keeps the enemy's attention, keeping the enemies from damaging other party members, and the healer keeps everyone alive during the entire process.

All classes in the Diablo games are designed as DPS classes[2], capable of dealing out big damage and clearing any difficulty playing solo.