Deciphering Stats and Skills in Dark Legends

**Physiologic** · 05-22-2012, 12:01 AM

I started playing DL about a couple of days ago and wanted to learn more about DL's system, specifically stats and skill damages.There's a lot of scattered useful information on the forums and unfortunately my OCD compelled me to try to place it all onto one thread.

STATS (ATTACK, DEFENSE, HEALTH, DAMAGE)

Here are the stats per level up and skill damages for skills that have variable damage, i.e. damages that change with addition to changes in ATTACK or DAMAGE. The damages are based solely off of a character not equipped with anything and no points into any passive skills. Levels 1 and 2 stats cannot be seen because they are in the tutorial, and you’re automatically at Level 3 when you’re out of the tutorial.

I’ll try to include up to level 20 when I have time to ensure that the damage, skill damage, and DPS values are as close as possible to their actual values. Critical damage from ATTACK will not be calculated as of yet. Also, I thought I saw a post from a dev regarding DEFENSE giving points to DODGE...not sure where that was. We can conclude the following stat increases, based solely off of increases due to level ups:

1 point of ATTACK = +1.5 HEALTH, ~+0.0556 DAMAGE, ~0.0556 SKILL DAMAGE, +0.0909 DPS, +? CRIT
1 point of DEFENSE = +2 HEALTH, +? REDUCTION IN ENEMY DAMAGE, +? DODGE

Edit: DPS has been corrected from 0.1 to 0.0909. DAMAGE and SKILL DAMAGE have both been corrected from 0.5 to 0.0556.

In terms of ATTACK to DAMAGE ratio:

For every 11 ATTACK = +1 DPS
For every 18 ATTACK = +1 DAMAGE
For every 18 ATTACK = +1 SKILL DAMAGE

I will make any necessary corrections in the near future.

In terms of the whole ATTACK versus DAMAGE argument, both are important in terms of survival and mob killing. ATTACK makes up a large portion of HEALTH surprisingly (1 ATTACK = 1.5 HEALTH, while 1 DEFENSE = 2 HEALTH) and also increases CRITICAL rate to an unknown degree. Figuring out exactly how much damage a CRITICAL attack does is a bit harder to test since there's no visible damage roll.

Here is a picture of a table for DAMAGE to SKILL DAMAGE comparison:

Having nothing equipped but your fists gives you an automatic +4 DAMAGE that should be taken into account when equipping weapons. It also appears you need a minimum of 4 DAMAGE added from a weapon before SKILL DAMAGE is added. If that is taken into account, then quite simply:

1 DAMAGE = +1 SKILL DAMAGE

SKILLS

This is simply listing the skill tree and figuring out what is needed per level. I personally am not sure what to invest in at the moment and looking at everything altogether at the same time helps me out.

The damages in green are skills that have variable damages, or damages that change with the addition of ATTACK and DAMAGE, whether they are from level ups or from equipment. I have not included procs but and I intend to soon. Blood requirements are based off of total health and currently it is at a 3, 6, 9% increase in all skills.

ACTIVE SKILLS
Unholy Force: You spin with super human speed, slashing several nearby enemies around you.

Requirements to unlock: N/A
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 5 sec. cool-down, 3m range, 25-30 damage + knock-down.
Power Level 2 (must be Level 9): x blood (6% of total health), 4.5 sec. cool-down, 3m range, +30 damage (from Level 1) + knock-down.
Power Level 3 (must be Level 18): x blood (9% of total health), 4.5 sec. cool-down, 3m range, +65 damage (from Level 2) + knock-down.

Notes: This skill is automatically given to you during the tutorial. Damage is low to moderate while range is very limited. Only useful when enemies completely surround you.
Video example:

Branch 1 (Shadow Dance, Unholy Blessing, Fire Aura, Ghost Strike)
Shadow Dance: Powered by blood, you charge at a nearby enemy, ferociously slashing anyone where you appear.

Requirements to unlock: N/A
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 10 sec. cool-down, 12m range, 28-32 damage + knock-down.
Power Level 2 (Must be Level 11): x blood (6% of total health), 9.5 sec. cool-down, 12m range, +45 damage (from Level 1) + knock-down.
Power Level 3 (Must be Level 21): x blood (9% of total health), 9.5 sec. cool-down, 12m range, +71 damage (from Level 2) + knock-down.

Notes: This skill is automatically given to you during the tutorial. A rush-based type of attack that hones onto one target, doing splash damage to targets surrounding it at an approximately 3m range. Damage is in the low to moderate range, but has a bigger damage boost per skill level than Unholy Force. However the cool-down is twice as longer as Unholy Force, limiting its total DPS.
Video example:

Unholy Blessing: Blessings from beyond increase your lethality and make your aim true.

Requirements to unlock: Level 7, Shadow Dance
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 60 sec. cool-down, +20% crit chance for 15 sec. Charged version lasts 25 sec. On activation the blessing removes most debilitating effects.
Power Level 2 (must be Level 15): x blood (6% of total health), 60 sec. cool-down, +40% crit chance for 15 sec. Charged version lasts 25 sec. On activation the blessing removes most debilitating effects.
Power Level 3 (must be Level 25): x blood (9% of total health), 60 sec. cool-down, +60% crit chance for 15 sec. Charged version lasts 25 sec. On activation the blessing removes most debilitating effects.

Notes: A very useful self-buff that increases your chance of a critical attack for both normal attacks and skills. It's unknown how much more damage a critical attack does compared to a normal attack but if following PL/SL's formula, it may be anywhere from 33% to 100% more damage. I've had quite the success using this during PvE, as most large mobs and bosses fall quickly when this is activated, especially when charged. Debilitating effects that are removed include: caught-on-fire, ?, ? (will fill this out when possible).

Fire Aura: The air around you erupts in hellfire, igniting those around you in a raging conflagration.

Requirements to unlock: Level 23, Unholy Blessing
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 15 sec. cool-down, 10 sec. duration, 3m range, 5 targets, 49 dps. Charged version: 5m range, 5 targets, 54 dps.

Notes: Cannot be acquired yet due to level cap being 21. This is a DoT skill (damage over time) which results in a total of 5 targets getting damaged for a total of 490 damage in 10 seconds (or 540 damage when charged). This skill may be useful when using hit-and-run tactics, especially when one is low on health.

Ghost Strike: A vicious strike at a single nearby enemy after which you briefly enter the shadow realm, allowing you to move at super human speed.

Requirements to unlock: Level 32, Unholy Blessing
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 5 sec. cool-down, 10m range, 160-165 damage + knock-down.

Notes: Cannot be acquired yet due to level cap being 21. The strongest single-target skill, coupled by the fact that it has a very long range of attack, and a very short cool-down. Brimstone has slightly more damage, range, and hits multiple targets, but I believe Ghost Strike will have a much larger damage increase per skill level. Will prove to be very useful for kiting bosses.

Branch 2 (Hellblade, Leap, Dark Binding)
Hellblade: You throw your blades forward in a cone attack, damaging any enemies within mid range.

Requirements to unlock: Level 5, Unholy Force
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 6 sec. cool-down, 12m range, 32-36 damage + knock-down.
Power Level 2 (must be Level ?): x blood (6% of total health), 6 sec. cool-down, 12m range, +49 damage (from Level 1) + knock-down.
Power Level 3 (must be Level 23): x blood (9% of total health), 6 sec. cool-down, 12m range, +74 damage (from Level 2) + knock-down.

Notes: A low to moderate attack that damages any enemy in front of you, with a large range of attack. The damage increase per skill level is very high, making this a useful ranged attack. However Leap might be a better choice for a skill despite its range limitation. There is an unlisted charged version of this skill that causes the blades to come out red, with an unspecified probable increase in damage.
Video example:

Leap: You thrust yourself into the air and come smashing back down, channeling your energy into a brutal shockwave attack.

Requirements to unlock: Level 20, Hellblade
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 6 sec. cool-down, 6m range, 129-133 damage + knock-down.
Power Level 2: x blood (6% of total health), 6 sec. cool-down, 6m range, +85 damage (from Level 1) + knock-down.

Notes: An extremely damaging attack with a short cool-down that attacks enemies around you in a 6m radius. Along with Ghost Strike and Brimstone, this skill has one of the highest calculated DPS in the game so far.
Video example of Leap:

Dark Binding: A long range blood magic attack to force an enemy back, snaring their movement in their own blood and causing internal damage.

Requirements to unlock: Level 28, Leap
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 10 sec. cool-down, 12m range, 108 damage + 5 sec. root. Charged version: 6 targets, -12 armor, 118 dps + 7 sec. root.

Notes: Cannot be acquired yet due to level cap being 21. The description is misleading because the charged version should be 118 damage, with a 7 second root. Also, it is unspecified how many targets the normal version of the skill attacks.

Branch 3 (Fatal Burst, Curse, Brimstone, Vermin Swarm)
Fatal Burst: A long range blood magic attack that causes the internal organs of a single target to rupture, causing massive internal damage.

Requirements to unlock: N/A
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 8 sec. cool-down, 12m range, 22-26 damage + increased damage on a critical.
Power Level 2 (must be Level 11): x blood (6% of total health), 8 sec. cool-down, 12m range, +51 damage (from Level 1) + increased damage on a critical.

Notes: A long range attack that causes a single target to "drag in" other targets close by towards it (sometimes this does not work...). The target then gets damaged and causes a splash effect that causes an unspecified amount of damage to the other targets. Decently useful for crowd control but the damage is quite low, so this skill is best when used first, followed by another multi-targetting skill.
Video example:

Curse: You use your powers to weaken your foes!

Requirements to unlock: Level 7, Fatal Burst
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 40 sec. cool-down, 12m range, for targets hit: -2 armor and -7 damage for 10 sec. Charged lasts 20 sec., inflicts 14 damage.
Power Level 2 (must be Level 15): x blood (6% of total health), 40 sec. cool-down, 12m range, for targets hit: -6 armor and -15 damage for 10 sec. Charged lasts 20 sec., inflicts 28 damage.

Notes: This skill affects targets that are a huge 12m radius around you, reducing their armor and damage for a certain period of time and causing a minimal amount of damage. The actual usefulness of this skill cannot be assessed simply because we cannot quantify how much -2 armor and -7 damage really means in terms of enemy health and attack. In addition the cool-down is extremely long rendering this skill only a pre-requisite for Vermin Swarm and Brimstone.

Vermin Swarm: You summon a wave of rats and direct the swarm against your enemies!

Requirements to unlock: Level 20, Curse
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 10 sec. cool-down, 4 targets, 12m range, 80 dps + 5 sec. root. Charged = 8 targets, 90 dps + 5 sec. stun.

Notes: Causes a DoT type of effect and roots enemies to the ground. Decently useful against powerful melee enemies, especially when there are too many that mob around you and your teammates.
Video example:

Brimstone: Calling forth the building blocks of hell itself, you create a path of jagged rocks in front of you, damaging anyone in their way.

Requirements to unlock: Level 32, Curse
Power Level 1: x blood (3% of total health), 5 sec. cool-down, 12m range, 169-173 damage + knock-down.

Notes: Cannot be acquired yet due to level cap being 21. The strongest attack in the game, doing extremely large damage with a low cool-down, making this a very high DPS skill. It is unknown how many targets this skill will attack, nor the direction of the attack (12m radius around you vs. 12m in front of you vs. 12m cone-shaped attack).

PASSIVE SKILLS
Sanguinary Wrath: You slip into a bloody rage, throwing your attacks with ever more brutality and viciousness!

Requirements to unlock: N/A
Power Level 1: This passive ability does not need to be activated, and gives the player a +15 bonus to their ATTACK attribute after being purchased.
Power Level 2 (must be Level ?): This passive ability does not need to be activated, and gives the player a +30 bonus to their ATTACK attribute after being purchased.
Power Level 3 (must be Level 19): This passive ability does not need to be activated, and gives the player a +45 bonus to their ATTACK attribute after being purchased.

Notes: See above section for a description on what ATTACK gives you in terms of stats. A useful investment for those who have points left over, but probably best to place it in Vampiric Strength first unless you need the health.

Blood Shield: You enter a blood-induced semi-trance where you perceive attacks almost before they happen, allowing you to blunt them and sometimes dodge them completely!

Requirements to unlock: Level 4
Power Level 1: This passive ability need not to be activated, and gives the player a +15 bonus to their DEFENSE attribute after being purchased.

Notes: See above section for a description on what DEFENSE gives you in terms of stats. I would much rather just get my DEFENSE from equipment, unless you're dying at an exceptionally high rate.

Vampiric Strength: Drawing upon your superhuman strength, you throw even more strength into your attacks doing unheard of levels of damage!

Requirements to unlock: Level 11
Power Level 1: This passive ability need not to be activated, and gives the player a cumulative +11 bonus to their DAMAGE attribute after being purchased.
Power Level 2 (must be Level 19): This passive ability need not to be activated, and gives the player a cumulative +21 bonus to their DAMAGE attribute after being purchased.

Notes: Gives a huge boost to damage that includes melee damage and skill damage, making this possibly the most important passive skill when trying to maximize damage.

Vampiric Vitality: Your body is imbued with un-life force, allowing you to absorb blows and damage that would rip a normal human to shreds!

Requirements to unlock: Level 12
Power Level 1: This passive ability need not to be activated, and gives the player a +100 bonus to their HEALTH attribute after being purchased.

Notes: Adds a huge health boost to your character. Again, I would invest your points in Vampiric Strength and Sanguinary Wrath for your passive skills first unless you have an issue with survivability.

I apologize for the lack of info. I'll be updating this thread throughout the week when I have time.