A critical hit, or simply crit, is a property of hits that gains a damage multiplier based on its critical damage bonus. Additionally, critical hits can often enable or trigger other effects from items or passive skills.
Mechanics
Critical hit check
When a skill is used or triggered, it performs a critical hit check by rolling a number. This roll ranges from 0 to 99.99, determining a threshold the skill's critical hit chance must exceed to deal a critical hit successfully.
While hits from the same skill will usually have the same critical hit chance, resulting in all-or-nothing behaviour, conditional modifiers and buffs/debuffs can cause critical hit chance to differ between enemies.
- Critical hits are rolled for all hits from that skill. If a critical hit chance roll succeeds, all hits from that skill will be a critical hit. This does not apply to Sustained and Channelling skills which hit continuously while channelling. Sustained skill will roll critical hit chance for each hit individually, and channelling skills will roll critical hit chance for each cast interval of the channelled skill.
- Multi-projectile skills from players and allies roll crit independently, but projectiles from a monster's skill will either all crit or not crit.
- If critical hit chance is lucky, skills perform two crit checks and keep the lower requirement. If it is unlucky, the higher requirement is kept.
- If the user has Inevitable Critical Hits from Forced Outcome, failed critical hit chance rolls will be rerolled until it succeeds. Each time crit chance is rerolled, 30% less critical damage bonus will be applied to the final hit.
- If critical hit chance is bifurcated, skills perform two crit checks that apply independently. If both are successful, critical hit damage bonus is applied twice. Luck applies to each bifurcated critical hit independently.
- If a critical hit can be evaded, such as from an attacks or by a monster, but the evasion check fails and lands a hit, evasion is checked again; if the the evasion check succeeds, the hit is downgraded to a non-critical hit. This does not affect the evasion entropy value.
Critical hit chance
- Martial weapons have a base critical hit chance which is used for almost all attack skills. Unarmed skills have a base critical hit chance of 5%. Skills that use two weapons simultaneously calculate each hand's crit chance and damage separately, which are later combined into a single instance of damage. If either hand crits, the combined hit is considered a single crit. This does not retroactively scale a hand that non-crits, however. Skills that use two weapons independently calculate crit chance independently for each hit.
- Spells instead specify a base critical hit chance on the skill itself which can then be further modified.
- Other allies including minions have an independent critical hit chance separate from the player.
- Modifiers that grant additional base critical hit chance (e.g. Critical Weakness, Critical Strike) are applied before modifiers that grant increased/decreased/more/less critical hit chance.
Effects which prevent critical strikes (e.g. Resolute Technique) take priority over effects that causes you to always deal critical strikes.
Critical damage bonus
Critical hits deal extra damage compared to a non-critical hit, the magnitude of which is determined by a stat called critical damage bonus, equivalent to "critical strike multiplier" or "crit multi" from Path of Exile 1. Critical damage bonus is a unique multiplier independent of all other damage multipliers. The default critical damage bonus for players and minions is +100%, or 200% of base damage. Monsters have 40% less bonus critical damage.
Critical damage bonus is calculated by first adding any sources of +#% to Critical Damage Bonus (e.g. on weapons or from Sniper's MarkSniper's MarkMark, DurationTier: 7Level: (1-20)Cost: (18-79) ManaCooldown Time: 6.00 secCan Store 1 Use(s)Mark a target. The next Critical Hit the target receives Activates the Mark, Consuming it to deal extra damage and grant you a Frenzy Charge.Maximum Mark duration is 8 secondsNext Critical Hit against Marked Enemy has (20-77)% increased Critical Damage BonusLimit 1 Marked target Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Next Critical Hit against Marked Enemy has (0.75-15)% increased Critical Damage BonusSkills can be managed in the Skills Panel.) to the base critical damage bonus of +100%, then applying any other modifiers such as increases or reductions or more/less multipliers. Note that the modifier found on weapons and from Soul Core of TicabaSoul Core of TicabaStack Size: 10Martial Weapon: +5% to Critical Damage BonusBody Armours: Hits against you have 20% reduced Critical Damage BonusShields and Bucklers: Hits against you have 20% reduced Critical Damage BonusPlace into an empty Augment Socket in a Weapon or Armour to apply its effect to that item. Once socketed it cannot be retrieved but can be replaced by other Augment items. are local modifiers and only apply to that hits with that weapon.
Related skills
| Gem | Tier | |||
| ReapReapSpell, AoE, Physical, DurationLevel: (1-20)Cast Time: 1.20 secCritical Strike Chance: 14.00%Conjure a bloody scythe that sweeps across the targeted area, dealing Physical damage to enemies and | 0 | |||
| Elemental StormElemental StormSpell, AoE, Trigger, Lightning, Cold, Fire, Duration, OrbLevel: (1-20)Cost: (8-55) ManaCooldown Time: 3.00 secCan Store 1 Use(s)Cast Time: InstantCreate a stationary Fire | 0 | |||
| Kelari's DeceptionKelari's DeceptionCommand, AoE, Physical, DurationLevel: (1-20)Cost: (5-58) ManaCommand Kelari to create a blast at the target location that deals Spell damage, and leave behind a cl | 0 | |||
| Kelari, the Tainted SandsKelari, the Tainted SandsMinion, Persistent, Command, PhysicalLevel: (1-20)Summon Kelari, an invulnerable Sand Djinn Minion, to do your bidding. Kelari will only act when you | 0 | |||
| Sniper's MarkSniper's MarkMark, DurationTier: 7Level: (1-20)Cost: (18-79) ManaCooldown Time: 6.00 secCan Store 1 Use(s)Mark a target. The next Critical Hit the target receives Activates the Mark, Cons | 7 |
Persistent skills
| Gem | Tier | |||
| MaliceMaliceBuff, Persistent, Aura, DurationLevel: (1-20)While active, emits an Aura that continuously inflicts Critical Weakness on enemies in your Presence.Critical Weakness duration is 4 secondsApp | 0 | |||
| Mana RemnantsMana RemnantsBuff, Persistent, RemnantTier: 4Level: (1-20)Reservation: 30 SpiritConjure surging arcane energy to restore your Mana. While active, enemies you kill affected by Elemental Ai | 4 | |||
| Cast on CriticalCast on CriticalBuff, Persistent, Trigger, MetaTier: 14Level: (1-20)Reservation: 100 SpiritWhile active, gains Energy when you Critically Hit enemies and triggers socketed Spells on re | 14 | |||
| Charge RegulationCharge RegulationBuff, PersistentTier: 14Level: (1-20)Reservation: 30 SpiritWhile active, you gain powerful Buffs based on your active Charges. However, maintaining the Buff Consumes | 14 |
Related support gems
| Gem | Tier | |||
| Garukhan's ResolveGarukhan's ResolveSupport, Lineage, Attack, ConditionalCategory: Garukhan's ResolveRequires Level 65Support Requirements: +5 DexSupports Attack Skills you use yourself which do not a | 0 | |||
| Prototype SeventeenPrototype SeventeenSupport, LineageCategory: PrototypeRequires Level 65Supports non-Channelling skill you use yourself that Hits enemies, causing it to gain Critical Hit chance base | 0 | |||
| BlindsideBlindsideSupportCategory: BlindsideTier: 1Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 120%Support Requirements: +5 DexSupports Skills which can cause Damaging Hits. Supported Skills are more likely to Cri | 1 | |||
| AmbushAmbushSupportCategory: AmbushTier: 1Support Requirements: +5 IntSupports any skill that Hits enemies, making it more likely to Critically Hit enemies on full life.Supported Skill has 100% more C | 1 | |||
| Controlled DestructionControlled DestructionSupport, SpellCategory: Controlled DestructionTier: 1Support Requirements: +5 IntSupports Spells that Hit enemies, boosting their damage but preventing them | 1 | |||
| BattershoutBattershoutSupport, Warcry, AoE, Trigger, Physical, PayoffCategory: BattershoutTier: 1Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%Support Requirements: +5 StrSupports Warcry Skills. Supported Skills | 1 | |||
| Bursting PlagueBursting PlagueSupport, AoE, Trigger, Physical, ChaosCategory: Bursting PlagueTier: 2Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 120%Support Requirements: +5 DexSupports skills that can Poison enemi | 2 | |||
| Pin IIPin IISupport, PhysicalCategory: PinTier: 2Support Requirements: +5 DexSupports any skill that Hits enemies, allowing its Physical damage to Pin enemies but making it unable to Stun, as well as | 2 | |||
| Shocking LeapShocking LeapSupport, AoE, DurationCategory: Shocking LeapTier: 2Support Requirements: +5 DexSupports Skills that leap into the air and deal damage, causing them to create Shocked Ground | 2 | |||
| ExciseExciseSupportCategory: Grants CooldownTier: 2Cooldown Time: 8.00 secCan Store 1 Use(s)Support Requirements: +5 IntSupports any damaging Skill that you use yourself, granting it significantly hig | 2 | |||
| Pinpoint CriticalPinpoint CriticalSupportCategory: Pinpoint CriticalTier: 2Support Requirements: +5 IntSupports any skill that Hits Enemies, causing it to Critically Hit more often but deal less damag | 2 |
Related unique items
Local critical hit chance
Items that have increases to their local critical hit chance.
| Item | Item class | Crit | +% crit chance | |
| HoghuntHoghuntFelled GreatclubTwo Hand MacePhysical Damage: (29-33) to (41-45)Critical Strike Chance: 20.00%Attacks per Second: 0.99Weapon Range: 1.3 metresAdds (16-20) to (23-27) Physical Damage+15% | Two Hand Mace | 1 | 20.00% | +1500*0.01% |
| FrostbreathFrostbreathSlim MaceOne Hand MacePhysical Damage: (19-23) to (33-37)Elemental Damage: (8-12) to (16-20)Critical Strike Chance: 10.00%Attacks per Second: 1.55Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires | One Hand Mace | 10 | 10.00% | +500*0.01% |
| Double VisionDouble VisionDyad CrossbowCrossbowPhysical Damage: (23-30) to (62-74)Critical Strike Chance: 10.00%Attacks per Second: 1.60Reload Time: (1.26-1.38)Requires Level 20, 22 Str, 22 DexGrants | Crossbow | 20 | 10.00% | +500*0.01% |
| MatsyaMatsyaCrescent QuarterstaffQuartertaffPhysical Damage: 19-39Elemental Damage: (6-9) to (10-15), 1 to (19-29)Critical Strike Chance: (13.00-15.00)%Attacks per Second: (1.72-1.80)Weapon Range: 1.3 | Quarterstaff | 20 | (13.00-15.00)% | +(300-500)*0.01% |
| TangletongueTangletongueForked SpearSpearPhysical Damage: (27-31) to (68-74)Critical Strike Chance: (10.00-13.00)%Attacks per Second: 1.55Weapon Range: 1.5 metresRequires Level 26, 17 Str, 38 DexGrant | Spear | 26 | (10.00-13.00)% | +(500-800)*0.01% |
| SlivertongueSlivertongueZealot BowBowPhysical Damage: (71-79) to (112-119)Critical Strike Chance: (9.00-11.00)%Attacks per Second: 1.20Requires Level 39, 70 DexAdds (40-48) to (65-72) Physical Damage+ | Bow | 39 | (9.00-11.00)% | +(400-600)*0.01% |
| Collapsing HorizonCollapsing HorizonWyrm QuarterstaffQuartertaffPhysical Damage: 57-94Critical Strike Chance: (15.00-20.00)%Attacks per Second: 1.40Weapon Range: 1.4 metresRequires Level 65, 89 Dex, 3 | Quarterstaff | 65 | (15.00-20.00)% | +(500-1000)*0.01% |
| Sadist's MercySadist's MercyFlanged MaceOne Hand MacePhysical Damage: (153-180) to (227.8-268)Critical Strike Chance: (10.00-13.00)%Attacks per Second: (1.77-1.89)Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Leve | One Hand Mace | 67 | (10.00-13.00)% | +(500-800)*0.01% |
| Twisted EmpyreanTwisted EmpyreanAberrant SledgeTwo Hand MacePhysical Damage: (133.2-148) to (277.2-308)Elemental Damage: (150-200) to (350-400)Critical Strike Chance: (9.00-11.00)%Attacks per Second: | Two Hand Mace | 70 | (9.00-11.00)% | +(400-600)*0.01% |
| The OrdainedThe OrdainedGrand SpearSpearPhysical Damage: (140-196) to (210-294)Elemental Damage: 1 to (200-300)Critical Strike Chance: (10.00-13.00)%Attacks per Second: 1.40Weapon Range: 1.5 metresReq | Spear | 79 | (10.00-13.00)% | +(500-800)*0.01% |
Global critical hit chance
Items that have global critical hit chance or other interactions with global critical hit chance.
| Item | GenericCrit. Chance | AttackCrit. Chance | SpellCrit. Chance | |
| Heart of the WellHeart of the WellDiamondLimited to: 1<Custom Desecrated prefix><Custom Desecrated prefix><Custom Desecrated suffix><Custom Desecrated suffix><List of mods>Countless souls scream in ag | 1 | (4-8)% | 0% | (4-8)% |
| Seed of CataclysmSeed of CataclysmLazuli Ring+(20-30) to maximum Mana(30-50)% increased Critical Hit Chance for Spells5% reduced Critical Spell Damage Bonus per Critical Hit you've dealt with Spells R | 1 | 0% | 0% | (30-50)% |
| Mask of the SanguimancerMask of the SanguimancerFace MaskEvasion: (46-51)Energy Shield: (25-30)Requires Level 10, 10 Dex, 10 Int+(20-25) to Evasion Rating+(10-15) to maximum Energy Shield(20-40)% incr | 10 | 0% | 0% | (20-40)% |
| Erian's CobbleErian's CobbleGuarded HelmArmour: (34-74)Evasion: (28-58)Energy Shield: (0-20)Requires Level 11, 11 Str, 11 Dex+(0-40) to Armour+(0-30) to Evasion Rating+(0-20) to maximum Energy Shield+ | 11 | (0-30)% | 0% | 0% |
| Rondel of FragilityRondel of FragilityLunar AmuletRequires Level 14+(20-30) to maximum Energy Shield(15-30)% increased Skill Speed(20-30)% increased Critical Hit Chance-30% to all Elemental Resistance | 14 | (20-30)% | 0% | 0% |
| Enezun's ChargeEnezun's ChargeVolatile WandWandRequires Level 16Grants Skill: Level (5-20) Volatile Dead(80-100)% increased Spell Damage(30-50)% increased Critical Hit Chance for SpellsGain (10-15) Ma | 16 | 0% | 0% | (30-50)% |
| Visage of AyahVisage of AyahBeaded CircletEnergy Shield: (51-61)Requires Level 16, 25 Int(50-80)% increased Energy Shield(10-15)% increased Rarity of Items found(20-30)% increased Critical Hit Chance+ | 16 | (20-30)% | 0% | 0% |
| Fixation of YixFixation of YixStellar AmuletRequires Level 24+(5-7) to all Attributes+100 to maximum LifeAllies in your Presence have (30-50)% increased Critical Hit ChanceAllies in your Presence have | 24 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Ungil's HarmonyUngil's HarmonyAzure AmuletRequires Level 25(20-30)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate+(30-50) to maximum Life+(30-50) to maximum Mana(100-200)% increased Critical Hit Chance+(60-100) to | 25 | (100-200)% | 0% | 0% |
| The Smiling KnightThe Smiling KnightCowled HelmArmour: (155-186)Evasion: (135-162)Requires Level 26, 22 Str, 22 Dex(150-200)% increased Armour and Evasion+(50-100) to Accuracy Rating(15-25)% increased | 26 | (15-25)% | 0% | 0% |
| Atsak's SightAtsak's SightVeiled MaskEvasion: (150-187)Energy Shield: (54-67)Requires Level 28, 23 Dex, 23 Int(100-150)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield(30-40)% increased Critical Hit Chance+(10-2 | 28 | (30-40)% | 0% | 0% |
Critical damage bonus
Items that have global critical hit damage bonus or other interactions with global critical damage.
| Item | + crit bonus | % crit bonus | % spellcrit bonus | |
| Heart of the WellHeart of the WellDiamondLimited to: 1<Custom Desecrated prefix><Custom Desecrated prefix><Custom Desecrated suffix><Custom Desecrated suffix><List of mods>Countless souls scream in ag | 1 | +0% | (6-12)% | (6-12)% |
| NorthpawNorthpawSuede BracersEvasion: (25-35)+(15-25) to Evasion RatingAdds (3-5) to (8-10) Physical Damage to Attacks(10-15)% increased Critical Damage BonusBase Critical Hit Chance for Attacks with | 1 | +0% | (10-15)% | 0% |
| KilljoyKilljoyLinen WrapsEvasion: (23-28)Energy Shield: (11-14)Requires Level 16, 13 Dex, 13 Int(30-60)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield+(30-50) to maximum Life(20-30)% increased Critical Damage B | 16 | +0% | (20-30)% | 0% |
| Fixation of YixFixation of YixStellar AmuletRequires Level 24+(5-7) to all Attributes+100 to maximum LifeAllies in your Presence have (30-50)% increased Critical Hit ChanceAllies in your Presence have | 24 | +0% | 0% | 0% |
| Ungil's HarmonyUngil's HarmonyAzure AmuletRequires Level 25(20-30)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate+(30-50) to maximum Life+(30-50) to maximum Mana(100-200)% increased Critical Hit Chance+(60-100) to | 25 | +0% | 0% | 0% |
| DreadfistDreadfistBolstered MittsArmour: (92-116)Requires Level 27, 35 Str(60-100)% increased Armour(20-30)% increased Critical Damage BonusCritical Hits inflict ImpaleCritical Hits cannot Extract Imp | 27 | +0% | (20-30)% | 0% |
| Death's HarpDeath's HarpDualstring BowBowPhysical Damage: 19-35Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%Attacks per Second: 1.15Requires Level 28, 52 Dex+50% Surpassing chance to fire an additional Arrow+(20-25)% | 28 | +(20-25)% | 0% | 0% |
| PowertreadPowertreadHunting ShoesEvasion: (80-90)Energy Shield: (33-37)Requires Level 33, 26 Dex, 26 Int(15-20)% increased Movement Speed(60-80)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield+(10-20) to Intelli | 33 | +0% | 0% | 0% |
| QuecholliQuecholliCrumbling MaulTwo Hand MacePhysical Damage: (124-155) to (150-187.5)Critical Strike Chance: 8.00%Attacks per Second: 1.10Weapon Range: 1.3 metresRequires Level 38, 68 StrCauses Enemi | 38 | +0% | 0% | 0% |
| Grip of KulemakGrip of KulemakAbyssal SignetRequires Level 40Inflict Abyssal Wasting on Hit(30-20)% reduced Presence Area of Effect(30-20)% reduced Light Radius<Can gain 0-4 custom Desecrated Modifier | 40 | +0% | (15-25)% | 0% |
| Maligaro's VirtuosityMaligaro's VirtuosityFine BracersEvasion: (126-142)Requires Level 45, 56 Dex(60-80)% increased Evasion Rating(20-30)% increased Critical Hit Chance5% increased Attack Speed+(10-20 | 45 | +0% | 0% | 0% |
Other
Items with miscellaneous interactions with critical hits.
| Item | Stats | |
| Bristleboar | 1 | 50% reduced Evasion Rating+(40-60) to maximum Life(3-5) Life Regeneration per secondGain 5 Rage when Hit by an EnemyGain 10 Rage when Critically Hit by an Enemy |
| Effigy of Cruelty | 10 | +(20-30) to maximum Energy Shield(40-50)% increased Spell Damage+10 to Intelligence+(7-13)% to Chaos ResistanceCritical Hits with Spells apply (1-3) Stacks of Critical Weakness |
| Trephina | 11 | Crushes Enemies on HitAdds (12-15) to (22-25) Physical Damage(10-15)% increased Attack SpeedCauses (30-50)% increased Stun BuildupAlways deals Critical Hits against Heavy Stunned Enemies |
| Sculpted Suffering | 22 | +(10-15)% to Critical Damage BonusAdds (21-26) to (25-31) Physical Damage(10-15)% increased Attack SpeedBreaks Armour equal to 40% of damage from Hits with this weaponFully Armour Broken enemies you k |
| Dreadfist | 27 | (60-100)% increased Armour(20-30)% increased Critical Damage BonusCritical Hits inflict ImpaleCritical Hits cannot Extract Impale(20-31) to (31-49) Physical Thorns damage |
| Beacon of Azis | 30 | +(10-15) to Spirit+(60-100) to maximum Mana+30 to Spirit30% increased Light RadiusCritical Hits ignore Enemy Monster Elemental Resistances |
| The Black Insignia | 45 | (70-100)% increased Evasion Rating(10-20)% increased Rarity of Items found+(15-25)% to Lightning ResistanceGain Tailwind on Critical Hit, no more than once per secondLose all Tailwind when Hit |
| Choir of the Storm | 55 | +(10-15) to Dexterity+(50-100)% to Lightning ResistanceCritical Hits Ignore Enemy Monster Lightning ResistanceTrigger Lightning Bolt Skill on Critical Hit |
| Nebuloch | 55 | Adds (39-48) to (69-79) Physical Damage+(20-30)% to Critical Damage BonusAdds (25-36) to (44-55) Chaos damageAttacks consume an Endurance Charge to Critically HitTake 100 Chaos damage per second per E |
| The Brass Dome | 58 | (500-600)% increased Armour-(5-1)% to all Maximum Elemental Resistances+(200-300) to Stun ThresholdTake no Extra Damage from Critical Hits |
| Voll's Protector | 59 | (150-200)% increased Armour and Energy Shield25% reduced maximum Mana+(13-17)% to Chaos Resistance25% chance to gain a Power Charge on Critical Hit |
Version history
| Version | Changes |
| 0.1.0e | Critical Strikes from Monsters now deal 40% less bonus Damage. (Hotfix 1) Fixed unintentionally lowering the base minion critical damage bonus from +50% to +30% in patch 0.1.0e. We have buffed base mi |
| 0.1.0 | Introduced to the game. |
