Armor piercing and skill modifiers

Grim Dawn Gameplay Discussion
1

Hi all! I have never focused on Pierce damage before and it seems like I forgot much precious knowledge, so if you could kindly help me to figure out some mechanics, it would be much appreciated. My ultimate question is how armor piercing interacts with skill modifiers.

Lets consider the 1st level of Cadence. The figures are not important, please just verify the logic of calculations.

Armor piercing 100%
unmodified weapon damage 10
Pierce damage (plus cunning) +200%. Multiplier is 3.

Cadence
130% weapon damage
unmodified 24 physical damage

Fighting form
+12% physical damage
+12% pierce damage

Pierce weapon damage
100% of my unmodified physical weapon damage is converted to pierce damage. Then it is modified by my pierce damage bonus with addition of the bonus to pierce damage modifier from Fighting form (bonus to physical damage does not affect the output) and then multiplied with Cadence weapon damage multiplier. 10[weapon pierce damage]*(3[character pierce modifier]+0,12([Fighting form bonus to pierce damage])*130%[Cadence weapon damage multiplier]=40,56

Now, the flat damage of Cadence should be added.
Pierce Cadence flat damage
24[Cadence’s unmodified flat damage]*(3[character’s pierce damage modifier]+0,12[pierce damage bonus from Fighting form])=74,88

As a result, 40,56+74,88=115,44

2

That’s a lot of imaginary numbers you’re throwing around there :rolleyes:

It looks like you have everything In the right place though so I’m going to say that you’re right.

3

Thank you!
Just to be sure: doesn’t physical damage modifier on a skill affect the final damage if I have 100% physical > pierce conversion via armor piercing (or any other 100% physical conversion)? A better example might be Blindside and Blitz. I also simplified the example in the main post :).

4

I’ve read/heard that % bonuses on skills do effect damage that bas been converted.

5

Mythical Brutallax Lightning to Pierce to Savagery will convert the Lightning % damage modifier in the base skill of Savagery to % pierce damage.

Now i don’t know if a modifier of a skill that has % damage modifier will get converted. Like how Mythical Handguards of Justice convert physical to fire in Forcewave and i don’t know if the % damage modifier in Rending Force gets converted from physical to fire.

6

Found it, this is the topic I remember reading, it should answer your question.

7

Thank you, another question is clearer.

However, it seems like the formula
“Skills -> Skill Modifiers -> Skill Conversion -> Equipment Conversion -> Equipment Modifiers and Skill Passives/Auras”
is only for flat skill damage; whenever a weapon damage element is present, it is calculated in a bit different way, namely Equipment, Skill Passive/Aura Conversion (armor piercing) triggers first (for %weapon damage).
“Equipment, Skill Passives/Auras Conversion -> Skills -> Skill Modifiers -> Skill Conversion -> Equipment Modifiers and Skill Passives/Auras (except for Conversion)”
Otherwise I cannot explain +12% pierce damage bonus in Fighting Form.

…and if there is an equipment converting damage of a specific skill, such conversions are applied later instead.
“general Equipment, Skill Passives/Auras Conversion -> Skills -> Skill Modifiers -> Skill Conversion -> Equipment conversions aimed at specific skills -> Equipment Modifiers and Skill Passives/Auras (except for Conversion)” - for %weapon damage element and
“Skills -> Skill Modifiers -> Skill Conversion -> Equipment Conversion including Equipment conversions aimed at specific skills (additively?) -> Equipment Modifiers and Skill Passives/Auras” - for skill flat damage.

What do you think of this assumption?