Strike Order

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The strike order defines the sequence in which the player and its opponent will hit each other. That order is mainly important for the final blow (the blow that will kill the monster), to determine whether he will have the chance to hit the player before dying. It might also be of some importance with life steal.

Normal strike order

The basic rules are :

  • Higher or same level monsters strike the player first, unless the player has first strike
  • Lower level monsters strike after the player (so they won't be allowed to hit the player after the final blow)
  • A player with first strike will hit a monster first, unless that monster has first strike too (such as goblins and gorgons)

Detailed order

Many parameters do impact the strike order is. Here is the sequence from the highest priority to the lowest :

  1. Gorgon (player class) death gaze ability, Assassin swift hands, and first strike of Item: Reflex Potion Reflex Potion
  2. Monster with Trait: First Strike First Strike
  3. Player with Trait: First Strike First Strike
  4. Monster (higher or equal level as player)
  5. Player
  6. Monster (lower level as player)
  7. Monster Trait: Slowed Slowed
  8. Player with Trait: Slow Strike Slow Strike

Important: A player can counter Trait: Slow Strike Slow Strike with Trait: First Strike First Strike, counting as neither slowed nor first striking.

As a result :

  • If one combatant has a higher attack speed than the other, that combatant strikes first. A player with both a bonus and a penalty to attack speed has a normal attack speed; a monster with both has a slow attack speed.
  • If both combatants have a fast attack speed or both have a slow attack speed, the monster attacks first.
  • If both combatants have a normal strike speed, then the combatant with the higher level attacks first, or in the case of a tie, the monster attacks first.

Buff, debuffs and strike ordre

Any new buff and debuffs are applied after both combatants stroke.

  1. So if you strike a weakening monster after he stroke you, your blow will be at normal strentgh.
  2. If you strike first and remove a death protection to an animated armor, when the animated armor will stike you, its blow will be at normal strength.

Special cases

Effect combinations

The slowing and accelerating effects can be combined, altering the strike order. The platemail, which slows the player is good example: a player wearing it should in theory always strike last. However :

  • First strike ability (either from the GETINDARE glyph or Rogue class feature [NOT the assassin's exploration first strike]) cancels out player's slow, resulting in normal striking speed. As such a slowed player with first strike can get a first hit against slowed enemies regardless of their level.
  • Swift hands always preempts monsters, even if the Assassin is slowed.

Debuff

If you strike the monster first and kill it, it won't be able to give you the Trait: Mana Burned Mana Burned, Trait: Poisoned Poisoned, Trait: Weakened Weakened, Trait: Corrosion Corrosion debuffs. However, you will still get Trait: Cursed Cursed, but only once and not twice (as it triggers when you kill or get damaged by a Trait: Curse Bearer Curse Bearer).

Reflex potion

The Reflexes trait (obtained as a temporary buff from a Reflexes potion) guarantees a first strike no matter what. If the monster survives the player's initial blow it will attack the player, afterwards the player takes a second swing.

Retaliation

Effects that depend on the player being hit take effect after the monster hits. For instance, if a Class: Sorcerer Sorcerer has the first attack against a monster, then the sequence is as follows: the Sorcerer hits the monster normally, then the monster hits, then the monster takes damage from Mana Shield. So, if you are relying on the Mana Shield damage to finish off the monster, remember that he will hit you...


Casting Glyph: BURNDAYRAZ BURNDAYRAZ on a Trait: Retaliate: Fireball Retaliate: Fireball monster usually results in the monster hitting you for 50% of their attack. But if your spell is directly killing it you won't take any retaliation damage. (Dead monsters don't fight back anymore.)

Knockback

Knockback damages are indulged after the normal monster's and player's damages have been dealt. So, in a similar way to Mana Shield, if you are relying on the knockback damage to finish off the monster, remember that he will hit you...

It also means that if your normal attack kills the monster, you won't knock him back. So, it won't destroy the wall or damage the monster that lies behind him.

Life steal

The health you gain from Trait: Life steal Life steal occurs directly after your hit, this means strike order matters. In rare cases first strike may allow you to strike a monster for which your current health would not suffice, as due to first strike and life steal, you may heal enough to survive the hit.