Editing Damage (section)

=== Offense variables ===
==== Base damage – variable DMG<sub>b</sub>  ====

Damage range for a single unit type is displayed in its stats. Base damage for a stack of creatures is calculated as such:

* If there are less than or equal to 10 creatures in a stack then a random integer is chosen in a damage range for each creature, and they are added up. 
* If there are more than 10 creatures in a stack, 10 random integers are chosen in a damage range of the creature  and  added up.  The  result  is  multiplied  by  N/10,  where N is  the  number  of  creatures in the stack, and rounded down.

==== Attack-Defense difference – variables I<sub>1</sub> and R<sub>1</sub> ====
The Attack-Defense difference (ADD), denoted by I<small>1</small> and R<small>1</small> in the formula, is typically the main modifier of the base damage. It is calculated as the difference between the attacker's attack value and the defender's defense value. These are determined by adding up the attack skill of the attacking hero and of the attacking creature type, and by adding up defense skill of the defending hero and defending creature type. Spells and creature abilities that affect attack or defense values, such as [[Bloodlust]] or [[disease]], are also taken into account in this part of the formula, as are any bonuses from [[native terrain]] or hero's [[Hero_specialty#Creature_specialties|creature specialties]].

If the attacking creature's total attack value is higher than the defending creature's total defense value (i.e., the difference is positive), then the attacking creature receives a 5% bonus to its base damage for every point the attack value is higher. If the difference is negative, then the attacking creature receives a 2.5% penalty to its total damage for every point the attack value is lower. A positive ADD therefore increases damage, meaning that the variable I<small>1</small> in the formula is positive whereas R<sub>1</sub> is 0. Conversely, a negative ADD decreases damage, meaning that R<small>1</small> is positive whereas I<small>1</small> is 0. An Attack-Defense difference of 0 does not modify base damage.

The ADD can modify base damage only up to +300% (400% damage dealt) if ADD is positive, and up to -70% (30% damage dealt) if ADD is negative. These limits are reached by a positive ADD of +60 and a negative ADD of -28. This means that a high attack skill can grant no more than +300% bonus damage, whereas a high defense skill can grant no more than a -70% penalty. Thus, the Attack-Defense difference can modify a base damage of 100 to no more than 400, and to no less than 30.

==== Secondary skill factors – variables I<sub>2</sub> and I<sub>3</sub> ====
Variable I<sub>2</sub> represents [[secondary skill]] modifier of either [[Archery]] or [[Offense]] depending on the attack type. Creatures able to [[Ranged attack|attack from the distance]] gain bonus from the Archery secondary skill when using their ability, and if a creature engages into [[melee]] combat, it gains bonus to its damage from Offense secondary skill. For ranged attacks, Archery secondary skill may give 0, 0.10, 0.25 or 0.50 for I<sub>2</sub> depending on what level the skill is (if any). Similarly, Offense may give 0, 0.10, 0.20 or 0.30 to melee attacks. Because creatures cannot peform ranged and melee attacks at the same time, Archery and Offense modifiers cannot affect damage simultaneously.

Variable I<sub>3</sub> is related to Archery and Offense modifiers through heroes who specilize in these skills. There are three heroes specializing in Archery or Offense; Orrin specializes in Archery, while Gundula and Crag Hack specialize Offense (also Corkes in HotA). They receive additional bonus from Archery or Offense secondary skill, as calculated with the following formula:

<big><code>I<sub>3</sub> = 0.05 &times; hero level &times; I<sub>2</sub></code></big>

As can be seen from the formula, the specialty bonus requires that the hero has the appropriate secondary skill, otherwise I<sub>2</sub> becomes 0, which leads I<sub>3</sub> to become 0 as well. In other words, Orrin does not receive his specialty bonus if he does not have Archery secondary skill; same applies to Gundula and Crag Hack with Offense (also Corkes in HotA). By default these heroes start with the skill they specialize in, but in custom maps the map-maker may change the starting skills.

A special case of the variable I<sub>3</sub> is [[Adela]] and her [[Bless]] specialty. Adela's Bless maximizes base damage as usual, but also deals extra damage according to the following formula:

<big><code>I<sub>3</sub> = 0.03 &times; hero level &divide; creature level</code></big>

Because of the division, Adela's Bless bonus is greater for low-tier creatures. Her Bless grants +3% damage per her level to 1st level creatures, whereas it grants +0.6% per her level for 5th level creatures.

==== Luck as combat modifier – variable I<sub>4</sub> ====
The [[luck]] variable may be either 0 or 1.00, depending on whether or not the attacking creatures gets "a lucky strike". This is determined by the combat variable luck, which may be 0 (neutral), +1 (positive), +2 (good) or +3 (excellent). These values determine how often lucky strikes occur. These probabilities are, respectively, 0/24 (0%), 1/24 (4.17%), 1/12 (8.33%) and 1/8 (12.5%). Luck may be affected by artifacts, creature special abilities, adventure map locations, spells and the [[Luck (secondary skill)|Luck]] secondary skill.

==== Creature abilities – variable I<sub>5</sub> ====
The final variable capable of increasing total damage is I<sub>5</sub>, which denotes creature specialties from [[Cavalier and Champion|Cavaliers and Champions]], [[Dread Knight]]s, [[Ballista]]s, [[Cannon]]s{{-wh}}, [[elemental]]s, and creatures that [[hate]] each other. Dread Knights may deliver [[Death Blow]]s, which gives variable I<sub>5</sub> a value of 1.00, effectively doubling base damage (though not necessarily total damage). The I<sub>5</sub> variable is also 1.00 for a ballista or cannon{{-wh}} whose shots deal double (base) damage, and 2.00 for cannon's triple damage. Additionally, there are a few creatures who [[hate]] each other, which gives I<sub>5</sub> a value of 0.50 when they attack each other. This is true for [[Angel]]s and [[Devil]]s, [[Titan]]s and [[Black Dragon]]s, and [[Genie]]s and [[Efreet]]i. Although [[Fire Elemental]]s and [[Water Elemental]]s, as well as [[Air Elemental]]s and [[Earth Elemental]]s do not hate each other, they also do double base damage against each other (i.e., I<sub>5</sub> = 1.00). Finally, unless they are attacking [[Pikeman and Halberdier| pikemen or halberdiers]], the jousting specialty of Cavaliers and Champions lets them deal 5% extra damage for every hex they travel during the combat turn in which they attack their target:

<big><code>I<sub>5</sub> = 0.05 &times; squares travelled</code></big>