Diablo 3: Area Damage Explained (Patch 2.4)

[@sharpygsxr]

That next level MS Paint action boys :D

[@Jizzlewobbwtfcus]

it's Photoshop :o

[@Venomenn]

So glad that i am sub on your channel Quin. Amazing work as usual !! Thank you very much for this!

[@udalix]

They should add some more colors to the damage numbers, like say area damage for instance, make it orange or something. Damage from proc on legendaries maybe could be another color and so on. Maybe im just stupid but I think it would be cool to get a better visual on what is doing damage.

[@Ca11mero]

it does already turn orange at big billion crits

[@Ca11mero]

it does already turn orange at big billion crits

[@sarccacious]

+Ca11mero It doesnt have to be big billion crits. Orange damage is the Top 5% crits (iirc) you have pulled in the past 5 seconds. So you will sometimes see that if you hit for 35 billion once, then 29 billion next hit, only the 35 billion will show up as orange, the 29 billion as yellow. This also works on lower numbers, replace the billion with million and you get the same result. -Edit: Blizzard has a page up on "re-engineering combat numbers" when diablo 3 is selected on battle net. That is where I got my info.

[@DsiakMondala]

+Jerstah phucku thankyou

[@amfitness5598]

Thank you for the detailed explanation, very useful. Keep it up Quin69 you are a beast!

[@pvrhye]

A legendary item that would revolutionize area damage: Area damage now damages the initial target.

[@TheMyndfire]

+Quin C (Quin69) some people are saying that area damage is bugged again, is it true?

[@Marvelmar86]

i understood the principle, but seeing you operate with it in theory with the formula and showing the principle in praxis with the hitboxes was a very intuitive and practical way of explanation, well done sir!

[@charlespremo8609]

Thank you for video. Exactly what I needed to know .

[@SIenderplier]

Definately explains where some of that WW Barb crowd clearing damage comes in, great guide!

[@CanadianGuillaume]

Very great analysis! Allow me to be extremely difficult however and add some further calculation. My goal here is to help finding the ideal "x". I show below that "20" is almost impossible to attain for characters whose damage mainly comes from large AoEs. The formula gets more complex if your initial attack hits w targets. Your expected total pre-AoE damage would be A*w, where A is average damage per target. The AoE damage would then be y * (x_1 - 1) * 0.2 + .... + y * (x_w - 1) * 0.2, where x_1, x_2, ..., x_w is the number of enemies within a 10 yard radius of each w targets. So your damage increase ratio would be Sum(i from 1 to w) of y * (x_i - 1) * 0.2 / w = y * 0.2 * (1/w) * sum(i from 1 to w) of (x_i - 1) = y * (x_bar - 1) * 0.2, where x_bar is the average number of enemies within every 10 yard radius. Unless your attack hits the center of a blob that can't be all targeted, the enemies with the set of w targets more on the edge will have less enemies within their radius, dragging x_bar down from the ideal 20. So 20 is clearly an overshoot of your damage in most scenarios. So if someone would want a thorough figure of damage increase from AoE, he'd have to look at the shape of his own attack, figure what w is from this on average, how big is the blob he can mass with respect to w, and then find x_bar according, which will be quite smaller than 20 in most cases. For almost any attack though, I'm quite sure a skilled/efficient player could maintain a x_bar of 10. In short, the more AoE-based is your character, and the bigger those AoEs are, the further away from the ideal "20" x_bar will tend to be.

[@aaroncheng205]

Nice guide. Thanks Quin! I knew AD is awesome since 1.08, but you just explained it in detail!! What i wonder is, how the AD works on Gungdo Gear during explosion...

[@DemonLilyYT]

btw, when you use a area ability like f.e. multishot from dh, then u could proc ad from every monster in 10yard for every multi shot hit (with double dmg passiv), this procs doubled, cause its direct "double-cast" of the ability. So u could draw 2 10 yards areas to every mop. deleting 80% of the circles and probably have tons of damage ;)

[@TheDAZ1001]

Can you backup your math into practice? a video with guide for gearing it ( what you would do ) and explain why its a better stat than x y z?

[@sheska8207]

Thank you very much for taking the time to prepare and make this guide Mr Crawford.

[@toohardtochooseaname]

Thank you m8; You must be the best guide maker of games of all times, Diablo is complex AS FUDGE, you're helping me GIT GUD.

[@-Kailinn-]

Awesome guide, Quin, the visuals were a good choice.

[@Mullehus]

Thank you for taking the time to do the math. And a bigger thank you for releasing your infomation about the subject

[@phobos2k2]

10:01 If it procs... With a Flat 20% chance to proc, how is it better than other multipliers that are applied 100% of the time?

[@RealEnglishNow]

excellent guide - very precise and technical - thanks for making the video very helpful!

[@zantardis]

Good video well explained but my issue with area damage generally is it helps you kill the enemies you have least trouble with. The big enemies and rift guardian are affected less. So the mobs you kill the fastest die slightly faster and those you take a while take even longer through sacrificed stats.

[@sacrdsilence]

old and dad quin brought me here. great guide young quin tnx!

[@typoko]

Thank you for explaining these things more clearly. Don't have time to research these things myself and there are really few accurate explanations how DH skills work, like when only main hand is used instead of total damage or both weapons. Now that i know AD is usable, all i need to test is that if it procs from rain of vengeance belt beast attack...

[@FluxFresh96]

I think he said that exclusive stats from legendary items doesn't proc AD. Like his example in the video: Chantodos.

[@typoko]

Seems to be so.

[@GiovannieMedina]

Thanks Quin! I have a carn doc and this video helped me tremendously. :D

[@d3clazclown716]

The one real question I have is what classes does this actually effect? Barbs DPS comes from set bonuses, Nat's DH is CR, Monks is set bonuses. WD pet build gonna become OP? What builds can support AD as a viable stat weight?

[@Operations1000]

Currently reborked on the PTR..patch goes live in 3 days not good indication..we'll need to re-test when it goes live for sure.

[@drak_gaming9899]

Thank you Quin, very helpful and informative.

[@christopheferr7116]

Zombies and Skeletons are definately the dream maps, vs big fat mobs that take way too much space. great guide thank you

[@shea455]

Great vid - first GRift run I got a hallway-style rift and couldn't even get 3 or 4 at a time on average. Second one busted my record - call it RNG, but bad rifts are just bad rifts. Running DH, 50% paragon, +40% on gear (2 pieces) and gave up 15%*2 (30%) of my main spender stat to do it. Seems to work just fine... thanks for the theory-crafting!

[@perricasa6478]

Hooray! Another video! Amped for 2.3 and I know YOU'RE eager to do the story considering you got through it in 10 minutes haha

[@xxeded0xx]

I dont quiet understand how AD works wirh AoE spells for example grasp of dead (WD) if you hit like 10 enemies with it can they proc AD towards eachother?

[@butaplay6036]

Grait. i search so long for a good AD Guide. I´ve found it here. Thx. ^^

[@ontrose7988]

So, if i get it right, lets say i have a Sorc, using my primary (that chain lightning attack) into a bunch of enemys (lets just say 10 enemys get hit), each enemy hit will trigger the the AD check? Like every enemy [if they are pretty close to each other] will run through 9 AD checks? While my Thunderfury proc will not trigger anything. But if i get the items, that my chain lightning can hit targets more then once AND the item that givves 10 more bounces, it will check each enemy 18 times [If all enemys stay alive AND stay close to each other] since, it modifies my normal attack. This is how i understood it. ----------- OR would it simply mean, that only the first target hit from my Chain lightning would trigger the AD check?

[@Zimzimzou]

Holy Shit... amazing explanation of AD. Thank you very much Quin C.

[@RandyLott]

So, if your initial attack hits multiple targets, all of those initial hits cause separate area damage for all targets (assuming all hits produce area damage)? That's ridiculous. I did not know that is how the mechanic worked. I thought area damage was just how much extra damage is applied to a single attack that hit more than one target.

[@salihkizildag]

Can't find info regarding f/r and tal'rasha's interaction with area damage. Some people say area damage doesn't work with multipliers, rendering it useless on builds that rely on multipliers like del'rasha wizard, any info?

[@Flyingwall]

How do we apply area damage: with photoshop.

[@preacher3d801]

Thx Quin. Pls more of such videos !!!

[@xianator9113]

is this still all the same in season 22? :)

[@razmuslundqvist3149]

1 EP can proc more then 1 areadmg proc right? so for example 1 ep goes off hits 2 mobs in a area of 10mobs u will get 18 more hits whit ur ep iff u have 100%area dmg? im i right?

[@CohnmanTheBudbarian]

Razmus Lundqvist following this question... sss+ep+ad=monk4life right??? hahahah

[@braadschilders]

netslave mind=blown

[@joeldube8746]

If a spell hits 20 enemies at the same time, does each one have a chance to proc AD to its surrounding.? I mean if I hit 1 monster close to another, there's 20% chance the other get AD, but If I hit both, do each one get the AD from the other? Meaning that If I hit 20 monsters they all send 10 yards AD to the 19 others?

[@sharefhamamy4644]

each of the 20 monsters hit has its own individual 20% chance of proccing area damage in a 10yd radius around it. meaning in a best case scenario (however very unlikely) all the mobs can proc area damage and you will instantly clear the pack

[@timchen1017]

A few comments: 1. the percentage is calculated from as if you have no AD%... this exaggerates its usefulness. In fact everyone comes with 50% ad in paragon so the net effectiveness have to be divided by 1.5. For example, if you are thinking about whether you take 20% elemental or 20% AD on the amulet, assume you have 20% +elemental on bracer and no extra AD% outside paragon, then you actually need to consistently have 5*(1.5/1.2)+1=7.25 enemies in the 10-yard circle for it to be worth it. And each additional AD% affix you have get progressively worse. 2. Therefore I think it is probably sufficient to get 2 AD affixes from shoulder and weapon probably. This is because cdr, chc, chd do not get progressively worse. cdr is multiplicative with each other where as chd and chc even though add with themselves but they are multiplicative to each other. AD% and +elemental% are strictly additive.

[@MrTonyman79]

Dude, you are just brilliant. math makes me sad I'm glad you do it for the community.

[@RichardHeadGaming]

The question at hand is sac what dmg to kill champ packs quicker and how drastically is it gonna effect killing the rg.

[@rytramprophet843]

my problem is getting AD along with CHD and CRC. often times im finding myself sac'n AD for one of those 2 stats. not to mention +dam or IAS. now, im not pro by any means, so im merely basing this off of the unreliable sheet dps. point is, i can hardly find the room for all my stats. because i always try to fit in (In-De-St, vit, AR, CRC, CHD, IAS, AD) then on helm, and jewelry i always have to be picky because we NEED those sockets for the gems, which is BS that leg gems only work on jewelry, AND that you cant use R-Gifts on jewelry.

[@HDDafuq]

thanks for the guide and thanks for the effort u put in, it realy helps a lot, you're the man quin

[@trivik1811]

Hi Quin C , where can I find Música which sounds in your video??Do you have a page on the face beech,in your latest video has no links to the tracks who realties will find pozhalusta muzikukvinsi ??

[@sandorzador6396]

Thanks for the guide! 1 Question, there are skills in the game which indicates area effect dmg such as WD Confident passive, so the question is the following: Is there a grapic or addon help that can give me some aid about where exactly the end of that 25y ends? It could be useful to see where the edges goes around me when i'am in the middle of the fight. I could re-arrange my position to stay in the middle of the fight so my enemies technically would surround me efficiently. Thanks in advance.

[@likeahero0]

Great guide, really liked the addition of graphics.

[@markusmuller341]

you said that AD does not proc from legendaries .. so it doesnt work for the 4000% dmg from crashing rain, right?

[@patrickpesenteleonardi392]

I don`t know if i missed in the video, but when area damage procs, it does damage to the monster himself or only the monsters around him within the 10yd range?

[@monk8935]

Great video Quinn! This helps a lot.

[@markusmuurinen3779]

Great vid, thanks for the detailed explanation of AD!

[@davepastern]

Quin, how does this go with the karleis point/HPS combination? Does AD proc on EACH monster hit by each of the 3 daggers, or only once per throw (where the 3 daggers are considered one throw)? (we're talking about the lightning rune for impale here of course, and lightning elemental dmg of course). I'd only have AD from paragons and weapon, so it'd be 74%. I could re-roll vitality on shoulders to AD too, for an additional 20%, for a total of 94%, but that would leave me around 5k vitality and a bit fragile. I also have a weapon with 5% IAS...that I can use. I'm holding off atm, trying to figure out which way would be better (I have 20% IAS on HPS quiver and max in paragon too). When I look at d3planner, the 5% IAS weapon brings me to FPA 25 for a 3.8% DPS buff over my current weapon. d3planner doesn't seem to show the damage buff for AD in either sim or elemental DPS and I can't see anywhere where I've possible missed ticking a checkbox etc to include AD calcs... help!

[@nicholashale6620]

You would never drop elemental damage on a piece of gear in exchance for AD though, right? If the elemental damage % is increasing the base dmg number for AD to scale off, we still want that base damage number as high as we can get it, right?

[@gloggare]

then the question is what stat do you sac to get the area damage?

[@Khramo]

Andreas D If it goes for gloves get rid of att speed. Dunno for other items

[@instability0153]

Andreas D Ulianas BP monk has a lot of free areas for area damage because they use broken promises. Gloves don't need crit chance so Dex/CDR/CD/Area dmg . Weapons you need CDR/Mainstat/Area dmg, Shoulders can sacrifice vit or resis for area dmg. Then for the rings, you might even want to be swapping dex for area dmg. Along with paragons that's already 178% which is a stupid damage boost.

[@Gentraf]

Does AD proc from slow time with delsere's bonus? I'm confused, because it counts as legendary gear bonus, that you mentioned in the beginning of the guide, or not?

[@BomblingTV]

Would there be any point for an Archon wizzard to get a tiny bit of AD on say shoulders. I know the chantodo proc will not affect AD, but the left or rightclick will proc AD in Archon form right?

[@siri7005]

I only really play the game in bursts so I miss a lot of the patch notes and stuff. When was AD changed to not also hit the initial target? It did so when the stat was new and I tested it.

[@agentJonah]

Is there any internal cooldown to how often you proc AD? Because if you're using a build that has more that 5 APS then you can pretty much spec into single target damage and match that damage in a 10 yard radius. Any limit to that?

[@Partyczka]

Does AD have any..visual efect? Animation, explosion anything? I always underestimated AD because of how i never really experieced it...

[@Khramo]

Oximo No, thats the problem why most ppl dont understand it. But u should see the damage it deals. But never payed attention to that though

[@alis4311]

Oximo No visual effect at all. Basically the only time you´re ever going to notice AD is either if you´re testing it, or if you´re building/built for it.

[@dind20078]

Oximo It got fixed on ptr, because it was not working properly. Thats why it was neglected.

[@malavius]

Oximo Is there a damage counter or something for D3?

[@PinkB00mer]

Johan Hederberg No there is not.

[@Patrackification]

Dunno if I got this right but he said Area damage cannot proc off AOE - meaning Archon Wizard doesn't benefit from it. But he says it's a key stats on his guide...

[@Radagab_]

I got a question. Does a Uliana's monk benefit from area damage or overall dmg increase on weapons ?

[@kurasystemgaming3465]

Is AD affected by proc coefficient? or simply should I consider its proc rate as 20% each damage?

[@wallydragonking8567]

So with the barb build and using Frenzy/Thorn build. When the hack applies the thorns dmg. While the Thorn dmg have a chance to do area dmg?

[@noblefamlee]

Great vid. What are the implication for Pets proccing AD now?

[@diablo4938]

HI Quin,i want to ask when the barb activate the battle rage(bloodshed) ,let say the barb hitting mobs the battle rage will proc the AD or not

[@Stonewall337]

I've been hearing that area damage both causes lag in multiplayer games and also doesn't work correctly for some reason. Can you tell me if the former is still the case or is area damage still a really good stat for AoE? As another aside, do you know a good formula, website, or way to calculate the relative value of stats (Primary, crit chance, crit damage, etc) without simply relying on the in game sheet? Thanks!

[@shaunpeterson6146]

If I manually use rend to proc my AD and then start Whirlwinding how often do I need to use Rend? I guess im asking how often do I need to use rend compared to WW on my barb in a large group?

[@Julyon]

So the 20% Flatchance of AD does not get multiplied with your skillprocrate?

[@FallenJustice]

Good guide for the noobs. Good job with the infographics and spreadsheets

[@xForgotnSoul]

Professor Quin is in the building boys.

[@bunkkidznd]

what about crippling wave? dose AE procs on the focused target onlly or the whole pack that was damaged by it?

[@Dracandros76]

Great guide, any bets to how much for hydra build is good, I mean beyond the paragon point induced gloves + shoulders and offhand too much?

[@tremonray2483]

I wonder how Monk is going to fit this stat in, rolling a Monk automatically means 1 less stat choice on gear ala CDR-dependency issues for survability aka Epiphany.

[@Sundetx]

Is area damage the same as the source damage? Like if you are using fire spells would the are damage also be fire dmg and put mobs on fire?

[@NormFC]

So on my monk, I have a hellfire amulet that gives me Mythic Rhythm (Which is on your 3rd spirit generator, it increases your next spirit spenders damage by 40%) and an Ess of Johan. If im stacking % Area Damage when im not stacking % cold, I should be doing more damage when I can mass everyone together?

[@TheLobardo]

Great video. I would like to ask you, does the area damage works if you cast meteor shower while using Etched sigil (wizard off hand weapon) ? I mean the auto casting from this legendary item. Thank you in advanced.

[@Winteraesthetik]

Is it also worth it to have in normal rifts as opposed to pushing high GRs looking for a dream greater rift?

[@Jizzlewobbwtfcus]

This was fascinating stuff. Great research dude. love watching your posts. Thank you very much for these. Hope you have a great new year :D

[@iblis89]

if there is say 3 monsers and you damage all 3 , isnt it possible that area damage proccs 2 times? or does it limit itself to only 1 procc out of the spell? same with 10 minions, it can procc 9 additional times... if you have 100% area damage, and it proccs 9 times, isn't there a 20% chance that it does 900% damage compared to your original hit? and before you note, yes, it should be 20% on each monster, so the odds of it proccing 9 times is pretty low, but still.. it should be possible?

[@stevenmckay7132]

So an AoE skill like EP can proc the AD on all the enemies that are in that 10 yard radius as well...just thought i'd say that since you didnt mention that in the video

[@mereckbxl111]

What about the sorcerer's electrocute spell ? Are all mobs damaged by electrocute damage mobs around them too ? (for a chain reaction between mobs) Or is it only around the first mob damaged ?

[@chainezo]

+Mereck Bxl it procs off all sources of dmg. including every hit by electrocute

[@cohenxa73]

Does it make sense to stack area damage for a belle wizard (Explosion Blast) ?

[@clankboss827]

please help dude!!! i have 100% reduction on my crusader from set and item effect sooo does my armor/resistances do anything for me?or am i only receiving 1 of the buffs of 50% reduction from all sources and the other one cant work with the first 1...

[@ryuzclown1]

quin how many hours do you spend formulating or figuring these things out amazing info but its astounding that you have boiled all this down to a mathematical level. and were would on start to do all this on there own is there files in D3 that show damage out puts or code you can find to extract these numbers ?

[@thelovebelow3378]

Do you think a pet build WD in 2.3 would benefit more or less from area damage? It would proc more just because of how many times your pets are hitting every second between them, but it would be harder to bunch enemies up.

[@TheEnthe0s]

+Tytus Hamilton Area damage is pretty insane with CarneJeram with DoD (and SMK). The piercing darts can proc area damage on several targets per shot, which also works with your dart-shooting pets now aswell.

[@Aseroidify]

+Tytus Hamilton Bit late to the party, but WD benefits massively from AD, not only for the pets, but in general since they have very strong single-target in 2.3 (5 pets shooting for the same as 23 pets did before + 18 pets meleeing for 130% your sheet dps) and clearing AoE whites/elites etc gives you more time on the RG! :D

[@thelovebelow3378]

Aseroidify ty bby

[@Jerokhna]

+Aseroidify Problem with this... Pets are not YOU. So you as the source means pets shouldn't benefit AT ALL from your AD. Explain to me if I'm wrong but this seems to go against the description of the stat.

[@Aseroidify]

But they do. It's been proven numerous times in the /r/diablo3 or /r/diablowitchdoctors or something sub-reddit.

[@eXquiSiT69]

Does area damage depends on skill proc coefficients ?

[@xanakify]

do you know if shenlong is still viable after the nerfs? was super lucky and got both ancient with good damage rolls so wondering if i get to use it

[@glacialrelic7878]

so area dmg on gear for even more GR fishing for rg that summons six or more ads reliably?

[@JohnsenDelavero]

Hey Quin C. Now I thought area dmg is fixed by patch 2.4. (But) last time i tryed Primäry monk with 150% area dmg and with the normal attacks (crippling wave fire) i crit for like 5-7 Billion . But i dont have the feeling that area dmg where proccing. So i Shut off the krit numbers ingame. (cause you said that area dmg never crits) and i watched a long time that white little tiny numbers but none of them came close to 5-7 billion they even hit only for millions. What schould i do? Is area dmg not fixed for monks or is area dmg now a yellow/golden number that crits or what is it.

[@HoGji1337]

Okay, just need to know... Does area damage work on Rend as a Barbarian?

[@nilo7628]

Quin awsome video! Just few questions... Area Dgm chance (20%) scales with skill proc rate you use? And another question, an "Area" skill (like WD Acid Rain) will have a chance to proc area dmg for every enemy you hit inside the AOE skill or just that one you targeted (or hit first)? Ty man

[@krischanrudolph6005]

I dont get what "AD doesnt proc from legendary items.." means. Because everyone is using legendary weapons AD would be useless to everyone. Or does it not proc from damage the brown special feature of a legendary makes?

[@eliasschreiegg1745]

Hey Quin, great guide as always but one question is still not answered. Is it always 20% chance to proc AD or does it multiply by the skill proc-rate?

[@QuintessenceHD]

So any kind of set or something that does additional spells, for example the Tal Rasha set is completely useless to get Area Damage? Because the extra meteors won't be able to proc Area Damage?

[@Oxim-fz3so]

***** yes

[@delle2000]

you think this AE dmg could be good to stack on a frenzy LoN barb?

[@kardszy]

Question: If you have a chance to stun, can AD proc it?

[@JamezBongg420]

Does AOE skills proc AD on many enemies at a time or just 1 per cast, like if I hit 5 enemies with let's say multishot once, can AD proc on all of them or just on 1 of them?

[@antona4004]

Nvm, I mathed wrong ;(

[@PaCosCast]

So if i have 15 tiki monsters hitting a pack of piranhadoed mobs each individual tiki has a 20% chance to proc the AD in 2.3? That's insane...

[@PerseusKarvasius]

well what build you recommend if i go this AD road?

[@solbrainbraver]

This guy Quiin69 dude, this guy looks like a GOD!