Attack Speed

Attack Speed is a measure of how fast a character carries out combat actions. The base value is defined by the type of the attack, but it can be modified by various stats and effects of the attacker. It is separate from Reload Speed, and not to be confused with Move Speed.

(*) Up to date list of attack speed related effects, weapons base speeds, plus mechanics behind the attack system can be found here.

(*) Attack speed calculator (online tool for speed estimation) can be found here.

Base

Weapon Attacks

Weapon Type	Attack	Recovery
Bash, Club, Dagger, Flail, Hatchet, Monk Fist, Rapier, Stiletto	0.66 s	1.11 s
Battle axe, Estoc, Great sword, Mace, Morning star, Pike, Pollaxe, Quarterstaff, Sabre, Spear, Sword, War hammer	1.0 s	1.66 s

Weapon Type	Attack	Recovery	Reload
Hunting bow, Scepter, Wand	1.0 s	1.66 s
Rod, War bow	1.5 s	2.5 s
Crossbow			3.33 s
Pistol, Blunderbuss			5 s
Arbalest			6 s
Arquebus			6.8 s

Animation durations are rounded up, resulting in additional ~0.1 second delays (up to 0.5 seconds for reload times).

Dual wielding gives a 50% recovery time reduction. All attack speed buffs similarly only modify the recovery time (as opposed to action speed, which modifies everything, and reload speed).

Other Attacks

...

Dexterity

For each point of Dexterity above 10, the speed of all of the character's attacks is increased by 3% (additive, not multiplicative):

Dexterity	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	...
Attack Speed Modifier	+3%	+6%	+9%	+12%	+15%	+18%	+21%	+24%	+27%	+30%	+33%	+36%	+39%	+42%	...

Similarly, for each point of Dexterity below 10 it decreases by the same amount:

Dexterity	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Attack Speed Modifier	-24%	-21%	-18%	-15%	-12%	-9%	-6%	-3%

Buffs

Besides buffing up dexterity, there are various ways to further increase attack speed directly.

A character's attack speed for a given kind of attack can benefit from the following at the same time:

Passive abilities/talents

unlimited – permanently active once learned

Type	Ability	Attack Speed modifier	Affected attacks
Barbarian ability	Bloodlust	+20%	after downing 2 enemies (for 8 sec)
Class-neutral ability	Two Weapon Style	+20%	passive ability for dual-wielding

Weapons

unlimited – bonus while equipped Weapon bonuses only effect attacks made with the equipped weapon.

Weapon type	Name	Attack Speed modifier	Affected attacks
Rapier	Spelltongue [WM1]	+15%	Stolen for 10 seconds on Hits
Stiletto	Vent Pick [WM2]	+15%	All
Estoc	Blade of the Endless Paths	+20%	All
Pike	Citzal's Spirit Lance	+20%	All
Spear	Danulya	+20%	All
Scepter	Engwithan Scepter	+20%	All
Pistol	Forgiveness	+20%	All
Arbalest	Hold-Wall	+20%	All
Sword	Last Blade of the White Forge	+20%	All
Quarterstaff	Llawran's Stick	+20%	All
Dagger	March Steel Dagger	+20%	All
Rod	Pretty Pretty's Rib	+20%	All
Hatchet	Rêghar Konnek	+20%	All
Battle axe	Rimecutter	+20%	All
War hammer	Strike Hard	+20%	All
Rapier	Sword of Daenysis	+20%	All
War bow	The Rain of Godagh Field	+20%	All
Flail	Unforgiven	+20%	All
Crossbow	Wendgär	+20%	All

Equipment

one – bonus while equipped

Slot	Item	Attack Speed modifier	Affected attacks
Hands	Gauntlets of Swift Action	+15%	All

Modal or active buffs

one – which includes:

Modal abilities

– bonus while turned on

Type	Ability	Attack Speed modifier	Affected attacks	Affected characters
Ranger ability	Swift Aim	+20%	ranged	user
Chanter phrase	Sure-Handed Ila Nocked Her Arrows with Speed	+20%	ranged	allies in aura

Active abilities/spells

– temporary bonus when used

Type	Ability	Attack Speed modifier	Duration	Affected attacks	Affected characters
Barbarian ability	Frenzy	+33%	12 sec	all	user
Monk ability	Swift Strikes	+25%	10 sec	all	user
Paladin ability	Hastening Exhortation	+20%	30 sec	all	single ally
Wizard spell (3rd level)	Deleterious Alacrity of Motion	+50%	30 sec	all	user

Consumable items

– temporary bonus when used

Item	Attack Speed modifier	Duration	Affected attacks	Affected characters
Potion of Deleterious Alacrity of Motion	+50%	30 sec	all	user

Debuffs

Spells, powers or active abilities that directly decrease the attack speed of enemies, include:

Type	Ability	Attack Speed Modifier	Duration	Affected Attacks	Affected Characters
Wizard spell (3rd level)	Ardous Delay of Motion	-20%	15 sec	all	foes in AoE

Also, there are many ways for characters to put an affliction on foes, which in turn reduces those enemies' attack speed:

Affliction	Attack Speed Modifier
Charmed	-25%
Dazed	-15%