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[ | ]
Melee Weapons[ | ]
Weapon Family | Weapon Types | Speed (indicated) |
Interrupt (indicated) |
Action time | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attack | Recovery | ||||
Fast one-handed melee weapons | Bash, Club, Dagger, Flail, Hatchet, Monk Fist, Rapier, Stiletto | Fast | 0.35 s (Weak) | 0.66 s | 1.11 s |
Large one-handed melee weapons | Battle axe, Mace, Sabre, Spear, Sword, War hammer | Average | 0.5 s (Average) | 1.0 s | 1.66 s |
Two-handed melee weapons | Estoc, Great sword, Pike, Pollaxe, Quarterstaff | Slow | 0.75 s (Strong) | ||
Morning star | 1.0 s (Stronger) |
Ranged Weapons[ | ]
Weapon Family | Weapon Types | Speed (indicated) |
Interrupt (indicated) |
Action time | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attack | Recovery | Reload | ||||
Fast Bows | Hunting bow | Fast | 0.5 s (Average) | 1.0 s | 1.66 s | — |
Fast Magical implements | Scepter, Wand | |||||
Large Bows | War bows | Average | 1.5 s | 2.5 s | ||
Large Magical implements | Rod | |||||
Reloading Crossbows | Crossbow | Slow | 0.75 s (Strong) | 3.33 s | ||
Arbalest | Very Slow | 6.0 s | ||||
Firearms | Blunderbuss | 0.05 s (Weakest) | 5.0 s | |||
Pistols | 0.35 s (Weak) | |||||
Arquebus | Extremely Slow | 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[ | ]
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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 The White March - Part I | +15% | Stolen for 10 seconds on Hits |
Estoc | Blade of the Endless Paths Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Pike | Citzal's Spirit Lance Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Spear | Danulya Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Scepter | Engwithan Scepter Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Pistol | Forgiveness Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Arbalest | Hold-Wall Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Sword | Last Blade of the White Forge Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Quarterstaff | Llawran's Stick Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Dagger | March Steel Dagger Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Rod | Pretty Pretty's Rib Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Hatchet | Rêghar Konnek Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Battle axe | Rimecutter Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
War hammer | Strike Hard Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Rapier | Sword of Daenysis Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
War bow | The Rain of Godagh Field Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Flail | Unforgiven Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Crossbow | Wendgär Pillars of Eternity | +20% | All |
Equipment[ | ]
one – bonus while equipped
Slot | Item | Attack Speed modifier | Affected attacks |
---|---|---|---|
Hands | Gauntlets of Swift Action Pillars of Eternity | +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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nature's Bounty (item) | +20% | 20 sec | all | user |
Potion of Power | +25% | 20 sec | all | user |
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) | Arduous 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% |