Crit Damage Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my two builds have the same average damage?

Different chance and multiplier combinations can produce the same expected multiplier. A classic tie is 40% crit at x2 versus 20% crit at x3 - both yield a 1.4 average multiplier. The tie-breaker is variance and how the game handles burst or overkill.

Crit chance or crit damage - which should I prioritize?

The marginal value depends on your current values. Extra crit chance is worth more when crit damage is high, and vice versa. Use this calculator to test the exact crossover for your numbers.

Does variance matter if the averages are equal?

For a long fight the averages converge by the law of large numbers. For burst windows or execute thresholds, the higher-variance build has a better chance of a huge hit but also risks weaker hits.

What about guaranteed crits or always-crit windows?

During a forced-crit phase the effective multiplier is simply critMult with no averaging. Abilities that guarantee crits are worth far more on a high-crit-damage build.

Should I enter total crit damage or the bonus on top of normal?

Enter the total multiplier - for example enter 2 if crits deal double damage, or 2.5 if you have +150% crit damage listed as a bonus on top of a base double-damage crit.

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Estimates for informational purposes only.

Important Disclaimer: Estimates for informational purposes only.

This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results are based on assumptions and may not reflect actual outcomes. Consult qualified professionals in relevant fields before making important decisions based on these results.

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How It Works

When you weigh up two gear sets, talents, or stat shards, the question is never "how big is a crit" but "what is my average damage per hit over many swings". Crits are random, so the meaningful figure is the expected value: most hits land for base damage, a fraction land for the crit multiplier, and the long-run average blends the two.

This tool computes that expected damage for one build and, optionally, a second build, then tells you which is stronger and by what percentage - the only honest way to compare a high-crit-chance setup against a high-crit-damage one without grinding a dummy for an hour.

The formula is: Average damage = base × (1 + critChance × (critMult − 1)). The bracketed term is the expected multiplier: with probability p you deal critMult× and with probability (1 − p) you deal 1×, so the mean multiplier is 1 + p×(critMult − 1). To compare builds, the tool divides the larger average by the smaller and subtracts one to express the edge as a percentage.

Use Cases

This calculator is essential for any game where critical hits play a role in build optimization:

Comparing two weapon loadouts with different crit stats before committing to a craft or upgrade.

Evaluating whether a crit-chance shard outperforms a crit-damage shard given your current build numbers.

Theorycraft for RPG min-maxers deciding between two talent paths that shift the crit balance.

Checking whether a high-base-damage weapon beats a lower-base crit-heavy alternative over sustained combat.

Validating simulator results by reproducing expected DPS from first principles.

Tips

Get the most out of crit optimization with these practical tips:

Balance, don't stack one stat: You maximize the product critChance × (critMult − 1), so whichever term is currently smaller usually gives a bigger marginal gain.

Watch for the "crit bonus" trap: Many games display "+150% crit damage" which means a ×2.5 multiplier total, not ×1.5 - always confirm what the tooltip means.

Base damage multiplies everything: A weapon upgrade that raises your base scales your entire average linearly, including the crit contribution, so it is often stronger than a marginal crit shard.

Check for crit cap: Most games cap crit chance at 100%; surplus is wasted unless it converts to another stat - don't over-invest once you're near the cap.

Variance matters in burst windows: If a one-shot threshold matters (execute phases, burst windows), a high-variance crit-damage build gives a better peak hit at the cost of lower minimums.

FAQ

Why do my two builds have the same average damage?

Different chance and multiplier combinations can produce the same expected multiplier. A classic tie is 40% crit at ×2 versus 20% crit at ×3 - both yield a 1.4 average multiplier. The tie-breaker is variance and how the game handles burst or overkill.

Crit chance or crit damage - which should I prioritize?

The marginal value depends on your current values. Extra crit chance is worth more when crit damage is high, and vice versa. Use this calculator to test the exact crossover for your numbers rather than following generic advice.

Does variance matter if the averages are equal?

For a long fight the averages converge by the law of large numbers. For a one-shot burst or execute threshold, the higher-variance build has a better chance of a huge hit but also risks weaker hits - pick spiky for breakpoints, steady for sustained pressure.

What about guaranteed crits or always-crit windows?

During a forced-crit phase the effective multiplier is simply critMult with no averaging. Abilities that guarantee crits are worth far more on a high-crit-damage build, so line them up with your biggest hits.

Should I enter total crit damage or the bonus on top of normal?

Enter the total multiplier - for example enter 2 if crits deal double damage, or 2.5 if you have +150% crit damage listed as a bonus on top of a base double-damage crit.

Crit Damage Calculator

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