How does ignite damage work?

How Does Ignite Damage Work?

Ignite damage is a complex mechanic in Path of Exile (PoE) that involves burning damage over time and reducing healing effects on a target. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into how ignite damage works, its underlying mechanics, and provide examples of ignite damage in PoE.

Ignite Mechanics

Ignite is based on the hit’s base damage, meaning it isn’t affected by things that only boost the hit. It’s an ailment, not a spell, so it’s not affected by increased spell damage. Instead, ignite is calculated by taking 20% of the base damage of the hit and dealing it every second for 4 seconds, resulting in a total of 80% base damage dealt over time. This is often referred to as "burning" damage.

Calculating Ignite Damage

When a character applies ignite damage to a target, it’s calculated by taking the base damage of the hit and multiplying it by the ignite damage coefficient. The coefficient is set to 0.2 by default, which means 20% of the base damage is dealt as burning damage every second for 4 seconds.

Reducing Healing

Ignite also reduces the target’s healing effects over time. The reduction amount is based on the ignite’s duration and the target’s maximum life. For every second of the ignite duration, the target’s healing is reduced by a set percentage of its maximum life.

Characteristics and Interactions

Ignite damage has several characteristics that affect its behavior and interactions with other game mechanics.

• Applies with physical attacks: Ignite only applies with physical attacks, such as melee strikes and projectiles.
• Capped at maximum life: Ignite damage is capped at the target’s maximum life, ensuring it won’t deal more damage than the target can take.
• Immune to ignite: Characters with immunities to ignite will not take ignite damage.
• Ignite damage type: Ignite damage is considered a form of burn damage, which means it’s affected by damage-over-time (DOT) reducers and ignores certain forms of damage reduction.

When to Use Ignite Damage

Ignite damage can be a powerful tool in the right situations. When to use ignite damage?

• Boss fights: Ignite can be useful in boss fights, as it deals damage over time and allows for more frequent hits while the boss is busy recharging.
• Traps and spells: Ignite can be used on traps and spells to amplify their damage and increase the overall damage output.
• Clearing trash: Ignite can be helpful in clearing trash mobs by dealing damage over time, allowing for a more leisurely pace and less aggro.

Conclusion

Ignite damage is a complex mechanic in Path of Exile that requires a good understanding of its underlying mechanics and interactions. By understanding how ignite damage works, players can make more informed decisions about when to use ignite and how to maximize its effectiveness.