Critical strike
Critical strike is a passive ability that gives a chance to deal bonus damage on a successful attack.
Contents
Mechanics[edit]
A Critical Strike's occurence is determined upon beginning an attack, and not upon attack launch or attack landing. This means when, for example, having a Crystalys and starting an attack, but then upgrading the Crystalys into a Daedalus, the attack still applies the Crystalys crit, since it was determined upon attack begin. Or when attacking an enemy affected by Soul Rend, and the debuff expires during an already started attack's animation, that attack still applies the crit, since it started while the debuff was still there.
Multiplier[edit]
An attack which triggers Critical Strike has its total damage value multiplied by the given multiplier of the source of the Critical Strike. This means a critical strike is basically an attack damage amplifier, as it does not add extra damage on top of the attack damage, but directly increases the damage of the attack by multiplying it.
The multiplier is applied before any reductions or amplifications on the target or on the attacking unit. It only counts the unit's main attack damage (base damage, plus damage gained from the primary attribute), plus any bonus damage (percentage and flat bonuses) it has, meaning any damage instance added to the attack damage which is separate from the attack damage itself is not considered by critical strikes. If an ability adds its damage directly to the attack damage, then it may be considered by Critical Strike, though there are exceptions to this. See Final Attack Damage for the complete calculation.
All chance-based sources of Critical Strike use pseudo-random distribution.
Visual feedback[edit]
When a Critical Strike occurs, a red-colored number pops up on the victim of the strike, with a lightning bolt icon on the right side of the number. This number shows the multiplied damage value before any reductions or amplifications. This means the displayed value does not equal the damage the target actually took from the attack.
Stacking[edit]
When having multiple sources of Critical Strike, and both trigger on the same attack, the Critical Strike with the higher multiplier takes priority, while the lower one does nothing. This means their proc chances stack, working independently from each other, but their effects do not stack, resulting in a diminishing behavior.
Attack modifier interactions[edit]
Critical Strike is an attack modifier which fully stacks with any other modifier. However, it does not interfere with any attack modifier. If an attack modifier increases or reduces attack damage, it is counted by the critical damage multiplier. Abilities which grant conditional attack damage bonuses may or may not be by the multiplier.
- Lifesteal: Lifesteal is calculated after critical strikes, which means that it increases the amount of life you steal.
- Cleave: Cleave is calculated after critical strikes, which means it deals increased damage to all units within the cleave radius.
- Splash and Psi Blades are calculated after critical strikes, which means they deals increased damage to all units within the cleave radius.
Conditional attack damage bonuses which are counted by critical strike are:
Conditional attack damage bonuses which are not counted by critical strike are:
Abyssal Blade – Bash
Ancient Apparition – Chilling Touch
Anti-Mage – Mana Break
Clinkz – Searing Arrows1
Diffusal Blade – Manabreak
Drow Ranger – Frost Arrows
Drow Ranger – Marksmanship1
Enchanted Quiver – Certain Strike
Enchantress – Impetus
Faceless Void – Time Lock1
Gleipnir – Chain Lightning
Javelin – Pierce
Maelstrom – Chain Lightning
Mirana – Mana Break
Mjollnir – Chain Lightning
Monkey King Bar – Pierce
Necronomicon Warrior – Mana Break
Outworld Destroyer – Arcane Orb
Roshan – Bash
Shadow Blade – Shadow Walk
Silencer – Glaives of Wisdom1
Silver Edge – Shadow Walk
Skull Basher – Bash
Slardar – Bash of the Deep
Sniper – Headshot
Spectre – Desolate
Storm Spirit – Overload1
Templar Assassin – Meld
Ursa – Fury Swipes
Warlock Golem – Flaming Fists
Weaver – Mana Break
1 Multishots / bounces can proc critical strikes. The bonus damage from the spell is not affected by critical damage.
Sources of chance-based critical strike[edit]
Proc Chance: 20%
Critical Damage: 200%
Average DPS Increase: 20%
Passive Proc Chance: 24%
Active Proc Chance: 72%
Critical Damage: 145%/160%/175%/190% (
225%/240%/255%/270%)
Average Passive DPS Increase: 10.8%/14.4%/18%/21.6% ( 30%/33.6%/37.2%/40.8%)
Average Active DPS Increase: 32.4%/43.2%/54%/64.8% ( 90%/100.8%/111.6%/122.4%)
Spell gives a passive chance to critical strike but can be activated to temporarily increase the chance by 48%.
Proc Chance: 30% ( 40%)
Critical Damage Minimum: 120%
Critical Damage Maximum: 140%/170%/200%/230%
Average DPS Increase: 9%/13.5%/18%/22.5% ( 12%/18%/24%/30%)
Proc Chance: 30%
Critical Damage: 160%
Average DPS Increase: 18%
Proc Chance: 30%
Critical Damage: 225%
Average DPS Increase: 37.5%
Proc Chance: 20%/25%/30%/35%
Critical Damage: 180%
Average DPS Increase: 16%/20%/24%/28%
Proc Chance: 40% ( 72%)
Critical Damage: 150%/175%/200%
Average DPS Increase: 20%/30%/40% ( 36%/54%/72%)
Affects all units under the control of the caster during Shapeshift.
Proc Chance: 40% ( 72%)
Critical Damage: 150%/175%/200%
Average DPS Increase: 20%/30%/40% ( 36%/54%/72%)
Requires Aghanim's Scepter and Shapeshift to be unlocked. Proc chance and critical strike damage depend on the current level of Shapeshift.
Proc Chance: 15% ( 22%)
Critical Damage: 200%/325%/450%
Average DPS Increase: 15%/33.75%/52.5% ( 22%/49.5%/77%)
Proc Chance: 24%
Critical Damage: 200%
Average DPS Increase: 24%
Other sources[edit]
The following abilities involve a critical strike mechanic, although they are not triggered as a chance on attack.
Critical Damage: 130%
Causes all attacks against the targeted enemy to be critical strikes.
Critical Damage: 140%/170%/200%
Causes all of the casters attacks against the tracked enemy to be critical strikes.
Critical Damage: 130%
Cooldown: 7
Attacks with a guaranteed critical strike when off cooldown.
Critical Damage: 150%/190%/230%/270% ( 215%/255%/295%/335%)
Hits all enemies within its range with a critical strike.
Critical Damage: 150%
Buff Duration: 2.5
Requires Aghanim's Shard. All attacks have a guaranteed critical strike during buff.
Critical Damage: 150%/175%/200%/225% ( 190%/215%/240%/265%)
Hits all enemies within its range with a critical strike.- Critical Damage: 350% ( 430%)
Attacks with a guaranteed critical strike when used. 
Critical Damage: 140%/180%/220%/260%
Cooldown: 4 ( 2)
Attacks with a guaranteed critical strike when off cooldown.
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