Character Attributes Explained
Introduction
In the world of TERA, attributes represent your character's gameplay characteristics. They’ll tell you how much damage you are able to deal and how high the chance of a critical hit is, for example. Trying to understand what each of the various stats and modifiers actually do can be a daunting task. They are just words and numbers, but what does it all actually mean? In order to make some of TERA's core mechanics slightly more transparent, we have created a small introduction to the world of stats and theory crafting for you.
After reading the following paragraphs, you will no doubt understand your character a little better, and be able to improve upon character aspects that you were not happy with in the past. Perhaps your character succumbed to knockdown effects quite often. With the knowledge you gain from this article, you will be able to look for items that increase your balance and bump your character's performance up a notch.
A better understanding of TERA's attribute system will allow you to experience your character anew.
Attribute categories and how they work together
There are different categories for attributes. We have combat attributes, stats (determined by your character’s class), and we have item stats and other things that add stats, like buffs, for example.
Where can you see these attributes, you may ask. Just open your profile by pressing P. What you can see there are various attributes. But what does it all mean? It may seem difficult at first, but there’s an easy formula behind it. When looking at the combat attributes, you will already have the result of this formula. So it’s really easy to get all the important numbers at a glance. If you want to go deeper into it, it’s also possible to get the details behind it. The combat attributes are calculated by taking the numbers from the character’s unique stats, then adding your item stats and additional things, like buffs.
Now that you know the calculation behind it, we need to have a look at the attributes themselves. To understand why your character acts the way he/she does, it’s important to know what each attribute does, so you can improve the right things and get decent gear and buffs. That way, you can overcome weaknesses and be more powerful in the end.
Combat Attributes
As mentioned before, combat attributes are an overview of your character’s abilities. The simple rule is: the higher the numbers, the better the chance of success.
Attack
Represents a character’s attack ability and is composed of his/her item stats and the Power stat – it does not affect healing spells
Defense
Represents a character’s defensive ability and is composed of his/her item stats and the Endurance stat
Impact
Represents the ability to successfully provoke, knock down, or immobilise your opponent
Balance
Represents the ability to resist knockdown and immobilisation effects
Crit Rate
Represents the chance of successfully landing a critical hit
Crit Resist
Represents the chance of successfully resisting a critical hit
Crit Power
Represents the damage difference between a normal and a critical hit
Stats
These stats vary from class to class.
Power
A representation of your character's basic ability to attack
Endurance
A representation of your character's basic ability to defend
Impact Factor
A representation of your character's basic ability to provoke, knock down, or immobilise an opponent
Balance Factor
A representation of your character's basic ability to resist knockdown and immobilisation effects
Attack Speed
A representation of your character's basic attack speed – it affects all combat speeds, including healing spells
Movement
A representation of your character's basic movement speed
Item Stats
Attack Modifier
The bonus that an item will confer to the Power stat
Impact Modifier
The bonus that an item will confer to the Impact Factor stat
Defense Modifier
The bonus that an item will confer to the Endurance stat
Balance Modifier
The bonus that an item will confer to the Balance Factor stat
With your newly gained knowledge, you’re now ready to kick some BAMs’ asses and fight your way to the top!