Damage Types & Resistances
VvW recognises 6 damage types: Physical, Magical, Holy, Shadow, Fire, Frost. Each has paired resistance. PvP gear typically rolls 2 resistance affixes; PvE gear rolls based on encounter type. Resistance caps at 75% — additional points are wasted.
Physical vs Magical
Physical (sword, claw): scales with STR, mitigated by armor. Magical (spells): scales with INT, mitigated by magic resist. Most warriors split 60/40 phys/magic; mages run 80/20.
Elemental triangles
Holy ↔ Shadow (counter each other). Fire melts Frost; Frost shatters Fire. Race passives interact: vampires take +10% Holy damage, werewolves take +10% Frost. Build accordingly.
Resistance scaling
Each point of resist = 0.5% damage reduction. Soft cap: 50% (each point above costs 2× to gain). Hard cap: 75%. Stat-stick rune slots typically add 5-15 resist per slot.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best resistance to stack?
Whatever the next boss/PvP-meta deals. Check /stats.html for live damage-type distribution.
Do resistances apply to DoTs?
Yes — at 80% effectiveness vs initial hit.
Can I overcap resistance?
No — anything above 75% is wasted. Reroll affixes if you're at cap.