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For Diablo III and Diablo IV gameplay mechanic, see Critical Hit.
Critical Strike
Critical Strike

Class: Amazon
Required Level: 1
Skill Tree: Passive and Magic Skills
Resource used: Passive

Grants a chance to do double damage.

Damage Type: Physical
Synergies: Valkyrie

Critical Strike is an Amazon Skill in Diablo II, providing a chance to do double damage on attacks. It is one of the first skills an Amazon can learn in the Passive and Magic Skills tab.

Critical Strike is also the name of the effect provided by skills of Assassins (Claw Mastery) and Barbarians (various weapon-specific Combat Masteries). They also allow a chance to do double damage on attacks.

Lore[]

Among the arsenal of techniques employed by the Amazon warrior is her ability to study opponents carefully and detect any weaknesses. She can then use these deficiencies in her adversary to strike at precisely those areas that will cause the greatest injuries.

General Information[]

Synergies[]

  • Gives synergy to :
    • Valkyrie: 100% effect transferred to the Valkyrie
  • Receives synergy from : None

Critical Strike grants the Amazon a chance to deal double the damage her strike would normally have dealt. Other effects, including non-physical damage, still only apply once. Amazons who focus on skills that deal elemental damage (Lightning Fury, Freezing Arrow or such) only gain a doubling of the physical component of their damage.

Investing in this skill suffers heavily from diminishing returns. There is only a 10% better chance to release critical strikes between levels 11 and 20, which averages to about less than 0.5% per point. Most of the time, placing just one point into it is plenty, especially when paired with items that grant bonus skill levels.

Because Critical Strike works with any weapon, it is a very useful Amazon skill regardless of build. Critical Strike is potent because it is a Passive skill, so it is always active and combines with any additional skills such as Multiple Shot, Pierce and so on.

Any points invested into Critical Strike also grants Valkyrie summons the same chance to deal twice the amount of damage.

Barbarian Combat Masteries give the chosen weapon type a chance to deal Critical Strike, functioning just like this skill.

Skill Progression[]

Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Chance to Crit 16% 25% 32% 38% 42% 46% 49% 51% 54% 56% 58%
Level 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 25
Chance to Crit 59% 61% 62% 63% 65% 65% 66% 67% 68% 71%