Combat | Game mechanics Black Desert Online Guide

The basics

Combat status

In Black Desert, combat focuses on your manual skills more than having the very abilities in the game. Thus, you use combinations of certain combat abilities. All the available abilities are visible during combat on the right side of your character (see photo). When selecting abilities, the game automatically shows which buttons are responsible for available combinations. Using combinations is a better option than pressing buttons randomly.

Certain active abilities have additional bonuses that one can combine via combinations:

1. Down Attack - damage dealt x1.5, this bonus is activated when you attack enemies that lie on the ground.
2. Back Attack - damage dealt x1.5, this bonus is activated when hit enemies from behind.
3. Counter Attack - damage dealt x2.0, this bonus is activated when you hit enemies who are using combat abilities.
4. Air Attack - damage dealt x2.5, this bonus is activated when you attack enemies who are in midair.

All these bonuses accumulate with your attack rate and the attack rate of the very ability. To maximize the effects, activate combat abilities according to situations, and thus deal more damage.

Apart from additional damage, combat abilities have special effects. These effects increase the likelihood of combining combat abilities even further. The available effects are:

1. Knockdown - a combat ability with a Knockdown effect will sweep enemies off their feet. Continue your attacks with another Down Attack ability.
2. Faint/Rigid - This effect will let you sneak up on your enemy from behind and use a combat ability based on Back Attack.
3. Knock Up - This effect will throw your enemies into midair and then make them fall to the ground. Thus, you will grant you two opportunities to deal extra damage: Air Attack when your enemy is in midair, and Down Attack once he hits the ground.

You can use all the effects and combine combat abilities as you wish. You will find out that some enemies are immune to special effects which prevents you from dealing extra damage. The only bonus that can be used regardless of the situation is Back Attack; you don't need to activate any special effects to use it, and you are only required to stand behind your opponent.

Enemies

The color determines your opponent's level

The level of your opponents is another thing. During your adventures you will hunt many monsters, some of them will be weak, and some of them will be strong. Their strength depends directly on their level, or to be more specific, the difference between your and their levels. The entire combat in Black Desert is based on this simple rule. If you encounter an enemy that has a violet name, you will be in for a serious battle, but if you encounter the same monster (having the same equipment and combat skills) with a green name above his head, he will not stand a chance.

You can use this knowledge to gain experience quickly. Hunt down monsters that have the same level as you, and you will not receive any penalties to your damage rate. At the beginning of the game avoid opponents with their names in red or violet (sometimes even pink), as the ratio of experience to time required to kill such monsters is not worth it. When you reach higher levels, you will have the appropriate equipment and fighting stronger enemies will be much easier. The following list refers to colors that determine your opponent's level:

1. Grey - His level is significantly lower than yours. It's the easiest type of enemies that you will encounter. Gaining experience via defeating such monsters is not recommended.
2. Green- His level is lower than yours (1-3). An easy monster to kill (recommended when your level is low and you don't have good equipment).
3. White - A balance between your levels. It's a common type of monsters that you encounter (recommended when your level is low and you don't have good equipment).
4. Light red/pink - An enemy that is stronger than you (1). Such enemies receive less damage, and thus players with lower levels and mediocre equipment should avoid such monsters.
5. Red/dark red - An enemy with a higher level (2). Such enemies receive less damage. Recommended for high level characters with good equipment and abilities.
6. Violet - A very strong enemy with a much higher level (3+). Only for high level characters with high quality and upgraded equipment, and abilities that deal a lot of damage.

When dealing with enemies try to eliminate several at once (if you have such abilities). Most character classes have special area attacks that can destroy several enemies at once. Use them as often as possible to gain experience and loot faster. There is however a certain barrier that does not allow you to hunt down monsters as effectively as you would like. You can only be attacked by several enemies at once (5-10 opponents). Other monsters around you will not attack, even if you kill their friends, right in front of them. Lure enemies in larger groups.

Important information

Gaining knowledge while killing monsters

When you first encounter an enemy, you will not have any knowledge about him. During the battle his health bar will flicker, but you won't see how much health he has got left. It's a part of gaining knowledge about your enemies that can be revealed by combat (by killing actually). When you kill a monster you can receive one of several ranks - C, B or A. When you reach rank C, the life bar will be visible and you will deal additional damage. Further ranks provide better damage and better resistance. It is not obligatory to reach rank A in case of all the creatures, especially that most combat is related to quests. On the other hand, try to reach rank C as soon as possible to get access to the life bar, and general information about creatures that can be used to improve Amity.

It is essential to restore your life points, stamina and mana regularly. Use special potions to do that effectively. Depending on your level, health points and silver, you will use different potions. Although you will receive potions for completing quests, you can always get some more from a local merchant. You may also want to craft or purchase food that can provide you with additional boosts. Some meals can give you very useful effects. Other boosts can be acquired via scrolls or gained experience. Special scrolls that increase your luck can be received for completing main quests or found in chests scattered around the game world. Decide where you want to gain experience and use all the available boosts to make the whole process more effective.

Important information concerning combat:

1. Combine your abilities.
2. Abilities can be used as you wish, along with their effects.
3. Use the current status of your opponents to deal even more damage.
4. Your enemy's level (color) defines the difficulty level.
5. Gain at least the first level of knowledge about each enemy (rank C).
6. Carry your potions to restore your health, stamina and mana when needed.