Critical Weakness | PoE2 Mechanic

What Critical Weakness does

Current rules

Critical Weakness adds to base Critical Hit Chance before increased, reduced, more, and less Critical Hit Chance modifiers. At 20 stacks it adds +10% base chance. For example, a Hit with 5% base chance becomes 15% base at maximum stacks; 100% increased Critical Hit Chance would then make that 30% before any other applicable modifiers. Each stack has its own duration.

Each stack adds +0.5% base Critical Hit Chance: The bonus applies to Hits against the affected target and is added to base Critical Hit Chance before percentage increases and reductions.
The maximum is 20 stacks: Twenty stacks provide +10% to base Critical Hit Chance.
Each stack normally lasts 4 seconds: The default duration is 4 seconds per stack unless the source specifies another duration.
Stack durations are independent: Applying a new stack does not refresh every existing stack. At the cap, newer stacks replace the oldest stacks.
It helps all eligible Hits against the target: The keyword applies to Hits against the affected target. It is not restricted to the character that applied the stacks unless a source adds an ownership restriction.
It changes chance, not Critical Damage Bonus: Critical Weakness makes a Hit more likely to be Critical. It does not increase the damage multiplier of a Critical Hit.

Current effects and sources

5 cases

01

Malice

The persistent Aura repeatedly applies Critical Weakness to enemies in your Presence. Repeated applications build and maintain stacks as their individual durations expire.

Related: Malice, Aura, Presence

02

Reap

Reap applies Critical Weakness with a 6-second duration and has its own Culling Strike interaction.

Related: Reap, Culling Strike, Duration

03

Kelari

Kelari's attacks inflict Critical Weakness. Kelari's Deception clone explosions can inflict two additional stacks.

04

Sandstorm Visage

Every second, the helmet inflicts Critical Weakness with a long rolled duration on enemies in your Presence while also Blinding them.

Related: Sandstorm Visage, Blind, Presence

05

Passive and Ascendancy sources

Howling Beast makes Warcries inflict three stacks. Deadeye's Bullseye applies ten stacks when consuming a Mark on an enemy.

Related: Warcry, Mark, Deadeye

Limits and exceptions

6 rules

Critical Weakness does not increase Critical Damage Bonus.
It affects Hits. Damage over time does not roll Critical Hit Chance.
A new stack does not refresh the duration of every existing stack.
The normal maximum is 20 stacks even when the applications come from different sources.
The +0.5% per stack is added to base chance before percentage Critical Hit Chance modifiers.
A source-specific duration overrides the normal 4-second duration for its stacks.

Related pages

12 connections

mechanicCritical Hit

Critical Hits deal +100% extra damage (i.e. twice as much damage) by default. Critical Damage Bonuses can further modify this value.

mechanicDebuffs

Debuffs are negative effects that deal damage or penalise stats for a duration or while a condition is met.

mechanicDuration

Duration is the length of time a skill component, Buff, Debuff, Ailment, Curse, Mark, Minion, Totem, Flask effect, Charm effect, Hazard, or delayed event remains active. Each duration modifier applies only to the effect type it names.

mechanicHit

A Hit is an instantaneous damage event. Any damage that is not damage over time is Hit damage, whether it comes from an Attack, a Spell, Thorns, or another effect.

skillMalice

While active, emits an Aura that continuously inflicts Critical Weakness on enemies in your Presence.

skillReap

Conjure a bloody scythe that sweeps across the targeted area, dealing Physical damage to enemies and applying Critical Weakness. Cannot be Triggered.

skillKelari, the Tainted Sands

Summon Kelari, an invulnerable Sand Djinn Minion, to do your bidding. Kelari will only act when you Command him to do so. Kelari delivers swift Hits with massive Critical Hit potential.

skillKelari's Deception

Kelari's Deception is a skill gem.

unique itemSandstorm Visage

+(80-120) to maximum Energy Shield

mechanicBlind

Blind is a debuff that gives the affected target 20% less Accuracy Rating and 20% less Evasion Rating for 4 seconds unless another duration is specified.

mechanicWarcry

Warcries are active skills that count the Power of nearby enemies and then apply their own damage, control, Guard, Rage, or attack empowerment effects.

mechanicMark

Marks are single-enemy debuffs with a trigger condition. When that condition occurs, the Mark activates, produces its stated result, and is usually consumed. An enemy can have only one Mark at a time by default.