Mechanic

Debuffs

Debuffs are negative effects that deal damage or penalise stats for a duration or while a condition is met.
0.5.4d
Current data

Catalog version 0.5.4d

No direct 0.5 patch change is linked to this page. The displayed values are current for catalog version 0.5.4d.

What Debuffs does

Current rules

Identify the debuff by name, then check its magnitude and duration. Two copies of the same debuff normally do not stack, so only the strongest copy applies. Different debuffs can apply at the same time. Ailments, Curses, Hinder, Maim, and Exposure are examples of debuffs, but each family has additional rules.

Same type normally does not stack
Unless a mechanic explicitly says otherwise, multiple copies of the same debuff do not combine. Only the strongest copy applies.
Different types can coexist
Hinder and Maim are different debuffs, so both can affect one target. Their movement Slows then follow the multiplicative Slow rules.
Magnitude and duration are separate
Magnitude controls how strong a numerical debuff is. Duration controls how long it remains. A modifier to one does not automatically modify the other.
Unaffected is not immunity
A debuff you are unaffected by can still be placed on you, but its effect does not apply. Immunity prevents the specified debuff from being applied.
Ailments are a subset
Bleeding, Ignite, Chill, Freeze, Shock, Electrocution, and Poison are ailments and therefore debuffs. Hinder and Maim are debuffs but are not ailments.

Effect by item type

4 cases
02
Curses

Debuffs created by Curse skills. Curse activation, limits, magnitude, and duration use their own rules.

Related: Curse, Temporal Chains, Despair
03
Movement debuffs

Hinder and Maim apply movement Slows. Maim also reduces Evasion Rating.

Related: Hindered, Maim, Slow
04
Exposure

A debuff that lowers the target's Total Elemental Resistances.

Related: Exposure, Resistances

Limits and exceptions

4 rules
  • Do not assume every harmful status is an ailment. Ailment is one debuff family.
  • Do not add the values of two copies of the same debuff unless the rule explicitly allows stacking.
  • A stronger debuff taking effect does not mean every weaker copy has been removed. The strongest applicable copy controls the effect.
  • Effect, magnitude, expiry rate, and duration are different modifier scopes.