Mechanic

Pierce

A Projectile that Pierces damages a target and continues through it instead of ending at that collision.

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 Pierce does

Current rules

Each successful Pierce lets the Projectile pass through one target while still damaging it. Pierce is checked after Split and before Fork or Chain. A Projectile with one remaining Pierce passes through the next target, then can Fork or Chain from a later target after its Pierce count is exhausted. A Projectile that Pierces all targets never reaches enemy Fork or Chain behavior.

Pierce continues through the target: The Projectile still damages the target, then continues along its path instead of ending at that collision.
A count is spent per successful Pierce: Pierces an Enemy allows one successful Pierce. Pierce all Targets has no finite enemy count. A chance to Pierce is checked independently at each eligible collision.
Split happens before Pierce: If the Projectile can Split and has not already Split, the first eligible collision uses Split before Pierce is considered.
Pierce happens before Fork and Chain: A collision resolved as a Pierce does not also Fork or Chain. When finite Pierce is exhausted, a later collision can proceed to Fork and then Chain.
Pierce all can prevent later enemy behaviors: Because Pierce has higher priority, a Projectile that always Pierces enemies will not Fork or Chain from an enemy. Terrain can still end the Projectile or activate a separate terrain behavior.
After Piercing modifiers need a completed Pierce: A modifier that applies after Piercing begins only after the Projectile has successfully Pierced an enemy. It does not modify the first hit before that Pierce unless its wording says otherwise.

How this behavior applies

7 cases

Pierce I

Projectiles Pierce one enemy and deal 20% less Damage after they have Pierced an enemy.

Related: Pierce I

Pierce II

Projectiles Pierce one enemy without the after-Pierce damage penalty used by Pierce I.

Related: Pierce II

Pierce III

Projectiles Pierce all targets and deal 20% less Damage for each enemy they Pierce.

Related: Pierce III

Chance to Pierce

Projectile Acceleration II and passive or item modifiers can grant a chance to Pierce. Each eligible collision checks that chance.

Skills that Pierce all

Frostbolt, Explosive Spear, High Velocity Rounds, Twister, and other skills explicitly state when their Projectiles Pierce all targets.

Return conditions

Drillneck can make Attack Projectiles Return after enough Pierces. Ironbound can make Arrows Return after Piercing a target with Fully Broken Armour.

RequiresLevel 55100% chance to Pierce an Enemy+(60-90) to maximum Life(8-12)% increased Attack SpeedGain Deflection Rating equal to (24-32)% of Evasion RatingAttack Projectiles Return if they Pierced at least (2-4) timesProjectiles deal (42-64)% increased Damage with Hits for each time they have PiercedProjectiles have (42-64)% increased Critical Hit chance for each time they have Pierced"Why waste such a fine arrow on just one man?"- Kiravi, Vaal Archer, IronboundIronboundUnique | Warden Bow

Physical Damage12-20Critical Hit Chance5%Attacks per Second(1.21-1.27)Armour(100-150)RequiresLevel 11, 23 Dex(25-35)% chance to Chain an additional time+(100-150) to Armour(5-10)% increased Attack Speed+12% to Block chance(3-5)% increased Block chance per 100 total Item Armour on Equipped Armour ItemsHits with this weapon have (1-2) to (4-5) Added Physical Damage per 1% Block ChanceArrows Return if they have Pierced a target which had Fully Broken ArmourEach crest was a Thane's word, bolted to Ivor's bow.They would join the Count's side, or die by his hands., Returning Projectiles, Armour

Behavior restrictions

Snakepit prevents Spell Projectiles from Piercing. Glacial Lance Pierces all targets but explicitly cannot Split. Read Cannot wording before combining behaviors.

RequiresLevel 32(7-10)% increased Cast Speed(20-30)% increased Spell Damage(10-15)% increased Cast SpeedLeft ring slot: Projectiles from Spells cannot ChainLeft ring slot: Projectiles from Spells ForkRight ring slot: Projectiles from Spells Chain +1 timesRight ring slot: Projectiles from Spells cannot ForkProjectiles from Spells cannot PierceThey wrap around you until your blood turns as cold as theirs., Glacial Lance, Split

Limits and exceptions

6 rules

Pierce is a Projectile collision behavior. Resistance Penetration is a separate damage calculation.
A successful Pierce does not also Fork or Chain at the same collision.
Pierce all Targets can prevent enemy Fork and Chain from ever occurring.
Terrain cannot be Pierced.
A Projectile can still end because of maximum travel distance, duration, terrain, or another skill-specific rule.
A damage penalty that says after Piercing does not apply before the first successful Pierce.

Related mechanics

MechanicReturning Projectiles

Returning Projectiles travel back to the entity that originated them after reaching the end of their travel or hitting their final target.

MechanicProjectile

A Projectile is a moving entity created by an Attack or Spell. Projectile describes delivery, not the source type or damage type, so the Projectile can still be an Attack or Spell and can deal any supported damage type.

MechanicChain

Chain redirects an effect from the enemy it hits to another valid target. A skill that Chains 2 times can hit its first target, then redirect twice and reach up to three different targets if each redirect finds a target in range.