'Ello,

So what exactly is the difference? Cause I heard multiple things, such as that heavy attack deals splash damage if you're wielding two-handed weapon, and if target is stunned by blocking - heavy attack on stunned target knocks them down?

So how does this work for bow and staffs? Is there and damage difference for light and heavy attacks for bow, staff and melee?

Thanks for any input.

2H dealing splash damage is a passive ability - it's not tied to a strong attack by default. Light attacks are quick (almost instant) but deal low damage. Heavy attacks take time to charge (extended animation) before you physically connect with your enemy, but they deal more damage.

I know some skills affect light and heavy attacks differently. Restoration staff has a passive that heals a group member at the end of a heavy attack.

I can only say for bows since I haven't used staves yet. Bows will just allow you to do more damage per shot, i'm assuming there is a level of skill to this, i.e if you hold down long enough for the shot to be "overcharged" each time then you might end up with higher DPS, but that's just my theory, I can't say if that is actually true. It's definitely a good idea to start an attack against an enemy with a long drawn back, sneak attack.

Yeah, I guess so... But that's just it, can only speculate it does more damage. Would like to know about staffs if anyone knows.

Depends on the staff.. Destruction staffs if you hold down for your strong attack it will hit more damage, than a quick shot. Also yes stronger attacks on certain conditions or weapons do different things.

I couldn't find a link but for the most part they will be about the same in dps if you're talking purely on the attacks alone without concidering passives.. Where you will want to use this most would be sneak openings if you don't have another hard hitting skill as you get a damage bonus on sneak attacks so you would want to open with a heavy then lights + whatever.. In pvp for instance I wouldn't want to use a heavy attack while in the open say 1 v1 .. Thou my experience with pvp is limited I do know I want my gobal to be reseting as soon as possible incase I need to use that get the hell outa here skill fast

Here's my experience of light and heavy attacks with staves:

- If the enemy is reeling (has the white halo over their head), a heavy attack will knock them down, even with a staff.
- The heavy attack for some staves (restoration and shock) is a continuous stream of damage. Special heavy attack effects (heal from restoration staff, knocking enemies down) only occur at the end of the stream.
- The heavy attack for other staves (fire and frost, I believe) charge up then release all of their damage in a single burst.
- There's a restoration passive that heals a nearby ally for a percentage of heavy attack damage done.
- There's a destruction passive that increases the speed of heavy attacks. Didn't get to test how this affects shock staff damage output, but I'd assume it's a shorter duration stream that does more damage per tick.

I hope this helps!

AFAIR 2H splash damage is a passive ability you need to purchase (it's 5/10% damage I think?).

The other bit is entirely correct with melee weapons - block an enemy 'special' attack and the enemy becomes stunned... a heavy attack will then knock them down.

Same for bows....

From my experience drawn bow attacks after a sneak attack do the same damage and LMB mashing attack. Unless they changed this theres no point in doing a full draw after sneak attack

Yeah outside of the first full drawn hit, I was just fine mashing poison arrow and the quick attack. Trying to work in additional full draw attacks seemed to be overkill.

Maybe it is different on longer fights towards end-game.

For some reason it felt worth it to fully charge staves, though that could very well be my own perception.

How can you tell when the heavy attack is fully charged before release?

I felt fully drawn staves hit harder then standard as well

Does it by default. A single click is short attack, holding it down will end up in a power attack.

I am uncertain what happens if you let go half way through. I suspect it is an all or nothing type of deal, that it would end up as a quick attack, but maybe it works on a gradual scale.

Thanks for the info guys, nice to finally know these stuff. Altho it seems staffs most benefit from charging heavy attacks rather than mashing light attacks?