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Breakpoints & Animations

Last Updated:March 3, 2024|Change Log

The Diablo 2 engine runs at 25 Frames per Second (FPS). Every action a character performs requires a specific number of frames to complete. Frames can't be broken down into fractions, therefore you have to reduce the count by a complete Frame to shorten the animation length, leading to the Breakpoints of the animation. We can improve the Cast Rate, Hit Recovery, Block Rate and Attack Rate through their corresponding Affixes on gear or Skill effects. Each of these animations has their own calculation on how to reduce its Frame count, which we go into detail in their respective sections. This leads to a table of numeric values that can be reached for each of them, the so-called "Breakpoints". Due to the complexity of Attack Speed, it is covered in our Attack Speed article.

Class Breakpoints

Amazon
Assassin
Barbarian
Druid
Necromancer
Paladin
Sorceress
Mercs

Cast Rate

The Cast Rate of the Amazon depends on the Weapon she is using.

Using a Bow

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
01910
71810
14179
22169
32158
48148
68137
99127
152116

Crossbow or Two-Handed-Swords

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flag
01912
71812
111811
141711
221611
261610
321510
48149
68139
86138
99128
152118
180117

No Weapon

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
01911
71811
131810
141710
221610
29169
32159
48149
56148
68138
99128
113127
152117

Two-Handed Staves, Hammers, Axes, Polearms, Spears, One-Handed Knives, or Javelins

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
01913
71813
101812
141712
221612
231611
321511
421510
481410
681310
72139
99129
133128
152118

Hit Recovery Rate

Faster Hit RecoverHit Recovery Frames
011
610
139
208
327
526
865
1744

Block Rate

The Block Rate of the Amazon depends on the Weapon she is using.

1-Handed Swinging Weapons (Axes, Clubs, Maces, Scepters, Swords, Throwing Axes, and Wands)

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
017
416
615
1114
1513
2312
2911
4010
569
808
1207

Other Weapons

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
05
134
323
862

Cast Rate

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
0169
8159
15158
16148
27138
39137
42127
65117
86116
102106
17496

Hit Recovery Rate

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
09
78
157
276
485
864
2003

Block Rate

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
05
134
323
862

Cast Rate

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
0139
9129
15128
20118
37108
39107
6397
8696
10586
20076

Hit Recovery Rate

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
09
78
157
276
485
864
2003

Block Rate

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
07
96
205
424
863

Cast Rate

Human Form

Fast Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
01810
41710
101610
11169
19159
30148
46138
63137
68127
99117
142116
163106

Werewolf

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
0168
6158
10157
14147
26137
37136
40126
60116
95105
15795

Werebear

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
0169
7158
15148
26137
40127
63116
99106
16395

Hit Recovery Rate

1-Handed Swinging Weapons (Axes, Clubs, Maces, Scepters, Swords, Throwing Axes, and Wands)

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
014
313
712
1311
1910
299
428
637
996
1745
4564

Other Weapons

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
013
512
1011
1610
269
398
567
866
1525
3774

Werewolf

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
07
96
205
424
863
2802

Werebear

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
013
512
1011
1610
249
378
547
866
1525
3604

Block Rate

Human Form

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
011
610
139
208
327
526
865

Werewolf

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
09
78
157
276
485
864

Werebear

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
012
511
1010
169
278
407
656
1095

Cast Rate

Normal

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
0158
9148
18137
30127
48116
75106
12595

Vampire Form

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
0235
6225
11215
18205
24194
35184
48174
65164
86154
120143
180133

Hit Recovery Rate

Normal

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
013
512
1011
1610
269
398
567
866
1525
377

Vampire Form

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
015
214
613
1012
1611
2410
349
488
727
1176
2085

Block Rate

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
011
610
139
208
327
526
865

Cast Rate

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
0159
9149
15148
18138
30128
39127
48117
75107
86106
12596

Hit Recovery Rate

Spears and Staves

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
013
312
711
1310
209
328
487
756
1295
280

Other Weapons

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
09
78
157
276
485
864
2003

Block Rate

Without Holy Shield

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
05
134
323
862

With Holy Shield

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
02
861

Cast Rate

Regular Frames

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
0137
9127
20116
37106
6395
10585
20074

Lightning / Chain Lightning

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
0197
7187
15177
20176
23166
35156
52146
63145
78135
117125
194114
200114

Hit Recovery Rate

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
015
514
913
1412
2011
3010
429
608
867
1426
2805

Block Rate

Faster Block RateBlock Frames
09
78
157
276
485
864

Cast Rate

Act 1 Mercenary

Rogues use Inner Sight, however, she uses her Attack Rate for it. Faster Cast Rate has no effect.

Act 3 Mercenary

Faster Cast RateCast FramesAction Flags
0177
8167
15157
20156
26146
39136
58126
63125
86115
138105
200104

Hit Recovery Rate

Act 1 Mercenary

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
011
610
139
208
327
526
865
174

Act 2 Mercenary

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
015
514
913
1412
2011
3010
429
608
867
1426

Act 3 Mercenary

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
017
516
815
1314
1813
2412
3211
4610
639
868
1337
2326

Act 5 Mercenary

Faster Hit RecoveryHit Recovery Frames
09
78
157
276
485
864
2003

Cast Rate

Mechanics

  • Cast Rate determines how fast the animation for a casting based Skill is.
  • Your cast animation can be interrupted by...
    • ... hits that put you into Hit Recovery (see below).
    • ... stuns.
    • ... you blocking.
  • The animation is split into 3 sections.
    • Frames before the Skill activation
    • The "Action Flag" - The Frame when the Skill occurs
    • The remaining Frames of the animation, before another action can be taken
  • You can speed up the animation by using gear with +xx% Faster Cast Rate (FCR).
    • Effective Faster Cast Rate is capped to 75%. As a result, having more than +200% FCR equipped has no effect at all.

Calculations

Cast Delay

Skills with a Cast Delay (CD or Cooldown) cause a waiting period before they can be cast again. This period starts at the Action Flag. Cast Delay Skills don't hinder each other to be cast without a waiting period.
The CD itself can't be reduced by any means, however, due to the interaction with the Action Flag, you can reduce the interval (Action Flag + Delay) by hitting Breakpoints for the Action Flag.

Cast Delay Skills

Hit Recovery

Mechanics

  • Hit Recovery will interrupt other animations like, cast animation, attack animation, run/walk animation, or your idle animation (standing around).
  • While in Hit Recovery, you are unable to perform any actions.
  • You can be put into Hit Recovery repeatedly without cooldown, potentially leading to a full "stun lock".
  • You can improve the animation by using gear with +xx% Faster Hit Recovery (FHR).

Calculations

Block Rate

Mechanics

  • Blocking is an animation that is performed when you successfully block a physical attack. This includes the Assassins' Weapon Block.
  • While blocking, you are unable to perform any actions.
  • You can block repeatedly without cooldown, potentially leading to a full "block lock".
  • You can speed up the animation by using gear with +xx% Faster Block Rate (FBR).
    • This Affix is exclusive to Shields, making it very hard to come by. The only exceptions to this rule are Guardian Angel and Pattern.

Calculations

Summary

  • Animations are an integral part of your Character's power and survival.
  • The information accessible in-game is limited to summing up the animation improving Affixes without telling you whether you actually hit a Breakpoint.
  • With every Breakpoint, you reduce the corresponding animation by 1 Frame or 0.04 seconds.

Credits

Written by Teo1904
Reviewed by MacroBioBoi

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