Pierce

Pierce is a behaviour of projectiles that enables them to pass through targets they hit, continuing along their original trajectory.

Mechanics

Only one projectile behaviour can be applied each time a projectile hits a target. Pierce has first priority for projectile behaviours, followed by fork, chain, then return. This means that if you had pierce, fork, and chain supporting the same skill, it would first pierce to its maximum number of pierces, then fork, and only then would it be able to chain to its maximum number of chains.

The number of times a projectile can pierce is equal to the sum of all Projectiles Pierce x additional Targets modifiers. If a projectile is an arrow, Arrows Pierce x additional Targets modifiers are included in the sum. The Projectiles Pierce all Targets modifier built in to Freezing Pulse and Soulrend allow projectiles to pierce an unlimited number of times. The Arrows Pierce all Targets modifier found on Infractem functions the same way for arrow projectiles.

Projectiles apply their on-hit effects to each target they pierce or otherwise hit. For example, Essence Drain will apply its debuff to each target a projectile hits. Skills such as Ice Shot and Kinetic Blast apply their on-hit area damage effects each time a projectile pierces or otherwise hits a target. The explosion behaviour of some projectiles, such as Fireball and Creeping Frost, is not an on-hit effect and occurs only when a projectile ceases to exist.

Related effects

Some unique items or passive skills provide bonuses based off of pierce.

• Powerful Precision grants Projectiles Pierce all nearby Targets and Projectiles have 100% increased Critical Strike Chance against Targets they Pierce .

• Drillneck grants the modifier Arrows deal 50% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments to Targets they Pierce .

• Slivertongue has 50% chance to inflict bleeding with Piercing arrows.