Pierce

This article is a stub. Please help improve the article by expanding it.

This page is about the projectile behavior. For the support gem, see Pierce Support.

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

Mechanics

Arrows and projectiles apply their effects for each enemy they hit or pierce, so for skills that depend on applying a debuff, such as Essence Drain, chance to pierce can be very powerful. For skills that explode on hit, such as Fireball, Ice Shot, and Caustic Arrow, the explosion occurs for every hit. Having 100% pierce chance overrides other projectile effects such as chaining, forking, and returning. Having a partial chance to pierce allows for these other effects to take place.

Pierce chance

Pierce chance is rolled independently for every hit. If a projectile fails to pierce, one of the other effects – chain, fork or return – may apply. Pierce chance cannot exceed 100%.

Arrow Pierce Chance

All projectiles have an Arrow Pierce Chance stat, regardless of whether the projectile is actually an arrow. A projectile's Arrow Pierce Chance is equal to the sum of all x% chance of Projectiles Piercing modifiers and x% chance of Arrows Piercing modifiers. Arrow Pierce Chance cannot exceed 100%. The Arrows always Pierce modifier found on InfractemInfractem
Decimation BowBow
Quality: +20%
Physical Damage: (128.8-161.7) to (269.1-308.7)
Critical Strike Chance: (6.50%-7.50%)
Attacks per Second: 1.20
Weapon Range: 120Requires Level 53, 170 Dex(30-50)% increased Critical Strike Chance+(20-30) to Dexterity
(110-125)% increased Physical Damage
Adds (25-35) to (36-45) Physical Damage
10% increased Movement Speed
+(350-400) to Accuracy Rating
Cannot Leech Life
Arrows Pierce all TargetsMark us with mercy, then press on with care,
Execute us steadily, notch away at our despair. provides 100% Arrow Pierce Chance. Projectiles that inherently always pierce—such as those of Freezing Pulse—have 100% Arrow Pierce Chance.

Related Effects

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

• Powerful Precision grants an increased critical strike chance equivalent to arrow pierce chance.
• DrillneckDrillneck
  Penetrating Arrow QuiverRequires Level 36Arrows Pierce an additional Target(8-12)% increased Attack Speed
  +350 to Evasion Rating
  +(40-50) to maximum Life
  Adds (10-14) to (19-24) Physical Damage to Bow Attacks
  Arrows deal 50% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments to Targets they Pierce"Why waste such a fine arrow on just one man?"
  - Kiravi, Vaal Archer provides the modifier Projectile Damage increased by 50% of Arrow Pierce Chance.
• SlivertongueSlivertongue
  Harbinger BowBow
  Quality: +20%
  Physical Damage: (174-192) to (404.4-428.4)
  Critical Strike Chance: (6.50%-7.50%)
  Attacks per Second: 1.20
  Weapon Range: 120Requires Level 68, 212 Dex(30-50)% increased Critical Strike ChanceAdds (110-125) to (245-265) Physical Damage
  (150-200)% increased Critical Strike Chance with arrows that Fork
  Arrows Pierce all Targets after Forking
  Arrows that Pierce have +50% to Critical Strike MultiplierA hundred blind heads, each seeking the taste of prey on the air. causes arrows that pierce to always cause bleeding.

Sources

Basic Passive Skills

Depending on pathing, 40%, 45%, or 50% projectile pierce chance can be obtained from the passive tree.

• Projectile Damage and Pierce with 5% chance of Projectiles Piercing and 8% increased Projectile Damage (2 nodes)
• Pierce (passive skill) with 10% chance of Projectiles Piercing
• Piercing Shots with 30% chance of Projectiles Piercing

Ascendancy Passive Skills

• Powerful Precision for the Deadeye grants 100% chance for projectiles to pierce, decaying with distance, as well as an increased critical strike chance equivalent to arrow pierce chance.
• Deadeye for the Ascendant grants 30% chance of Projectiles Piercing

Items

• InfractemInfractem
  Decimation BowBow
  Quality: +20%
  Physical Damage: (128.8-161.7) to (269.1-308.7)
  Critical Strike Chance: (6.50%-7.50%)
  Attacks per Second: 1.20
  Weapon Range: 120Requires Level 53, 170 Dex(30-50)% increased Critical Strike Chance+(20-30) to Dexterity
  (110-125)% increased Physical Damage
  Adds (25-35) to (36-45) Physical Damage
  10% increased Movement Speed
  +(350-400) to Accuracy Rating
  Cannot Leech Life
  Arrows Pierce all TargetsMark us with mercy, then press on with care,
  Execute us steadily, notch away at our despair., always
• VoidwalkerVoidwalker
  Murder BootsQuality: +20%
  Evasion: (481-555)
  Energy Shield: (44-51)Requires Level 69, 82 Dex, 42 Int+(30-50) to Dexterity
  (140-180)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield
  30% increased Movement Speed
  20% chance to Avoid Projectiles while Phasing
  You have Phasing if you've Killed Recently
  Projectiles Pierce 5 additional Targets while you have Phasing
  Celestial FootprintsStep into the void
  and experience true freedom., while Phasing
• SlivertongueSlivertongue
  Harbinger BowBow
  Quality: +20%
  Physical Damage: (174-192) to (404.4-428.4)
  Critical Strike Chance: (6.50%-7.50%)
  Attacks per Second: 1.20
  Weapon Range: 120Requires Level 68, 212 Dex(30-50)% increased Critical Strike ChanceAdds (110-125) to (245-265) Physical Damage
  (150-200)% increased Critical Strike Chance with arrows that Fork
  Arrows Pierce all Targets after Forking
  Arrows that Pierce have +50% to Critical Strike MultiplierA hundred blind heads, each seeking the taste of prey on the air., after chaining
• Penetrating Arrow QuiverPenetrating Arrow QuiverRequires Level 36Arrows Pierce an additional Target (and DrillneckDrillneck
  Penetrating Arrow QuiverRequires Level 36Arrows Pierce an additional Target(8-12)% increased Attack Speed
  +350 to Evasion Rating
  +(40-50) to maximum Life
  Adds (10-14) to (19-24) Physical Damage to Bow Attacks
  Arrows deal 50% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments to Targets they Pierce"Why waste such a fine arrow on just one man?"
  - Kiravi, Vaal Archer) with 10% chance of Arrows Piercing
• Poacher's AimPoacher's Aim
  Viridian JewelLimited to: 1Projectiles Pierce an additional Target
  10% increased Projectile DamageA sharp eye can be more deadly than a sharp blade.Place into an allocated Jewel Socket on the Passive Skill Tree. Right click to remove from the Socket. with 15% chance of Projectiles Piercing
• Horned TalismanHorned TalismanTalisman Tier: 2Projectiles Pierce 2 additional TargetsCorruptedThe Empire hides lies and falsehoods
  Behind a mask of politeness and civility.
  The First Ones teach us to look through the lies,
  And that no beast can truly cover their tracks.
  - The Wolven King between (25-35)% chance of Projectiles Piercing
• Greatwolf TalismanGreatwolf TalismanTalisman Tier: 4<Two random talisman implicit modifiers>CorruptedThe wolf greeted the king,
  In the light of the harvest moon.
  The wolf offered the strength of the wild,
  And the king paid for it in blood. (and Eyes of the GreatwolfEyes of the Greatwolf
  Greatwolf TalismanTalisman Tier: 4Requires Level 52

  <Two random talisman implicit modifiers>

  Projectiles Pierce 2 additional Targets +1 to maximum number of Raised Zombies (6-10)% increased Attack and Cast Speed (20-30)% increased Attack Damage (4-6)% chance to Freeze, Shock and Ignite 50% of Cold Damage from Hits taken as Fire Damage 50% of Cold Damage from Hits taken as Lightning Damage Gain (6-12)% of Physical Damage as Extra Damage of a random Element 10% chance to gain an Endurance Charge on Kill 50% of Fire Damage from Hits taken as Cold Damage 50% of Fire Damage from Hits taken as Lightning Damage 10% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge on Kill (15-25)% increased Global Defences (12-16)% increased Attributes (5-8)% increased Area of Effect (19-31)% increased Chaos Damage (20-30)% increased Cold Damage (40-50)% increased Global Critical Strike Chance +(24-36)% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier (25-35)% increased Damage (20-30)% increased Fire Damage (6-10)% increased Quantity of Items found (8-12)% increased maximum Life (20-30)% increased Lightning Damage (20-30)% increased maximum Mana (20-30)% increased Global Physical Damage 50% of Lightning Damage from Hits taken as Cold Damage 50% of Lightning Damage from Hits taken as Fire Damage Regenerate 2% of Life per second 10% chance to gain a Power Charge on Kill (4-6)% additional Physical Damage Reduction (20-30)% increased Spell Damage

  Implicit Modifier magnitudes are doubled
  CorruptedI am but a vessel for a greater force.
  It acts through me. Speaks through me.
  Decides what lives and dies through me.
  And will change the world through me.)

Vaal Orb Corruption

• Bows can gain the Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 10Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again.
  Shift click to unstack. implicit (5 to 10)% chance of Arrows Piercing
• Wands can gain the Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 10Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again.
  Shift click to unstack. implicit (4 to 8)% chance of Projectiles Piercing

Chance to be Pierced by Projectiles

Currently, there is only one source of chance to be pierced.

• Lioneye's VisionLioneye's Vision
  Crusader PlateQuality: +20%
  Armour: (1923-2223)
  Movement Speed: -5%Requires Level 59, 160 Str, 160 DexSocketed Gems are Supported by Level 15 Pierce
  (200-250)% increased Armour
  +(60-100) to maximum Life
  0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana
  +160 Dexterity Requirement
  Enemy Projectiles Pierce you"The Virtue Gems are a gift from the land,
  our land, and we will not let our gifts
  be destroyed by savages."
  - Marceus Lioneye has the unique mod +20% chance to be Pierced by Projectiles

Skill Gems

• Lioneye's VisionLioneye's Vision
  Crusader PlateQuality: +20%
  Armour: (1923-2223)
  Movement Speed: -5%Requires Level 59, 160 Str, 160 DexSocketed Gems are Supported by Level 15 Pierce
  (200-250)% increased Armour
  +(60-100) to maximum Life
  0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana
  +160 Dexterity Requirement
  Enemy Projectiles Pierce you"The Virtue Gems are a gift from the land,
  our land, and we will not let our gifts
  be destroyed by savages."
  - Marceus Lioneye supports socketed skill gems with level 15

The following skill gems have projectiles that always pierce:

• Spectral Throw
• (arrow)
• Siege Ballista
• Tornado Shot (initial arrow)
• Freezing Pulse
• Ice Spear (first form)
• Incinerate