How is Damage Calculated?

This page will explain how damage is calculated in the game Fire Emblem Heroes (FEH). Please read on if you are curious as to how much damage your unit's attacks will do to a defending foe.

Basic Rules for Calculating Damage

The basic rules for damage calculation are as follows.

Weapon	Damage Calculation
	Damage inflicted = The attacking unit's Atk minus the defending unit's Def
	Damage inflicted = The attacking unit's Atk minus the defending unit's Res
	Damage inflicted = (The attacking unit's Atk minus the defending unit's Res) x 0.5

Attack type is determined by the type of weapon used

The damage inflicted upon a unit is dependent on the attacking unit's Atk stat and the defending unit's Def or Res stat. Physical attacks are dependent on an opposing unit's Def stat, while magic attacks are dependent on the opposing unit's Res stat.

• Physical: Sword, Lance, Axe, Bows, Daggers
• Magic: Red Tome, Blue Tome, Green Tome, Red Breath, Colorless Breath, Red Breath, Blue Breath, Green Breath, Staff

Damage from staffs are halved

One thing to keep in mind is that the damage from staffs will be calculated using half of the wielder's Atk stat.

However, this excludes units equipped with Wrathful Staff, as their Atk will be calculated the same as other weapons.

Weapon Triangle Affinities

The most important factor to keep in mind for calculating damage is the Weapon Triangle. Red is strong against green, blue is strong against green, while green is strong against blue.

The Effect of Weapon-Advantage on Damage

• Weapon Advantage: (Attacking unit's Atk stat x2) minus the foe's Def or Res
• Weapon Disadvantage: (Attacking unit's Atk stat x0.8) minus the foe's Def or Res

How numbers with decimals are calculated

At some points, the resulting amount of damage to be inflicted will not be a whole number. In that case, the following will happen:

• With weapon-triangle advantage or no advantage/disadvantage, the value will be rounded down (i.e. 34.7 > 34)
• With weapon-triangle disadvantage, the value will be rounded up (i.e. 32.3 > 33)

Chart of Weapon-Triangle Advantage and Disadvantage

	Advantage Against	Disadvantage Against
Sword Red Tome Red Breath Red Dagger Red Bow Red Beast	Axe Green Tome Green Breath Green Bow Green Dagger Green Beast	Lance Blue Tome Blue Breath Blue Bow Blue Dagger Blue Beast
Lance Blue Tome Blue Breath Blue Bow Blue Dagger Blue Beast	Sword Red Tome Red Breath Red Dagger Red Bow Red Beast	Axe Green Tome Green Breath Green Bow Green Dagger Green Beast
Axe Green Tome Green Breath Green Bow Green Dagger Green Beast	Lance Blue Tome Blue Breath Blue Bow Blue Dagger Blue Beast	Sword Red Tome Red Breath Red Dagger Red Bow Red Beast

The Weapon Triangle will increase or decrease damage by 20%

When the units in combat have different color classes, the damage output will change by ±20% (excluding colorless). Units will triangle advantage will have their damage output increase by %20, while units with triangle disadvantage will have their damage output decrease by 20%.

Colorless units are unaffected by the weapon triangle!

Colorless units are unaffected by the weapon triangle, so they will deal and take damage as normal. However, if a foe wielding a Raven tome such as Gronnraven+ is present, the colorless unit will have triangle disadvantage during combat, so watch out for your opponent's weapons.

Triangle Adept will amplify the effects of Weapon Advantage

The skill Triangle Adept will increase or decrease the effects of triangle advantage. When Triangle Adept is active and a unit is attacking with triangle advantage, that unit will deal 1.4x damage. Likewise, if Triangle Adept is active and a unit is attacking with triangle disadvantage, they will only deal 0.8x damage. This skill is active not just when your unit initiates combat, but for the foe as well, so watch out for foes with weapon advantage!

Watch out for changes from Cancel Affinity

The skill Cancel Affinity will cancel the effects of Triangle Adept and other skills that grant weapon-triangle advantage (thereby returning the damage output to 100% for both units). Since this skill made specifically to counter Triangle Adept exists, make sure to always check your foe's skills.

Increases in Damage from Effective Weapons

The largest change when calculating damage will come from effective weapons. The damage output change from effective weapons is rather large in comparison to weapon-triangle advantage, increasing damage output by 50%.

Damage Calculation for Effective Weapons

(Unit's Atk stat x 1.5) - foe's Def or Res

List of Effective Weapons

Skill Name	Damage Effect
Masking Axe	Effective against cavalry foes.
Thani	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Rapier	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Mirage Feather	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Wing-Lifted Spear	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Light of Dawn	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Wing Sword	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Dawn Suzu	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Moonlight Drop	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Reginleif	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
New Dawn	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Binding Reginleif	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Rhomphaia	Effective against armored and cavalry foes.
Frederick's Axe	Effective against armored foes.
Armorpin Dagger	Effective against armored foes.
Armorpin Dagger+	Effective against armored foes.
Dew Dragonstone	Effective against armored foes.
Florina's Lance	Effective against armored foes.
Slaying Spear+	Effective against armored foes.
Slaying Hammer+	Effective against armored foes.
Sky Maiougi+	Effective against armored foes.
Sky Maiougi	Effective against armored foes.
Selena's Blade	Effective against armored foes.
Lordly Lance	Effective against armored foes.
Axe of Virility	Effective against armored foes.
Jubilant Blade	Effective against armored foes.
Geirdriful	Effective against armored foes.
War-God Mjölnir	Effective against armored foes.
Armorsmasher+	Effective against armored foes.
Armorslayer+	Effective against armored foes.
Pegasus Carrot+	Effective against armored foes.
Heavy Spear+	Effective against armored foes.
Demonic Breath	Effective against armored foes.
Hammer+	Effective against armored foes.
Eldhrímnir	Effective against beasts.
Sæhrímnir	Effective against beasts.
Obsessive Curse	Effective against cavalry foes
Rauðrwolf+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Poleaxe+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Poleaxe	Effective against cavalry foes.
Caltrop Dagger	Effective against cavalry foes.
Caltrop Dagger+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Blárwolf+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Keen Rauðrwolf+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Blue-Crow Tome	Effective against cavalry foes.
Keen Gronnwolf+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Zanbato+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Dusk Uchiwa+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Dusk Uchiwa	Effective against cavalry foes.
Keen Blárwolf+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Hermit's Tome	Effective against cavalry foes.
Laid-Back Blade	Effective against cavalry foes.
Ridersbane+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Bunny Fang	Effective against cavalry foes.
Gronnwolf+	Effective against cavalry foes.
Ninis's Ice Lance	Effective against dragon and beast foes.
Demonic Tome	Effective against dragon and beast foes.
Blazing Polearms	Effective against dragon and beast foes.
Cloud Maiougi+	Effective against dragon foes.
Cloud Maiougi	Effective against dragon foes.
Mirage Falchion	Effective against dragon foes.
Divine Breath	Effective against dragon foes.
Summer's Breath	Effective against dragon foes.
Ethereal Breath	Effective against dragon foes.
Killing Intent	Effective against dragon foes.
Frostfire Breath	Effective against dragon foes.
Ífingr	Effective against dragon foes.
Breath of Fog	Effective against dragon foes.
Naga	Effective against dragon foes.
Dracofalchion	Effective against dragon foes.
Dragonslasher	Effective against dragon foes.
Dragonslasher+	Effective against dragon foes.
Razing Breath	Effective against dragon foes.
Falchion	Effective against dragon foes.
Exalted Falchion	Effective against dragon foes.
Divine Naga	Effective against dragon foes.
Divine Mist	Effective against dragon foes.
Sealed Falchion	Effective against dragon foes.
Dragonbind	Effective against dragon foes.
Genesis Falchion	Effective against dragon foes.
Splashy Bucket+	Effective against dragon foes.
Splashy Bucket	Effective against dragon foes.
Remote Breath	Effective against dragons.
Awoken Breath	Effective against dragons.
Mermaid Bow	Effective against flying and armored foes.
Destiny's Bow	Effective against flying and armored foes.
Deep-Blue Bow	Effective against flying and armored foes.
Warrior Princess	Effective against flying and armored foes.
Indignant Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Cocobow+	Effective against flying foes.
Candlewax Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Candlewax Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Mirage Longbow	Effective against flying foes.
Swift Mulagir	Effective against flying foes.
Plegian Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Plegian Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Daniel-Made Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Flame of Múspell	Effective against flying foes.
Reindeer Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Damiell Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Dignified Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Reindeer Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Holy Yewfelle	Effective against flying foes.
Rebecca's Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Fiddlestick Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Fiddlestick Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Coral Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Coral Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Quick Mulagir	Effective against flying foes.
Fortune Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Fortune Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Courtly Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Courtly Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Luna Arc	Effective against flying foes.
Bow of Beauty	Effective against flying foes.
Fishie Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Rapid-Crier Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Wind Parthia	Effective against flying foes.
Winds of Change	Effective against flying foes.
Bow of Twelve	Effective against flying foes.
Guardian's Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Spy-Song Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Springy Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Springy Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Instant Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Sunflower Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Instant Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Sunflower Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Excalibur	Effective against flying foes.
Failnaught	Effective against flying foes.
Ninja Yumi	Effective against flying foes.
Ninja Yumi+	Effective against flying foes.
Cunning Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Double Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Shining Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Shining Bow	Effective against flying foes.
New-Height Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Carrot-Tip Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Carrot-Tip Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Rose-Quartz Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Spendthrift Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Devilish Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Bow of Frelia	Effective against flying foes.
Devilish Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Tanngrisnir	Effective against flying foes.
Jötnar Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Tannenbow	Effective against flying foes.
Spendthrift Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Tannenbow+	Effective against flying foes.
Randgríðr	Effective against flying foes.
Big-Catch Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Helm Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Helm Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Big-Catch Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Snide Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Kabura Ya+	Effective against flying foes.
Kabura Ya	Effective against flying foes.
Grafcalibur	Effective against flying foes.
Rein Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Rein Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Bow of Verdane	Effective against flying foes.
Whitecap Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Whitecap Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
First-Dream Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Budding Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Budding Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Meisterbogen	Effective against flying foes.
Wyvern Yumi	Effective against flying foes.
Renowned Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Wyvern Yumi+	Effective against flying foes.
Conjurer Curios	Effective against flying foes.
Keen Coyote Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Flamefrost Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Unbound Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Unbound Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Short Bow+	Effective against flying foes.
Thögn	Effective against flying foes.
Survivalist Bow	Effective against flying foes.
Poison Dagger+	Effective against infantry foes.
Kitty Paddle+	Effective against magic foes.
Aureola	Effective against magic foes.
Dolphin-Dive Axe	Effective against sword, lance, axe, colorless bow, and armored foes.
Bun-Bun Baton	Effective on armored foes.
Zephyr Breath	Effective on armored foes.
Feather Sword	Effective on Sword, Lance, Axe, Colorless Box and Armored units

Equipping any of the weapon skills above will inflict 1.5x more damage on the target foe, making it a huge combat factor. All bows have the property of being effective on flying units.

Changes Involving Deffensive Terrain

How to account for Deffensive Terrain

• Unit's Def/Res x1.3

The difference between other damage factors

Heroes who are positioned on Defensive Terrain will have their Def and Res increased by 30%. Unlike weapon-triangle advantage and effective weapons, onlly the defending unit's Def/Res will be affected, so damage calculation is rather simple.

Damage Calculation Summary

Damage Formula

(Atk Stat x Effective Weapon Bonus x Weapon-Triangle) - (Foe's Def/Res)

The formula above is the simplest one that will be applicable in most combat situations.

Damage Calculation Takeaways

• Damage Calculation is determined first and foremost by units' Atk, Def, and Res stats.
• Damage output increases by 20% with triangle advantage.
• With an effective weapon, damage output will increase by 50%.

Final Tips

Being familiar with how damage is calculated in FEH will make battling foes much easier. You should try and learn this toward the beginning of playing this game.

Fire Emblem Heroes - Related Guides

FEH Guide Wiki Top Page

▶︎Return to the FEH Guide Wiki Top Page

Popular Links

IV Checker	Hero Tier List	Rerolling
Pull from These Summons!	Unlock Potential Tier List	Beginner's Guide
All FEH Heroes	Skills and Sacred Seals	Weapon Refinery