Power Level and Damage Question

[Gisborne]

So i just read an article that states if you are on Par or Higher than the lvl recommended for an activity you will deal good damage and the same damage, so having 1350 light wont deal more dmg in a 1320 activity over a 1320 player... Ok so that out the way does that mean that having a weapon of lets say 1310 will do same damage as another player with a 1320 weapon as long as my guardian light level is 1320 or higher?

[Mez Koo]

*POWER* level advantages are enabled in certain pvp situations such as gambit invading, trials of osiris, and iron banner.

[Gisborne]

Originally posted by Mez Koo:

*POWER* level advantages are enabled in certain pvp situations such as gambit invading, trials of osiris, and iron banner.

https://destinynewshub.com/community/guardian-confirms-that-power-doesnt-increase-damage-in-destiny-2-activities/#:~:text=Community-,Guardian%20Confirms%20That%20Power%20Doesn't%20Increase%20Damage%20in%20Destiny,you'll%20do%20decent%20damage.

[Mez Koo]

AFAIK:

First of all there is a cap to the advantage yes so if you do a 1100 power level activity at 1350 power you're not going to blow through everything.

The weapon damage depends on the weapon's power so if you're in 1320 with a 1310 weapon you'll do less damage.

That being said if you're 1320 in a 1320 activity then you're doing more than a 1310 guardian.

[Ixamesh]

I think artifact level is applied to your weapon, e.g. 1310+10 weapon will work in 1320 activity, but if you use 1100+10 weapon in 1320 activity it will do low damage even if your total power is above 1320.

[Nibbie]

I believe both the level of the individual gun and your overall level impact its damage, so a 1310 weapon would do slightly less damage than a 1320 weapon in a 1320 activity, even if your overall level was the same. I've seen testing data stating as such, and from personal experience it has felt like this is true. However, I haven't properly tested it myself, and the data was from a while ago so I couldn't say if it has changed since then, so maybe someone more familiar or current could confirm.

[Ixamesh]

Ok, i've tried 1300 and 1320 Frozen Orbit in 1320 NF. My total power was 1320 in both cases. I have +25 from the artifact, but 1300 did less damage than 1320. Same result with 1350+ total power.

[Gamil]

Overall power matters for defense. Individual Weapon power matters more for attack, but you also need an appropriate average power.

[Dani3009]

Stupid article from people who know nothing about the game

your OVERALL Power decides the PENALTY
==> If your OVERALL Power is below an activity you deal reduced damage and take more damage
==> if your OVERALL Power is above an activity there is NO PENALTY

your WEAPON power decides the Damage and can be overleveled up to 20 points
==> a 1100 weapon has reduced damage in a 1300 activity with 1350 OVERALL power
==> a 1320 weapon deals maximum damage with 1300 OVERALL power in a 1300 power activity


==> OVERALL power == ACTIVITY power
Weapon power 20 overleveled = max damage
Armor 20 overleveled = max resist

[Gisborne]

Originally posted by Dani3009:

Stupid article from people who know nothing about the game

your OVERALL Power decides the PENALTY
==> If your OVERALL Power is below an activity you deal reduced damage and take more damage
==> if your OVERALL Power is above an activity there is NO PENALTY

your WEAPON power decides the Damage and can be overleveled up to 20 points
==> a 1100 weapon has reduced damage in a 1300 activity with 1350 OVERALL power
==> a 1320 weapon deals maximum damage with 1300 OVERALL power in a 1300 power activity


==> OVERALL power == ACTIVITY power
Weapon power 20 overleveled = max damage
Armor 20 overleveled = max resist

Why do people with 1350 report same dmg as people with 1320 ? And how does overall power work then if wep and armour have their own values but combine into the one power level?

[Ixamesh]

Originally posted by Gisborne:

Why do people with 1350 report same dmg as people with 1320 ? And how does overall power work then if wep and armour have their own values but combine into the one power level?

NFs, Raids, dungeons and whatever Bungie considers "prestige activity" can't be overleveled, I think it was changed at some point because there're tests in those activities that show you could overlevel those, but now it works as before.

I would suggest doing your own tests. Just take 1100 and 1300+ gun and go to Prophecy. Make sure mods or perks don't affect the damage. There won't be any difference. In patrols and playlists you should get benefits from higher power up to a limit, but it doesn't really matter there.

I thought artifact level is just applied to weapons, but I was wrong, It might affect weapon damage, e.g. base 1300+0 vs 1300+20 in 1320 NF with 1320+ total, but base 1320 will do the most damage

[Ixamesh]

Originally posted by Ixamesh:

I think it was changed at some point because there're tests in those activities that show you could overlevel those, but now it works as before.

Actually, those tests were done when Prophecy and GoS were relevant and recommended level showed the level of the 1st encounter. Each encounter after that required higher level, i.e. you could "overlevel" the first encounter, but not the last. Nowadays those activities are at the power floor and all encounters are the same level. That would explain the difference

[Gisborne]

Originally posted by Ixamesh:

Originally posted by Ixamesh:

I think it was changed at some point because there're tests in those activities that show you could overlevel those, but now it works as before.

Actually, those tests were done when Prophecy and GoS were relevant and recommended level showed the level of the 1st encounter. Each encounter after that required higher level, i.e. you could "overlevel" the first encounter, but not the last. Nowadays those activities are at the power floor and all encounters are the same level. That would explain the difference

So as long as my power score is 1350 and my wep is 1350 when doing 1350 content for example i'm good... can't really get much better.

[Ixamesh]

Originally posted by Ixamesh:

i.e. you could "overlevel" the first encounter, but not the last.

Tested in VoG, additional power made no difference. Tests I referred to if someone is interested: with one more link inside and this

Originally posted by Gisborne:

So as long as my power score is 1350 and my wep is 1350 when doing 1350 content for example i'm good... can't really get much better.

Yep, total power affects dmg dealt and taken. Artifact affects total power only, it won't compensate lower level gear even if you total power is above recommended.

[lobstermadness]

What no one is saying here though -- is that elevating your gear and weapons to pinnacle levels barely nudges your damage and protection upwards. 10% increase if you are lucky. ON top of that, Bungie removes level advantages in several activities. Once I figured this out I dont try hard for pinnacle gear because why bother? I enjoy the game but the pinnacle thing is nearly pointless

[Gisborne]

Originally posted by lobstermadness:

What no one is saying here though -- is that elevating your gear and weapons to pinnacle levels barely nudges your damage and protection upwards. 10% increase if you are lucky. ON top of that, Bungie removes level advantages in several activities. Once I figured this out I dont try hard for pinnacle gear because why bother? I enjoy the game but the pinnacle thing is nearly pointless

Good to know i dont need to no live above the GS needed for X activity, i got many other games to play heh.