So what is calculated when?

Now this is something that's always puzzled me and my guildmates, and also something we always end up asking when formulating a build: In what order are damage modifiers and armor modifiers calculated?

If I can get a definitive answer, rather than speculation, it would be greatly appreciated to minimize confusion.

As far as I know, there are several instaces where damage is calculated, and several places where they are reduced, but let's take reduction into consideration here.

Let's say that I'm a level 20 warrior/mesmer wearing dragon's armor, with a superior absorption rune, using, let's say, a longsword of warding, with mantra of lightning as my stance.

An elementalist of level 19 hits me with a lightning strike from the front with a base damage of, say, 50, with 25% armor penetration.

Now there are already 7 modifiers to the damage I'm taking, which I'll list right now:
1) Level difference
2) 85AL on dragon armor (+10 vs phys doesn't count here)
3) +7AL vs elemental damage on the swordpommel
4) my 16AL shield with -2 dmg taken while stanced (which I am)
5) my warrior rune of superior absorption
6) the 25% armor penetration
7) 40% damage reduction from mantra of lightning

Now, exactly how much damage am I taking, and in what order are the factors above calculated? Also, let's say I was using Frenzy as a stance rather than the mantra, am I taking double the FINAL damage, or double the initial damage, which is later run through the other factors?

Thanks for all the help, and I stress facts over speculation please.

well I am pretty sure that 6 and 7 are last probably 7 and then 6 though.

The +7 on your sword is added to your base armor. The 16 on your sheild is added to your base armor ONLY when it's a frontal attack, and when the spells is a PROJECTILE. The -2 and superior absorbtion (-3) stack to give you -5 of dmg, again when frontal attack, any other side, -3.

I'm not sure when the mantra comes into play.

In this post: http://forums.gwonline.net/showthrea...8&page=1&pp=10 The guy named SonOfRah knows just about everyone on damage and how to calculate it. You'll find more help there. I know it's 16 pages, 3/4's of it is BS/Spam, so sift throgh it with search or PM him.

Bumped for importance? :P

pleasedon'tbanme