Damage Types

## Melee Damage

Melee damage refers to damage dealt by direct combat; primarily affected by the Attack stat and blocked by the Defense stat. It is the main source of damage for both creatures and the player in the Ring.

## Piercing Damage

Piercing Damage is a stat unique to the creatures of the Ring; it is a damage type that is not directly affected by Defense, instead only blocked by having excess Defense and thus a chance to parry the Piercing Damage.

* Unlike Physical Damage, Piercing Damage cannot be reduced by item effects that reduce a creature's Attack such as the Strength Leech.
	+ However, there are items that directly reduce Piercing Damage such as the Juggernaut armor and the Shadow Flight gauntlets.

## Curse Damage

Curse Damage occurs when the player fails a roll on a Cursed Item (whether it be a Stat Boost, a Potion or a Grave). A couple items can enable the player to deal Curse damage themselves to opposing creatures.

* Curse damage cannot *kill,* meaning that there is essentially no risk to using Cursed items if the player is at 1 Health.
	+ This also applies to creatures, meaning that the player will require an additional source of damage to be able to kill creatures if using Curse damage.

## Soul Damage

Soul Damage is a Defense-ignoring damage type that primarily comes from Soul Kin items.

* Poltergeist and Focus allow the player's melee attacks to deal Soul damage.
* The only creature that deals Soul damage is the Hollower, which has a unique attack that deals Soul damage.

## Poison

Poison is a Defense-ignoring status that primarily comes from Stalker items, but can also be inflicted on the player by a number of Poisonous creatures. At the end of each turn, Poison deals damage equal to the number of Poison stacks on a creature or player; then the Poison loses 1 stack.

* Drinking a Potion will immediately cure *all* stacks of Poison on the player.
	+ Poison will still be cured when drinking a Cursed Potion that inflicts Curse damage instead of healing.
* For a list of items and creatures that inflict or protect/interact with Poison, see the Poison category page.

## Petrify

Petrify is a unique status that primarily comes from Diviner items. Petrify reduces the Max Health of the target creature, displaying on the left side of a creature's Health bar.

* Currently, Petrify is a status that can only be applied by the player.
* For a list of items that inflict or interact with Petrify, see the Petrify category page.

## Explosion Damage

Explosion damage refers to any damage dealt by Explosions, which primarily comes from opposing creatures such as Roaming Firebeads.

* While most Explosion damage is dealt by creatures, a few items allow players the ability to create additional sources of Explosion damage.

## Splash Damage

Splash Damage is a damage type that primarily comes from Brute Items. Splash Damage is added to your Melee attacks, dealing Defense-ignoring damage to any creatures that are adjacent to any directly attacked creatures.

* For a list of items that inflict Splash Damage, see the Splash Damage category page.

## Reflect

Reflect damage is retaliatory damage that is dealt by Spinebacks that have their spikes out. A couple items also enable the player to deal Reflect damage as well.

* The only items that enable the player to deal Reflect damage are the Spike Suit, the Spiked leggings and the Spiked Shield.