Unveiling the Mystery: What is Hidden AP in Black Desert Online?
Hidden AP, or Hidden Attack Power, in Black Desert Online (BDO) refers to additional attack power that is not explicitly displayed on your character’s stat sheet. Unlike the sheet AP, which you see in your equipment window, hidden AP is derived from various sources and contributes to your overall damage output without directly inflating your listed AP value. Understanding hidden AP is crucial for maximizing your damage and performance in both Player versus Environment (PvE) and Player versus Player (PvP) combat scenarios. In essence, it’s a layer of combat optimization that goes beyond just the raw numbers you see on your gear. While sheet AP is vital for hitting certain AP brackets, hidden AP works in the background, enhancing your capabilities without altering the sheet values used to determine bracket bonuses.
Understanding the Mechanics of Hidden AP
The existence of hidden AP stems from the complex and nuanced combat system of Black Desert Online. It allows for various sources to contribute to your damage without necessarily affecting your sheet AP and DP which are what you get from your gear.
Sources of Hidden AP
Hidden AP can originate from several sources:
- Monster Damage: Gear, skills, and effects that specifically increase damage against monsters contribute to your total damage output but don’t appear as sheet AP. This is why you see “Monster AP” or “Extra Damage Against Monsters” in your stats.
- Species Damage: Similar to Monster Damage, damage bonuses against specific species (e.g. Human, Kamaslyvia, Demi-Humans, etc.) increase damage without altering your sheet AP.
- Skill Add-ons & Passives: Some character skills and class passives provide an increase to damage that isn’t reflected in your sheet AP.
- Buffs: Certain buffs from food, elixirs, or other sources can add to your overall damage, and may not directly affect sheet AP.
- Accuracy: Though not a direct AP boost, higher accuracy increases the likelihood of attacks landing, thereby enhancing effective damage.
- Debuffs: Applying debuffs on an enemy reduces their defense which increases the effective damage of your attacks.
The Difference Between Sheet AP and Hidden AP
It’s vital to distinguish between sheet AP and hidden AP. Sheet AP is the numerical value displayed in your equipment window. This value directly contributes to hitting certain AP brackets, which grant bonus AP and other stats. Hidden AP, on the other hand, is not directly visible on your character sheet. Instead, it impacts your overall damage calculation indirectly through various modifiers. While not directly affecting AP brackets, hidden AP enhances your effective damage against your target.
Importance of Hidden AP
While aiming for high sheet AP is important for maximizing your AP bracket bonuses, understanding and utilizing sources of hidden AP is essential to optimizing your damage output. Ignoring hidden AP means missing out on a significant boost to your character’s overall effectiveness. A player focusing only on sheet AP might find themselves weaker than a player with slightly lower sheet AP, but with a good understanding of hidden damage modifiers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hidden AP in BDO
To further clarify the concept of hidden AP and its implications, here are some frequently asked questions about hidden AP in BDO:
1. How do I calculate my total AP in BDO?
Your total AP, especially for PvE, is a combination of your sheet AP plus your additional monster damage. When calculating, be sure to use your PvE gear and include any relevant buffs such as draughts and food buffs. The “My Stats” tab of your character inventory is the best place to see your total AP against monsters.
2. Does hidden AP contribute to AP brackets?
No, hidden AP does not contribute to your sheet AP, which is what’s used for AP bracket calculations. AP brackets are solely based on the visible AP in your equipment window. However, hidden AP amplifies the effects of your sheet AP and AP bracket bonuses.
3. What is the difference between Monster AP and Hidden AP?
Monster AP is a specific type of hidden AP that increases your damage against monsters. It is an additional value that contributes to your total damage output when fighting monsters. However, hidden AP is a broader term that includes other forms of damage increases.
4. Does Accuracy affect Hidden AP?
Accuracy does not directly increase AP itself but it’s a modifier that allows your skills to hit more often. More accurate attacks mean more chances to deal damage, thus enhancing your overall damage which includes both sheet AP and hidden AP calculations. In that way, it’s often considered an important part of a characters damage.
5. Is species damage considered Hidden AP?
Yes, species damage, like damage to humans, demihumans, and Kamasylvians, is a form of hidden AP. It boosts your damage against specific enemy types, but without showing as sheet AP.
6. Do skill add-ons contribute to hidden AP?
Yes, skill add-ons that increase damage contribute to your overall damage output but are not directly included in your sheet AP, thus acting as a source of hidden AP.
7. Is there hidden DP as well?
Yes, there is also hidden DP (Defense Power), which is similar to hidden AP and works as damage reduction bonuses that don’t affect your sheet DP. These can come from buffs or certain gear effects.
8. Does Awakening AP affect Succession skills?
Yes, when playing a Succession class, 30% of your Awakening AP still applies to the damage of your Succession skills. This bonus is a form of hidden AP for Succession builds.
9. Does hidden AP work in PvP?
Yes, hidden AP such as accuracy, species damage, and other buffs affect your damage in PvP combat. These bonuses are important to consider for a well-rounded PvP build.
10. Are buffs a form of hidden AP?
Certain buffs, particularly those that directly increase damage dealt, are a form of hidden AP, as they enhance your effective damage without changing your sheet AP.
11. How do I maximize hidden AP in my gear?
To maximize your hidden AP, focus on gear that provides stats like accuracy, damage to specific species, and additional monster damage. Additionally, use skill add-ons strategically.
12. Are debuffs on enemies considered part of my hidden AP?
Indirectly, yes. Debuffs on enemies, such as defense reduction, improve the effectiveness of your attacks, effectively boosting your damage as part of the overall damage calculation. These debuffs are not technically a “hidden AP” value on your character but they lead to the same effect.
13. Does hidden AP stack?
Yes, generally, hidden AP sources stack additively or multiplicatively, depending on the specific source. Understanding how these sources interact is key to maximizing your damage potential.
14. Can I see how much hidden AP I have?
While you cannot see the exact number of your hidden AP, you can indirectly measure the impact by testing your damage on different enemy types and through various buffs.
15. Is hidden AP more important than sheet AP?
Neither is more important than the other. Sheet AP is vital for unlocking AP bracket bonuses, while hidden AP significantly enhances your effective damage. A balanced build focuses on optimizing both sheet and hidden AP.
Conclusion
Hidden AP in Black Desert Online is a vital component of your overall damage output. It comprises various sources beyond sheet AP and plays a crucial role in optimizing combat performance. Understanding these hidden mechanics will undoubtedly give you an edge in both PvE and PvP combat. By focusing on a balanced build that takes into account both sheet AP and hidden AP, you can truly master the art of combat in BDO.