Breakpoints

This page lists vanilla information. Breakpoint/threshold values haven't changed in PD2, although Frozen Orb now uses "slow" sorc frames and Lightning now uses "normal" sorc frames instead of their original breakpoint frames.

Breakpoints

Diablo 2 runs at 25 frames per second and events cannot occur in timeframes smaller than a single frame, so improvements to animation speeds (from IAS, FCR, FHR, or FBR) are only realized in intervals of 1 frame or more. These intervals are called breakpoints.

For example, a Sorceress with 100% FCR will cast "normal" spells in 9 frames (9/25 = 0.36 seconds). In order to cast those spells faster, she will need +5% more FCR for a total of 105% FCR, at which point she will cast those spells in 8 frames (8/25 = 0.32 seconds) instead.

Weapon Types

Missile Weapons: bows, crossbows
Thrusting Weapons: spears, javelins, daggers, throwing knives
Swinging Weapons: everything else (except claws which have their own category)

Total
Attack Speed
Breakpoints
Animation Type		Frames per Animation
Character	Animation	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5
Amazon	1H Swinging					-33	-29	-26	-21	-17	-12	-6	0	8	17	28	41	56	75
	1H Thrusting						-34	-31	-27	-23	-18	-13	-7	0	9	19	31	45	63
	2H Sword						-9	-5	0	7	13	21	29	39	50	64
	2H Melee (not sword)						-19	-15	-10	-5	0	8	15	24	34	46	61
	Bow											-6	0	8	17	28	41	56	75
	Crossbow				-8	-4	0	6	12	18	25	34	43	54	67
	Unarmed														0	10	21	34	50	72

Assassin	1H Swinging/Thrusting			-34	-31	-28	-25	-20	-16	-11	-6	0	8	16	25	37	50	67
	2H Sword/Spear	-7	-3	0	5	10	16	22	29	36	44	54	65
	2H Melee (not sword/spear)		-20	-17	-13	-9	-4	0	6	13	19	27	36	47	59	74
	Bow								-10	-5	0	8	15	24	34	46	61
	Crossbow			-8	-4	0	6	11	17	24	32	41	50	62	75
	Unarmed A1															0	11	23	38	58
	Unarmed A2														0	10	21	34	50	72
	Claw A1											-9	-2	5	13	24	36	51	70
	Claw A2										-7	-1	6	14	24	35	49	65
	Kick													0	9	19	31	45	63
	Trap Sentries, Blade Sentinel						-19	-15	-10	-5	0	8	15	24	34	47	61
	Blade Fury (per blade)														-16	-8	0	12	25	43	67

Barbarian	1H Swinging/Thrusting	-35	-33	-30	-26	-23	-19	-15	-10	-5	0	8	15	24	34	46	61
	2H Sword						-9	-5	0	7	13	21	29	39	50	64
	2H Melee (not sword)		-20	-17	-13	-9	-4	0	6	13	19	27	36	47	59	74
	Bow										-6	0	8	16	25	37	50	67
	Crossbow				-8	-4	0	6	12	18	25	34	43	54	67
	Unarmed														0	10	21	34	50	72
	Leap, Leap Attack							-20	-16	-11	-6	0	8	16	25	37	50	67
	Double Swing, Frenzy, Berserk											-19	-14	-7	0	10	21	34	50	72
		24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5
Druid (Human)	1H Swinging/Thrusting	-23	-20	-17	-13	-9	-4	0	6	13	19	27	36	47	59	74
	2H Sword			-8	-4	0	6	11	17	24	32	41	50	62	75
	2H Spear	-7	-3	0	5	10	16	22	29	36	44	54	65
	2H Melee (not sword/spear)					-18	-14	-10	-5	0	7	14	22	31	42	55	71
	Bow								-10	-5	0	8	15	24	34	46	61
	Crossbow				-8	-4	0	6	12	18	25	34	43	54	67
	Unarmed										0	8	15	24	34	46	61

Necromancer	1H Swinging/Thrusting	-23	-20	-17	-13	-9	-4	0	6	13	19	27	36	47	59	74
	2H Sword	-7	-3	0	5	10	16	22	29	36	44	54	65
	2H Spear	-3	0	5	10	15	21	27	34	42	50	61	72
	2H Melee (not sword/spear)	-19	-16	-12	-8	-4	0	6	12	18	25	34	43	54	67
	Bow						-9	-5	0	7	13	21	29	39	50	64
	Crossbow				-8	-4	0	6	12	18	25	34	43	54	67
	Unarmed											0	8	16	25	37	50	67

Paladin	1H Swinging			-34	-31	-28	-25	-20	-16	-11	-6	0	8	16	25	37	50	67
	1H Thrusting	-31	-28	-25	-22	-18	-14	-10	-5	0	7	14	22	31	42	55	71
	2H Spear	-19	-16	-12	-8	-4	0	6	12	18	25	34	43	54	67
	2H Melee (not spear)				-17	-14	-9	-5	0	7	13	21	29	39	50	64
	Bow								-10	-5	0	8	15	24	34	46	61
	Crossbow				-8	-4	0	6	12	18	25	34	43	54	67
	Unarmed												0	8	17	28	41	56	75
	Smite											-19	-14	-7	0	10	21	34	50	72

Sorceress	1H Swinging	-27	-25	-21	-17	-14	-9	-5	0	7	13	21	29	39	50	64
	1H Thrusting	-31	-28	-25	-22	-18	-14	-10	-5	0	7	14	22	31	42	55	71
	2H Sword		-8	-4	0	6	11	17	23	30	38	47	58	70
	2H Spear	-15	-12	-8	-4	0	6	11	17	24	32	41	50	62	75
	2H Melee (not sword/spear)						-19	-15	-10	-5	0	8	15	24	34	46	61
	Bow							-10	-5	0	7	14	22	31	42	55	71
	Crossbow				-8	-4	0	6	12	18	25	34	43	54	67
	Unarmed											0	8	16	25	37	50	67
		24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5
Werewolf (Druid/Barb)	Attack										-18	-13	-7	0	9	19	31	45	63
Werewolf (Druid/Barb)	Rabies													-17	-10	-2	7	19	34	53
Werebear (Any Class)	Attack									-19	-14	-8	-1	6	15	25	38	53	72
Werebear (Any Class)	Hunger											-17	-12	-5	3	13	24	38	54

Act 1 Merc Rogue Scout	Attack										-6	0	8	16	25	37	50	67
Act 2 Merc Desert Guard	Attack						-19	-15	-10	-5	0	8	15	24	34	46	61
Act 3 Merc Iron Wolf	Attack							-20	-16	-11	-6	0	8	16	25	37	50	67
Act 5 Merc Barbarian	1H Melee					-18	-14	-10	-5	0	7	14	22	31	42	55	71
Act 5 Merc Barbarian	2H Melee						-19	-15	-10	-5	0	8	15	24	34	46	61

Total Attack Speed = Effective Item IAS + Skill IAS - WSM

Throwing attacks get an additional -15
The Weapon Speed Modifiers are subtracted instead of added because their sign is flipped (they store higher speeds as negatives)
Negative total speed values are possible due to "slow" weapons with WSM values above zero - the negative values are colored gray in the chart to help improve readability

 Editor's Note:
 
 The above chart is still missing info for skills which use non-standard breakpoints such as Fend, Jab, Strafe, Fury, and Zeal. Unless you know your skill uses standard breakpoints and is correctly labeled in the chart, it may be better to rely on an Attack Speed Calculator instead.
 
 IAS breakpoint charts have been much less available than IAS calculators throughout D2's history. There is a surprising lack of documentation for non-standard breakpoints, although vanilla data for some of them can be found on the Amazon Basin: Fend, Strafe, & Zeal. The original spreadsheet table with formulas using data from animdata.d2 can be found here: Table of IAS Breakpoints

Faster Cast Rate (
FCR
) Breakpoints
Animation Type	Frames per Animation
Animation Type	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7
Amazon	0	7	14	22	32	48	68	99	152
Assassin				0	8	16	27	42	65	102	174
Barbarian							0	9	20	37	63	105	200
Druid (Human)		0	4	10	19	30	46	68	99	163
Druid (Bear)				0	7	15	26	40	63	99	163
Druid (Wolf)				0	6	14	26	40	60	95	157
Necromancer					0	9	18	30	48	75	125
Paladin					0	9	18	30	48	75	125
Sorceress (Slow Spells)	0	7	15	23	35	52	78	117	194
Sorceress (Normal Spells)							0	9	20	37	63	105	200
Act 3 Mercenary - Iron Wolf			0	8	15	26	39	58	86	138

The only sorceress spell that uses "slow" frames is Frozen Orb - all other sorceress spells use "normal" frames

Faster Hit Recovery (
FHR
) Breakpoints
Animation Type	Frames per Animation
Animation Type	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2
Amazon							0	6	13	20	32	52	86	174	600
Assassin									0	7	15	27	48	86	200
Barbarian									0	7	15	27	48	86	200
Druid (Human, 1H Swinging Weapons)				0	3	7	13	19	29	42	63	99	174	456
Druid (Human, Other Weapons)					0	5	10	16	26	39	56	86	152	377
Druid (Bear)					0	5	10	16	24	37	54	86	152	360
Druid (Wolf)											0	9	20	42	86	280
Necromancer					0	5	10	16	26	39	56	86	152	377
Paladin (Spear/Staff)					0	3	7	13	20	32	48	75	120	280
Paladin (Other Weapons)									0	7	15	27	48	86	200
Sorceress			0	5	9	14	20	30	42	60	86	142	280
Act 1 Mercenary - Rogue Scout							0	6	13	20	32	52	86	174	600
Act 2 Mercenary - Desert Guard			0	5	9	14	20	30	42	60	86	142	280
Act 3 Mercenary - Iron Wolf	0	5	8	13	18	24	32	46	63	86	133	232	600
Act 5 Mercenary - Barbarian

Act 5 Barbarian does not have a hit recovery animation, so he cannot be put into hit recovery or knocked back

Faster Block Rate (
FBR
) Breakpoints
Animation Type	Frames per Animation
Animation Type	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Amazon (1H Swinging Weapons)	0	4	6	11	15	23	29	40	56	80	120	200	480
Amazon (Other Weapons)													0	13	32	86	600
Assassin													0	13	32	86	600
Barbarian											0	9	20	42	86	280
Druid (Human)							0	6	13	20	32	52	86	174	600
Druid (Bear)						0	5	10	16	27	40	65	109	223
Druid (Wolf)									0	7	15	27	48	86	200
Necromancer							0	6	13	20	32	52	86	174	600
Paladin (Normal)													0	13	32	86	600
Paladin (Holy Shield)																0	86
Sorceress									0	7	15	27	48	86	200
Act 3 Mercenary - Iron Wolf

Act 3 Iron Wolf does not have a blocking animation, so he cannot block even though he can equip shields

Thresholds

Similar to how breakpoints emerge due to animation frames being tied to discrete intervals of time, thresholds emerge due to formula values being rounded when those formulas have parts which increase at different rates from each other. In other words, thresholds refer to the values resulting from formulas with diminishing returns.

Increased Attack Speed (
IAS
) Thresholds
Effective Item IAS	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
Item IAS	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	13	14	15	16	18	19	20	22	23	24	26	27	29	30	32	34	35	37	39	40	42	44	46	48	50	52	54	56	58	60	63	65	68	70	72	75	78	80	83	86

Effective Item IAS	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60	61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70	71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80	81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	100
Item IAS	89	92	95	99	102	105	109	113	117	120	125	129	133	138	142	147	152	157	163	168	174	180	187	194	200	208	215	223	232	240	250	259	270	280	292	304	317	330	345	360	377	395	414	434	456	480	507	535	566	600

Effective Item IAS = [120 * Item IAS / (120 + Item IAS)]

Faster Run/Walk (
FRW
) Thresholds
Effective Item FRW	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
Item FRW	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	14	15	16	17	18	20	21	22	24	25	26	28	29	30	32	33	35	36	38	40	41	43	44	46	48	50	51	53	55	57	59	61	63	65	67	69	71	73	75

Effective Item FRW	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60	61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70	71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80	81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	100
Item FRW	78	80	82	85	87	90	92	95	98	100	103	106	109	112	115	118	122	125	128	132	135	139	143	147	150	155	159	163	167	172	177	181	186	191	197	202	208	213	219	225	232	238	245	252	260	267	275	283	292	300

Effective Item FRW = [150 * Item FRW / (150 + Item FRW)]

Effective Magic Find

Magic Find (
MF
) Thresholds
MF	Effective MF				MF	Effective MF				MF	Effective MF
MF	Rare	Set	Unique		MF	Rare	Set	Unique		MF	Rare	Set	Unique
2	1	1	1		202	151				495	271		166
3	2	2	2		203		144	112		497		249
4	3	3	3		204	152				498	272
5	4	4	4		205		145			500		250
6	5	5	5		206	153				501	273
7	6	6	6		207		146	113		504			167
8	7	7	7		208	154				505	274	251
9	8	8	8		209	155	147			508	275
10	9	9	9		210			114		509		252
11	10	10	10		211	156	148			512	276
12	11	11	11		213	157	149	115		513		253	168
13	12	12	12		215	158	150			515	277
14	13	13	13		217	159	151	116		517		254
15	14	14	14		219	160	152			519	278
16	15	15	15		220			117		521		255
17	16	16			221	161	153			522	279		169
18	17	17	16		222	162				525	280	256
19	18	18	17		223		154			529	281	257
20	19	19	18		224	163		118		532			170
21	20	20	19		225		155			533	282
22	21	21	20		226	164				534		258
23	22		21		227		156			536	283
24	23	22			228	165		119		538		259
25	24	23	22		229		157			540	284
26		24	23		230	166				542		260	171
27	25	25	24		231		158	120		543	285
28	26	26	25		232	167				547	286	261
29	27	27			234	168	159			551	287	262
30	28	28	26		235			121		552			172
31	29	29	27		236	169	160			554	288
32	30	30	28		238	170	161			555		263
33	31		29		239			122		558	289
34	32	31			240	171	162			560		264
35	33	32	30		242	172	163			562	290		173
36		33	31		243			123		564		265
37	34	34	32		244	173				566	291
38	35	35			245		164			569	292	266
39	36	36	33		246	174				573	293	267	174
40	37	37	34		247		165	124		577	294
41	38		35		248	175				578		268
42	39	38			249		166			581	295
43	40	39	36		250	176		125		583		269
44		40	37		251		167			584			175
45	41	41	38		252	177				585	296
46	42	42			254	178	168			587		270
47	43		39		255			126		589	297
48	44	43	40		256	179	169			592		271
49	45	44			258	180	170			593	298
50	46	45	41		259			127		595			176
51	47	46	42		260	181	171			597	299	272
52		47	43		262	182				600	300
53	48				263		172	128		602		273
54	49	48	44		264	183				605	301
55	50	49	45		265		173			607		274	177
56	51	50			266	184				609	302
57	52	51	46		267		174	129		612		275
58			47		268	185				613	303
59	53	52			270	186	175			617	304	276
60	54	53	48		271			130		619			178
61	55	54	49		272	187	176			621	305
62	56	55			274	188	177			622		277
63	57		50		276	189		131		625	306
64		56		277		178		627		278
65	58	57	51	279	190	179		629	307
66	59	58	52	280			132	631			179
67	60	59		281	191			632		279
68	61		53	282		180		633	308
69		60	54	283	192			637		280
70	62	61		284		181		638	309
71	63	62	55	285	193		133	642	310	281
72	64			287	194	182		643			180
73	65	63	56	289	195	183	134	646	311
74		64	57	292	196	184		647		282
75	66	65		294	197	185	135	650	312
76	67		58	296	198			653		283
77	68	66		297		186		655	313
78	69	67	59	298	199			656			181
79		68	60	299		187	136	658		284
80	70			300	200			659	314
81	71	69	61	302		188		663		285
82	72	70		303	201			664	315
83		71	62	304		189	137	668	316
84	73			305	202			669		286
85	74	72	63	307	203	190		670			182
86	75	73		309			138	673	317
87		74	64	310	204	191		674		287
88	76		65	312	205	192		677	318
89	77	75		314	206		139	680		288
90	78	76	66	315		193		682	319
91	79			317	207	194		683			183
92		77	67	319	208		140	685		289
93	80	78		320		195		686	320
94	81	79	68	321	209			691	321	290
95	82			323		196		695	322
96		80	69	324	210		141	697		291	184
97	83	81		326	211	197		700	323
98	84		70	328	212	198		702		292
99		82		329			142	705	324
100	85	83	71	331	213	199		708		293
101	86	84		333	214			710	325
102	87		72	334		200		712			185
103		85		335			143	714	326	294
104	88	86	73	336	215			719	327
105	89			337		201		720		295
106	90	87	74	338	216			724	328
107		88		339		202		726		296
108	91		75	340	217		144	727			186
109	92	89		342		203		729	329
110		90	76	343	218			732		297
111	93			345	219	204		734	330
112	94	91	77	346			145	738		298
113	95	92		348	220	205		739	331
114			78	350	221			743			187
115	96	93		351		206	146	744	332	299
116	97	94	79	353	222			749	333
118	98	95	80	354		207		750		300
119	99	96		355	223			754	334
120	100		81	357		208	147	757		301
121		97		358	224			759	335		188
122	101	98		360	225	209		763		302
123	102		82	363	226	210	148	764	336
124		99		366	227	211		769	337
125	103	100	83	368	228			770		303
126	104			369		212	149	775	338		189
127		101	84	371	229			776		304
128	105			372		213		780	339
129	106	102	85	373	230			783		305
130		103		375		214	150	785	340
131	107			376	231			789		306
132	108	104	86	378		215		790	341
133		105		379	232			792			190
134	109		87	381	233	216		796	342	307
135	110	106		382			151	801	343
136			88	384	234	217		803		308
137	111	107		387	235	218		807	344
138	112	108		388			152	809		309
139			89	390	236	219		810			191
140	113	109		392	237			812	345
141	114		90	393		220		816		310
142		110		395	238		153	818	346
143	115	111		397		221		823	347	311
144	116		91	398	239			828			192
145		112		400	240	222		829	348
146	117	113	92	402			154	830		312
147	118			403	241	223		835	349
148		114		406	242	224		837		313
149	119		93	408			155	840	350
150	120	115		409	243			845		314
151			94	410		225		846	351
152	121	116		412	244			847			193
153		117		413		226		852	352	315
154	122		95	415	245		156	858	353
155	123	118		416		227		859		316
156			96	417	246			864	354
157	124	119		420	247	228		867		317	194
158	125	120		423	248	229	157	870	355
159			97	426	249	230		874		318
160	126	121		429	250			876	356
162	127	122	98	430		231	158	882	357	319
163	128			432	251			887			195
164		123	99	433		232		888	358
165	129	124		435	252			889		320
166	130			437		233	159	894	359
167		125	100	438	253			897		321
168	131			440		234		900	360
169		126		441	254			905		322
170	132		101	444	255	235		907	361
171	133	127		445			160	908			196
173	134	128	102	447	256	236		913	362	323
174		129		450	257			919	363
175	135			451		237		921		324
176	136	130	103	453	258		161	926	364
178	137	131		455		238		929		325
179			104	456	259			930			197
180	138	132		458		239		932	365
181	139			459	260			937		326
182		133	105	461			162	939	366
183	140			462	261	240		946	367	327
184		134		466	262	241		952	368		198
185	141	135	106	469	263	242	163	954		328
187	142	136		472	264			959	369
188	143		107	473		243		962		329
189		137		475	265			966	370
190	144			477		244	164	971		330
191		138	108	478	266			973	371
192	145			481		245		976			199
193	146	139		482	267			979	372
194			109	485	268	246		980		331
195	147	140		486			165	986	373
197	148	141	110	488	269			989		332
199	149	142		489		247		993	374
200	150		111	491	270			998		333
201		143		493		248		1000	375		200

Effective MF (Magic) = MF (no diminishing returns)

Effective MF (Rare) = [600 * MF / (600 + MF)]

Effective MF (Set) = [500 * MF / (500 + MF)]

Effective MF (Unique) = [250 * MF / (250 + MF)]

You can use the above table to help calculate how much clearspeed would be equivalent to a certain amount of MF for finding uniques, which can be useful for determining whether more clearspeed or MF would be better for a particular character.

Suppose you have 130 MF - effectively 85 MF for uniques. That means items are 185% as likely (nearly double the odds) to be unique when generated compared to 0 MF. Let's say you're trying to decide whether a new item with an extra 50 MF would be worth it. From the table, we can see 180 MF would be 104 effective MF for uniques. That's a 204% likelihood to find uniques compared to 0 MF - but how much of a difference is that compared to the previous amount? Divide 204 by 185 and then multiply by 100 to find the percent difference.

204 / 185 * 100% = 110.3%

So that's an extra +10.3% unique items. If using the 50 MF item doesn't result in your clearspeed dropping by 10%, then you'll find more uniques with it than without it. Keep in mind that this doesn't apply to items which aren't affected by MF such as runes - if those kinds of items make up a large fraction of the valuable items you find, the usefulness of the MF will drop by however big that fraction is.