So in the end what are blue damage numbers?

[jooozek]

Personally I don't think they are criticals in the general sense of critical hits in RPGs, they seem to be more like "you-just-hit-for-maximum-potential-damage", if your ability stat is high you can see that your damage is comparable with the "criticals". Your thoughts?

[BIG OLAF]

I think they're just criticals.

[JayD-X]

I'm pretty sure those are criticals.

[Ana-Chan]

When I don't JA, the blue damage ends up as high as my JA damage (variance accounted for too) so yes, I would also say critical.

[gigawuts]

Yeah, crits in PSO2 are almost unanimously agreed upon to be max potential damage. There's apparently no actual bonus multiplier on top of that.

That max potential damage does vary based on the attack power of your chosen attack (this varies with swords based on which swing you're making, and PA's also have multiple attack powers for each hit) as well as the defense of the hitbox you're attacking, though. I had one crit deal only about 192 damage. It was between two 400+ non-crit attacks.

[Mag-X]

I know I see them mostly when I get the timing right for my weapons attack rhythm.

[jooozek]

http://sadpanda.us/images/1112014-KC4D5U7.png
Are those really crits? Really?

[Blackheart521]

mmhmm, that's a crit for ya. ^^

[jooozek]

mmhmm, that's a crit for ya. ^^
I feel overpowered with that 1.88% CRITICAL INCREASE WHOO

[Hrith]

I have seen equal blue and white damage numbers on the same enemy, so...

[drizzle]

They certainly look like they're crits. I guess the critical damage bonus doesn't stack with the Just Attack bonus.

[jooozek]

My screenshot had no Just Attack.

[Kondibon]

Most people agree that crits are just a chance to always deal your max damage. They're only really useful if you have really low ability.

[Hrith]

Yeah, except all we know for certain about ABL is that it allows you to deal more damage when yours is higher than the enemy's, not reduce variance or increase minimal damage, all tests regarding the latter have proven otherwise.

[nadespam]

Yep, blue numbers are possible max damage attack, aka critical. I say "possible" because the number isn't always your max damage, it jumps up and down even though you're attacking the same spot. Unlike most RPGs or MMOs this "critical" isn't the basic (damage * critical %).

[gigawuts]

That could be down to the damage multiplier of that given swing. A sword's first and third swings have better damage than its second swing, for instance.

[Flame]

Yeah those are ciriticals. It's an odd thing with this game. They have really streamlined things to the point where the only stats left are ATP and DFP. Players no longer have to worry about ATA, EVP, or LCK. Given the quick pace of the game, this kind of decision makes sense. This isn't like PSO where 30 more points of damage was a real accomplishment.