The First Descendant Skill Power vs Skill Power Modifier stat, explained

Modified Jul 15, 2024 01:07 IST

The First Descendant Skill Damage vs Skill Damage Modifier — The First Descendant's stats can be confusing sometimes (Image via Nexon

Unlike other MMO titles, Skill Power and Skill Power Modifier in the First Descendant function in two different ways. Both stats contribute to damage output calculations under the hood, but it is not explained in a way that is intuitive to a new player. However, understanding them can be a game-changer to know how to mod your weapons and Descendants for specific builds.

In this guide, we aim to dispel this confusion by going over what exactly is the difference between 'Skill Power' and 'Skill Power Modifier' and how they work in The First Descendant.

Difference between Skill Power and Skill Power Modifier in The First Descendant

The Reactor's Skill damage stat is your Skill ATK (Image via Nexon)

While Skill Power raises the base Skill damage stat in The First Descendant, Skill Power Modifier increases the multiplier each specific skill uses on top of that stat.

For a more detailed breakdown, we have to look at what 'Skill ATK' or the base Skill damage stat means. Damage abilities in this game do not have their own damage. Instead, there is a base 'Skill Power' that is determined by the Reactor you have equipped.

Generally speaking, the higher the level of the Reactor, the higher the level of this base Skill Power. What Skill Power +percentage items do is increase that stat. For example, the Spear and Shield Module increases Skill Power by +8.1%, which would directly increase a base Skill power of 1000 to 1081.

Skill Power Modifier, on the other hand, adds to the same stat on each specific Descendant ability. For example, Bunny's Thrill Bomb has a base Skill Power Modifier of 156.6%. If we add a Rank 10 Iron Defense module, this will increase Skill Power Modifier by 12.7%. Afterwards, Thrill Bomb will have a Skill Power Modifier of 169.3%.

With Spear and Shield + Iron Defense and a Reactor that has 1000 Skill damage, the result will come out to 1081 x 169.3%.

Also Read: The First Descendant Bunny build

Note that there is also a modifier called Skill ATK that you can get as an add-on stat on your External Components or Reactors. What it does is simply add a flat value to your base Skill Power (as dictated by your Reactor).

So the question is, when should you mod Skill Power vs Skill Power Modifier?

On the average nuke Descendant, you want the stat that you ordinarily have less of. For example, on Freyna, Skill Power Modifier adds a flat value to the tick damage of Room 0 Trauma, which can be a huge improvement because it only starts with 10.3% of this stat. Read more in our Freyna build guide to see how you can use that to your advantage.

Check out our other guides on The First Descendant:

Edited by Arundhoti Palit