Melee Combat System¶

Overview¶

Melee combat on UO:X follows the classic Ultima Online combat system, where success in battle depends on your character's skills, stats, equipment quality, and tactical decisions. Whether you're wielding a sword, mace, axe, or fighting with your bare hands, understanding the combat mechanics will help you survive and thrive in both PvE and PvP encounters.

Core Combat Mechanics¶

Hit Chance Calculation¶

Your chance to hit an opponent is determined by comparing your offensive skill against their defensive skill:

Offensive Factors: - Your weapon skill (Swordsmanship, Macing, Fencing, or Wrestling) - Tactics skill (passive bonus) - Weapon accuracy level (magic weapons only) - Your Dexterity

Defensive Factors: - Opponent's weapon skill - Opponent's Tactics skill - Opponent's Dexterity - Parrying skill (if using a shield or weapon parry)

The formula weighs your attack value against twice the defender's value, meaning defense has a significant advantage in combat.

Weapon Speed¶

Weapon speed determines how frequently you can attack. The delay between swings is calculated based on:

Base weapon speed rating
Your Stamina (higher stamina = faster attacks)
Weapon equipped on login (sets your initial combat timer)

Speed Formula: The delay in seconds is calculated as 15000 / ((Stamina + 100) × Speed)

Maintaining high stamina is crucial for maximizing your damage output over time.

Damage Calculation¶

Your damage output depends on multiple factors:

Base Damage: - Weapon's minimum and maximum damage range - Weapon damage level (Ruin, Might, Force, Power, Vanquishing)

Damage Modifiers:

Strength: +1% damage per 5 Strength
Tactics: Ranges from -50% at 0 skill to +50% at 100 skill
Anatomy: +1% damage per 5 skill, +10% bonus at Grandmaster (100+)
Lumberjacking: +1% damage per 5 skill for axes, +10% bonus at Grandmaster
Weapon Quality: Exceptional quality adds +20% damage
Durability: Damaged weapons deal reduced damage (scales from 50% to 100% based on current/max durability)

PvP Damage Reduction: In player vs. player combat, all damage is halved.

Weapon Skills¶

Swordsmanship¶

Governs the use of bladed weapons including longswords, katanas, broadswords, and scimitars. Swords offer a good balance of speed and damage.

Macing¶

Controls blunt weapons like war hammers, maces, and clubs. Macing weapons are effective against heavily armored opponents.

Fencing¶

Covers piercing weapons such as spears, war forks, and kryss. Fencing weapons tend to be faster but deal less damage per hit.

Wrestling¶

Used when fighting unarmed or with bare hands. Wrestling is the default combat skill and can be effective with high Anatomy and Tactics.

Supporting Combat Skills¶

Tactics¶

Essential for all warriors. Tactics provides a direct damage modifier and improves your hit chance. At 50 skill, you deal normal damage. Below 50, you suffer penalties; above 50, you gain bonuses up to +50% at Grandmaster.

Anatomy¶

Increases your damage output (+1% per 5 skill) and provides a +10% bonus at Grandmaster. Also used for healing and evaluating opponents.

Parrying¶

Allows you to block incoming attacks with a shield or weapon. Your parry chance depends on:

Parrying skill
Dexterity (low Dex reduces effectiveness)
Whether you're using a shield (much more effective than weapon parrying)

Shield Parrying: Chance = (Parry skill / 400), with +5% bonus at Grandmaster Weapon Parrying: Significantly lower chance, calculated differently based on weapon type

Lumberjacking¶

Provides damage bonuses when using axes (+1% per 5 skill, +10% at Grandmaster). Also used for harvesting wood.

Weapon Properties¶

Quality Levels¶

Regular: Standard crafted items
Exceptional: +20% damage bonus, crafted by skilled artisans

Accuracy Levels¶

Magic weapons may have accuracy bonuses:

Accurate: +2% hit chance
Surpassingly Accurate: +4% hit chance
Eminently Accurate: +6% hit chance
Exceedingly Accurate: +8% hit chance
Supremely Accurate: +10% hit chance

Damage Levels¶

Magic weapons may have increased base damage:

Ruin: +1 damage
Might: +3 damage
Force: +5 damage
Power: +7 damage
Vanquishing: +9 damage

Durability Levels¶

Durable: +20% durability
Substantial: +50% durability
Massive: +70% durability
Fortified: +100% durability
Indestructible: +120% durability

Slayer Weapons¶

Slayer weapons deal double damage against specific creature types. Common slayers include:

Demon Slayer
Dragon Slayer
Reptile Slayer
Undead Slayer
Elemental Slayer
And many more specific types

Colored Metal Weapons¶

Weapons crafted from special ore types gain inherent bonuses:

Metal Type	Durability	Damage	Accuracy
Iron	Regular	Regular	Regular
Dull Copper	Durable	Regular	Accurate
Shadow Iron	Durable	Ruin	Regular
Copper	Fortified	Ruin	Surpassingly
Bronze	Fortified	Might	Surpassingly
Gold	Indestructible	Force	Eminently
Agapite	Indestructible	Power	Eminently
Verite	Indestructible	Power	Exceedingly
Valorite	Indestructible	Vanquishing	Supremely

Weapon Identification¶

Unidentified magic weapons must be identified using the Item Identification skill before their properties are revealed. Until identified, you'll see "an unidentified [weapon name]" and won't know its magical properties.

Weapon Durability¶

All weapons have hit points that decrease with use: - Weapons lose durability when striking opponents - Acid-blooded creatures (slimes, acid elementals) cause extra durability loss - Damaged weapons deal reduced damage - Weapons can be repaired by blacksmiths - Weapons at 0/0 durability are destroyed

Combat Strategy Tips¶

Maximizing Damage Output¶

Keep Stamina High: Drink refresh potions or use the Meditation skill to maintain stamina
Train Anatomy and Tactics: These provide the largest damage bonuses
Use Quality Weapons: Exceptional quality adds significant damage
Match Slayers to Targets: Double damage makes slayer weapons incredibly powerful
Maintain Weapon Durability: Repair weapons before they become too damaged

Defensive Tactics¶

Use Shields: Shield parrying is far more effective than weapon parrying
Wear Quality Armor: See the Armor page for protection mechanics
Manage Positioning: Keep distance from multiple opponents
Watch Your Health: Carry bandages and healing potions

PvP Considerations¶

Damage is Halved: All PvP damage is reduced by 50%
Speed Matters: Faster weapons can interrupt opponents
Poisoned Weapons: Can apply poison on hit (requires Poisoning skill)
Stat Requirements: Ensure you meet weapon requirements or suffer penalties

Weapon Requirements¶

Most weapons have Strength requirements. If your Strength is below the requirement: - You cannot equip the weapon - You'll see the message "You are not strong enough to equip that."

Some weapons also have Dexterity or Intelligence requirements, though these are less common.

Special Weapon Features¶

Two-Handed vs. One-Handed¶

Two-Handed: Generally deal more damage but prevent shield use
One-Handed: Allow shield use for better defense

Weapon Reach¶

Most melee weapons have a range of 1 tile. Some polearms and spears may have extended reach of 2 tiles, allowing you to attack from slightly farther away.

Poisoned Weapons¶

With the Poisoning skill, you can apply poison to weapons. Each successful hit has a chance to poison your opponent and consumes one poison charge. Weapons can hold multiple charges.

Training Combat Skills¶

Skill Gain¶

Combat skills gain through use: - Weapon Skills: Gain when you successfully hit or miss (checked on each swing) - Tactics: Gains passively during combat - Anatomy: Gains passively during combat - Parrying: Gains when you successfully block an attack

Training Methods¶

Early Levels (0-50): Fight weak creatures or use training dummies
Mid Levels (50-80): Hunt progressively stronger monsters
High Levels (80-100): Fight challenging creatures or spar with other players
Grandmaster (100+): Requires fighting very difficult opponents

Armor System - Learn about protection and armor ratings
Crafting - How to craft and repair weapons
Skills - Detailed information on combat skills
Healing - Managing health in combat

Remember: Combat effectiveness comes from the synergy of skills, stats, and equipment. A well-rounded warrior with Grandmaster weapon skill, Tactics, and Anatomy using an exceptional weapon will vastly outperform a character who neglects any of these elements.