What is considered melee damage? (please read entirety before answering)

Savage_Audacity · April 2017

This question arose during a discussion in my trials team so I took to the forums to find a definitive answer.

I have seen numerous discussions about this topic and everyone seems to have their own interpretations without a definitive answer. Is it a magicka vs stamina thing? Is it range based? Is it damage type (aoe, projectile, melee)? The point is, without testing, players can not determine the real answer as it pertains to eso. There is nothing in game that explains what "melee" damage really is.

If you know of a credible source containing what melee damage refers to, WITH TESTED AND DOCUMENTED PROOF, please link in the comments. (I assume pc players may have tested this or may possibly have an add on that tells them, but have been unable to find it).

If you want to assist in answering this question, but do not have tested proof and can not link documented proof then please click agree and tag developers that you believe could assist in answering the question at hand that way we can draw attention to the question in this post (and many others)

Bottom line: we need an answer from the devs, but actual tested/documented answers are appreciated and helpful.

Thanks

GrumpyDuckling · April 2017

If a dev attempts tackling this question, can you please delve deep enough into a definition to try answering many of the oddball scenarios listed below?

- supposedly 7 meters or less is a melee (from what I gather from forum posts)
- but then there are gap closer ranged skills (like Ambush or Shield Charge) which are technically considered melee, which have a tooltip of more than 7 meters, so is the 7 meter range a myth?
- speaking of range, does that mean the Nightblade magicka finisher is not considered a melee even though it performs the animation of a dagger thrust?
- and what about a skill like Puncturing Sweeps, which is considered a dot, I guess? Can dots be considered melee?
- which makes me wonder about Rapid Strikes being a melee skill, because isn't that only a dot?
- and if skills that are considered melee skills have dot components, will each tick of those dots proc melee consideration?
- speaking of procs, do short range AOE attacks also proc melee instances (ex: DK talons)?
- and weapon enchants or poisons on melee weapon light and heavy attacks... if they fire in close range are those considered melee attacks?
- and will damage from a set like Night Terror, which damages enemies who melee attack you, also count as a melee vs. the attacking enemy?

geonsocal · April 2017

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

If a dev attempts tackling this question, can you please delve deep enough into a definition to try answering many of the oddball scenarios listed below?

- supposedly 7 meters or less is a melee (from what I gather from forum posts)
- but then there are gap closer ranged skills (like Ambush or Shield Charge) which are technically considered melee, which have a tooltip of more than 7 meters, so is the 7 meter range a myth?
- speaking of range, does that mean the Nightblade magicka finisher is not considered a melee even though it performs the animation of a dagger thrust?
- and what about a skill like Puncturing Sweeps, which is considered a dot, I guess? Can dots be considered melee?
- which makes me wonder about Rapid Strikes being a melee skill, because isn't that only a dot?
- and if skills that are considered melee skills have dot components, will each tick of those dots proc melee consideration?
- speaking of procs, do short range AOE attacks also proc melee instances (ex: DK talons)?
- and weapon enchants or poisons on melee weapon light and heavy attacks... if they fire in close range are those considered melee attacks?
- and will damage from a set like Night Terror, which damages enemies who melee attack you, also count as a melee vs. the attacking enemy?

amen...

Noodles · April 2017

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

If a dev attempts tackling this question, can you please delve deep enough into a definition to try answering many of the oddball scenarios listed below?

- supposedly 7 meters or less is a melee (from what I gather from forum posts)
- but then there are gap closer ranged skills (like Ambush or Shield Charge) which are technically considered melee, which have a tooltip of more than 7 meters, so is the 7 meter range a myth?

While i can't answer your other questions, i can in fact answer about the range of a "melee" attack.
I had this same question while making a sap NB tank Imperial Race. The Red Diamond Imperial Racial Passive is described as "Your melee attacks have a 10% chance to restore 6% or your Max Health".
I tested the range and using the base NB skill Drain Power that has 8m Radius. I was proccing the heal from red diamond on the target skele. Path of Darkness and Wall of Elements would not proc it.
I do not have the skill but if someone tested Tornado Morph with a 9m range on and Imperial for Red Diamond Proc that would confirm the 8m or less as a melee attack

Jim_Pipp · April 2017

There was a really detailed reddit post about this last year, but as that may not meet be the definite developer response the op is looking for I'll just ask

isn't it really, really easy to test? (honest question, not smug superiority)

Get an orc, respec and take out all skillpoints... and get nekked
Make a note of all skills tool tip damage
Put skillpoints into racial pasive that increases melee damage
Check tooltips. Those that get increased are melee.

Bonus points for testing actual damage against a target skeleton.

Very unfortunately (I'm genuinely embarrassed to admit) I don't have an orc yet.

Stannum · April 2017

1. Take redguard (or ask a friend that has one).
2. Take any addon with combat log.
3. Use tested skill
4. Check for racial proc
5. Profit