Attack Speed

Attack Speed is a measure of how fast a character carries out combat actions. The base value is defined by the type of the attack, but it can be modified by various stats and effects of the attacker. It is separate from Reload Speed, and not to be confused with Move Speed.

(*) Up to date list of attack speed related effects, weapons base speeds, plus mechanics behind the attack system can be found here.

(*) Attack speed calculator (online tool for speed estimation) can be found here.

Weapon Attacks
Animation durations are rounded up, resulting in additional ~0.1 second delays (up to 0.5 seconds for reload times).

Dual wielding gives a 50% recovery time reduction. All attack speed buffs similarly only modify the recovery time (as opposed to action speed, which modifies everything, and reload speed).

Other Attacks
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Dexterity
For each point of Dexterity above 10, the speed of all of the character's attacks is increased by 3% (additive, not multiplicative):

Similarly, for each point of Dexterity below 10 it decreases by the same amount:

Buffs
Besides buffing up dexterity, there are various ways to further increase attack speed directly.

A character's attack speed for a given kind of attack can benefit from the following at the same time:

Passive abilities/talents
unlimited – permanently active once learned

Weapons
unlimited – bonus while equipped Weapon bonuses only effect attacks made with the equipped weapon.

Equipment
one – bonus while equipped

Modal or active buffs
one – which includes:

Modal abilities – bonus while turned on

Active abilities/spells – temporary bonus when used

Consumable items – temporary bonus when used

Debuffs
Spells, powers or active abilities that directly decrease the attack speed of enemies, include:

Also, there are many ways for characters to put an affliction on foes, which in turn reduces those enemies' attack speed: