Spells and effects

DAoC includes a diverse range of spell types and effects, which include:[2]

Heal The target is healed for a random amount of damage within a certain value range.

Heal over Time (HoT) The target is healed for small amounts at intervals for a set duration; the total healed is usually high when compared with healing spells of similar casting cost.

Concentration Enhancements The most common form of 'buff' in DAoC. Concentration spells have two limiting factors: In practice, the caster usually will usually hit the 20-buff 'cap' first, but there is also a cost value for each buff cast, and a set limit determined by the caster's level of specialization.

Timed Enhancements A few 'buffs', often buffs that can only be cast on the caster themselves, expire after a certain period, usually 20 minutes.

Tethered Enhancements Buffs a large radius around the caster within which the buff is in effect on its target. Summons 'Pet' spells summon a NPC ally under the control of the caster. Charm Cast on an NPC enemy, converts it to a 'pet' ally.

Concentration spells Require the caster to stand in one place and take no other action during the duration of the spell. The most common form is the Damage Shield.

Damage shield When attacked, a character with a damage shield does damage to the attacker. Timers are used on some spells, such as 'bolts' and 'instants', to limit their use. After use, the timer prevents re-use for a set amount of time, with a visual representation to show the remaining time until re-use. Instants or 'instas' are ranged, and are usually 'debuffs', although there are many damage instas. Debuffs Lower primary, such as Strength, or derived, such as attack speed or even the comprehensive 'Effectiveness' statistics, or lower resistance to a particular elemental damage. Direct Damage (DD). Ranged damage, instantaneous effect once casting time is complete. Bolt. DD with longer range, medium to long casting time, higher damage, and 'timers' before re-use. Eldritch, Runemaster, Wizard. Area (of) Effect (AE, AoE) DD with a radius around the target. All enemies within the radius take the listed range of damage. Point Blank Area (of) Effect (PBAE, PBAoE) AE of usually markedly high damage, with a radius centered on the caster. Ground Targetted Area (of) Effect (GTAE, GTAoE) The caster can move a ground target cursor with arrow buttons or the mouse; when the spell is cast, enemies in the area of effect take damage. Is less affected by damage reduction against high level targets than other spells. Eldritch, Runemaster, Wizard. Damage over Time (DoT) An successful casting of a DoT on an enemy causes them to take small amounts of damage at intervals for a set duration; the total damage is usually high when compared with DD spells. Life tap/Lifedrain Usually slightly lower damage than DDs, life drains heal the caster for a set percentage of damage dealt. Power drain The Necromancer does a DD spell that returns a set percentage of power to the caster. Life bestow The Cabalist and Spiritmaster can drain their own life to heal a target. Root The target's run speed is reduced by 99% for the duration of the spell, or until the target takes damage. Snare The target's run speed is reduced for the duration of the spell or effect; in some cases, damage does not break the snare. Mesmerization (Mez) The target can take no action for the duration of the spell, or until the target takes damage. Stun Short duration; the target can take no action for the duration of the spell. Does not break if the target takes damage. Bladeturn All casters and Wardens have access to the 'BT' that nullifies one attack and is then dispelled. Chants Similar to Tethered enhancements in that the buffs only are in effect within a radius of the caster, chants do not require targetting, and are continuous until replaced by another chant or dispelled by the caster. Notable chants include: Heal, AC bonus, Damage increase, Pulsing spells Very similar to chants; pulsing spells do PBAE damage, or PBAE debuff, or bladeturn, called Pulsing Blade Turn or PBT; a new bladeturn is given or an old replaced, with each pulse. Cone spells AE spells with a radius centered on the caster; the area of effect is narrow near the caster and widens as it approaches maximum range. Bomber Glowing sphere follows the target and does damage on impact. Similar to bolt in damage and that it follows target; slower to close to target, lower (DD) range. Animist. Turret Pet cast in a fixed position determined with ground targeting cursor. Limited but long duration. Typically does ranged damage. Set, but very high, maximum limit of turrets castable by each Animist, and in total by multiple Animists in one area. Elementals Pets with a limited, short duration that run to the target, or in range of it in the case of the ranged damage Ice pets. Theurge. Notable combinations of the above spells available in DAoC include:

Instant debuff Many casters have these as part of their baseline list of spells, and often in one or more of their specialization lines as well. Instant DD Bards, Bonedancers, Champions, Minstrels, Nightshades, Skalds, Thanes, and Valkyries can do damage with instas on timers. Instant PBAE Thanes can cast this for small damage, on a timer. Instant DoT Reavers and Valewalkers. Instant Lifetap Bonedancers, Reavers. Instant Mesmerization Bards and Healers. Instant Stun Minstrels and Healers, and earlier in the game's history, Skald. Damage/debuff Slightly lower damage, and a debuff to resistance to that element type. E.g. Wizard