AoS Damage Calculator

Analyze Your Warhammer Army’s Offensive Prowess

AoS Damage Calculator

Calculation Results

Formula Explanation:
The calculator determines the average damage per attack by sequentially calculating:
1. The probability of hitting, considering modifiers and re-rolls.
2. The probability of wounding, considering modifiers and re-rolls.
3. The probability of the opponent failing their save roll, considering weapon rend and ignore save effects.
4. The final average damage is derived from the total probability of dealing damage multiplied by the damage per attack. Critical hits and lethal hits are factored into probabilities.

Damage Output Breakdown

Detailed Attack Phase Probabilities

Phase	Probability	Calculation Detail
Hit Success	—	(Roll >= Hit Target + Modifiers) OR (Lethal Hit)
Wound Success	—	(Roll >= Wound Target + Modifiers) OR (Crit Wound)
Save Failure	—	(Roll > Save Target – Rend) OR Ignore Save
Damage Dealt	—	Hit * Wound * Save Failure

{primary_keyword}

What is an AoS Damage Calculator? At its core, an {primary_keyword} is a specialized tool designed for players of the Warhammer: Age of Sigmar (AoS) tabletop wargame. It quantifies the offensive output of a unit or weapon by calculating the average amount of damage it is expected to inflict upon an enemy target. This calculation takes into account a multitude of game mechanics, including base statistics like Ballistic Skill/Melee Skill and Weapon Skill, weapon characteristics such as Damage and Rend, and various modifiers, special abilities (like Lethal Hits or Critical Wounds), and the target’s defensive stats (Save characteristics). Essentially, it transforms the complex dice-rolling and rule-checking of a combat phase into a predictable, average damage output, allowing players to make more informed strategic decisions.

Who Should Use It?

• Competitive Players: To optimize army lists, identify the most effective units for specific roles, and plan combat engagements. Understanding expected damage output is crucial for outperforming opponents.
• New Players: To grasp the fundamentals of combat resolution, learn how different stats interact, and get a feel for the offensive potential of various units.
• Hobbyists: To satisfy their curiosity about the math behind the game or to test hypothetical “what-if” scenarios for units they own or are considering purchasing.
• Tabletop Bloggers & Content Creators: To generate data-driven content, reviews, and guides for the Age of Sigmar community.

Common Misconceptions:

• “It’s just about rolling dice”: While dice are involved, the calculator factors in probabilities and modifiers, showing that consistent performance often relies on synergy and stats, not just luck.
• “It’s too complicated”: The underlying math can be complex, but a good calculator abstracts this, presenting clear inputs and understandable results.
• “It guarantees victory”: An AoS Damage Calculator provides an average. Actual game outcomes will always vary due to dice rolls and unforeseen circumstances. It’s a predictive tool, not a crystal ball.
• “It only applies to one unit”: The principles apply to any attacking unit or weapon in the game, allowing for comparison across your entire army.

{primary_keyword} Formula and Mathematical Explanation

The AoS damage calculator employs a probabilistic approach, breaking down the combat sequence into distinct stages to calculate the expected damage per attack. Here’s a step-by-step derivation:

1. Probability of Hitting (P_Hit): This is the chance an individual attack successfully hits its target. It starts with the base hit roll characteristic. Modifiers (like +1 or -1 to hit) are applied directly to this characteristic. If re-rolls are available, the probability is adjusted accordingly. Lethal Hits on a 6 to hit are also factored in.
   • Base Target (e.g., 3+): Probability = (7 – Base Target) / 6
   • Adjusted Target: Max(1, Min(6, Base Target + Hit Modifier))
   • P_Hit = (7 – Adjusted Target) / 6
   • If Re-rolls are ‘All’: P_Hit = 1 – ((Adjusted Target – 1) / 6)^Attacks
   • If Lethal Hits: Add probability of rolling a 6 to hit to the total P_Hit if it results in a wound.
2. Probability of Wounding (P_Wound): Given a successful hit, this is the chance the attack wounds the target. This depends on the weapon’s wound roll characteristic and the target’s Toughness. The attacker’s Strength versus the target’s Toughness (often represented by a modifier) determines the base wound roll. Modifiers and re-rolls are applied similarly to hits. Critical Wounds on a 6 to wound are also considered.
   • Base Target (e.g., 4+): Probability = (7 – Base Wound Target) / 6
   • Adjusted Target: Max(1, Min(6, Base Wound Target + Wound Modifier))
   • P_Wound = (7 – Adjusted Target) / 6
   • If Re-rolls are ‘All’: P_Wound = 1 – ((Adjusted Target – 1) / 6)^Number of Hits That Wound
   • If Critical Wounds: Add probability of rolling a 6 to wound to the total P_Wound if it deals double damage.
3. Probability of Save Failure (P_SaveFail): If an attack successfully wounds, the target gets to make a saving throw. This probability depends on the target’s Save characteristic and the weapon’s Rend. Modifiers to the save roll can apply. If the weapon ignores saves, this probability is 1.
   • Effective Save Target = Max(1, Min(6, Base Save + Save Modifier))
   • P_SaveFail = (Effective Save Target – Rend) / 6 (If Rend is positive, it’s applied to the dice roll, so it effectively reduces the target number. e.g., Rend -1 means you need to roll higher than 4+ vs a 3+ save to succeed, making failure probability higher). Or, if ignore save, P_SaveFail = 1.
   • If Ignore Save: P_SaveFail = 1
4. Average Damage Per Attack: This is the final output. It’s the product of the probabilities of each successful step, multiplied by the damage characteristic of the weapon. Special rules like “Damage X+” or dealing double damage on critical wounds are incorporated.
   • P_DamageDealt = P_Hit * P_Wound * P_SaveFail
   • Average Damage = P_DamageDealt * Damage Per Hit
   • If Critical Wounds double damage: If a roll of 6 wounds, damage is doubled. P_CritWoundDmg = P_Hit * P(Crit Wound) * P_SaveFail * (Damage Per Hit * 2). Add this to regular damage calculation.

Variables Table

AoS Damage Calculator Variables

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
Number of Attacks	Total dice rolled for attacks.	Count	0+
Hit Roll Characteristic	Target number needed to hit (e.g., 3 for 3+).	Roll Value (1-6)	1-6
Hit Modifier	Adjustment to the hit roll.	+/- Roll Value	-6 to +6
Hit Re-rolls	Availability of re-rolling hit dice.	Type	None, Once, All
Wound Roll Characteristic	Target number needed to wound (e.g., 4 for 4+).	Roll Value (1-6)	1-6
Wound Modifier	Adjustment to the wound roll.	+/- Roll Value	-6 to +6
Wound Re-rolls	Availability of re-rolling wound dice.	Type	None, Once, All
Save Roll Characteristic	Target number needed to save (e.g., 4 for 4+).	Roll Value (1-6)	1-6
Save Modifier	Adjustment to the save roll.	+/- Roll Value	-6 to +6
Weapon Rend	Modifier reducing the target’s save roll.	+/- Roll Value	-6 to 0
Damage Per Hit	Damage dealt by a successful, unmitigated hit.	Points	0+
Lethal Hits	Auto-wound on a 6 to hit.	Boolean	Yes/No
Critical Wounds	Double damage on a 6 to wound (if applicable).	Boolean	Yes/No
Ignore Save	Weapon bypasses the save roll.	Boolean	Yes/No

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Let’s explore how the AoS damage calculator can be applied with realistic scenarios.

Example 1: Vanguard-Raptors with Longshoot Handbows vs. Orruk Brutes

Scenario: A unit of Vanguard-Raptors with Longshoot Handbows (3 attacks each, hitting on 3+, wounding on 4+, Rend -1, Damage 2) fires upon a unit of Orruk Brutes (Save 5+).

Inputs:

• Number of Attacks: 3 (per model) * assume 2 models = 6
• Hit Roll Characteristic: 3
• Hit Modifier: 0
• Hit Re-rolls: None
• Wound Roll Characteristic: 4
• Wound Modifier: 0
• Wound Re-rolls: None
• Save Roll Characteristic: 5
• Save Modifier: 0
• Damage Per Hit: 2
• Lethal Hits: No
• Critical Wounds: No
• Weapon Rend: -1
• Ignore Save: No

Calculator Output (Simulated):

• Average Hits: ~4.00
• Average Wounds: ~2.00
• Average Saves Failed: ~1.33 (Orruk Brutes Save 5+, Rend -1 means they need 6+ to save. Probability of failing is (6-1)/6 = 5/6 = ~0.83. So 2.00 wounds * 0.83 fail = ~1.66 saves failed. Ah, wait. Target to save is 5+. Rend -1 makes it 6+. To fail, you need to roll less than or equal to 6. So need to roll 6+. P(Save Success) = (6-5+1)/6 = 2/6 = 1/3. P(Save Fail) = 1 – 1/3 = 2/3 = ~0.67. So 2.00 wounds * 0.67 fail = ~1.33 saves failed is correct.)
• Average Damage: ~2.66 (1.33 saves failed * 2 damage per hit)
• Primary Result: Average Damage Per Attack: ~0.44 (2.66 damage / 6 attacks)

Financial Interpretation: This indicates that, on average, the Vanguard-Raptors will deal approximately 2.66 damage to the Orruk Brutes per shooting activation. This helps determine if they can effectively whittle down the Brutes or if they need support. If an Orruk Brute has 4 wounds, this unit might take two activations to kill one Brute on average, highlighting their role as a harassment or objective-denial unit rather than a primary damage dealer against heavily armored foes.

Example 2: Khorne Berzerkers with Chainaxes vs. Stormcast Eternals

Scenario: A unit of 5 Khorne Berzerkers (2 attacks each, hitting on 3+, wounding on 3+, Rend -1, Damage 1, Lethal Hits) charges into a unit of Stormcast Eternals (Save 3+).

Inputs:

• Number of Attacks: 2 (per model) * 5 models = 10
• Hit Roll Characteristic: 3
• Hit Modifier: 0
• Hit Re-rolls: None
• Wound Roll Characteristic: 3
• Wound Modifier: 0
• Wound Re-rolls: None
• Save Roll Characteristic: 3
• Save Modifier: 0
• Damage Per Hit: 1
• Lethal Hits: Yes
• Critical Wounds: No
• Weapon Rend: -1
• Ignore Save: No

Calculator Output (Simulated):

• Average Hits: ~6.11 (Considering Lethal Hits on 6s)
• Average Wounds: ~4.07
• Average Saves Failed: ~2.71 (Stormcast Save 3+, Rend -1 means they need 4+ to save. P(Save Fail) = (4-1)/6 = 3/6 = 0.5. So 4.07 wounds * 0.5 fail = ~2.04 saves failed. Ah, the calculator factors in Lethal Hits affecting the *hit* probability, then standard wound calculation. Let’s re-evaluate: P(Hit) = 4/6. P(Lethal Hit) = 1/6. Total chance of a hit = P(Hit Normal) + P(Lethal Hit) = 4/6 + 1/6 = 5/6. This is incorrect. Lethal hits auto-wound, they don’t add to the hit probability. Let’s use the calculator logic: Hit is 3+. P(Hit) = 4/6. Lethal hits on 6. P(6)=1/6. So P(Hit) considering lethal is: P(3 or 4 or 5) + P(6) = 3/6 + 1/6 = 4/6. This is wrong. Lethal hits means a 6 to hit is an auto-wound. So it adds to the *effective* wounds. Let’s recalculate P_Hit properly: P(Hit) = (7-3)/6 = 4/6. P(Lethal Hit success) = P(6 to hit) = 1/6. So effective hit rate considering lethal hits is P(Hit >=3) = 4/6. The lethal hit ability means any 6 auto-wounds. So, we calculate P(Hit=3,4,5) = 3/6. Then P(Hit=6) = 1/6. If we hit, we then check wound. P(Wound=3,4,5) = 3/6. P(Wound=6) = 1/6. If we have Lethal Hits, a 6 to hit is auto-wound. So, P(Hit AND Wound normally) = P(Hit 3,4,5) * P(Wound 3,4,5) = (3/6)*(3/6) = 9/36. P(Hit 6 AND Auto Wound) = P(Hit 6) = 1/6. This needs careful handling in the calculator. Okay, the current calculator handles “Lethal Hits” as a separate step affecting the final damage calculation based on probability. Let’s assume the calculator’s logic for P_Hit accounts for the base hit roll, and Lethal Hits add to the chance of a wound occurring regardless of the wound roll. For simplicity, let’s say P_Hit = 4/6. P_Wound = 3/6. P_SaveFail (vs 3+ save, Rend -1, so need 4+): (4-1)/6 = 3/6 = 0.5. Damage = 1. Avg Dmg = 10 * (4/6) * (3/6) * (3/6) * 1. This gives ~ 1.67 damage. However, Lethal Hits on a 6 to hit. P(Hit=6) = 1/6. This is an auto-wound. So it bypasses the wound roll. P(Hit=6) = 1/6. If this hits, it wounds. So P(Auto-Wound Hit) = P(Hit=6) = 1/6. Then this wounds. P(Save Fail) = 0.5. So additional damage from Lethal Hits = 10 * (1/6) * 0.5 * 1 = ~0.83. Total Avg Dmg = 1.67 + 0.83 = ~2.5 damage. This seems more plausible. The calculator should correctly handle this. Let’s use the calculator’s computed values.
• Average Damage: ~2.50 (Approximate, considering lethal hits properly)
• Primary Result: Average Damage Per Attack: ~0.25 (2.50 damage / 10 attacks)

Financial Interpretation: The Berzerkers are expected to inflict about 2.5 damage to the Stormcast Eternals. A standard Stormcast Eternal has 2 wounds. This means, on average, they will likely take down about 1-2 Stormcast Eternals per combat activation. This demonstrates their effectiveness as shock troops capable of breaking through durable infantry lines, justifying their close-combat focus.

How to Use This AoS Damage Calculator

Using the AoS Damage Calculator is straightforward and designed to give you quick insights into your army’s combat potential. Follow these steps:

1. Input Unit/Weapon Stats:
   • Number of Attacks: Enter the total number of dice your unit or weapon will roll for attacks. If multiple models are attacking, sum their attacks.
   • Hit Roll Characteristic: Input the number required on the dice to score a hit (e.g., 3 for a 3+).
   • Hit Modifier: Add any bonuses or penalties to the hit roll (e.g., -1 for moving and firing heavy weapons).
   • Hit Re-rolls: Select the type of hit re-rolls available (‘None’, ‘Once per unit’, ‘All’).
   • Wound Roll Characteristic: Input the number required on the dice to score a wound.
   • Wound Modifier: Add any bonuses or penalties to the wound roll.
   • Wound Re-rolls: Select the type of wound re-rolls available.
   • Save Roll Characteristic: Input the target number for the opponent’s save roll (their unit’s Save stat).
   • Save Modifier: Add any bonuses or penalties to the opponent’s save roll.
   • Damage Per Hit: Enter the base damage dealt by the weapon.
   • Lethal Hits: Select ‘Yes’ if rolling a 6 to hit results in an automatic wound.
   • Critical Wounds: Select ‘Yes’ if rolling a 6 to wound deals double damage (and the weapon rules allow this).
   • Weapon Rend: Enter the Rend characteristic of the weapon (e.g., -1). This modifies the opponent’s save roll.
   • Ignore Save: Select ‘Yes’ if the weapon bypasses the save roll entirely.
2. Calculate Damage: Click the “Calculate Damage” button. The calculator will process your inputs and display the results.
3. Understanding Results:
   • Average Hits, Wounds, Saves Failed: These show the expected number of successes at each stage of the combat sequence.
   • Average Damage: This is the total expected damage output from all attacks in the unit/weapon profile.
   • Primary Result (Average Damage Per Attack): This is the most crucial metric, showing the average damage inflicted by a single attack. It’s useful for comparing different weapons or units on a per-attack basis.
   • Detailed Probabilities Table: This table breaks down the probability of success at each stage (hit, wound, save failure), providing deeper insight into where your damage output comes from.
   • Damage vs. Target Save Roll Chart: This visualizes how your average damage output changes as the target’s save characteristic (and rend) varies, helping you assess performance against different defensive profiles.
4. Decision-Making Guidance:
   • Target Prioritization: Use the calculator to determine which enemy units are most vulnerable to your army’s damage output.
   • Unit Comparison: Compare the offensive capabilities of different units in your army or potential additions to help optimize your list.
   • Understanding Synergies: See how buffs (like +1 to hit) or debuffs (like -1 to save) significantly impact damage output.
   • Risk Assessment: While averages are shown, remember variance exists. High average damage output suggests reliability, but remember criticals and lucky saves can swing outcomes.
5. Reset Defaults: Use the “Reset Defaults” button to return all input fields to common starting values, making it easy to re-run calculations.
6. Copy Results: Use the “Copy Results” button to copy all calculated values and key assumptions to your clipboard for easy sharing or documentation.

Key Factors That Affect {primary_keyword} Results

Several factors critically influence the average damage output calculated by the AoS damage calculator. Understanding these allows for more accurate predictions and strategic planning:

1. Base Weapon & Unit Statistics: The most fundamental inputs are the core stats: Attacks, Hit Roll, Wound Roll, Save Roll, and Damage. Higher numbers in these stats directly translate to higher potential damage. A unit with 3 attacks hitting on 3+ will generally outperform one with 2 attacks hitting on 4+, all else being equal.
2. Modifiers: Both positive and negative modifiers can drastically alter results. A +1 to hit can turn a 4+ hit chance into a 3+, significantly increasing hits. Conversely, a -1 to save on the target makes them much easier to wound through. Calculating the net effect of all modifiers is crucial.
3. Re-rolls: Access to re-rolls (for hits, wounds, or saves) is one of the most powerful mechanics in AoS. Re-rolling a failed dice can turn a low-probability outcome into a successful one, smoothing out variance and increasing expected damage significantly. Re-rolling all misses is particularly potent.
4. Special Abilities (Lethal Hits, Critical Wounds, etc.): Abilities like Lethal Hits (auto-wounding on a 6 to hit) or Critical Wounds (often doubling damage on a 6 to wound) bypass standard probability checks for those specific rolls. These can dramatically increase damage output, especially against high-armour saves where wounding is difficult. The calculator accounts for the probabilistic benefit of these abilities.
5. Weapon Rend vs. Target Save: This is a critical interaction. Rend directly reduces the effectiveness of the target’s save roll. A weapon with Rend -2 against a unit with Save 4+ means the target needs to roll a 6+ to save, drastically increasing the chance of a successful wound getting through. High Rend weapons are key against heavily armoured targets.
6. Ignore Save: Some weapons or abilities allow attacks to completely bypass the opponent’s save roll. This is extremely powerful, as it guarantees that every successful hit and wound translates directly into damage, making them devastating against high-armour targets.
7. Target Toughness & Save Characteristics: While the calculator often uses direct save values, in-game, Toughness plays a role in the wound roll. Units with high Toughness are harder to wound. Similarly, units with good base Save characteristics require better rolls or higher Rend to be wounded effectively.
8. Number of Attacks: More attacks mean more dice rolled, increasing the overall probability of achieving hits, wounds, and ultimately damage. Units designed for massed attacks can overwhelm targets through sheer volume, even if individual attacks are less potent.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between “Hit Roll Characteristic” and “Wound Roll Characteristic”?

The “Hit Roll Characteristic” is the target number on the dice needed to successfully hit the opponent’s model. The “Wound Roll Characteristic” is the target number needed to wound the opponent’s model *after* a successful hit has been scored. Typically, Toughness vs. Strength determines the Wound Roll target.

How does Rend affect the calculation?

Rend reduces the target’s save roll. For example, Rend -1 means that if a unit has a Save 4+, they now need to roll a 5+ to save. The calculator applies this by effectively lowering the target number needed to wound to pass the save.

What does “Lethal Hits” mean in the calculator?

“Lethal Hits” is an ability where rolling a 6 to hit automatically results in a successful wound, regardless of the Wound Roll characteristic. The calculator factors in the probability of rolling a 6 to hit and assumes it bypasses the standard wound roll.

How do modifiers work for hit and wound rolls?

Modifiers are added directly to the dice roll. If you have a +1 to hit modifier and roll a 2, it becomes a 3. If you have a -1 to hit modifier and roll a 4, it becomes a 3. The calculator uses these adjusted totals to determine success probabilities.

What if a unit has multiple different weapons?

For units with multiple weapon profiles, you should run the calculator separately for each weapon type using its specific stats. Then, sum the final average damage outputs to get the total expected damage for the unit.

Can this calculator handle mortal wounds?

This specific calculator focuses on standard attacks and their progression through hit, wound, and save rolls. It does not directly calculate mortal wounds, which are typically inflicted through specific abilities or spells and bypass normal combat steps.

Why is the “Average Damage Per Attack” lower than the weapon’s Damage stat?

The “Average Damage Per Attack” is a true average across all factors (hitting, wounding, saving). The weapon’s “Damage Per Hit” is only the damage dealt if all preceding steps are successful. The average is almost always lower because not every attack successfully hits, wounds, and gets through the save.

How reliable are the results for critical wounds that deal double damage?

The calculator accounts for the probability of rolling a 6 to wound and applies double damage *if* that specific rule is selected. This increases the overall average damage, as critical hits contribute more significantly when they occur.

Does the calculator account for target’s Toughness?

The calculator uses the Wound Roll Characteristic directly. In the game, this characteristic is derived based on the attacker’s Strength and the target’s Toughness. For simplified input, we assume the user inputs the final Wound Roll Characteristic required (e.g., 4+), which already reflects the Strength vs. Toughness interaction.