Understanding the Basics of Crit Rate in First Descendant
New to The First Descendant and wondering why your crit rate shows over 200%? You’re not alone. Many new players get confused when the numbers seem off. This guide explains in simple terms how crit rate is calculated, why it often exceeds 100%, and how to properly build your character to hit that perfect 100% cap without wasting resources.
Critical hit rate (or crit rate) is one of the most important stats in boosting your damage output. But the way it’s shown in-game can be misleading. If you’ve seen strange percentages in your mod menu or wondered whether you should stack more crit mods, we’ll break it all down step by step.
Why Your Crit Rate Looks So High
In The First Descendant, the numbers you see on the mod screen aren’t the actual final crit rate. Instead, what you see there is how much your equipped mods and gear are increasing your base crit rate—not the total crit rate itself.
Let’s say you're using Ultimate Viesa. Her base skill crit rate is 15%. Other characters have different starting values:
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Ultimate Lepic: 5%
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Ultimate Bunny: 10%
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Ultimate Viesa: 15%
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Ultimate Sharen or Ajax: 20%
If you equip mods that increase crit rate by 207%, it means you're adding 207% of that 15% base, not 207% total. So:
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207% of 15 = 31.05
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15 (base) + 31.05 = 46.05% total crit rate
That’s how the math works behind the scenes.
How Passive Bonuses Affect Crit Rate
Some characters and weapons provide passive boosts that directly add to your base crit rate before any mods are even calculated. For example, the Absolute Zero weapon adds a flat 20% to your base.
So now your base crit rate jumps from 15% to 35%. If you then add 207% worth of crit rate mods:
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207% of 35 = 72.45
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35 + 72.45 = 107.45%
The game caps crit rate display at 100%, so while you'll only see 100%, you're technically hitting over that mark. Any value beyond 100% is wasted in terms of effectiveness but can act as buffer if some effects reduce crit.
When and Where Crit Rate Changes
Here’s something many players miss: your crit rate changes depending on where you are. If you're in the Lab or a mission, certain passive abilities are active. But if you're just in Albion (the hub), those passives may not apply.
Let’s break it down:
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In Albion, Absolute Zero’s passive doesn’t activate, so your crit rate appears lower.
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In the Lab or during missions, the passive kicks in, and your crit rate jumps.
So if you’re wondering why you only see 46% crit while hanging around Albion even though your build should hit 100% — it’s normal. Head into the Lab or a mission to see the full effect.
Choosing the Right Mods for High Crit Builds
To hit 100% crit rate efficiently, use crit rate mods that apply directly to skill damage. The top three recommended mods for this purpose are:
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Skill Insight
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Front Lines
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Emergency Measures
These mods stack with one another and boost your skill crit rate significantly. You can often hit over 200% increase just from these three mods alone. But remember, those boosts are multipliers, not direct additions.
For characters with higher base crit rates (15–20%), crit builds are more efficient. For characters with lower crit bases (5–10%), consider amplification or cooldown-based builds instead.
Why More Than 100% Crit Rate Can Be Pointless
The game’s crit rate cap is 100%, meaning even if your total crit rate calculates as 107%, you won’t go beyond a guaranteed critical hit. That extra 7% is simply unused.
Because of this, many players avoid stacking crit rate unnecessarily. Instead, once you hit 100%, shift your focus to crit damage, cooldown reduction, or skill amplification to boost your overall performance.
That’s also why in some builds, especially for characters like Ultimate Viesa, players skip crit rate boosts from reactors or tuning. There’s no benefit in pushing crit rate past 100% when it’s already capped.
Optimizing Your Reactor and Tuning Choices
When fine-tuning your build, don’t just focus on crit rate. Once you’ve reached 100%, look at your reactor and arcade tuning options for extra damage scaling.
For example:
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Use your reactor to boost crit damage instead of rate.
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Use arcade tuning for cooldown reductions or skill damage scaling.
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Avoid crit rate tuning once you’re capped—use that slot for other boosts.
By shifting your focus, you maintain consistent crits while boosting how hard each one hits. That’s where the real damage difference lies.
Why Crit Builds Work Better on Some Characters
Not every character in The First Descendant benefits equally from crit-based builds. Those with a higher base skill crit rate (like Ultimate Polar or Viesa) are ideal candidates because the math works in your favor. You need fewer mods to reach 100%, freeing up slots for other enhancements.
Characters with a low crit base (like Lepic or Bunny) require more investment just to reach the same result. In those cases, you might get better damage returns from skill amplification or status effect builds instead of chasing crits.
Before building, always check the base crit rate of your character to decide whether going full crit makes sense.
Summary of Key Points for Crit Rate Builds
Here’s a quick recap for building crit rate effectively:
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Know your base crit rate: Each character has a different starting point.
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Understand the mod screen: It shows modifiers, not your total.
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Use key mods: Skill Insight, Emergency Measures, and Front Lines are top choices.
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Factor in passives: Some weapons boost base crit (e.g., Absolute Zero).
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Ignore excess crit: The game caps at 100%, anything above is wasted.
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Tune smarter: Once crit is capped, shift focus to crit damage or cooldowns.
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Location matters: Passives may not apply in Albion but activate in the Lab or missions.
With these basics, you can optimize your builds without wasting slots or overinvesting in unnecessary stats.
Final Thoughts – Building Smart with Crit Rate in First Descendant
Understanding how crit rate works in The First Descendant can help you build much more efficiently. The key is knowing that the game calculates crit rate using your base stat plus modifiers, not just summing up flat numbers. Once you reach 100%, stop investing in crit rate and focus on increasing crit damage, reducing cooldowns, or scaling skill effects.
For new players, this simple approach helps avoid wasting resources while maximizing your character's potential. Whether you’re using high base crit characters like Viesa or managing builds for low base crit characters like Bunny, the same logic applies: calculate smart, build efficiently, and hit that max crit rate without overdoing it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why does my crit rate show over 200% in the mod menu?
A: That percentage shows how much crit rate is added on top of your base. It’s not your final total crit rate.
Q: How do I know if my crit rate is capped at 100%?
A: If your calculated total exceeds 100%, the game caps it at 100%. Extra crit rate becomes ineffective.
Q: Why is my crit rate different in Albion and in missions?
A: Some passives (like Absolute Zero’s) only activate in combat zones or the Lab. In Albion, they're inactive.
Q: Should I still invest in crit rate after reaching 100%?
A: No. Once you’re at 100%, prioritize crit damage, cooldown reduction, or skill amplification.
Q: Which characters are best for crit builds?
A: Characters with higher base skill crit rate like Ultimate Polar or Viesa benefit the most from crit-focused builds.
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