Cleave Damage
In Darktide, cleave describes a weapon's ability to continue through multiple enemies in a single swing, with cleave damage referring to the damage dealt to subsequent targets after the first. Every enemy has a hit mass, and your weapon's cleave reduces this mass as it passes through them; when the weapon's remaining cleave is zero, the swing stops and can no longer hit or stagger other enemies.
How Cleave Works
Hit Mass vs. Cleave:
Each enemy has a "hit mass" value. When you swing a weapon, its cleave value is reduced by the hit mass of the first enemy struck.
Damage Distribution:
Subsequent enemies are then hit by the remaining cleave. The damage dealt to these enemies is often reduced, with the first target taking the most damage, and later targets taking progressively less.
Stagger Cleave:
Weapons also have a separate "stagger cleave," which determines how many enemies can be staggered by an attack. Damage and stagger cleave are often aligned but can sometimes differ.
Weapon Profile:
Each weapon has its own unique cleave profile, dictating its behavior through enemies.
The Swing Stops:
When the weapon's remaining cleave value drops below the hit mass of the next potential target, the swing is "stopped," preventing it from hitting further enemies.
What “Cleave Damage Distribution” Means
This stat determines the amount of damage that continues through to subsequent targets.
A high cleave distribution ensures more damage is dealt to the second, third, and so on, enemies struck.
Key Terms
Cleave: The ability of a weapon to pass through multiple enemies in one swing.
Hit Mass: A property of each enemy that reduces a weapon's cleave.
Cleave Damage: The damage dealt to enemies after the first target hit.
Cleave Targets: The maximum number of enemies a weapon can pass through in one swing.
Stagger Cleave: The number of enemies a weapon can stagger with a single swing.