Understand Deathmatch
Useful when…
- A polearm damage build that benefits from CRIT Rate and the ATK increase in either opponent-count condition.
- A combat situation where the wielder can use the larger ATK-only branch against fewer than two nearby opponents, or the ATK and DEF branch against multiple opponents.
Opponent count determines the bonus
At R1, having at least two opponents nearby grants 16% ATK and 16% DEF. With fewer than two nearby, the weapon grants 24% ATK and no DEF increase is listed. At R5, the corresponding values are 32% ATK and 32% DEF with at least two opponents, or 48% ATK with fewer than two. The passive is conditional on nearby opponent count; no Skill, hit, or other activation step is stated.
Use and alternative conditions
CRIT Rate as the secondary stat and an ATK increase make Deathmatch a consideration for polearm damage builds. The Catch is a different fit for Burst-centered damage: it has Energy Recharge and boosts Elemental Burst DMG and Burst CRIT Rate. Ballad of the Fjords also has CRIT Rate, but its Elemental Mastery increase requires at least three different Elemental Types in the party. Those effects depend on Burst use or party composition, unlike Deathmatch's nearby opponent count.
Ascension and refinement investment
Ascension has six stages; the listed examples include 5,000 Mora for stage 0 to 1 and 45,000 Mora for stage 5 to 6, along with materials. Refinement requires a duplicate copy and Mora, with examples of 1,000 Mora for R1 to R2 and 8,000 Mora for R4 to R5. Refinement raises both branches: the multi-opponent ATK and DEF bonuses, and the fewer-than-two ATK bonus. Consider copies only if these conditional stat increases matter enough to justify spending them.
Limits and common mistakes
The two branches are mutually dependent on opponent count: do not expect the fewer-than-two ATK value and the multi-opponent DEF increase at the same time. The DEF bonus is only stated for the branch with at least two nearby opponents. Beginner's Protector has no listed secondary stat or passive refinements, so it does not offer Deathmatch's CRIT Rate or conditional bonuses.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Its ATK and DEF values change with nearby opponent count.
- The multi-opponent branch has less ATK than the fewer-than-two branch.
- Refinement consumes duplicate copies for larger conditional bonuses.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Expecting the DEF bonus when fewer than two opponents are nearby.
- Applying the fewer-than-two ATK value while at least two opponents are nearby.
- Refining without weighing duplicate-copy cost against the opponent-count-dependent gains.