Damage over time

Damage over time, abbreviated DoT, is a term commonly used to describe skills that deal multiple packets of damage at given time intervals, rather than dealing a single packet of damage or dealing damage based on certain trigger effects.

Most DoT skills are also Area of Effect skills, meaning that they will damage all secondary targets within a certain range of the primary target or casting location.

Skills that deal multiple damage packets due to trigger events, such as Fragility or Spiteful Spirit, usually are not considered DoT skills, since they do not deal consistent damage at given intervals, and they may deal no damage at all if the trigger event never occurs.

Related articles

 * DoT skills quick reference &mdash; a listing of all damage over time skills.
 * Health degeneration &mdash; a similar effect that causes a loss of health at a constant rate but is not considered damage.