How damage tags work in version 1.0

Read the attack first, then the team total

Open the weapon or ability card and check its damage tags. The total at the top of the run shows the bonus your squad has built, but only matching attacks can use that damage type and its status chance.

A two-attack example

• A Fire-only attack can roll the Fire status chance
• A Kinetic-only attack can roll the Kinetic status chance
• A Fire and Kinetic attack can interact with both matching rules
• Adding Fire tags does not convert every attack into Fire damage

Use thresholds as a build checkpoint

Finish one reliable weapon path before chasing a threshold. Take another tag piece when the current weapons can use it and the threshold changes the run; skip it when the card only raises a total for attacks the squad does not have.

Follow one attack through the calculation

Choose a weapon, read every damage tag on its card, then compare those tags with the totals at the top of the run. A Fire total changes a Fire-tagged attack. It does not add Fire to a weapon whose card lists only Kinetic.

Status chance follows the matching damage instance

Community testing reports that a matching Fire damage instance can roll Burning and a matching Kinetic instance can roll Injured. An attack that carries both damage types can interact with both status rules. Treat this as version-sensitive behavior and recheck after a balance patch.

Virus containers and tag items need a consumer

Before taking a container or tag item, identify the weapon or ability that will use it. If no current attack carries the matching tag and no planned evolution will add it, the card raises a total without improving the attacks already clearing the map.

Build order for a fresh account

• Finish one leader weapon path
• Take a tag piece that matches that weapon
• Recruit a survivor who adds the same tag or a useful status
• Add off-tag utility only after the squad has a stable lane

What still needs an official table

The reviewed official changelog confirms tag calculation fixes but does not publish a full damage formula. Exact base-damage selection for mixed-tag attacks and every item interaction should remain labelled as community-tested until the game or developer documents them.