How exactly do SC's doombolts deal damage?

[Vusfnuv]

I just can't understand doombolts damage dealing mechanics. :puppy: Does animation really correspond to what gets damaged? Is it direct hit or AoE? If a doombolt visually lands on a model does it really get damaged? Can several bolts damage a single model? What if a bolt lands on several models that are close to each other? and so on... Could anyone axplain it please?

[Atritas]

All I know is that they deal plasma damage and are affected by cover.

[WNxBizzie]

It's an Area of Effect damage best used on light armoured and "swarmy" units. Like GU squads or heretics, or Scouts, even. The Tyranids, Orkz, and Eldar are perfect targets for doombolt.

[2marston]

Each bolt deals damage, I think its 18 plasma damage. This type of damage is actually most effective against heavy and super heavy armour, so it scales well against tacs and other heavy armour squads, but due to the low hp of swarmy models, it kills them easier. Each bolt does damage in a radius, so where they land is important, and also how spread out the squad it hits.

[Vusfnuv]

1. So if I target a single model (say commander) that is close enough, the spread will be small and he will recieve up to 6x18 damage?
2. Do I get it right that if a single bolt hits two models with it's AoE, the damage is not spread between them (like it was with bolters before the latest patch), but each of the two models will recieve 18 damage?

[2marston]

Yes, single target is a bad choice. He will take 6x18 if they all hit, if the multiplier of plasma vs commander armour is 1.0, not sure.

Yes, damage is aoe, which means every member in the area takes full damage, 18 plasma each. Against heretics, for instance, 6 * 8 * 18 = 864 which wipes the squad if they all get hit.

[Vusfnuv]

WNxBizzie, 2marston
Thank you, it's clear now.

[Malachi]

Fun fact: you can wipe a full health Heretic squad with a well-aimed point blank Doombolt.

It's because they like to keep close to each other so much, and have low HP per model. Happeed to me only twice though, as Doombolt targeting seems a bit random, even at point blank range.

[Vusfnuv]

Malachi,
Yea, I did it once on a heretic squad that was standing still while capturing a req point. This surprised me greatly, as I didn't expect such a powerfull effect, that's why I started this thread.