Dumb questions about counterstrike

[Shaidyn]

Howdy folks,

A couple of quick questions about the counterstrike mechanic:

- What determines how many stacks of counterstrike are applied to a target? I may get 2, 3, or 4 stacks when I use Block or Shield Slam.

- What part of a melee attack is doubled? Just the physical, or all the elemental additions as well?

- What qualifies as a melee attack? Just the generic "move into enemy", or will my melee damaging abilities work?

- Can a mob 'shake off' counterattack stacks? I'll often be fighting an enemy and they'll just disappear.

- Can I combo together the counterstrike mechanic and the Assault ability to get double damage on the two auto crits?

Don't feel obliged to answer all my dumb questions. :3

Thanks!

[Danton]

Are you sure those are stacks and not just debuff duration? I don't think the number of counterstrikes you can pull off per successful block is affected by anything other than Riposte's talent level.

Counterstrike works on a strike of anything. It doesn't even need to be a melee attack (though pulling it off with a sling is tricky due to travel time). You definitely can and should counterstrike->assault.

[Shaidyn]

Thanks for the info, Danton. I think you're right, it is the duration of the debuff. I didn't realize there was a debuff, but now I see it.

[Razakai]

On-hit elemental bits are not doubled as far as I can tell.

Anything involving making a melee attack will be doubled, ability or not.

Counterstrike is a physical effect so it can be removed with things like wild infusions and the like. In addition, until you 4/5 Riposte you can only make a single counterstrike before it is removed.

Yes, Assault+Counterstrike is a cornerstone of Bulwark damage.

[Atarlost]

In addition, until you 4/5 Riposte you can only make a single counterstrike before it is removed.

You get 1 by default, one bonus counterstrike for having any riposte at all, and a second bonus riposte for having 5 riposte (4 raw for most classes that get the tree).