Burn Damage Mechanics: A Kindling Bug Case Study
This reproducible community test uses Kindling Bug in PVE to explain how Burn damage is resolved. It separates measured results from the formula inferred from those results.
Introduction
Battles have no random damage variance in either PVE or PVP. The same setup therefore produces the same damage, which makes controlled comparisons possible.
Two common claims were tested: that Burn never uses type matchups, and that percentage-based Burn has no damage cap. The measurements below show that both claims need qualification.
Kindling Bug kit
The test sequence is Ignite, then Full Burn, followed by repeated Full Burn uses. Fire-type targets are excluded because Fire creatures are immune to Burn.
Cinder Grass
While Kindling Bug is on the field, every Burn stack reduction becomes an increase instead.
Burn
At the end of the turn, each stack deals Fire damage equal to 2% of the target's maximum HP, then the stack count is halved. Fire creatures are immune.
Ignite
Inflicts 10 Burn stacks on the target.
Full Burn
Immediately resolves the target's Burn and triggers one instance of Burn damage.
Flame Shield
Reduces damage by 70%. Response to Attack: the enemy gains 6 Burn stacks.
Test subject and method
The Kindling Bug came from an event and was level 60. Its talents were HP, Physical Defense, and Magic Defense; its nature raised HP and lowered Magic Attack; its training was five stars with one awakening.
Every boss test repeated the same input sequence: Ignite → Full Burn → Full Burn, then continued using Full Burn.
Two 4,000-HP bosses
Thorned Sea Needle resists Fire, while Qili Flower is weak to Fire. Full Burn produces equal damage during the turn, but their end-of-turn damage differs because that later hit uses the boss's 20% end-of-turn reduction and the Fire matchup.
For the second turn, Thorned Sea Needle takes 600 × 0.8 × 0.5 = 240 damage, while Qili Flower takes 600 × 0.8 × 2 = 960 damage.
Type multipliers stack by addition in this game. A double weakness is additive: 1 + 1 + 1 = 3×, rather than 1 × 2 × 2 = 4×.
| Skill | Burn stacks | Thorned Sea Needle: during turn | Thorned Sea Needle: turn end | Thorned Sea Needle: HP left | Qili Flower: during turn | Qili Flower: turn end | Qili Flower: HP left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burn | 10 | 0 | 80 | 98% | 0 | 320 | 92% |
| Full Burn | 30 | 600 | 240 | 77% | 600 | 960 | 51% |
| Full Burn | 90 | 1,800 | 720 | 13% | 1,800 | 2,880 | 0% |
| Full Burn | 99 | 1,980 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wild-creature HP check
After one Ignite, Kindling Bug remained on the field and used a non-damaging action. Both wild targets resisted Fire. The measurements fit Burn damage = target maximum HP × Burn stacks × 2% × type multiplier, confirming that the HP term means the target's maximum HP.
| Target | Burn stacks | Damage | HP left | Implied maximum HP | Calculated damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild target 1 | 0 | — | 100% | — | — |
| Wild target 1 | 10 | 30 | 91% | 333.3 | 30.5 |
| Wild target 1 | 15 | 46 | 76% | 306.7 | 45.75 |
| Wild target 1 | 23 | 70 | 53% | 304.3 | 70.15 |
| Wild target 1 | 35 | 107 | 18% | 305.7 | 106.75 |
| Wild target 1 | 53 | 162 | 0% | — | 161.65 |
| Wild target 2 | 0 | — | 100% | — | — |
| Wild target 2 | 10 | 23 | 91% | 255.6 | 23 |
| Wild target 2 | 15 | 34 | 76% | 226.7 | 34.5 |
| Wild target 2 | 23 | 53 | 53% | 230.4 | 52.9 |
| Wild target 2 | 35 | 80 | 18% | 228.6 | 80.5 |
| Wild target 2 | 53 | 122 | 0% | — | 121.9 |
Larger-boss check
Reverse-calculating the two larger bosses shows that targets above 1,000 HP are treated as though they have 1,000 HP for Burn. Each stack is therefore capped at 20 base damage.
| State | Burn stacks | Sacred Sword Knight: during turn | Sacred Sword Knight: turn end | Sacred Sword Knight: HP left | Demon Wolf King: during turn | Demon Wolf King: turn end | Demon Wolf King: HP left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burn | 10 | 0 | 320 | 93% | 0 | 160 | 97% |
| Full Burn | 30 | 600 | 960 | 58% | 600 | 480 | 77% |
| Full Burn | 90 | 1,800 | 2,880 | 0% | 1,800 | 1,440 | 13% |
| Full Burn | 99 | — | — | — | 1,980 | — | 0% |
Conclusion
During-turn Burn resolution ignores type matchups and behaves as true damage. Automatic end-of-turn Burn uses the Fire matchup.
Base Burn damage = min(target maximum HP, 1,000) × Burn stacks × 2%. Apply the end-of-turn damage reduction and type multiplier only when Burn resolves automatically at turn end.
At turn end, Burn deals Fire damage and then halves its stacks with upward rounding. When triggered during the turn, it deals true damage. Fire creatures are immune to the effect.