Spectral Throw + Iron Grip

Hey, I wonder if anyone can look at the logic of these two spells (Spectral Throw and the passive Iron Grip) and tell me if the latter improves the damage of the former? The wiki states that Spectral Throw is considered a projectile throw, and states that it's damage can only be increased by Physical weapon damage % and Projectile Damage %, but not melee damage % (as the attack is no longer melee).

That got me thinking of Iron Grip, an ability I would have ignored on my character normally except for the fact I love Spectral Throw so much right now. It states "The increase to Physical Damage from Strength applies to Projectile Attacks as well as Melee Attacks", which indicates that it would increase the damage of Spectral Throw. However, the wiki page for Iron Grip seems to ONLY say that it improves ranged projectile damage, despite the wording of the skill itself.

Does anyone know if it would? Or should I just try it for myself (stupid question)?

"The increase to Physical Damage from Strength applies to Projectile Attacks as well as Melee Attacks"


Projectile, attack

E: i dont think there are melee projectiles in this game

Hmm, so it seems to indicate that as long as it is a projectile attack (which it is) and does physical damage (which it... does I believe...), then iron grip should work. Heck, at my current strength level, iron grip would provide more damage increase to spectral throw than nearly every other passive in the game, let alone if I gained maybe 20-30 more strength. Interesting.

I'm almost certain that it will do nothing for you, because I believe Spectral Throw already takes the strength bonus into account. And it won't apply it twice to the same skill.

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Hellpyre wrote:

I'm almost certain that it will do nothing for you, because I believe Spectral Throw already takes the strength bonus into account. And it won't apply it twice to the same skill.

Disclaimer: I don't want to seem like we're all ganging up on you - I just really like explaining game mechanics, even if I get things wrong sometimes.

Attacks can currently only be melee attacks and projectile attacks. Strength only grants a bonus to %melee physical damage, which only applies to melee attacks and not projectile attacks. Spectral Throw is a projectile attack made with a melee weapon. Thus, Iron Grip would indeed apply to Spectral Throw. You can figure out the fact that Spectral Throw is not an exception to the "there are no melee projectile attacks" rule based on the frequent question that gets thrown around about which nodes increase Spectral Throw's damage, and the frequent linking back to Mark's post that explains that nodes which increase physical damage with melee weapons do increase Throw's damage, but nodes which increase melee physical damage do not.

Spectral Throw is thus a projectile attack made with a melee weapon, as it should be, and John Namikaze's empirical evidence confirms it.

Another clue is that Neonspyder's build in Build of the Week Season 2 Episode 1 involved taking the Iron Grip keystone passive, which indicates that during alpha testing of 1.0.0, Throw was a projectile attack with a melee weapon and not a melee projectile attack. Occam's Razor suggests that this would not have changed between alpha testing and 1.0.0 release, as there was no balance reason to change it.

The Wiki states that spectral throw will benefit from weapon physical damage increases but will not benefit from melee physical damage increases: so a plus "6% increased physical damage with dagger" will work but a "10% increased melee physical damage" will not. But what about a a " % damage increase with one or two handed melee weapon". I believe that this buff is a buff to the type of weapon and not the type of attack the weapon is used in. If some one could confirm that these increases to one or two handed weapon damage will increase spectral throw, It would be much appreciated.

Iron Grip applies to Spectral Throw. "The increase to physical damage from Strength applies to projectile attacks, as well as melee attacks". So, it basically extends the damage bonus from Str from only melee to both melee AND projectile attacks. Weapon has nothing to do with it, and it says it simply increases physical damage, not melee physical or weapon/melee weapon damage...so it's not that restrictive.

Spectral Throw shares a lot of it's mechanics with bow skills, having both "projectile" and "attack" descriptors, so most of stuff that applies to bow skills applies to ST also. Iron Grip's damage bonus from Str is one of those things. Not only that, but classes like Scion, Marauder, Duelist, even Templar and Ranger, can all pick up Iron Grip and get enough Str to make it worthwhile...so, if you can, there is no reason not to get it.

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Brejic wrote:

But what about a a " % damage increase with one or two handed melee weapon". I believe that this buff is a buff to the type of weapon and not the type of attack the weapon is used in. If some one could confirm that these increases to one or two handed weapon damage will increase spectral throw, It would be much appreciated.

It works, same as with Lightning Strike. The exact wording is '% increased physical damage with 1H melee weapons', not '% increased melee physical damage with 1H weapons'.

The key to remember is that if the word "melee" modifies "damage", Spectral Throw will not benefit, if the word "melee" modifies "weapon", Spectral Throw WILL benefit.