In shooters, it is often said that a high frame rate is important to compete at the top level. However, there are also certain advantages in MMORPGs. In some games, better graphics performance can even increase your dealt damage.
What is behind the frame rate? The frame rate describes the number of images delivered in a specified time period. Typically, this is expressed in FPS (Frames per Second).
A high frame rate ensures that you can see more images in one second. This, in turn, influences your gameplay behavior.
To fully capitalize on this, your monitor must also have an appropriate hertz rating. Otherwise, you won’t see the faster images. The input latency of the hardware also plays a role.
However, with the right hardware, you can indeed gain advantages in MMORPGs. We will reveal what exactly changes.
High FPS make you faster and can even increase DPS
How do you benefit from high FPS? With a faster transfer of images, you are more responsive. You might see an attack a fraction of a second earlier than a player who only has 30 FPS or has a higher input lag than you. Similarly, you can use a skill a fraction of a second sooner.
Shroud and other shooter players participated in a test that showed that better hardware indeed provides advantages. It focused on the combination of high FPS and Hz.
Of course, many other factors, such as the latency of your internet connection, also play a crucial role. Nevertheless, the frame rate should not be completely disregarded.
How does the frame rate influence MMORPGs? Especially in modern MMORPGs with action-packed combat systems and dodging roles, you need to react lightning-fast to avoid damage.
However, you can even increase your dealt damage with additional FPS. A particularly extreme case is Black Desert Online, where there are many discussions that the game is pay-to-win because you need a good PC for PvP (via reddit).
But a good frame rate also helps in Guild Wars 2 and other games.
Black Desert as an extreme case
What is so special about Black Desert? In Black Desert Online, there has been a discussion about the frame rate for years. In this MMORPG, you can visibly increase your DPS if your system is simply better.
The video on YouTube demonstrates how extreme the differences can be. The creator took:
- 5:14 for the kill with 60 FPS
- 5:28 for the kill with 30 FPS
- 10:12 for the kill with 5 FPS
According to various users on reddit, the best results can even be achieved only with 140 FPS. The difference between 60 and 140 frames per second should be up to 5% of the damage (via reddit).
Why does this work? The reasons for the higher DPS lie in two points:
- Faster reactions
- Skipping the aftercast
The faster reactions are self-explanatory and are particularly noticeable when you play with 10 FPS instead of 60 FPS. Everything automatically feels slower and clumsier.
The “aftercast”, on the other hand, describes the part of the animation that is executed after dealing damage. With practice and a faster frame rate, you can cancel this animation and overwrite it with the next skill. This leads to skill combos that were not actually intended by the game.
Other MMORPGs also benefit from a better frame rate
How does this look in other MMORPGs? In Guild Wars 2, it is also known that you can bypass the aftercast. To do this, you briefly press the key that sheathes the weapon during longer animations, and then immediately use the next skill.
This trick can be used faster if the images are presented to your eyes quicker and have been trained a bit. However, there are not such significant DPS differences as there are in Black Desert.
Also, in games like Warframe (via Warframe Forum) and WoW (via MMO Champion), there are similar discussions.
How can you achieve more FPS? If you want to achieve a higher frame rate in MMORPGs, you can first reduce the graphics of the respective game. This usually helps especially when many players are nearby and many animations are used.
In a further step, upgrading the hardware helps, both for the PC and the monitor.
However, unlike in shooters, it is not always about the perfect setup and perfect damage in MMORPGs. Those who play mostly casually and also pay attention to the game’s aesthetics will be willing to sacrifice additional DPS for beautiful graphics, such as those in the 5 most beautiful upcoming MMORPGs.
