Seraph's Hymn for FoH Pala - Chaos Killer

Hello,

I am building a FoH Paladin and since the Pala will be a Chaos only farming char I thought that with
FoH and Holy Bolt the Seraph's Hymn is an awesome addition to my build. The +30 % dmg would be awesome.

I tested the Seraph's Hymn on my Pala and I do not feel any damage boost that would fit that increased damage.
So my question is: Does Seraph's Hymn work for the FoH/ Holy Bolt or is it just boosting meele damage?

Best regards and thanks a lot.

The bonuses +X% Damage To Demons and +X% Damage To Undead (and their attack rating counterparts) only work with physical attacks.

Whenever an item or skills says "Damage" without specifying an element or that it's magic damage, it typically only refers to physical damage. The game never literally says "physical damage" anywhere on any items or skills, unless I'm forgetting something (someone please correct me if I am lol). In most cases the game doesn't say "physical damage" on items or skills, it's just implied (one exception is "Physical Damage Reduced/Increased by X%", thanks Trang Oul). If it just says "Damage" (not "Fire Damage", "Magic Damage", etc), you can assume that it means physical damage.

You still benefit from the +2 to All Skills and +(1-2) to Defensive Auras.

EDIT: Updated after Trang Oul's reply below

ShadowHeart wrote: 1 year ago

The game never literally says "physical damage" anywhere on any items or skills, unless I'm forgetting something (someone please correct me if I am lol).

I can recall one exception: LoD's "damage reduced by x%" (i.e. physical resist) was renamed to "physical damage reduced by x%" (or "increased" if negative, without the minus sign) in D2R.

Trang Oul wrote: 1 year ago

I can recall one exception: LoD's "damage reduced by x%" (i.e. physical resist) was renamed to "physical damage reduced by x%" (or "increased" if negative, without the minus sign) in D2R.

Yes, that's right! Thanks

I should also clarify that the +X% Damage To Undead/Demons bonuses only work with attacks (ranged or melee doesn't matter). And there are a few exceptions to that even.

Basically, it only works with attacks that apply weapon damage. There are skills that deal physical damage but completely ignore weapon damage.

These use their own damage calculations, just like any other spells:
Tornado
Twister
Shock Wave
War Cry
Mind Blast
All summon abilities

These use other base values than the weapon's:
Smite (uses Smite damage from shield as a base)
Dragon Talon (uses kick damage from boots as a base)
Dragon Tail (uses kick damage from boots as a base)
Dragon Flight (uses kick damage from boots as a base)

(and I'm sure I'm forgetting something again lol)

Ah alright I understand. That explains my observations that there is not a damage increase using the seraph instead. That is pretty sad so I need another Chaos killer. Anybody does have some recommendations?

To increase FoH damage the primary way to do that is via +skills. The damage of the holy bolts from FoH cannot be increased except via +skills (assuming you've maxed FoH itself and the Holy Bolt synergy). The damage of the lightning bolt on the primary target can be increased by items that grant +X% to Lightning Skill Damage (besides +skills of course), but I wouldn't focus on that.

You could use an amulet with +3 to Combat Skills and some useful suffix like 20% Faster Cast Rate. Or a rare/crafted amulet with either +2 to Paladin Skill Level or +2 to Combat Skills, and with Faster Cast Rate and well as other useful affixes like resistances. Or you can just use a Mara's Kaleidoscope. No FCR on it, but lots of resistances and +2 to All Skill Levels.

But in general, to improve damage, try to get as much +skills on your gear as you can (but don't neglect FCR and other useful stats). That includes Lion Branded Grand Charms (+1 to Combat Skills for Paladins).

Additional note: while Smite, Assasin's Kick, Assassin's Blade and Whirlwind are "attack skills", some affixes do not work with them...

For Smite, for example, "added damage vs. undead" is one of the affixes that did not work

The following things do not work with Smite
...
Enhanced Damage to Undead.

ShadowHeart wrote: 1 year ago

...
These use other base values than the weapon's:
Smite (uses Smite damage from shield as a base)
Dragon Talon (uses kick damage from boots as a base)
Dragon Tail (uses kick damage from boots as a base)
Dragon Flight (uses kick damage from boots as a base)

(and I'm sure I'm forgetting something again lol)