Knockdown Indicates the basic amount of knockdown by each spell and physical skill performed by the primary and secondary equipped weapon. Knockdown is increased by equipping certain armor, jewelry and particular Augments. An enemy's knockdown resistance can be diminished with continued, cumulative attacks. The more attacks foes suffer in quick succession increase the likelihood of an enemy reaching its individual knockdown threshold. Once an enemy's knockdown threshold is reached, foes will fall down and abort any action they were attempting. Knockdown status increases damage taken, since the victim is out of battle stance (e.g, its weapons are not drawn and at the ready).
The amount of knockdown emitted per attack is modified differently by each skill (e.g. High Comestion and Stone Grove/Stone Forest/Stone Jungle have very high knockdown damage outputs). Body parts also have different knockdown resistance and vulnerabilities, e.g., a Drake's heart or face, when compared to other portions of its torso.
Knockdown rating can be increased by wearing:
- Tormenter's Mask (+50)
- Persecutor's Mask (+50)
- Cursed King's Belt (+50)
- Barbed Nails (+100 each)
- Master Rings (up to +50 each)
- Virtuoso Rings (up to +50 each)
In addition the following Augments offer extra protection against knockdown:
- Audacity: protects against Knockdown accumulation when using/readying a weapon skill.
- Gravitas: protects against Knockdown accumulation when intoning a spell.
By increasing the amount of Knockdown resistance, a character is significantly less likely to hit the floor after a significant blow or magickal attack, which, like downed enemies, will put the character at a significant disadvantage since a downed person takes additional damage when out of battle stance. Check one's armor for this resistance, which is particularly advantageous for Sorcerers and Mystic Knights.