Dragon's Dogma Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Abyssal Anguish is a dark based skill available in Dragon's Dogma.

Overview[]

"An advanced form of Dark Anguish that adds a shockwave of dark magick to the current weapon, remaining active for a longer period of time."

An advanced version of Dark Anguish that adds shockwaves and lasts twice as long; one and a half minutes.

After a relatively brief incantation, just under ten seconds, the right hand weapon is surrounded with a dark-element enchantment that lasts for one and a half minutes.

While the enchantment is active, physical attacks with a weapon also strike with the tongue of dark energy. The tongue slightly increases the mystic knight's effective attack range with melee weapons by approximately 0.7m, and adds extra hits and damage to each strike.

With a staff, the range of Magick Billow is increased, and many spells produce a shockwave when casting is completed.

The dark enchantment is laid on top of any earlier weapon enchantments, and does not replace it. Unlike other dark weapon enchantments the spell does not produce Critical Hits.

The power of the spell scales with the total Magick and Strength of the equipped magick shield, favoring Magick over Strength. The shockwaves are purely magickal.

Usage and effects[]

Skill Dark
Anguish
Abyssal
Anguish
Duration 45s 90s
Hits per strike 1 3
Shockwaves no yes

Abyssal and Dark Anguish add dark-element damage. Using it on enemies weak to darkness, such as The Dragon, is extremely effective.

If an upgraded Rusted Magick Shield is used to incant this spell, the shield's effects transfer to the primary weapon used, allowing standard attacks with a powerful sword or mace to also debilitate with poison and/or torpor. The shockwaves can also carry the debilitation.

Despite being dark magic, no part of this spell can cause Dark Critical Hits.

Dark tongue damage[]

Totem mace plus anguish

The tongue of Dark Anguish extends far beyond the reach of the Totem Mace

Damage from the dark enchantment is independent of that done by the sword, mace or staff equipped - which remains unchanged.

The power of the spell is dependent on the incanting magick shield's magick power plus the caster's innate magick ability. There is also an additional physical component which derives its power from the strength of the magick shield plus the caster's character Strength.

Generally every part of a conventional melee attack that strikes will also hit with the dark tongue, however some skills will produced multiple dark tongue strikes per single physical hit. A good example is Blitz Strike which can deal multiple dark strikes per single connection, plus the final shockwave.

The power of Abyssal and Dark Anguish are the same, however whilst Dark Anguish hits only once per melee strike, Abyssal Anguish can hit three or four times, thus multiplying damage.

Shockwaves[]

Anguish shock

The shockwave of Abyssal Anguish from Empale

Only Abyssal Anguish produces shockwaves, Dark Anguish does not.

Shockwave is produced from heavier melee attacks and Perfect Blocks. It is not generated from magick spells incanted with a sword or mace (such as Ruinous Sigil, Stone Forest or Magick Cannon). For melee attacks the shockwave is generally in the direction of the attack.

All offensive spells cast with the staff also produce a shockwave in front of the Arisen, non offensive spells including types such as Sopor do not. Shockwave production is extremely rapid with some skills, eg core skill Magick Bolt, and can serve to protect the Arisen's frontal arc in combat.

The shockwaves do a small amount of magick damage, that scales modestly with total magick. It has a good chance to cause stagger. Additionally the shock waves can inflict poison or torpor if an enhanced rusted magick shield is used to incant the spell.

Some attacks produce more shockwaves than others: the extended core skill Dire Onslaught is good, producing a total of four shockwaves; whilst the chain of Onslaught only produces one on the final blow. The final action of the initial cast of Abyssal Anguish produces a shockwave of itself.

The shockwaves may be Neutral Magick, and not the Dark element.(verify)

Notes[]

Anguish with staff

The dark tongue is produced from the head of a magic staff, much like a fir tree

  • To cast Abyssal Anguish the incantation must be allowed to fully complete. There are two "charge bars" to fill: if only the first is complete then Dark Anguish will be cast, even if the skill has been upgraded.
  • The extreme power of the enchantment is due to its striking multiple times per standard melee attack, in combination with the spell effectively adding the secondary's (magick shield) magick power to that already in the primary weapon.
    • This is the only skill in the game that will create a dual-element attack. (excluding Demonswrath under certain specific conditions)
    • Also the only skill that effectively combines primary and secondary weapon attack powers.
  • While the casting time is moderate, it is long enough to make it difficult to recast in the middle of a fight.
  • When using Force Hatchet it seems the physical damage boost may be 'snapshotted' by the physical damage from the spell. As a result, to obtain a benefit Force Hatchet should be fully charged before incanting Abyssal Anguish, not after.
  • Magick Bolt produces shockwaves (with Abyssal Anguish) but does not strike with the dark tongue. However the climbing version of Magick Bolt will strike with the dark tongue (but no shockwaves).
  • Despite being an "enchantment" of sorts, it is unfortunately not affected by the augment Perpetuation.
  • Whilst this spell can be cast whilst unhanded - the effect will immediately dissipate.
  • The dark enchantment does not register in the Status Effects listing.
  • Dark damage is not boosted by the augment Ferocity, even if a core skill attack is performed - however the performed core skill's power will be treated separately and will be boosted by Ferocity if applicable.
  • The Dark Arisen Bonus Enhancements "Boosts the power of normal and magick shields" does boost the power of this spell.
  • Abyssal Anguish doesn't strike a Great Cannon sigil, nor do its shockwaves. Furthermore, the Abyssal enchantment doesn't increase Great Cannon orb power.
  • On completion of the spell's incantation, a small shockwave is produced. This shockwave causes some smaller creatures like Goblins to cower in fear, and may inflict debilitations, including Elemental Debilitations from permanently enchanted shields like the Thunder Kite Shield.
  • (BUG) In Dark Arisen when transitioning between areas with the spell already enchanted, subsequent strikes may inflict a random Debilitation on the first hit against an enemy.
    • This also occurs with the Mystic Knight Shield Counters.
    • Witnessed on Harpies, Drake, Thunderwyvern, Cursed Dragon and Frostwyrm.
    • Other creatures, such as the Ox are not debilitated. But for all creatures the offensive power of the spell is lost or greatly reduced on transitioning - i.e. Despite a character having the power to kill an Ox in one hit, now multiple strikes are required.
    • In Dragon's Dogma transitioning between areas causes Abyssal Anguish and shield counters to expire.

Videos[]

Abyssal_Anguish_vs_3_Elder_Ogres,_3_Eliminators,_3_Sirens_(G)

Abyssal Anguish vs 3 Elder Ogres, 3 Eliminators, 3 Sirens (G)

Abyssal Anguish is an indispensable Mystic Knight skill, useful against every enemy in the game. Whether facing Cursed Dragons, Condemned Gorecyclops, Death, Living Armor or Daimon, Abyssal Anguish renders even basic attacks devastating with multi-strike Dark magic damage. Hard mode. No buffs, curatives or Wakestones used. 6 Perfect Blocks from Eliminator attacks. The Prescience augment is not equipped for this demonstration.

Advertisement