Devlog: Elements and Counters
[h2]Elements and Counters in Three Skies Ascension[/h2]
One of the most important layers of strategy in Three Skies Ascension is the element system. This system adds tactical depth to both combat and team-building by influencing a hero or creature’s strengths, weaknesses, and immunities.
[h3]The Element System: 14 Unique Forces[/h3]
The game features 14 elements, each with distinct design influences and gameplay effects. Heroes and creatures may be aligned with one or two elements, while every skill is tied to a single element. This alignment directly impacts how much damage a skill deals to an enemy.
[h3]Element Effectiveness: Multipliers that Matter[/h3]
Each element interacts differently with others. For example, Fire will deal double damage to Nature, while only dealing half damage to Water. Some elements might even be totally immune to others. These interactions result in effectiveness multipliers ranging from:
0x, 0.5x, 1x, and 2x
When an attack targets a creature or hero with two elements, the final damage multiplier is calculated as an average of the effectiveness against both elements. This means the final multiplier will always fall into one of the following values:
0x, 0.25x, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 4x
This encourages smart counter-picking and well-rounded team composition.
[h3]Artifact Modifiers: Boosting Elemental Impact[/h3]
Artifacts add another layer of complexity to combat. Some artifacts directly modify elemental effectiveness or damage output. For example:
The Favored – If you deal 2x effectiveness or higher, the skill’s damage is increased by 25%.
These bonuses can turn a strong move into a finishing blow if paired strategically with elemental counters.
We also offer a built-in element reference guide. Clicking on any element in the UI will show its strengths, weaknesses, and related abilities, helping you quickly determine which heroes to bring into battle.
[h3]Elemental Immunities: Hidden Defensive Power[/h3]
Each element also provides a unique immunity to a status effect. This encourages players to consider not only offensive synergy, but also defensive resilience when choosing heroes.
Here’s a quick overview of the immunities granted by each element:
| Element | Immunity |
| ----------- | -------------- |
| Fire | Frozen |
| Water | Burn |
| Nature | Ground Effects |
| Earth | Shock |
| Ice | Stun |
| Shock | Bind |
| Steel | Bleed |
| Arcane | Taunt |
| Shadow | Spirit |
| Holy | Possession |
| Demonic | Poison |
| Spirit | Martial |
| Martial | Sleep |
| Illusion | Polymorph |
These immunities can be the key to surviving difficult encounters, especially when enemies rely on crowd control or status-heavy tactics.
[h3]Final Thoughts[/h3]
The element system in Three Skies Ascension is more than just a rock-paper-scissors mechanic. It’s a core gameplay pillar that affects everything from combat flow to hero progression. Mastering this system is crucial for players aiming to tackle the hardest dungeons and build competitive teams.
Let us know your favorite elemental combos or team setups. We’d love to feature community strategies in future posts.
If you want to learn more about the Fusion System, here is a link to the full Dev Blog -
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3197690/view/814696363551885060
We're always eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Have a great day, and remember, your feedback is invaluable!
~Three Skies Ascension Team
One of the most important layers of strategy in Three Skies Ascension is the element system. This system adds tactical depth to both combat and team-building by influencing a hero or creature’s strengths, weaknesses, and immunities.
[h3]The Element System: 14 Unique Forces[/h3]
The game features 14 elements, each with distinct design influences and gameplay effects. Heroes and creatures may be aligned with one or two elements, while every skill is tied to a single element. This alignment directly impacts how much damage a skill deals to an enemy.
[h3]Element Effectiveness: Multipliers that Matter[/h3]
Each element interacts differently with others. For example, Fire will deal double damage to Nature, while only dealing half damage to Water. Some elements might even be totally immune to others. These interactions result in effectiveness multipliers ranging from:
0x, 0.5x, 1x, and 2x
When an attack targets a creature or hero with two elements, the final damage multiplier is calculated as an average of the effectiveness against both elements. This means the final multiplier will always fall into one of the following values:
0x, 0.25x, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 4x
This encourages smart counter-picking and well-rounded team composition.
[h3]Artifact Modifiers: Boosting Elemental Impact[/h3]
Artifacts add another layer of complexity to combat. Some artifacts directly modify elemental effectiveness or damage output. For example:
The Favored – If you deal 2x effectiveness or higher, the skill’s damage is increased by 25%.
These bonuses can turn a strong move into a finishing blow if paired strategically with elemental counters.
We also offer a built-in element reference guide. Clicking on any element in the UI will show its strengths, weaknesses, and related abilities, helping you quickly determine which heroes to bring into battle.
[h3]Elemental Immunities: Hidden Defensive Power[/h3]
Each element also provides a unique immunity to a status effect. This encourages players to consider not only offensive synergy, but also defensive resilience when choosing heroes.
Here’s a quick overview of the immunities granted by each element:
| Element | Immunity |
| ----------- | -------------- |
| Fire | Frozen |
| Water | Burn |
| Nature | Ground Effects |
| Earth | Shock |
| Ice | Stun |
| Shock | Bind |
| Steel | Bleed |
| Arcane | Taunt |
| Shadow | Spirit |
| Holy | Possession |
| Demonic | Poison |
| Spirit | Martial |
| Martial | Sleep |
| Illusion | Polymorph |
These immunities can be the key to surviving difficult encounters, especially when enemies rely on crowd control or status-heavy tactics.
[h3]Final Thoughts[/h3]
The element system in Three Skies Ascension is more than just a rock-paper-scissors mechanic. It’s a core gameplay pillar that affects everything from combat flow to hero progression. Mastering this system is crucial for players aiming to tackle the hardest dungeons and build competitive teams.
Let us know your favorite elemental combos or team setups. We’d love to feature community strategies in future posts.
If you want to learn more about the Fusion System, here is a link to the full Dev Blog -
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3197690/view/814696363551885060
We're always eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Have a great day, and remember, your feedback is invaluable!
~Three Skies Ascension Team