Why do attacks miss in Morrowind? Weapon skill, fatigue and damage
Improve early hit chance and distinguish a failed attack roll from a weak but successful hit.
Original Morrowind campaign on Vvardenfell with official patches. Tribunal and Bloodmoon quest lines, OpenMW differences and gameplay mods are outside these guides. Publisher pictures are from the original-engine Game of the Year Edition; the gallery labels its Tribunal image separately.
Why does a visible hit do no damage?
Morrowind resolves weapon attacks with a chance-to-hit calculation. A swing passing through an enemy does not guarantee success. Weapon skill is the main contributor, with Agility, Luck, fatigue and the defender’s evasion also involved. Equip a weapon in your strongest trained category before concluding that the game requires frantic clicking or a different camera angle.
Recover the green fatigue bar
The attack calculation includes a multiplier that ranges from 0.75 at empty fatigue to 1.25 at full fatigue. Running into combat after exhausting the bar makes an already inexperienced character less accurate. Walk or pause to recover before approaching enemies, and carry Restore Fatigue potions. The same sword becomes more reliable when the character using it is rested.
Distinguish accuracy from attack damage
Holding an attack before releasing it increases damage toward the weapon’s listed maximum for that attack type. It does not replace the hit check. Chop, slash and thrust can have different damage ranges; the Always Use Best Attack option chooses the favorable type. Try a deliberate, charged swing with full fatigue before changing several equipment variables at once.
Improve the relevant skill and maintain the weapon
Successful use and paid training develop the weapon skill that supports accuracy. Repair damaged equipment with an appropriate tool and Armorer skill or pay a smith for the service. If a target repeatedly defeats you, retreat and compare your skill, fatigue and weapon condition before buying a different-looking weapon. A new weapon in an untrained category can make the same problem worse.
More The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind quick answers
Morrowind fast travel: silt striders, boats, guild guides and RecallIf a character trained in Long Blade finds a valuable axe, sell or save it until Axe skill can support it.
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