Damage Resistances in TF2

If you’ve played TF2 for any extended amount of time, you might’ve noticed how some unlockable weapons have Damage Resistances, such as the Chargin’ Targe, or the Vaccinator. You might’ve even seen these stats in actions, noticing how, after using those weapons in your loadout, you’re able to live longer. Of course, you might not know how these, work, which is why I’m here right now.

According to popular belief, Damage Resistances do stack, however, they stack in a way that’s different to how most people think it stacks. Let’s take, for example, a Demoman with the Chargin’ Targe and a Medic healing said Demoman with the Vaccinator. We’re going to use the Grenade Launcher’s Pipe Bombs, since they deal a clean 100 damage. The Chargin’ Targe has a 30% Explosive Damage Resistance, and the Vaccinator has a 10% Damage Resistance. Most people think that this would result in a 40% decrease in the damage taken from the Pipe, resulting in 60 Damage. However, TF2 doesn’t calculate Resistances this way, instead, it first applies the Chargin’ Targe’s Resistance, then applies the Vaccinator’s Resistance. ((100-1.0×30)-0.7×10)=(70-7)=63, as such, the Pipe Bomb deals 63 Damage instead of 60.