Dark Souls 2 Cast Speed Testings
Casting speed is a stat in Dark Souls II.
A character's casting speed decides how quickly they can cast spells. It affects the entire startup animation. In the adjoined video you can count frames and see the animations only differentiate before bringing the chime up to the character's left side.
Casting speed affects all types of magic, and appears to get diminishing returns on quick casting magic. This means that spells like Soul Arrow and Resonant Soul will get only a marginal boost after a certain level of casting speed, while slower magic like Lightning Spear and Chaos Storm will cast considerably faster with higher casting speed.
All catalysts also have their own casting speeds. This speed affects the speed of the cast equally to the player's stat. Examples of catalysts with high casting speed are Caitha's Chime and the Dragon Chime. It is also possible to increase casting speed by wearing a Clear Bluestone Ring.
Mechanics[]
Despite what the menu says, Casting Speed is simply a percentage that multiplies how long the startup of a spell will last. The menu numbers are only usable in so far as telling you what stats can affect natural casting speed.
The menu implies a softcap for casting speed from leveling while it actuality it doesn't exist.
Your natural Casting Speed level is determined by your Attunement, Intelligence and Faith levels, with the formula:
Each Spell has a defined startup duration, which is the part that can be affected by casting speed. Every Spell Casting Tool has a value that multiplies your natural casting speed. Every piece of Casting Gear has a value that multiplies your natural casting.
Your total casting speed is the product of multiplying your natural Casting Speed with each piece of casting gear being used and the Spell Casting Tool that is being used.
Link to a datasheet that can calculate casting speed.
Equipment Casting Speed Multipliers[]
| Gear | Multiplier |
| Lion Mage Robe | 0.95 |
| Lion Mage Cuffs | 0.95 |
| Lion Mage Skirt | 0.95 |
| Black Hood | 0.9 |
| Chaos Hood | 0.95 |
| Clear Bluestone Ring | 0.8 |
| Clear Bluestone Ring +1 | 0.65 |
| Clear Bluestone Ring +2 | 0.6 |
Spell Casting Tools Multipliers[]
| Catalysts/staffs/chimes/flames | Speed Multiplier |
| Archdrake Staff | 0.75 |
| Azal's Staff | 2.5 |
| Bat Staff | 0.75 |
| Black Witch's Staff | 0.8 |
| Blue Flame | 1 |
| Bone Staff | 1 |
| Lizard Staff | 0.8 |
| Olenford's Staff | 0.8 |
| Retainer Staff | 1.2 |
| Sorcerer's Staff | 0.65 |
| Staff of Amana | 1 |
| Staff of Wisdom | 0.9 |
| Sunset Staff | 0.95 |
| Transgressor's Staff | 1 |
| Witchtree Branch | 0.6 |
| Pilgrim's Spontoon | 1 |
| Dark Pyromancy Flame | 1 |
| Pyromancy Flame | 1 |
| Archdrake Chime | 0.8 |
| Caitha's Chime | 0.55 |
| Chime of Screams | 2.5 |
| Chime of Want | 0.7 |
| Cleric's Sacred Chime | 0.6 |
| Disc Chime | 1 |
| Dragon Chime | 0.55 |
| Idol's Chime | 0.95 |
| Mace of the Insolent | 1 |
| Priest's Chime | 0.8 |
| Protective Chime | 0.6 |
| Witchtree Bellvine | 1 |
| Sanctum Shield | 1 |
Natural Casting Speed levels[]
| Level | Menu Cast Speed | Cast Speed Multiplier | Level | Menu Cast Speed | Cast Speed Multiplier | Level | Menu Cast Speed | Cast Speed Multiplier |
| 1 | 37 | 1.5000 | 34 | 103 | 1.2360 | 67 | 134 | 0.9720 |
| 2 | 39 | 1.4920 | 35 | 105 | 1.2280 | 68 | 134 | 0.9640 |
| 3 | 41 | 1.4840 | 36 | 107 | 1.2200 | 69 | 135 | 0.9560 |
| 4 | 43 | 1.4760 | 37 | 109 | 1.2120 | 70 | 135 | 0.9480 |
| 5 | 45 | 1.4680 | 38 | 111 | 1.2040 | 71 | 136 | 0.9400 |
| 6 | 47 | 1.4600 | 39 | 113 | 1.1960 | 72 | 136 | 0.9320 |
| 7 | 49 | 1.4520 | 40 | 115 | 1.1880 | 73 | 137 | 0.9240 |
| 8 | 51 | 1.4440 | 41 | 116 | 1.1800 | 74 | 137 | 0.9160 |
| 9 | 53 | 1.4360 | 42 | 117 | 1.1720 | 75 | 138 | 0.9080 |
| 10 | 55 | 1.4280 | 43 | 118 | 1.1640 | 76 | 138 | 0.9000 |
| 11 | 57 | 1.4200 | 44 | 119 | 1.1560 | 77 | 139 | 0.8920 |
| 12 | 59 | 1.4120 | 45 | 120 | 1.1480 | 78 | 139 | 0.8840 |
| 13 | 61 | 1.4040 | 46 | 121 | 1.1400 | 79 | 140 | 0.8760 |
| 14 | 63 | 1.3960 | 47 | 122 | 1.1320 | 80 | 140 | 0.8680 |
| 15 | 65 | 1.3880 | 48 | 123 | 1.1240 | 81 | 141 | 0.8600 |
| 16 | 67 | 1.3800 | 49 | 124 | 1.1160 | 82 | 141 | 0.8520 |
| 17 | 69 | 1.3720 | 50 | 125 | 1.1080 | 83 | 142 | 0.8440 |
| 18 | 71 | 1.3640 | 51 | 126 | 1.1000 | 84 | 142 | 0.8360 |
| 19 | 73 | 1.3560 | 52 | 126 | 1.0920 | 85 | 143 | 0.8280 |
| 20 | 75 | 1.3480 | 53 | 127 | 1.0840 | 86 | 143 | 0.8200 |
| 21 | 77 | 1.3400 | 54 | 127 | 1.0760 | 87 | 144 | 0.8120 |
| 22 | 79 | 1.3320 | 55 | 128 | 1.0680 | 88 | 144 | 0.8040 |
| 23 | 81 | 1.3240 | 56 | 128 | 1.0600 | 89 | 145 | 0.7960 |
| 24 | 83 | 1.3160 | 57 | 129 | 1.0520 | 90 | 145 | 0.7880 |
| 25 | 85 | 1.3080 | 58 | 129 | 1.0440 | 91 | 146 | 0.7800 |
| 26 | 87 | 1.3000 | 59 | 130 | 1.0360 | 92 | 146 | 0.7720 |
| 27 | 89 | 1.2920 | 60 | 130 | 1.0280 | 93 | 147 | 0.7640 |
| 28 | 91 | 1.2840 | 61 | 131 | 1.0200 | 94 | 147 | 0.7560 |
| 29 | 93 | 1.2760 | 62 | 131 | 1.0120 | 95 | 148 | 0.7480 |
| 30 | 95 | 1.2680 | 63 | 132 | 1.0040 | 96 | 148 | 0.7400 |
| 31 | 97 | 1.2600 | 64 | 132 | 0.9960 | 97 | 149 | 0.7320 |
| 32 | 99 | 1.2520 | 65 | 133 | 0.9880 | 98 | 149 | 0.7240 |
| 33 | 101 | 1.2440 | 66 | 133 | 0.9800 | 99 | 150 | 0.7160 |
Notes[]
- Casting speed is influenced by Attunement, Faith, and Intelligence.
- One level of Attunement will increase cast speed at twice the rate of one level of Faith or Intelligence.
- Menu Casting speed rises by two points until it is 115, actual casting speed is entirely linear in its levels.