Stagger is a temporary state that interrupts an enemy's actions, usually triggered by attacks, pushes, or Career Abilities.

At a base level (without any talent modifiers), each stagger stack increases the damage an enemy takes by 20%, up to a maximum of two stacks. i.e. 0% on Stagger 0, 20% on Stagger 1, and 40% on Stagger 2. This effect is removed once the enemy's stagger animation ends.

Useful fact: Any enemy in a jumping, climbing, or dropping animation are automatically considered to be in Stagger 2.

What follows below is a high-level explanation of how each of the talents available to hero careers at level 15 enhance the stagger mechanic further. Your choice should align with your weapon's characteristics and your role in the team.

Note: This particular guide won't go into the subject, but it is also good to know that certain careers and weapons are able to stagger enemies more easily than others - depending on the difficulty or game-mode set, this may also go on to influence which stagger talents you ultimately select.

• What it does: The first target hit receives 20% bonus damage as if it were already in Stagger 1. This works on bosses. First target hit refers to the first enemy who receives damage in a given attack (e.g. impacts cleave).
  
  
• Best for: Weapons with high single-target damage but low cleave and stagger potential, like one-handed axes or sword/dagger.
  
  
• Why pick it: Ideal for quickly dispatching elites and bosses, especially when your weapon doesn't naturally stagger them.

• What it does: Deal 40% more damage to enemies in Stagger 1. Each hit against a staggered enemy adds another count of stagger, increasing bonus damage to 60% against those in Stagger 2.
  
  
• Best for: Weapons that can rapidly apply stagger, and are good at horde-clear, such as two-handed hammers, halberd, or dual-hammers.
  
  
• Why pick it: Enhances horde-clearing capabilities by maximizing damage against enemies you've already staggered.

• What it does: Applies an extra debuff, whereby enemies that you stagger take 10% more damage from melee attacks (incl. from teammates) for 2 seconds. Added to this, your hit deals 20% more damage to enemies in Stagger 1, with each hit against a staggered enemy adding another count of stagger to bring bonus damage up to 40% against enemies in Stagger 2.
  
  
• Best for: Tank roles using shields or weapons that frequently stagger enemies.
  
  
• Why pick it: Supports your team by making staggered enemies more vulnerable to everyone's melee attacks.

• What it does: Headshots and critical hits deals 40% bonus damage as if the target was already in Stagger 2.
  
  
• Best for: Precision-based weapons and crit-focused builds, and boss-killing (e.g., dual daggers or rapier).
  
  
• Why pick it: Big payoff for skilled players who aim for the head or rely on crits.

• What it does: Increases total Hero Power by 7.5% before other buffs are applied. This stacks multiplicatively (not additively).
  
  
• Best for: Builds with mixed damage sources (ranged/melee/dots), or weapons that don’t rely on stagger.
  
  
• Why pick it: Simple, consistent damage boost that works on everything.

Originally united in the war-torn realms of Warhammer Vermintide 2 where they conquered hordes of Skaven and earned their quirky moniker, the Rat Slappers have evolved into a versatile gaming force, particularly excelling in co-op titles.

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