FrameRate Breakpoints

Speed in Diablo is determined on how fast the code can process things, a term referred to as "framerates". There are basic breakpoints that make big differences. For example, with a sorceress, you will notice a huge jump if you take your fast cast from 62% to 63% even though it is a 1% change. That is all due to framerates.

Diablo 2 runs at 25 frames per second, meaning that at 15 frames you take .6 seconds to perform a task and at 9 frames you take .36 seconds to perform that same task.

To obtain the breakpoints for weapon speed, use the calculator in this link: http://diablo2.ingame.de/tips/calcs/weaponspeed.php?lang=english

Quicklinks:

Fast Cast
This determines how quickly spells leave your character's fingers. It does not take in to account your distance from the target though, so an 8 frame cast rate really isn't the same as an 8 frame attack rate for a melee character.
Block Speed:
This determines how fast your chararcter progresses through the block animation when using a shield. The less time in animation, the less time your character spends standing there doing nothing. This is not the same as %chance to block, which determines whether your character will block or not.
Faster Hit Recovery:
If your character is hit hard enough, he/she will go in to "hit recovery" and stand there dazed. This is a bad thing as the monsters will keep pounding on you while you are dazed.

Faster Cast Rates

Sorceress & Barbarian Cast Rates
	13 fr	0% faster cast rate
	12 fr	9%
	11 fr	20%
	10 fr	37%
	09 fr	63%
	08 fr	105%
	07 fr	200+%

Paladin & Necromancer Cast Rates

15 fr 0% faster cast rate

14 fr 9%

13 fr 18%

12 fr 30%

11 fr 48%

10 fr 75%

09 fr 125+%

Druid Cast Rates human wolf bear

18 fr 0% - -

17 fr 4% - -

16 fr 10% 0% 0%

15 fr 19% 6% 7%

14 fr 30% 14% 15%

13 fr 46% 26% 26%

12 fr 68% 40% 40%

11 fr 99% 60% 63%

10 fr 163+% 95% 99%

09 fr - 157+% 163+%

Assasin Cast Rate

16 fr 0% faster cast rate

15 fr 8%

14 fr 16%

13 fr 27%

12 fr 42%

11 fr 65%

10 fr 102%

09 fr 174+%

Iron Wolf (A3 merc) Cast Rate

18 fr 0% faster cast rate

17 fr 10%

16 fr 15%

15 fr 30%

14 fr 40%

13 fr 60%

12 fr 90%

11 fr 140+%

Faster Block Rates

Paladin, Assasin, Amazon Block Rates
	5 fr	0% faster block rate
	4 fr	13%
	3 fr	32%
	2 fr	86%
	1 fr	600+%
	Paladin With Holy Shield
	2 fr	0%
	1 fr	86+%

Druid & Necromancer Block Rates

11 fr 0% faster block rate

10 fr 6%

9 fr 13%

8 fr 20%

7 fr 32%

6 fr 52%

5 fr 86%

4 fr 174%

3 fr 600+%

Barbarian Block Rate

7 fr 0% faster block rate

6 fr 9%

5 fr 20%

4 fr 42%

3 fr 86%

2 fr 280+%

Faster Hit Recovery Rtes

Necromancer Fast Hit Recovery
	7 fr	0% faster hit recovery
	6 fr	18%
	5 fr	48%
	4 fr	125%

Paladin Fast Hit Recovery

9 fr 0% faster hit recovery

8 fr 7%

7 fr 15%

6 fr 27%

5 fr 48%

4 fr 86%

3 fr 200+%

Information summarized from various AmazonBasin Posts and DiabloII.net without permission, but with the best of intentions.