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Section 6: Poisoning Mini-FAQ
6.4: Busting the "Swords/Fencing + Poisoning = 200.0" Myth

Fencing + Poisoning = 200.0 is only a myth. This is only true for Magery + Poisoning. This has been a myth that has been spread throughout all of UO that comes up time and time again. Even people in my own guild have questioned this (and me) about this point. Here is evidence that it is simply not true. Let's put this myth to rest, shall we?

This myth must have started from the way Magery + Poisoning is calculated, but Fencing/Swords and Infectious Strike is much different. I've had many people argue with me with this over the years. Even in my own guild.

Here are the facts:

The 200 total points only applies to magery and casting deadly poison 2 tiles away and deadly poison fields.

Infectious strike works differently.

The poisoning skill applies different levels of poison at different poisoning skill levels. In addition to this, your poisoning skill acts as a percentage chance your poison that you deliver will be bumped up a level.

Fencing/swords has nothing to do with it.
80 poisoning is the minimum skill to deliver deadly poison every time.
At 80 poisoinng you deal deadly poison with an 80% chance for leathal.
At 90 poisoning you deal deadly poison with a 90% chance for lethal.
At 100 you deal lethal 100% of the time.
At 79 you deal greater poison with a 79% chance for deadly.
I know its not 200 points total because I've been running 110 fencing 80 poison for forever. Lethal poisson w/ occassional deadly.

Before I show the screenshots from test remember: The level of poison you deal can be determined by the text that appears above your target.

Deadly Poison = "[name] is wracked with extreme pain."
Lethal Poison = "[name] begins to spasm uncontrollably"

Screenshot #1:

Text Above Target: "a skeleton begins to spasm uncontrollably."
Poison Level Increased Message: Yes.
Poison Dealt: Lethal Poison
Fencing: 120.0
Poisoning: 80.0
Total Points: 200.0

Myth = This is expected. The player should deal Lethal Poison 100% of the time.
Reality = This is just a possibility. Lethal Poison is dealt 80% of the time.

Screenshot #2:

Text Above Target: "a skeleton is wracked with extreme pain."
Poison Level Increased Message: No.
Poison Dealt: Deadly Poison
Fencing: 120.0
Poisoning: 80.0
Total Points: 200.0

Myth = This should not be possible. With Fencing + Poison = 200.0 should deal Lethal Poison 100% of the time.
Reality = It took a couple tries on test, but a couple tries is expected. With 80.0 Poisoning you deal Deadly Poison 20% of the time and Lethal only 80% of the time.

Screenshot #3

Text Above Target: "a zombie begins to spasm uncontrollably."
Poison Level Increased Message: Yes.
Poison Dealt: Lethal Poison
Fencing: 70.0
Poisoning: 80.0
Total Points: 150.0

Myth = This should not be possible. Fencing + Poisoning total is less than 200.0 and Lethal Poison should not be possible.
Reality = Fencing has nothing to do with the level of poison dealt. (It does, but only with Magery.) 80.0 Poisoning will give you a 80% chance to bump your poisoning 1 level and will give you an 80% chance of dealing Lethal Poison.

The only real way to deal Lethal Poison 100% of the time is by having 100.0 Poisoning.

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