How is armour handled?

The calculator uses reduction = armour / (armour + 100), a common formula. Replace it with your game's own.

Is DPS enough to balance a weapon?

No. Range, reload time, ammo and risk also matter. Use DPS as one number, then playtest.

Why does my high-DPS weapon feel weak?

Feel comes from feedback too: sound, screen shake, hit reactions and how fast the enemy reacts. A weapon with lower DPS but strong feedback can feel stronger.

How should reload time count?

Include it for long fights, since a magazine runs out; leave it out for short bursts. The difference shows how much a bigger magazine is worth.

DPS and Time-to-Kill Calculator for Game Balance

Enter a weapon's stats and an enemy's health and armour to see average damage per second and how long a kill takes.

Damage per hitAttacks per secondHit chance (%)Crit chance (%)Crit multiplierEnemy healthEnemy armourUses armour / (armour + 100)

41.3 damage per second

7.3 seconds to kill

Average hit: 22.9 · Armour reduction: 17%

A balance sketch, not a rule. Swap in your own armour formula, then playtest.

When to use it

Balancing a weapon roster
Put every gun or sword through the same enemy and see whether the slow, heavy weapon really pays off.
Setting enemy health
Decide how many seconds a fight should last, then set health so the starting weapon reaches it.
Testing upgrades
Compare a damage upgrade with a fire-rate upgrade and see which one actually kills faster.