Hardness

Hardness is applied at Step 8 of an attack. If the victim has a Hardness rating against the attack's damage type, compare the Hardness with the raw damage. If Hardness is equal or greater, the defense absorbs the attack without effect. Otherwise, the damage ignores the defender's Hardness.

If an attack does not have a raw damage greater than the victim's Hardness, the attack is utterly ineffective and automatically fails to inflict any damage. If the raw damage exceeds Hardness or if the target has no Hardness rating, proceed to the next step in damage resolution.

The minimum damage value of attacks not absorbed by Hardness is one die, rather than the attacker's Essence rating. Attacks made with weapons possessing the Overwhelming tag, as well as certain Charms (such as Violet Bier of Sorrows Form), may produce higher minimum damage values.