# What is the point of Plague Infusion On Melee Weapons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Wicked Feedback\ **Created:** [May 19, 2025, 3:59am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173 "2025-05-19T03:59:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BlackWaterPirate](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/blackwaterpirate/32/9914_2.png) [@BlackWaterPirate](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BlackWaterPirate)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 3:59am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/1 "2025-05-19T03:59:41Z")
I mean this infusion seems in every way, shape or form inferior to every other infusion. Does it trigger build up mechanics when applied? What does it do when the plague bar is full on enemy? Does it just add damage that’s not physical? I have been messing with a plagued dagger build all day and it just seems utterly useless. Does anyone know anything to add to this? ---
**Author:** ![QuthLue](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/quthlue/32/8901_2.png) [@QuthLue](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/QuthLue)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 6:54am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/2 "2025-05-19T06:54:23Z")
as I understrand so far espacially with the enchantment it decreases enemies stagger resistance way more than other infusions aspecially when applied with rune attacks ---
**Author:** ![BlackWaterPirate](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/blackwaterpirate/32/9914_2.png) [@BlackWaterPirate](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BlackWaterPirate)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/3 "2025-05-19T16:43:28Z")
I’ve been noticing nothing with the daggers, maybe daggers are just the wrong tool for stagger even though some of the rune attacks seem to suggest that they should stagger. ---
**Author:** ![BowUser](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/bowuser/32/7802_2.png) [@BowUser](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BowUser)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/4 "2025-05-19T17:32:39Z")
> [@Patch Notes | The Breach](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/patch-notes-the-breach/15046/1): > > - > - Infection > - Enemies affected by the plague status effect will take additional damage when they are infected. > - The target will also have reduced healing. I mean the point of it is to do more damage, no? Admittedly I haven’t messed with it yet, still trying to cap off my Icebreaker build and missing a rune but point being is it not functioning as noted in the patch notes? It’s a payoff condition instead of a just damage, seems like it could be cool to play around. > [@QuthLue](#): > > I understrand so far espacially with the enchantment it decreases enemies stagger resistance way more than other infusions aspecially when applied with rune attacks Figure that’s because of the increased damage done on hits because of the condition or ? ---
**Author:** ![BlackWaterPirate](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/blackwaterpirate/32/9914_2.png) [@BlackWaterPirate](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BlackWaterPirate)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/5 "2025-05-19T17:42:10Z")
> [@BowUser](#): > > I mean the point of it is to do more damage, no? Yeah, I think I was just frustrated that my build was performing like potatoes compared to lightning. For some reason I had it in my head that plague reduced stagger resist and the mobs were not being staggered so I was like wtf is this even doing. Moral of the story, don’t invest in a melee plague build. Well if you do and it works, please share. Well at least the rogue looks cool. ![Rogue](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/uploads/wickedforum/original/2X/f/fa64f4a56a5698799b14ab954d79679ca80d078b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![BowUser](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/bowuser/32/7802_2.png) [@BowUser](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BowUser)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/6 "2025-05-19T18:15:49Z")
It’ll definitely be on my list of things to try since one of my previous builds was a strength sword n board + 2H plague build. Might only be super noticable in boss fights since most everything else will fall over before or at the same time as the buildup occurs. ---
**Author:** ![BlackWaterPirate](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/blackwaterpirate/32/9914_2.png) [@BlackWaterPirate](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BlackWaterPirate)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/7 "2025-05-19T18:19:17Z")
I was counting on it having a noticeable stagger effect on the boss, but it doesn’t. I don’t know, it was just disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![lrbanthony](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/lrbanthony/32/6915_2.png) [@lrbanthony](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/lrbanthony)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/8 "2025-05-19T18:21:35Z")
I think that it is broken in its current state. I agree that it has no noticeable effect. When we have plague affecting our character we lose damage at a rate comparable to fire buildup, but I don’t notice any effect on enemies. It’s like their immune to it. ---
**Author:** ![BowUser](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/bowuser/32/7802_2.png) [@BowUser](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BowUser)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 9:29pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/9 "2025-05-23T21:29:34Z")
Yeah, tried it again after hotfix4. Doesn’t seem like it’s doing much. Only variation I saw was going from 25 on a hit to 26?? ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/uploads/wickedforum/original/2X/8/897ad74953c340b571804488da935d847fd53d09.png) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/uploads/wickedforum/original/2X/a/add4b00702df8cc7d0829199b59171cdda9c0539.png) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/uploads/wickedforum/original/2X/0/0c77c449953b59a8781878c30e6f0ff0949f69ec.png) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/uploads/wickedforum/original/2X/a/a378a0cdcfd07a2208e0c01ce7fd011de569c4ee.png) Running everything I can to juice it and even then… ---
**Author:** ![BlackWaterPirate](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/blackwaterpirate/32/9914_2.png) [@BlackWaterPirate](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BlackWaterPirate)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/10 "2025-05-23T23:23:12Z")
Conclusion: Lightning on fast weapons Plague on slow weapons I tried everything too, it was abysmal. ---
**Author:** ![lrbanthony](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/lrbanthony/32/6915_2.png) [@lrbanthony](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/lrbanthony)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 12:38am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/11 "2025-05-24T00:38:28Z")
Explain plague on slow weapons? Not sure i understand. ---
**Author:** ![BowUser](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/bowuser/32/7802_2.png) [@BowUser](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BowUser)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/12 "2025-05-24T21:09:58Z")
I assume they mean 2H. Doesn’t have to be slow. Feels much more effective. ---
**Author:** ![BlackWaterPirate](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/blackwaterpirate/32/9914_2.png) [@BlackWaterPirate](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BlackWaterPirate)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2025, 2:29am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/13 "2025-05-25T02:29:22Z")
Basically you need a weapon that capitalizes on staggering enemies. So, 2H weapons which just happen to be slow attacking. ---
**Author:** ![Selim\_Nar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/selim_nar/32/12214_2.png) [@Selim\_Nar](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/Selim_Nar)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 2:49pm UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/14 "2026-01-07T14:49:34Z")
Not necessarily, I implemented this build here and it is definitely a solid one. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSUs0m4hTRA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSUs0m4hTRA) . I do not know the intricacies or interactions with other setups though. It staggers as crazy with such fast weapon. More importantly, there is an enhancement (“Execute Infected Low Health Enemies on Damage Dealt”) that you can roll on one of the gloves pieces which means pretty much insta-kill on low health and which means indirect damage. It builds slow at the start, but if you manage to press for a while, you will be doing massive damage. Do not forget that enemies being de-buffed from infection such as being easily staggered will help you much in your continuous pressure. Anyway, plague-infusion is still a meaningful infusion. It may not necessarily the best one, but it can do the job as well. I believe it may be just better than the fire, maybe on par with lightning but will most likely lose to ice. Well, ice is the best infusion by far in my opinion… especially on bosses. Note: Take head though, I am only commenting on infusion on weapons not whole of the element such as caster setups, since I believe it is what you are asking about. ---
**Author:** ![BlackWaterPirate](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.norestforthewicked.com/blackwaterpirate/32/9914_2.png) [@BlackWaterPirate](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/u/BlackWaterPirate)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 8:21am UTC](https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-plague-infusion-on-melee-weapons/18173/15 "2026-01-08T08:21:25Z")
This thread is very old and changes were made since that made the infusion totally viable hence why there was this build [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10EHPJ530Ac](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10EHPJ530Ac) and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A89IJIxx9DI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A89IJIxx9DI) available for a long time. Holy thread resurrection.