Stage penalty
One of the less known systems in NIKKE is the one related to the stage recommended power and how it affects your team. Most of the players will encounter the system only after they reach Chapter 4 or 5, because earlier the majority of the stages will have lower recommended power than their team has - as long as they will keep using the free resources to upgrade their teams.
Still, the moment you will try to attack a stage where your power is lower than the recommended one, the Stage penalty system kicks in. What does it do?
It decreases the stats of all your characters and also causes them to receive more damage.
The Stage Penalty system is pretty popular in idle games as it encourages players to make their characters stronger by any means, so they can finally beat the stage there were stuck on.
Also, the penalty increases the bigger the difference between your power and the recommended power is.
How to calculate CP Deficit
The formula to calculate your CP Deficit is pretty straightforward:
CP Deficit = 100 - (100 × your cp / stage cp)
Here's an example:
- Your team power: 129259
- Recommended stage power: 192700
- Formula: 100 - (100 × 129259 / 192700)
- Your deficit is 33%.
CP Deficit table
| CP Deficit | Stat penalty |
|---|---|
| 49.91% | 90.00% |
| 49.81% | 77.10% |
| 49.71% | 77.00% |
| 49.61% | 76.90% |
| 49.51% | 76.80% |
| 49.41% | 76.70% |
| 49.31% | 76.60% |
| 49.21% | 76.50% |
| 49.11% | 76.40% |
| 49.01% | 76.30% |
| 48.91% | 76.20% |
| 48.81% | 76.10% |
| 48.71% | 76.00% |
| 48.61% | 75.90% |
| 48.51% | 75.80% |
| 48.41% | 75.70% |
| 48.31% | 75.60% |
| 48.21% | 75.50% |
| 48.11% | 75.40% |
| 48.01% | 75.30% |
| 47.91% | 75.20% |
| 47.81% | 75.10% |
| 47.71% | 75.00% |
| 47.61% | 74.90% |
| 47.51% | 74.80% |
| 47.41% | 74.70% |
| 47.31% | 74.60% |
| 47.21% | 74.50% |
| 47.11% | 74.40% |
| 47.01% | 74.30% |
| 46.91% | 74.20% |
| 46.81% | 74.10% |
| 46.71% | 74.00% |
| 46.61% | 73.90% |
| 46.51% | 73.80% |
| 46.41% | 73.70% |
| 46.31% | 73.60% |
| 46.21% | 73.50% |
| 46.11% | 73.40% |
| 46.01% | 73.30% |
| 45.91% | 73.20% |
| 45.81% | 73.10% |
| 45.71% | 73.00% |
| 45.61% | 72.90% |
| 45.51% | 72.80% |
| 45.41% | 72.70% |
| 45.31% | 72.60% |
| 45.21% | 72.50% |
| 45.11% | 72.40% |
| 45.01% | 72.30% |
| 44.91% | 72.20% |
| 44.81% | 72.10% |
| 44.71% | 72.00% |
| 44.61% | 71.90% |
| 44.51% | 71.80% |
| 44.41% | 71.70% |
| 44.31% | 71.60% |
| 44.21% | 71.50% |
| 44.11% | 71.40% |
| 44.01% | 71.30% |
| 43.91% | 71.20% |
| 43.81% | 71.10% |
| 43.71% | 71.00% |
| 43.61% | 70.90% |
| 43.51% | 70.80% |
| 43.41% | 70.70% |
| 43.31% | 70.60% |
| 43.21% | 70.50% |
| 43.11% | 70.40% |
| 43.01% | 70.30% |
| 42.91% | 70.20% |
| 42.81% | 70.10% |
| 42.71% | 70.00% |
| 42.61% | 69.90% |
| 42.51% | 69.80% |
| 42.41% | 69.70% |
| 42.31% | 69.60% |
| 42.21% | 69.50% |
| 42.11% | 69.40% |
| 42.01% | 69.30% |
| 41.91% | 69.20% |
| 41.81% | 69.10% |
| 41.71% | 69.00% |
| 41.61% | 68.90% |
| 41.51% | 68.80% |
| 41.41% | 68.70% |
| 41.31% | 68.60% |
| 41.21% | 68.50% |
| 41.11% | 68.40% |
| 41.01% | 68.30% |
| 40.91% | 68.20% |
| 40.81% | 68.10% |
| 40.71% | 68.00% |
| 40.61% | 67.90% |
| 40.51% | 67.80% |
| 40.41% | 67.70% |
| 40.31% | 67.60% |
| 40.21% | 67.50% |
| 40.11% | 67.40% |
| 40.01% | 67.30% |
| 39.91% | 67.20% |
| 39.81% | 67.10% |
| 39.71% | 67.00% |
| 39.61% | 66.90% |
| 39.51% | 66.80% |
| 39.41% | 66.70% |
| 39.31% | 66.60% |
| 39.21% | 66.50% |
| 39.11% | 66.40% |
| 39.01% | 66.30% |
| 38.91% | 66.20% |
| 38.81% | 66.10% |
| 38.71% | 66.00% |
| 38.61% | 65.90% |
| 38.51% | 65.80% |
| 38.41% | 65.70% |
| 38.31% | 65.60% |
| 38.21% | 65.50% |
| 38.11% | 65.40% |
| 38.01% | 65.30% |
| 37.91% | 65.20% |
| 37.81% | 65.10% |
| 37.71% | 65.00% |
| 37.61% | 64.90% |
| 37.51% | 64.80% |
| 37.41% | 64.70% |
| 37.31% | 64.60% |
| 37.21% | 64.50% |
| 37.11% | 64.40% |
| 37.01% | 64.30% |
| 36.91% | 64.20% |
| 36.81% | 64.10% |
| 36.71% | 64.00% |
| 36.61% | 63.90% |
| 36.51% | 63.80% |
| 36.41% | 63.70% |
| 36.31% | 63.60% |
| 36.21% | 63.50% |
| 36.11% | 63.40% |
| 36.01% | 63.30% |
| 35.91% | 63.20% |
| 35.81% | 63.10% |
| 35.71% | 63.00% |
| 35.61% | 62.90% |
| 35.51% | 62.80% |
| 35.41% | 62.70% |
| 35.31% | 62.60% |
| 35.21% | 62.50% |
| 35.11% | 62.40% |
| 35.01% | 62.30% |
| 34.91% | 62.20% |
| 34.81% | 62.10% |
| 34.71% | 62.00% |
| 34.61% | 61.90% |
| 34.51% | 61.80% |
| 34.41% | 61.70% |
| 34.31% | 61.60% |
| 34.21% | 61.50% |
| 34.11% | 61.40% |
| 34.01% | 61.30% |
| 33.91% | 61.20% |
| 33.81% | 61.10% |
| 33.71% | 61.00% |
| 33.61% | 60.90% |
| 33.51% | 60.80% |
| 33.41% | 60.70% |
| 33.31% | 60.60% |
| 33.21% | 60.50% |
| 33.11% | 60.40% |
| 33.01% | 60.30% |
| 32.91% | 60.20% |
| 32.81% | 60.10% |
| 32.71% | 60.00% |
| 32.61% | 59.90% |
| 32.51% | 59.80% |
| 32.41% | 59.70% |
| 32.31% | 59.60% |
| 32.21% | 59.50% |
| 32.11% | 59.40% |
| 32.01% | 59.30% |
| 31.91% | 59.20% |
| 31.81% | 59.10% |
| 31.71% | 59.00% |
| 31.61% | 58.90% |
| 31.51% | 58.80% |
| 31.41% | 58.70% |
| 31.31% | 58.60% |
| 31.21% | 58.50% |
| 31.11% | 58.40% |
| 31.01% | 58.30% |
| 30.91% | 58.20% |
| 30.81% | 58.10% |
| 30.71% | 58.00% |
| 30.61% | 57.90% |
| 30.51% | 57.80% |
| 30.41% | 57.70% |
| 30.31% | 57.60% |
| 30.21% | 57.50% |
| 30.11% | 57.40% |
| 30.01% | 57.30% |
| 29.91% | 57.20% |
| 29.81% | 57.10% |
| 29.71% | 57.00% |
| 29.61% | 56.90% |
| 29.51% | 56.80% |
| 29.41% | 56.70% |
| 29.31% | 56.60% |
| 29.21% | 56.50% |
| 29.11% | 56.40% |
| 29.01% | 56.30% |
| 28.91% | 56.20% |
| 28.81% | 56.10% |
| 28.71% | 56.00% |
| 28.61% | 55.90% |
| 28.51% | 55.80% |
| 28.41% | 55.70% |
| 28.31% | 55.60% |
| 28.21% | 55.50% |
| 28.11% | 55.40% |
| 28.01% | 55.30% |
| 27.91% | 55.20% |
| 27.81% | 55.10% |
| 27.71% | 55.00% |
| 27.61% | 54.90% |
| 27.51% | 54.80% |
| 27.41% | 54.70% |
| 27.31% | 54.60% |
| 27.21% | 54.50% |
| 27.11% | 54.40% |
| 27.01% | 54.30% |
| 26.91% | 54.20% |
| 26.81% | 54.10% |
| 26.71% | 54.00% |
| 26.61% | 53.90% |
| 26.51% | 53.80% |
| 26.41% | 53.70% |
| 26.31% | 53.60% |
| 26.21% | 53.50% |
| 26.11% | 53.40% |
| 26.01% | 53.30% |
| 25.91% | 53.20% |
| 25.81% | 53.10% |
| 25.71% | 53.00% |
| 25.61% | 52.90% |
| 25.51% | 52.80% |
| 25.41% | 52.70% |
| 25.31% | 52.60% |
| 25.21% | 52.50% |
| 25.11% | 52.40% |
| 25.01% | 52.30% |
| 24.91% | 52.20% |
| 24.81% | 52.10% |
| 24.71% | 52.00% |
| 24.61% | 51.90% |
| 24.51% | 51.80% |
| 24.41% | 51.70% |
| 24.31% | 51.60% |
| 24.21% | 51.50% |
| 24.11% | 51.40% |
| 24.01% | 51.30% |
| 23.91% | 51.20% |
| 23.81% | 51.10% |
| 23.71% | 51.00% |
| 23.61% | 50.90% |
| 23.51% | 50.80% |
| 23.41% | 50.70% |
| 23.31% | 50.60% |
| 23.21% | 50.50% |
| 23.11% | 50.40% |
| 23.01% | 50.30% |
| 22.91% | 50.20% |
| 22.81% | 50.10% |
| 22.71% | 50.00% |
| 22.61% | 49.90% |
| 22.51% | 49.80% |
| 22.41% | 49.70% |
| 22.31% | 49.60% |
| 22.21% | 49.50% |
| 22.11% | 49.40% |
| 22.01% | 49.30% |
| 21.91% | 49.20% |
| 21.81% | 49.10% |
| 21.71% | 49.00% |
| 21.61% | 48.90% |
| 21.51% | 48.80% |
| 21.41% | 48.70% |
| 21.31% | 48.60% |
| 21.21% | 48.50% |
| 21.11% | 48.40% |
| 21.01% | 48.30% |
| 20.91% | 48.20% |
| 20.81% | 48.10% |
| 20.71% | 48.00% |
| 20.61% | 47.90% |
| 20.51% | 47.80% |
| 20.41% | 47.70% |
| 20.31% | 47.60% |
| 20.21% | 47.50% |
| 20.11% | 47.40% |
| 20.01% | 47.30% |
| 19.91% | 47.20% |
| 19.81% | 47.10% |
| 19.71% | 47.00% |
| 19.61% | 46.90% |
| 19.51% | 46.80% |
| 19.41% | 46.70% |
| 19.31% | 46.60% |
| 19.21% | 46.50% |
| 19.11% | 46.40% |
| 19.01% | 46.30% |
| 18.91% | 46.20% |
| 18.81% | 46.10% |
| 18.71% | 46.00% |
| 18.61% | 45.90% |
| 18.51% | 45.80% |
| 18.41% | 45.70% |
| 18.31% | 45.60% |
| 18.21% | 45.50% |
| 18.11% | 45.40% |
| 18.01% | 45.30% |
| 17.91% | 45.20% |
| 17.81% | 45.10% |
| 17.71% | 45.00% |
| 17.61% | 44.90% |
| 17.51% | 44.80% |
| 17.41% | 44.70% |
| 17.31% | 44.60% |
| 17.21% | 44.50% |
| 17.11% | 44.40% |
| 17.01% | 44.30% |
| 16.91% | 44.20% |
| 16.81% | 44.10% |
| 16.71% | 44.00% |
| 16.61% | 43.90% |
| 16.51% | 43.80% |
| 16.41% | 43.70% |
| 16.31% | 43.60% |
| 16.21% | 43.50% |
| 16.11% | 43.40% |
| 16.01% | 43.30% |
| 15.91% | 43.20% |
| 15.81% | 43.10% |
| 15.71% | 43.00% |
| 15.61% | 42.84% |
| 15.51% | 42.70% |
| 15.41% | 42.56% |
| 15.31% | 42.43% |
| 15.21% | 42.29% |
| 15.11% | 42.15% |
| 15.01% | 42.01% |
| 14.91% | 41.88% |
| 14.81% | 41.74% |
| 14.71% | 41.60% |
| 14.61% | 41.46% |
| 14.51% | 41.33% |
| 14.41% | 41.19% |
| 14.31% | 41.05% |
| 14.21% | 40.91% |
| 14.11% | 40.78% |
| 14.01% | 40.64% |
| 13.91% | 40.50% |
| 13.81% | 40.36% |
| 13.71% | 40.23% |
| 13.61% | 40.09% |
| 13.51% | 39.95% |
| 13.41% | 39.81% |
| 13.31% | 39.68% |
| 13.21% | 39.54% |
| 13.11% | 39.40% |
| 13.01% | 39.26% |
| 12.91% | 39.13% |
| 12.81% | 38.99% |
| 12.71% | 38.85% |
| 12.61% | 38.71% |
| 12.51% | 38.58% |
| 12.41% | 38.44% |
| 12.31% | 38.30% |
| 12.21% | 38.16% |
| 12.11% | 38.03% |
| 12.01% | 37.89% |
| 11.91% | 37.75% |
| 11.81% | 37.61% |
| 11.71% | 37.48% |
| 11.61% | 37.34% |
| 11.51% | 37.20% |
| 11.41% | 37.06% |
| 11.31% | 36.93% |
| 11.21% | 36.79% |
| 11.11% | 36.65% |
| 11.01% | 36.51% |
| 10.91% | 36.38% |
| 10.81% | 36.24% |
| 10.71% | 36.10% |
| 10.61% | 35.96% |
| 10.51% | 35.83% |
| 10.41% | 35.69% |
| 10.31% | 35.55% |
| 10.21% | 35.41% |
| 10.11% | 35.28% |
| 10.01% | 35.14% |
| 9.91% | 35.00% |
| 9.81% | 34.90% |
| 9.71% | 34.80% |
| 9.61% | 34.70% |
| 9.51% | 34.59% |
| 9.41% | 34.47% |
| 9.31% | 34.36% |
| 9.21% | 34.23% |
| 9.11% | 34.11% |
| 9.01% | 33.98% |
| 8.91% | 33.84% |
| 8.81% | 33.70% |
| 8.71% | 33.56% |
| 8.61% | 33.41% |
| 8.51% | 33.26% |
| 8.41% | 33.10% |
| 8.31% | 32.94% |
| 8.21% | 32.78% |
| 8.11% | 32.61% |
| 8.01% | 32.44% |
| 7.91% | 32.26% |
| 7.81% | 32.08% |
| 7.71% | 31.90% |
| 7.61% | 31.71% |
| 7.51% | 31.51% |
| 7.41% | 31.31% |
| 7.31% | 31.11% |
| 7.21% | 30.91% |
| 7.11% | 30.70% |
| 7.01% | 30.48% |
| 6.91% | 30.26% |
| 6.81% | 30.04% |
| 6.71% | 29.81% |
| 6.61% | 29.58% |
| 6.51% | 29.34% |
| 6.41% | 29.10% |
| 6.31% | 28.86% |
| 6.21% | 28.61% |
| 6.11% | 28.36% |
| 6.01% | 28.10% |
| 5.91% | 27.84% |
| 5.81% | 27.58% |
| 5.71% | 27.31% |
| 5.61% | 27.03% |
| 5.51% | 26.76% |
| 5.41% | 26.47% |
| 5.31% | 26.19% |
| 5.21% | 25.90% |
| 5.11% | 25.60% |
| 5.01% | 25.30% |
| 4.91% | 25.00% |
| 4.81% | 24.69% |
| 4.71% | 24.38% |
| 4.61% | 24.07% |
| 4.51% | 23.75% |
| 4.41% | 23.42% |
| 4.31% | 23.09% |
| 4.21% | 22.76% |
| 4.11% | 22.42% |
| 4.01% | 22.08% |
| 3.91% | 21.74% |
| 3.81% | 21.39% |
| 3.71% | 21.04% |
| 3.61% | 20.68% |
| 3.51% | 20.32% |
| 3.41% | 19.95% |
| 3.31% | 19.58% |
| 3.21% | 19.21% |
| 3.11% | 18.83% |
| 3.01% | 18.44% |
| 2.91% | 18.06% |
| 2.81% | 17.66% |
| 2.71% | 17.27% |
| 2.61% | 16.87% |
| 2.51% | 16.47% |
| 2.41% | 16.06% |
| 2.31% | 15.65% |
| 2.21% | 15.23% |
| 2.11% | 14.81% |
| 2.01% | 14.38% |
| 1.91% | 13.95% |
| 1.81% | 13.52% |
| 1.71% | 13.08% |
| 1.61% | 12.64% |
| 1.51% | 12.19% |
| 1.41% | 11.74% |
| 1.31% | 11.29% |
| 1.21% | 10.83% |
| 1.11% | 10.37% |
| 1.01% | 9.90% |
| 0.91% | 9.43% |
| 0.81% | 8.95% |
| 0.71% | 8.48% |
| 0.61% | 7.99% |
| 0.51% | 7.50% |
| 0.41% | 7.01% |
| 0.31% | 6.51% |
| 0.21% | 6.01% |
| 0.11% | 5.51% |
| 0.01% | 5.00% |
| 0.00% | 0.0 |
As you can see, even 0.01% power difference already cuts your damage output by 5% and also causes you to receive more damage (as both your HP and DEF stats have been lowered). The stat penalty progressively increases with the difference between your team's power and the recommended one - so keep that in mind.
Important! The penalty is active in the Campaign (both normal and hard), Tribe Towers and Lost Sector. In other modes (EX Battles, Simulation Room, Interception and Coop) the stat penalty isn't applied.
How to increase your team's power
Knowing that the penalty is so harsh when you're attacking stages above the team's power, here are all the things that impact your characters's power:
- Level - obviously leveling your characters gives you a lot of power, so this will be always the best way to make your team stronger,
- Rarity - characters with higher rarity have more base power than the lower rarity ones,
- Also, you get more overall power if you level your top 5 characters equally, instead of making one of them stronger (like the DPS). So just keep leveling them one by one, so they are the same level,
- Limit break - limit breaking your characters by feeding dupes into them increases power by a lot,
- Equipment - gives a decent amount of power,
- And you can also upgrade it to gain even more power,
- Skills - leveling skills gives a minor increase to power,
- Recycling Room - since the room provides raw stats to your characters, it affects their power too.
- Bonds - bonds give raw stats which also increase your power, so go and talk to your characters!
Another tip we can give you is to don't be afraid of using characters that we rated lower, but you received one or more dupes for, over the higher rated but with a single dupe. The power gained from limit breaking might be enough to push you over the recommended power and allow you to clear the stage.