Damage types are the inherent properties of any given attack in the games; both friends and foes' attacks share this trait, and certain attacks can have more than one type, or none.
There are various kinds of damage types, and some skills are composite attacks, like fire/cut or ice/stab. If a composite attack is used on an enemy with resistance to one but not the other, the skill takes the lowest enemy resistance (or even weakness) multiplier to calculate damage.
Physical Damage Types[]
Physical damage typically calculates off STR and is mitigated with VIT.
Cut/Slash[]
Includes edged weapons like swords and knives. Monsters using claws also fall within this category. Sometimes referred to as Slash.
Stab/Pierce[]
Includes thrusting weapons, like rapiers and spears, and shooting weapons, like bows and guns. Also monsters using their spikes for attacks, or any kind of impaling skills. Sometimes referred to as Pierce.
Bash/Strike[]
Includes like hammers, staffs, fists, and any other blunt weapon. Heavy strikes from cannons or axes are considered bash attacks. Monsters may use slams or other attacks that produce an impact. Sometimes referred to as Strike or Crush.
Elemental Damage Types[]
Pure elemental damage typically calculates off and is mitigated with TEC. In V and Nexus they calculate off INT and are mitigated with WIS.
Fire[]
Usually, but not limited to, flame and magma attacks. Hi-temperature skills without fire may still apply. Can be added to physical attacks. You know you are receiving fire damage if your character slot flashes red when taking a hit.
Ice[]
Any attack dealing with freezing temperatures fall under this category (blizzards, hail, icicles and the like). Can be added to physical attacks. You know you are receiving ice damage if your character slot flashes blue when taking a hit.
Volt[]
Any attack dealing with electricity fall under this category (lightning, thunder, shocks). Can be added to physical attacks. You know you are receiving volt damage if your character slot flashes yellow when taking a hit.
Other[]
Almighty[]
Another term for a type of attack that is unaffected by elemental resistances. Almighty skills, also known as Untyped or Typeless, are usually very powerful and expensive, or require special conditions. In later games, "almighty" became an element of its own, distinct from actually typeless, although almighty resistance is almost exclusive to enemies and never shown to the player.
None[]
Typeless damage can be dealt by Poison, Plague, Curse, self-damaging attacks, the Highlander's Gae Bolg and Black Sabbath (EO2U), the alchemist's Megido (EOII) and Hexer's Revenge.