Owndamage

Owndamage is a colloquial term used in online gaming communities to describe damage that a character or player inflicts upon themselves as part of a move, ability, or environmental interaction. The term combines “own” with “damage” and is often written as owndamage or own-damage. It is not a formal, standardized term in game design, but it appears in forums, streams, and speedrunning discussions to label self-inflicted harm within mechanics.

Contexts and mechanisms for owndamage include weapon recoil that harms the shooter, splash damage from explosive effects at close range, self-inflicted costs to cast powerful spells, or environmental hazards that are triggered by the attacker. Some systems explicitly trade health for power, while others rely on indirect effects that unintentionally affect the wielder.

In gameplay, owndamage can be strategic or accidental. It introduces risk-reward considerations, as players may accept self-harm to achieve a greater effect. Designers sometimes use self-damage to balance strong abilities or to enforce resource management, and they may provide clear indicators to help players understand when an action will damage the user. Clarity around self-harm mechanics can reduce confusion and frustration.

Common examples include abilities that convert health into mana or offense, items with drawbacks that include HP loss, and spells or skills that deal substantial damage to enemies but also harm the caster. The term serves as a shorthand for discussing edge cases and tactics involving self-inflicted harm. See also: self-damage, recoil, splash damage.