Damage meter

A damage meter is an add on which calculates total damage done to a target in real time and in most cases, the damage done over some amount of time. Since many advanced meters also include options to measure other stats (threat, heals per time, dispels etc.) they can be useful tools in evaluating characters since they account for an individual's play style and utility role rather than just mechanical stats.

They may also be used in parties, especially raids, to determine if players are under-performing to the point they are causing issues to overall progress; a group may then choose to pass coveted items to an otherwise decent player or kick a otherwise discretely lazy player tagging along for easy loot.

Nevertheless, over-reliance on damage meters as a measure of performance is controversial, especially in group play. It is generally good etiquette to not spam meter output into party chat unless asked, as it may create the worry DPSers are solely worried about their damage output rather than the welfare of the group, the nature of specific battles, or any alternate roles. This opinion is especially strong among tanks and healers, who are generally only concerned with DPS inasmuch as the amount of threat it produces.