Critical Hit

In Star Trek Online, a critical hit is a hit on an enemy that deals additional damage. The critical hit mechanic consists of two components:
 * 1) Critical Hit Chance, the chance that an attack can deal additional damage. Improved by the  space skill, and the modifiers [CritH] or [CrtH] on weapons.
 * 2) Critical Hit Severity, which determines how much additional damage is dealt by a critical hit. Improved by the  space skill, and the modifiers [CritD] or [CrtD] (for "Critical Damage") on weapons.
 * On the ground, both Critical Chance and Critical Severity are boosted by the skill. Some items, ground and space, have a special [CritX] or [CrtX] modifier that boosts both.

Players start with a base Critical Chance of 2.5% and a Critical Severity of +50%, in both ground and space, meaning you have a 2.5% chance of dealing 150% damage.

Modifiers
Aside from the aforementioned skills, many other items and traits in the game can improve Critical Chance, Critical Severity, or both. For example, on the ground, kit frames can have [WpnCrit] or other modifiers, some Body Armors have integrated Critical boosts, and Armored Environmental Suits can receive [CrtD] and/or [CrtH] modifiers. In space, many consoles (below) and set bonuses (to be done) grant additional Critical Chance or Severity. See the ', ' and  pages for lists of these things.

Several ground weapons and ship weapons have effects that are triggered either on scoring a critical hit, or passively improve your own Critical Hit Chance or Crit Severity. An or, for example, has an innate +20% to Critical Severity.