Bar compression

Bar compression refers to the technique of replacing one set of skills with a smaller group performing similar functions, thus freeing up one or more slots on the skill bar. In contrast, anti-compression reduces the number of available slots by using a greater number of skills.

Bar compression skills are nearly always elites.

Warrior

 * Earth Shaker is an excellent bar compression skill. Against clumped mobs, Earth Shaker can substitute for any number of knockdowns.
 * Earth Shaker is an excellent bar compression skill. Against clumped mobs, Earth Shaker can substitute for any number of knockdowns.













Ranger

 * Heal as One is an excellent bar compression skill. Because of its ability to resurrect pets, mandatory bar placement for pet usage, activation time, recharge time, pressure through lifesteal, pet heal and range.
 * Heal as One is an excellent bar compression skill. Because of its ability to resurrect pets, mandatory bar placement for pet usage, activation time, recharge time, pressure through lifesteal, pet heal and range.





Monk

 * Healing Burst by itself works well for single target healing: at Divine Favor = 13, Healing Burst yields ~4.421 health regeneration at a cost of ~3.157 energy degeneration. (Its low recharge time makes it a better choice than Gift of Health.)
 * For efficient party healing, Unyielding Aura et al makes a better choice: at the same Divine Favor, the combination yields 3.51 to ~5.197 health regen for 2.875 energy degen (13 Divine Favor).
 * For efficient party healing, Unyielding Aura et al makes a better choice: at the same Divine Favor, the combination yields 3.51 to ~5.197 health regen for 2.875 energy degen (13 Divine Favor).


 * At Healing Prayers rank of 13, Light of Deliverance offers good party-wide healing at a reasonable cost. Heroes are also able to make better use of it than the HP/GoLE/HB skill chain, which is a better choice when you expect intermittent, but massive AoE damage.
 * At Healing Prayers rank of 13, Light of Deliverance offers good party-wide healing at a reasonable cost. Heroes are also able to make better use of it than the HP/GoLE/HB skill chain, which is a better choice when you expect intermittent, but massive AoE damage.



Necromancer

 * & = minion creation skills + support skills
 * Aura of the Lich generates the low-level creatures while Jagged Bones helps maintain the army size.


 * = minion creation skills + support skills
 * Animate Flesh Golem offers quality over quantity; it can be used effectively by itself.



Mesmer

 * Panic is an excellent bar compression skill. Against clumped mobs, Panic can substitute for any number of interrupts. (However, Panic is useless for enemies that cannot be clumped or pulled into choke points.)
 * Panic is an excellent bar compression skill. Against clumped mobs, Panic can substitute for any number of interrupts. (However, Panic is useless for enemies that cannot be clumped or pulled into choke points.)



Assassin

 * Palm Strike is commonly used to skip lead attacks and apply the required condition(s) to chain dual attacks (such as with Trampling Ox).
 * Palm Strike is commonly used to skip lead attacks and apply the required condition(s) to chain dual attacks (such as with Trampling Ox).

Ritualist

 * Signet of Spirits can replace several attack spirits.
 * Signet of Spirits can replace several attack spirits.



Dervish

 * Pious Renewal is an excellent bar compression Teardown skill. It serves as a Feeder enchantment and offers both Self-healing and Energy management; with no conditional requirements and at the cost of only 1 skill slot and 1 elite slot.
 * Pious Renewal is an excellent bar compression Teardown skill. It serves as a Feeder enchantment and offers both Self-healing and Energy management; with no conditional requirements and at the cost of only 1 skill slot and 1 elite slot.



Other

 * Asuran Scan single-handedly does the job of 3+ skills slots reserved normally to prevent, remove, or ignore atacks that would otherwise miss or be blocked via the use of hexes, conditions, stances, enchantments, echos, ward spells, well spells, weapon spells, etc. Its only means of being countered by foes is though spell targeting prevention.
 * Asuran Scan single-handedly does the job of 3+ skills slots reserved normally to prevent, remove, or ignore atacks that would otherwise miss or be blocked via the use of hexes, conditions, stances, enchantments, echos, ward spells, well spells, weapon spells, etc. Its only means of being countered by foes is though spell targeting prevention.