Stance

Skill type. Stances are skills with no activation time that provide a positive effect to the character while in that stance. Only one stance can be active at a time for each character. Some stances, such as Frenzy, have a negative effect in addition to the positive effect.

Characteristics
Typical effects for stances include:
 * Blocking attacks
 * Providing speed boosts
 * Increasing attack rate
 * Increasing armor rating (often conditionally to a certain damage type)
 * Shadow stepping at the end of the stance's duration
 * Improving skill recharge rate

Equipment with benefits from stances

 * Armor
 * Any Sentry's Insignia
 * Weapon upgrades
 * [[Image:Staff Wrapping.png|19px]] [[Image:Shield Handle.png|19px]] [[Image:Focus Core.png|19px]] Of Endurance
 * Inscriptions
 * Weapon inscriptions
 * [[Image:Inscription weapons.png|19px]] "Dance with Death"
 * Focus item or Shield inscriptions
 * [[Image:Inscription focus items or shields.png|19px]] "Run For Your Life!"

Stance canceling
A stance cancel (also called a cancel stance) is using a different stance to replace your current stance (as you can only have one on you at any given time). The common application is to use a new stance to cancel stances that are either harmful if left up or beneficial if taken down. Great examples of stances to cancel include Frenzy, Flail, Shadow Walk and Shadow of Haste. Preferred stance cancels include short recharge stances such as Dash and Rush.

When canceling a stance, the previous stance is considered to end before the new stance takes effect.

Skills countering stances

 * : is a hex that reduces the duration of stances and enchantments by up to 80%.
 * Some attack skills can end a stance if they successfully hit. Most of these skills include the keyword "Wild".
 * : ends a stance, and cannot be blocked. - Hammer attack, costs 4 adrenaline.
 * : if target foe is moving, ends target foe's stance.
 * : ends a stance, and cannot be blocked. - Axe attack, costs 4 adrenaline
 * : ends a stance, and cannot be blocked. Always results in a critical hit. - You lose all adrenaline
 * : ends a stance, and cannot be blocked - Mallyx the Unyielding
 * : ends a stance, and cannot be blocked. - Off hand attack
 * : ends a stance, and cannot be blocked. - Costs 7 adrenaline
 * : ends a stance, and cannot be blocked. - Requires a Dervish enchantment

Skills causing stance recharge

 * instantly recharges all of your stances if you are adjacent to a knocked down foe.

Skills increasing stance duration

 * Any : your stances last 55...100% longer.

Skills with effects that trigger if user is in a stance

 * : inflicts extra damage.

Skills with effects that trigger if user is not in a stance

 * : inflicts Bleeding.
 * : unblockable.