Attack skill

From Guild Wars Wiki

Skill type. An attack skill is defined as "an enhanced melee or projectile attack".

Attack skills are a direct subclass of the type skill. When activated, they cause you to attack and provide a damage bonus or additional effect for that attack.

Subtypes of the type "attack skill" require the attacker to be wielding a specific kind of weapon (or have a living pet). Attempting to use an attack skill with the wrong kind of weapon will result in red message stating the wrong weapon type is equipped. Also, when the wrong kind of weapon is equipped, the skill icon for an attack skill will be grayed out with a red slash across it and a small weapon icon showing the required weapon type.

The following shows the attack skill sub-type tree and which professions have skills of each type:

• Attack
  • Melee Attack (Assassin, Warrior, Dervish)
    • Axe Attack (Warrior)
    • Hammer Attack (Warrior)
    • Sword Attack (Warrior)
    • Dagger Attack
      • Lead Attack (Assassin)
      • Off-Hand Attack (Assassin)
      • Dual Attack (Assassin)
    • Scythe Attack (Dervish)
  • Bow Attack (Ranger)
  • Pet Attack (Ranger)
  • Spear Attack (Paragon)

[edit] Notes

• If an attack skill does not specify an activation time, it takes as long to activate as it does to make an attack.
• Many monsters can ignore the weapon restrictions of their attack skills. The most prominent example is the Doppelganger, which wields an axe and spear but can use any attack skill.
• The + damage from all attack skills ignore armor, however the base damage of a weapon is still affected by armor.
• Damage reduction from armor and skills such as Shield of Absorption, Shielding Hands and Stoneflesh Aura does affect attack skills.