Shadow step

A Shadow step is the name for a game mechanic that results in moving a character instantly from one place to another. The length of the step varies from nearby up to compass range, depending on the skill used. All but six shadow stepping skills belong to the assassin; only four of the skills move anything besides the caster.

Provided you could also walk to it, shadow steps can be used to:

• Escape a body block.
• Jump between ground levels.
• Cross closed gates/walls.

The Guild Wars 2 Wiki also has an article on Shadow step.

Notes

• Shadow stepping differs from teleportation (with the exception of player skills that cause teleportation) in these important ways:
  • You always drop bundles when you shadow step.
  • You cannot shadow step to a target unless you could walk to the target without leaving compass range. For example, you cannot shadow step past closed gates.
  • When the target is outside compass range or in a location inaccessible to the player, the user will shadow step into the closest obstruction (in the target's direction) instead of to the actual location.

• A party member maintaining Recall on an ally who goes outside of the compass area will shadow step to them involuntarily (but before other maintained enchantments are canceled).

• Shadow stepping while activating a skill cancels the skill, e.g. if a stance such as Shadow Walk ends while casting. However, shadow stepping will not cancel emotes.

• You can determine the length of a step based on its description:
  • Away from means nearby in the direction opposite your target.
  • Targeted steps work within spell range.
  • Recall works within compass range.

• Shadow steps that move the user and do not exclusively target foes have no aftercast delay.

• Shadow Steps are a cornerstone of portal jumping, which can help Cartographer-candidates uncover otherwise unreachable areas.

Anomaly.On rare occasions, an NPC attacking an assassin has moved with the assassin when shadow stepping away occurred with the attack. For example, this could cause a juggernaut in Jade Quarry to land upstairs on a portal.

Shadow steps

To foe

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Augury of Death	Half Range Hex Spell. (5...29...35 seconds.) Inflict Deep Wound condition (5...17...20 seconds) and Shadow Step to target foe the next time damage would drop this foe's Health below 50%.	0	5	1	20		assassina	Deadly ArtsZ	Nightfall
	Aura of Displacement	Elite Enchantment Spell. Shadow Step to target foe. End effect: return to your original location.	-1	10	0.25¼	20		assassina	Z	Factions
	Beguiling Haze	Elite Spell. You Shadow Step to this foe. Inflicts Dazed condition (3...8...9 seconds).	0	15	0.25¼	20		assassina	Shadow ArtsZ	Factions
	Dark Prison	Hex Spell. Shadow Step to target foe. This foe moves 33% slower (1...5...6 seconds).	0	10	0.25¼	30		assassina	Deadly ArtsZ	Factions
	Death's Charge	Spell. You Shadow Step to target foe. You are healed for 65...173...200 if this foe has more Health than you.	0	5	0.25¼	30		assassina	Shadow ArtsZ	Factions
	Ride the Lightning	Elite Spell. Deals 10...58...70 lightning damage. 25% armor penetration. Blinds all adjacent foes (1...4...5 second[s]). You instantly move to your target. May target allies.	5	10	1	5		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Factions
	Ride the Lightning (PvP)	Elite Spell. Deals 10...58...70 lightning damage. 25% armor penetration. Blinds all adjacent foes (1...4...5 second[s]). You instantly move to your target. May target allies.	5	15	1	10		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Factions
	Scorpion Wire	Half Range Hex Spell. (8...18...20 seconds.) Shadow Step to target foe and cause knock-down the next time this foe is more than 100' away from you.	0	5	1	10		assassina	Deadly ArtsZ	Factions
	Shadow Fang	Hex Spell. Shadow Step to target foe. End effect after 10 seconds: inflicts Deep Wound condition (5...17...20 seconds); you return to your original location.	0	10	0.25¼	45		assassina	Deadly ArtsZ	Eye of the North
	Shadow Prison	Elite Hex Spell. Shadow Step to target foe. This foe moves 66% slower (1...6...7 seconds).	0	10	0.25¼	25		assassina	Deadly ArtsZ	Nightfall
	Shadow Walk	Stance. (15 seconds.) Shadow Step to target foe. End effect: return to your original location. Disables your attack skills for 1 second. Disables your stances and enchantments for 10 seconds.	0	5	0	30		assassina	Z	Nightfall
	Wastrel's Collapse	Elite Skill. Shadow Step to target foe. Causes knock-down if target foe is not using a skill. Disables your non-dagger attack skills (10 seconds).	0	5	0.25¼	20		assassina	Z	Nightfall

To ally

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Death's Retreat	Spell. Gain 40...112...130 Health if you have less Health than target ally. Initial effect: Shadow Step to this ally. Cannot self-target.	0	5	0.25¼	20		assassina	Shadow ArtsZ	Nightfall
	Ebon Escape	Spell. Heals you and target ally for 70...110. Initial effect: Shadow Step to this ally. Cannot self-target.	0	5	0.25¼	10		a	Ebon Vanguard rankZ	Eye of the North
	Recall	Enchantment Spell. End effect: Shadow Step to target ally. Cannot self-target and disables all of your skills for 10 seconds when it ends.	-1	15	1	10		assassina	Z	Factions
	Return	Spell. Inflicts Crippled condition (3...7...8 seconds) on all foes adjacent to you. You Shadow Step to target ally's location. Cannot self-target.	0	5	0.25¼	15		assassina	Shadow ArtsZ	Factions
	Ride the Lightning	Elite Spell. Deals 10...58...70 lightning damage. 25% armor penetration. Blinds all adjacent foes (1...4...5 second[s]). You instantly move to your target. May target allies.	5	10	1	5		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Factions
	Ride the Lightning (PvP)	Elite Spell. Deals 10...58...70 lightning damage. 25% armor penetration. Blinds all adjacent foes (1...4...5 second[s]). You instantly move to your target. May target allies.	5	15	1	10		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Factions
	Shadow Meld	Elite Enchantment Spell. Shadow Step to target ally. End effect: return to your original location. Cannot self-target.	-1	10	0.25¼	20		assassina	Z	Nightfall

To summoned creature

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Spirit Walk	Spell. Shadow Step to target Spirit. [sic]	0	5	0.25¼	8		assassina	Z	Factions
	Swap	Spell. You and target summoned creature Shadow Step to each other's locations.	0	5	0.25¼	10		assassina	Z	Nightfall

Away from target

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Heart of Shadow	Spell. You are healed for 30...126...150 and you Shadow Step to a nearby location directly away from your target.	0	5	0.25¼	15		assassina	Shadow ArtsZ	Factions
	Viper's Defense	Spell. Inflict Poisoned condition (5...17...20 seconds) on all adjacent foes and Shadow Step to a nearby location directly away from your target.	0	5	0.25¼	10		assassina	Shadow ArtsZ	Factions

To activation spot (return)

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Aura of Displacement	Elite Enchantment Spell. Shadow Step to target foe. End effect: return to your original location.	-1	10	0.25¼	20		assassina	Z	Factions
	Shadow Fang	Hex Spell. Shadow Step to target foe. End effect after 10 seconds: inflicts Deep Wound condition (5...17...20 seconds); you return to your original location.	0	10	0.25¼	45		assassina	Deadly ArtsZ	Eye of the North
	Shadow Meld	Elite Enchantment Spell. Shadow Step to target ally. End effect: return to your original location. Cannot self-target.	-1	10	0.25¼	20		assassina	Z	Nightfall
	Shadow Walk	Stance. (15 seconds.) Shadow Step to target foe. End effect: return to your original location. Disables your attack skills for 1 second. Disables your stances and enchantments for 10 seconds.	0	5	0	30		assassina	Z	Nightfall
	Shadow of Haste	Stance. (10...34...40 seconds.) You move 15% faster. End effect: return to your original location.	0	5	0	45		assassina	Shadow ArtsZ	Factions

Shadow stepping skills that do not move the caster

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Draw Spirit	Spell. Teleports target allied spirit to your location.	0	5	0.25¼	5		ritualista	Z	Factions
	Strike as One	Elite Shout. Your animal companion instantly moves to your target and inflicts Bleeding (5...13...15 seconds) with its next attack. The next time you hit with an attack, you inflict Crippled condition (5...13...15 seconds).	0	5	0	10		rangera	Beast MasteryZ	Nightfall
	Summon Spirits	Spell. Spirits you control Shadow Step to your location and gain 60...100 Health.	0	5	0.25¼	5		ritualista	Allegiance rankZ	Factions

Special event shadow steps

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Side Step	Skill. Shadow Step to a random location in the area. You gain 250 Health.	0	0	0	25		assassina	Z	Factions