Skill nomenclature

The names of many skills follow a predictable pattern. This skill nomenclature allows players to get an idea of a skill's effects or damage type from the name. This article ignores obvious synonyms, e.g. that Furious Axe is an axe-related skill.

Universal

These keywords are always associated with a particular skill or damage type:

Weapon skills Keyword Axes and Axe Mastery Chop Reaver Bows and Marksmanship Fire Shot Daggers and Dagger Mastery Stab Strike Hammers and Hammer Mastery Blow Smash Scythes and Scythe Mastery Slicer Sweep Spears and Spear Mastery Throw Toss Swords and Swordsmanship Slash Thrust

Elemental magic and/or damage Keyword Air Magic and/or Lightning damage Glimmer Shock, Thunder Earth Magic and/or Earth damage Ash, Crystal Magnet, Obsidian Dust, Sand Fire Magic and/or Fire damage Flame Ember, Immolate Heat, Lava, Star Water Magic and/or Cold damage Chill, Frost Freeze, Frigid Ice, Winter

Other effect Keyword Enchantment removal Disenchantment Lengthens duration Extend Increases movement speed, decreases casting and/or recharge times. Haste Celerity Life steal, Sacrifice and/or Blood Magic Blood Item spells [Adjective] Was [Name] Pets and Beast Mastery Bite Lunge Pounce

Indirect relation

Most keywords are more artfully than literally connected to their effects.

• The list works in terms of keywords and the effects that they're bound to, not the reverse, because no effect is bound to any one keyword.
• Some keywords are homonyms: there is more than one regular application for the same term. Sometimes the skill's profession is a clue as to which one is being used. (For example, the keyword "renew" does not refer to the technical term renewal used in concise descriptions.)

A - H

Keyword	Meaning	Examples	Notes
Aggression	Increases attack speed	Aggressive Refrain Burst of Aggression Feral Aggression	Signet of Aggression does not conform to this pattern.
Air	Bonus or penalty on subsequent effects	Air of Disenchantment Air of Enchantment	Air Magic skills refer to the skill's element.
Anguish	Synergy with hexes	Anguish Anguished Was Lingwah	Crippling Anguish does not conform to this pattern.
Animate	Targets corpses to create minions	Animate Bone Fiend Animate Flesh Golem Animate Shambling Horror	Aura of the Lich is the only animate spell that does not require the target of a foe, a corpse, or a minion.
Anthem	Triggered by use of attack skills	Anthem of Envy Crippling Anthem Defensive Anthem
Arcane	Affects use of spells	Arcane Conundrum Arcane Languor Arcane Larceny
Aria	Triggered by use of spells	Aria of Restoration Aria of Zeal Hexbreaker Aria
Attunement	Energy gain for using an element	Earth Attunement Fire Attunement Water Attunement Air Attunement Elemental Attunement	Life Attunement does not conform to this pattern.
Aura	Applies an enchantment on self	Aura of Displacement Aura of Restoration Aura of the Lich	Spiritleech Aura had a functionality change. Aura Slicer and Aura of Stability do not conform to this pattern.
Auspicious	Bonus adrenaline/energy	Auspicious Blow Auspicious Incantation Auspicious Parry
Avatar	Form of a god	Avatar of Balthazar Avatar of Dwayna Avatar of Lyssa Avatar of Melandru Avatar of Grenth
Balance	If foes have the advantage, you steal half the difference	Lyssa's Balance Grenth's Balance	Isaiah's Balance does not conform to this pattern.
Balthazar's	Relates to adrenaline, burning and holy damage	Balthazar's Aura Balthazar's Rage Balthazar's Spirit	Balthazar's Pendulum does not conform to this pattern.
Banish	Bonus damage vs. summoned creatures	Banish Banishing Strike	Holy Spear is also associated with this group.
Barb	Inflicts bleeding	Barbed Arrows Barbed Spear Barbed Signet	"Barbed" is a weapon upgrade that lengthens the duration of the Bleeding condition by 33%. Barbs and Soul Barbs do not conform to this pattern.
Black	Bonus vs. hexed targets	Black Lotus Strike Black Mantis Thrust Black Spider Strike
Blessing	Form of a Spirit of the Wild	Raven Blessing Ursan Blessing Volfen Blessing	Vital Blessing does not conform to this pattern.
Boon	Relates to health or energy gain	Boon of Creation Energy Boon Spirit Boon Strike
	Enhances healing efficiency	Boon Signet Divine Boon Healer's Boon
Burden	Snares target	Imagined Burden Shadowy Burden Shared Burden
Burst	Additional AoE w/requirements	Frozen Burst Healing Burst Star Burst	Burst of Aggression does not conform to this pattern.
Call	Buffs your pet	Call of Protection Call of Haste
Caltrops	Inflicts crippled	Caltrops Hidden Caltrops
Clumsy	Interrupts attacks	Clumsiness Signet of Clumsiness
Charge	Increased movement speed w/ bonus on next attack	Enraging Charge Whirling Charge "Charge!"
Chorus	Triggered by use of chants or shout	Chorus of Restoration Energizing Chorus
Comfort	Healing	Comfort Animal Lion's Comfort Words of Comfort
Concentrate	Prevents interrupts	Glyph of Concentration Mantra of Concentration Pious Concentration
Conjure	Attacks do extra elemental damage see Conjure spell	Conjure Flame Conjure Frost Conjure Lightning
	Illusion Magic degeneration hex	Conjure Phantasm Conjure Nightmare
Corrupt	Benefit from hexes and/or conditions	Feast of Corruption Signet of Corruption Signet of Deadly Corruption
Creation	Energy management with summoned creatures	Boon of Creation Signet of Creation
Crippling	Inflicts Crippled condition	Crippling Anthem Crippling Dagger Crippling Sweep	"Crippling" is a weapon upgrade that lengthens the duration of the Crippled condition by 33%.
Critical	Gives or depends on critical hits	Critical Eye Critical Agility Critical Defenses
Defense	Increased chance to block	Defensive Anthem Defensive Stance Soldier's Defense	"Defensive" and "Of Defense" are weapon upgrades that grants +4-5 armor rating.
Defile	Turns normally beneficial effects into liabilities	Defile Defenses Defile Enchantments Defile Flesh
Delusion	Removes a Mesmer hex from target foe	Drain Delusions Shatter Delusions
Distract	Interrupts and/or disables at the cost of low damage	Distracting Blow Distracting Lunge Distracting Shot Psychic Distraction
Disrupt	Interrupts	Anthem of Disruption Disrupting Lunge Web of Disruption
Dwayna's	Relates to enchantments, hex-removal, and AoE healing	Dwayna's Kiss Dwayna's Sorrow Dwayna's Touch
Echo / Mimic	Becomes the next skill used	Echo Arcane Echo Arcane Mimicry	Symbols of Inspiration is also associated with this group.
Energy	Energy management	Energizing Finale Energizing Wind Energetic Was Lee Sa
Eremite	Conditional effect per adjacent foe	Eremite's Attack Eremite's Zeal
Essence	Energy management	Essence Bond Essence Strike Reclaim Essence	Glyph of Essence has a negative effect on energy.
Ether	Energy management	Ether Lord Ether Signet Ethereal Burden	Ether Feast and Ethereal Light do not conform to this pattern. Ether Prism had a functionality change.
Falling	Requires a knocked down target	Falling Spider Falling Lotus Strike
Fang	Inflicts deep wound	Twisting Fangs Golden Fang Strike Shadow Fang	Fox Fangs does not conform to this pattern.
Feast	Benefits from negative effects	Ether Feast Feast of Souls Foul Feast
Finale	Triggered whenever a chant or shout ends on the target	Blazing Finale Energizing Finale Finale of Restoration
Fox / Nine Tails	Unblockable under certain circumstances	Fox's Promise Nine Tail Strike Way of the Fox
Fury	Bonus adrenaline / Attack speed increase	Anthem of Fury Heart of Fury Weapon of Fury	"Furious" is a weapon upgrade that grants a % chance of yielding twice as much adrenaline. Ferocious Strike, Infuriating Heat and Toriimo's Burning Fury have a similar name and are also associated with this group. Gaze of Fury and Unseen Fury do not conform to this pattern.
Glow	Energy management	Glowing Gaze Glowstone Glowing Signet
Golden	Bonus for being enchanted	Golden Fox Strike Golden Lotus Strike Golden Skull Strike
Grasp	Snares target	Grasping Earth Grenth's Grasp Harrier's Grasp
Grenth's	Relates to cold damage, conditions, and life stealing	Grenth's Grasp Grenth's Fingers Grenth's Aura
Guide	Unblockable	Anthem of Guidance Guided Weapon Guiding Hands
Harrier's	Bonus against moving enemy	Harrier's Grasp Harrier's Haste Harrier's Toss

I - R

Keyword	Meaning	Examples	Notes
Illusion	Bonus/penalty with reversal when it ends	Illusion of Haste Illusion of Pain Illusion of Weakness
Intervention	Heals or prevents damage at a threshold	Divine Intervention Faithful Intervention Judge's Intervention	Malign Intervention does not conform to this pattern. Angelic Bond is also associated with this group. Its functionality was altered from a Bonder skill.
Insecurity	Negative effect over time	Mark of Insecurity Recurring Insecurity
Instability	Knocks down	Psychic Instability Mark of Instability
Jagged	Inflicts bleeding	Jagged Bones Jagged Strike	Animate Shambling Horror, which creates Jagged Horrors, is also associated with this group.
Judge	Inflicts holy damage	Judge's Insight Ray of Judgment Shield of Judgment
Keen	Related to critical hits	Keen Arrow Keen Chop
Lacerate	Inflicts or enhances bleeding	Lacerating Chop Lacerate
Leader	Requires earshot allies to function	Leader's Comfort Leader's Zeal
Light	Significant healing	Blessed Light Ethereal Light Spirit Light
Lotus	Gain energy on hit	Black Lotus Strike Falling Lotus Strike Lotus Strike
Lyric	Triggered by use of signets	Lyric of Purification Lyric of Zeal
Lyssa's	Relates to energy, recharge, and interrupts	Lyssa's Assault Lyssa's Aura Lyssa's Haste	Lyssa's Balance does not conform to this pattern.
Mage	Bonus vs. casters/spells	Magebane Shot Magehunter's Smash Magehunter Strike
Mantis	Inflicts crippled	Black Mantis Thrust Leaping Mantis Sting Mantis Touch
Mantra	Stances unique to the Mesmers profession	Mantra of Lightning Mantra of Recovery Mantra of Signets	Mantra of Recall does not conform to this pattern. Distortion, Elemental Resistance, Physical Resistance, and Hex Breaker are also associated with this group.
Melandru's	Relates to conditions, health and elemental damage	Melandru's Arrows Melandru's Assault Melandru's Shot
Memory	Energy management	Renewing Memories Soothing Memories	"Of Memory" is a weapon upgrade that halves skill recharge on spells of item's attribute. Persistence of Memory does not conform to this pattern.
Mend	Removes conditions and heals	Mend Body and Soul Mending Grip Mending Touch	Mending and Mending Refrain do not conform to this pattern.
Mind	Bonus when foe has less energy than you	Mind Blast Mind Burn Mind Freeze Mind Shock	Mind Wrack's bonus occurs when foe has no energy. Mindbender does not conform to this pattern.
Mirror	Affects multiple targets	Mirror of Disenchantment Mirror of Ice Mirrored Stance
Mystic	Bonus for being enchanted	Mystic Healing Mystic Sandstorm Mystic Sweep	Some skills have a bonus effect if you are enchanted when you activate them, or scales their effects based on how many enchantments you have. (This places them at odds with Pious skills that remove enchantments, since Mystic skills lose their effectiveness when you want to remove your enchantments.)
Natural	Benefit for having no enchantments	Natural Temper Natural Stride Natural Healing
Order	Enchantments that buff physical damage attacks	Order of Pain Order of the Vampire Order of Apostasy	Order of Undeath only affects minions.
Ox	Knocks down	Horns of the Ox Trampling Ox
Penetrate	Armor penetration	Penetrating Attack Penetrating Blow Penetrating Chop
Pious	Give up enchantment(s), usually for a benefit	Pious Assault Pious Renewal Signet of Pious Light	Some skills don't explicitly reward giving up an enchantment, but their relatively low cost or recharge compared to the effect implies that the enchantment is part of the cost. (This places them at odds with Mystic skills that scales with enchantments, since Pious skills must remove your enchantments for maximum effectiveness.)
Plague	Transfers conditions from self to foe(s)	Plague Sending Plague Signet Plague Touch	Contagion is also associated with this group.
Poison	Inflict Poisoned condition	Apply Poison Poisonous Bite Poison Tip Signet	"Poisonous" is a weapon upgrade that lengthens Poison duration on foes by 33%.
Power	Energy for allies	Blood is Power Empowerment "The Power Is Yours!"	Power Attack and Power Shot do not conform to these patterns.
	Interrupts a spell or chant	Power Spike Power Block Power Return
Prison	Snares target	Dark Prison Ice Prison Shadow Prison
Pure	Removal and/or reduced duration of conditions	Purifying Finale Purifying Veil Pure Was Li Ming	Recovery is also associated with this group. Pure Strike does not conform to this pattern.
Purge	Removes all hexes and/or conditions	Purge Conditions Purge Signet	"It's Just a Flesh Wound." is also associated with this group.
Quick	Reduces skill recharge time	Quickening Zephyr Serpent's Quickness Weapon of Quickening	"Of Quickening" is a weapon upgrade that halves skill recharge of spells. Quick Shot does not conform to this pattern. Mantra of Recovery is also associated with this group.
Rage	Bonus adrenaline	Battle Rage Enraged Smash Rage of the Ntouka	Ancestors' Rage, Enraged Lunge, and Signet of Rage do not conform to this pattern. Focused Anger is also associated with this group. Primal Rage had a functionality change.
Rampage	Move and/or attack faster	Heket's Rampage Never Rampage Alone Rampage as One
Refrain	Reapplied whenever a chant or shout ends	Bladeturn Refrain Burning Refrain Hasty Refrain
Reaper's	Benefit at target's expense	Reaper's Mark Reaper's Sweep
Remedy / Antidote	Removes conditions	Antidote Signet Assassin's Remedy Weapon of Remedy
Rend	Removes enchantments	Rend Enchantments Rending Aura Rending Sweep
Renew	Energy gain	Renewing Memories Zealous Renewal Ether Renewal	Nature's Renewal does not conform to these patterns.
	Instant recharge	Renewing Smash Glyph of Renewal Pious Renewal
	Trigger when it ends	Blood Renewal Pious Renewal Renewing Surge
Resilient / Conviction	Regeneration for each condition and hex	Conviction Melandru's Resilience Resilient Was Xiko
Restoration	Conditional health gain	Song of Restoration Ballad of Restoration Aria of Restoration	Restoration and Pious Restoration do not conform to this pattern.
Revealed / Inspired	Becomes the skill it affects	Inspired Enchantment Revealed Hex	The skills named "Revealed" and "Inspired" are duplicate skills.
Reversal	Turns normally harmful effects into benefits	Reversal of Damage Reversal of Death Reversal of Fortune
Riposte / Parry	Blocks the next attack	Auspicious Parry Riposte Deadly Riposte

S - Z

Keyword	Meaning	Examples	Notes
Savage	Interrupts with bonus vs. spells	Savage Shot Savage Slash Savage Pounce
Scavenger	Bonus against foes with conditions	Scavenger's Focus Scavenger Strike
Scourge	Punishment for normally beneficial effects	Recurring Scourge Scourge Healing Scourge Sacrifice
Shadow	Inflicts or requires blindness	Shadowsong Signet of Shadows Weapon of Shadow	Shadow Strike does not conform to this pattern.
	Relates to shadow stepping or self-preservation	Shadow Form Shadow Refuge Shadow Prison
	Prevents Enchantment targeting/casting	Shadow Shroud Shadow Walk
Shatter	Removes a hex or enchantment	Shatter Delusions Shattering Assault Shatter Storm	Shatterstone does not conform to this pattern.
Shield	Blocks the next attack	Burning Shield Shield Bash Shield of Force	Spell Shield does not conform to this pattern.
	Protects against attacks	Shielding Hands Shield of Deflection Shield of Judgment
Silent	Prevents spells, shouts, and chants	Shroud of Silence Vow of Silence Well of Silence	"Silencing" is a weapon upgrade that lengthens Dazed duration on foes by 33%.
Siphon	Benefits the user at a similar expense to the target	Life Siphon Siphon Speed Spirit Siphon	Stolen Speed and Life Transfer are also associated with this group.
Smoke / Dust	Inflicts blindness	Dust Trap Smoke Powder Defense Smoke Trap
Soldier's	Bonus if under a shout or chant	Soldier's Fury Soldier's Speed Soldier's Stance
Soothing	Anti-adrenaline	Soothing Soothing Images	Soothing Memories does not conform to this pattern.
Sorrow	Dead	Dwayna's Sorrow Signet of Sorrow
Song	Triggered by use of skills	Song of Purification Song of Power Song of Restoration
Spider / Asp	Inflicts poison under certain circumstances	Black Spider Strike Falling Spider Entangling Asp
Spirit / Ghost / Soul (Ritualist)	Interacts with spirits	Consume Soul Signet of Ghostly Might Spirit Light Weapon	Spirit Rift and Spirit's Strength does not conform to this pattern.
Splinter	Damage to foes adjacent to target	Splinter Shot Splinter Weapon
Stability	Prevents knockdown	Dwarven Stability Fleeting Stability Ward of Stability
Storm	Area damage over time	Chaos Storm Fire Storm Lightning Storm Mystic Sandstorm Sandstorm Snow Storm	Shard Storm and Shatter Storm do not conform to this pattern.
Sundering	Inflicts Cracked Armor or causes armor penetration	Sundering Attack Sundering Weapon	"Sundering" is a weapon upgrade that grants an additional 20% armor penetration on every hit.
Symbolic	Enhances or is enhanced by signets	Symbolic Celerity Symbolic Posture Symbolic Strike	Symbols of Inspiration originally dealt with signets before its functionality was changed. Symbol of Wrath does not conform to this pattern.
Taste	Steals health from target(s)	Taste of Death Taste of Pain Taste of Undeath
Teinai's	Elementalist cross-attribute synergy	Teinai's Crystals Teinai's Prison Teinai's Heat Teinai's Wind
Tiger	Increases attack speed	Tiger's Fury Tiger Stance
Toxic	Inflicts or requires poison	Signet of Toxic Shock Toxic Chill Toxicity
Trapper's	Synergy with traps	Trapper's Focus Trapper's Speed
Vampire	Steals life	Vampiric Gaze Order of the Vampire Vampirism	"Vampiric" is a weapon upgrade that grants the wielder 1 to 5 Life Draining on every hit. Bloodsong and Nightmare Weapon are also associated with this group.
Vengeful	Steals life	Vengeful Weapon Vengeful Was Khanhei
Veil	Relates to enchantments that reduce incoming negative effects	Holy Veil Purifying Veil Veil of Thorns
Verata's	Interacts with animated minions	Verata's Aura Verata's Gaze Verata's Promise Verata's Sacrifice
Victory	Benefit when you have more health than foe	Victorious Sweep Crippling Victory Thrill of Victory	Spoil Victor subverts this; it penalizes the target for having more health. "Victory Is Mine!" does not conform to this pattern.
Viper	Inflicts poison under certain circumstances	Viper's Defense Viper's Nest
Vital	Increases maximum health	Vital Blessing Vital Boon Vital Weapon
Vocal	Modifies shouts or chants	Vocal Minority Vocal Was Sogolon
Waste	Related to target foe not using skills	Wastrel's Demise Wastrel's Worry Waste Not, Want Not
Watchful	Additional effect when it ends	Watchful Healing Watchful Intervention Watchful Spirit
Way of ...	Modifies Assassin attacks	Way of the Assassin Way of the Empty Palm Way of the Lotus
Weary / Heavy	Inflicts or benefits from weakness	Anthem of Weariness Heavy Blow Ward of Weakness	"Heavy" is a weapon upgrade that lengthens Weakness duration on foes by 33%. Withering Aura has a similar name and also conforms to this pattern. "Find Their Weakness!" does not conform to this pattern.
Wielder's	Synergy with weapon spells	Wielder's Remedy Wielder's Strike Wielder's Zeal
Wild	Unblockable; removes a stance	Wild Blow Wild Smash Wild Strike Wild Throw	Forceful Blow, Irresistible Sweep, and Whirling Axe are also associated with this group.
Wound / Cruel	Inflicts or benefits from deep wound	Cruel Spear Seeping Wound Wounding Strike	"Cruel" is a weapon upgrade that lengthens Deep Wound duration on foes by 33%. "It's Just a Flesh Wound." had a functionality change. Cruel Was Daoshen does not conform to this pattern.
Wrath	Relates to holy damage	Holy Wrath Kirin's Wrath Signet of Mystic Wrath
Zeal	Conditional energy gain	Arcane Zeal Zealous Anthem Zealous Benediction	"Zealous" is a weapon upgrade that generates 1 energy on every hit.
... as One	Buffs you and your pet; No effect unless pet is alive	Heal as One Rampage as One Strike as One

Orphaned relation

Many keywords are commonly suggested:

• These connections are considered coincidental, as their patterns remain inconsistent or not widespread.
• Some keywords have been weakened and/or altered due to subsequent updates. (For example, the previous keyword "vow" indicated a powerful dervish ability that came at the cost of something with a similar ability.)

Keyword	Meaning	Examples	Notes
Angelic	Protects against attacks	Angelic Bond Angelic Protection
Drunken	General humor and/or unpredictability	Drunken Blow Drunken Master Drunken Stumbling	Warning: drinking and adventuring can be hazardous to your health.
Cry of...	Interrupts skills at AoE	Cry of Frustration Cry of Pain	Cry of Lament does not conform to this pattern.
Eye	Increases chance to get critical hits	Critical Eye "Go for the Eyes!"	Wandering Eye does not conform to this pattern.
Irresistible	Deals conditional bonus damage	Irresistible Blow Irresistible Sweep
Lord	Boosts your attributes	Ritual Lord Elemental Lord	Ether Lord does not conform to this pattern.
Palm	Inflicts or requires crippled	Iron Palm Palm Strike	Way of the Empty Palm does not conform to this pattern.
Seek	Conditional effect if blocked	Seeking Arrows Seeking Blade
Swift	Increased activation / fast movement	Swift Chop Swift Javelin	"Swift" and "Of Swiftness" are weapon upgrades that grants a half-activation time.
Vow	Powerful bonus with a sever drawback	Vow of Silence Zealous Vow	Vow of Piety's name didn't originally include Vow. Vow of Strength followed this pattern, but its functionality changed. Currently it is the only skill that deviates after the update. (Originally, it increased the power of attacks but prevented the user from using attack skills.) Zealous Vow's zero energy regeneration drawback was reduced to small amount of energy regeneration. Vow of Silence is currently the only skill that functions true to the original abilities of the Vows.
Word	Additional effect if target meets a certain condition	Word of Censure Word of Healing Words of Comfort

See also

• Category:Glossary
• Category:Abbreviations
• Nomenclature