Stance
From Guild Wars Wiki
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.
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[edit] Characteristics
Typical effects for stances include:
- Blocking attacks
- Providing speed boosts
- Increasing attack rate
- Increasing armor (often conditionally to a certain damage type)
- Shadow stepping at the end of the stance's duration
- Improving skill recharge rate
[edit] 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, Shadow Walk and Shadow of Haste. Preferred stance cancels include short recharge stances such as Dash and Rush.
When cancelling a stance, the previous stance is considered to end before the new stance takes effect.
[edit] Related skills
[edit] Skills countering stances
Mark of Insecurity: 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".
Wild Strike: ends a stance, and cannot be blocked. - Off hand attack
Wild Throw: ends a stance, and cannot be blocked. - Costs 7 adrenaline
Wild Blow: ends a stance, and cannot be blocked. Always results in a critical hit. - You lose all adrenaline
Whirling Axe: ends a stance, and cannot be blocked. - Axe attack, costs 4 adrenaline
Wild Smash (monster skill): ends a stance, and cannot be blocked.
[edit] Skills causing stance recharge
Renewing Smash: instantly recharges all your Warrior Stances if it hits.
"On Your Knees!" instantly recharges all of your stances if you are adjacent to a knocked down foe.
[edit] Skills increasing stance duration
Dwarven Stability: your stances last 55...100% longer.
[edit] List of stances
| Icon | Name | Description | | | | | Prof. | Attribute | Campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auspicious Parry | Elite Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) Blocks one attack. Block effect: you gain 1...3...4 strikes of adrenaline. | 1 | 2 | | Tactics | Factions | |||
| Balanced Stance | Stance. (8...18...20 seconds.) You cannot be knocked-down and do not take extra damage from critical hits. | 5 | 30 | | | Tactics | Core | ||
| Battle Rage | Elite Stance. (5...17...20 seconds.) You move 33% faster and gain double adrenaline from your attacks. Ends if you use any non-adrenal skills. | 4 | | Strength | Core | ||||
| Berserker Stance | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 33% faster and gain 50% more adrenaline. Ends if you use a skill. | 5 | 20 | | Strength | Core | |||
| Bestial Fury | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 25% faster. Your non-attack skills are disabled (5 seconds). | 10 | 10 | | Beast Mastery | Factions | |||
| Bonetti's Defense | Stance. ( 5...10...11 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block. Gain 5 Energy for each melee attack blocked. Ends if you use a skill. | 8 | | | Tactics | Prophecies | |||
| Bull's Charge | Elite Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You move 33% faster. Causes knock-down if you hit a moving foe in melee. Ends if you use a skill. | 5 | 20 | | Strength | Prophecies | |||
| Burst of Aggression | Stance. (2...8...10 seconds.) You attack 33% faster. End effect: lose all adrenaline. | 5 | 12 | | Strength | Nightfall | |||
| Charging Strike | Elite Stance. (1...8...10 seconds.) You move 33% faster and deal +10...34...40 damage with your next melee hit. Ends when you hit or if you use a skill. | 5 | 5 | | Strength | Nightfall | |||
| Conviction | Stance. (10...30...35 seconds.) Gain +24 armor. You also have +50% block chance if you are enchanted. | 5 | 20 | | Earth Prayers | Nightfall | |||
| Conviction (PvP) | Stance. (10...30...35 seconds.) You gain +24 armor if enchanted. You have +1...3...4 Health regeneration if you are not enchanted. | 5 | 20 | | Earth Prayers | Nightfall | |||
| Dark Escape | Stance. (5...13...15 seconds.) You move 25% faster and take half damage. Ends if you hit with an attack. | 5 | 30 | | Shadow Arts | Factions | |||
| Dash | Stance. (3 seconds.) You move 50% faster. | 5 | 8 | | | Factions | |||
| Deadly Paradox | Stance. (5...13...15 seconds.) Your Assassin skills activate and recharge 33% faster. Disables your attack skills (10 seconds). | 15 | 10 | | Deadly Arts | Nightfall | |||
| Defensive Stance | Stance. (1...4...5 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block and +10 armor. Ends if you use a skill. | 5 | 15 | | | Tactics | Core | ||
| Deflect Arrows | Stance. (1...7...8 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block projectile attacks. Ends if you hit with an attack. | 5 | 10 | | Tactics | Prophecies | |||
| Disciplined Stance | Stance. (1...3...4 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block and +10 armor. Ends if you use an adrenal skill. | 5 | 15 | | Tactics | Prophecies | |||
| Distortion | Stance. (1...4...5 second(s).) You have 75% chance to block. Block cost: you lose 2 Energy or Distortion ends. | 5 | 8 | | | Illusion Magic | Prophecies | ||
| Dodge | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You move 33% faster and have 27...65...75% chance to block projectile attacks. Ends if you attack. | 5 | 30 | | | Expertise | Prophecies | ||
| Drunken Master | Stance. (72...90 seconds.) You move and attack 10...15% faster if you are not drunk. You move and attack 25...33% faster if you are drunk. | 5 | 60 | | Deldrimor rank | Eye of the North | |||
| Dryder's Defenses | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block and +34...55...60 armor against elemental damage. | 5 | 60 | | Wilderness Survival | Prophecies | |||
| Dwarven Battle Stance | Elite Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 33% faster. Interrupts actions if you attack with a hammer. Ends if you use a skill. | 10 | 20 | | Strength | Prophecies | |||
| Elemental Resistance | Stance. (30...78...90 seconds.) You have +40 armor against elemental damage. You have -24...14...12 armor against physical damage. | 10 | 20 | | | Inspiration Magic | Prophecies | ||
| Enchanted Haste | Stance. (5...17...20). You move 25% faster if you are enchanted. | 5 | 15 | | Wind Prayers | Nightfall | |||
| Enraging Charge | Stance. (5...13...15 seconds.) You move 25% faster. Gain +0...3...4 adrenaline on your next attack. Ends when you hit. | 5 | 20 | | Strength | Nightfall | |||
| Escape | Elite Stance. (1...7...8 seconds.) You move 33% faster and have a 75% chance to block. | 5 | 12 | | Expertise | Core | |||
| Escape (PvP) | Elite Stance. (1...7...8 seconds.) You move 33% faster and have a 75% chance to block. Ends if you make a melee attack. | 5 | 12 | | Expertise | Core | |||
| Expert's Dexterity | Elite Stance. (1...16...20 seconds.) You attack 33% faster and you gain +2 to your Marksmanship attribute. | 5 | 20 | | Expertise | Nightfall | |||
| Expert's Dexterity (PvP) | Elite Stance. (1...16...20 seconds.) You attack 15% faster and you gain +1 to your Marksmanship attribute. | 5 | 20 | | Expertise | Nightfall | |||
| Flail | Stance. (1...12...15 seconds.) You attack 33% faster. You move 33% slower. | 4 | | Strength | Nightfall | ||||
| Flashing Blades | Elite Stance. (5...25...30 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block while attacking. Block effect: 5...17...20 damage to your attacker. | 10 | 30 | | Dagger Mastery | Factions | |||
| Flurry | Stance. (5 seconds). You attack 33% faster. You do 25% less damage. | 5 | 5 | | | Prophecies | |||
| Frenzied Defense | Stance. (8 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block. You take double damage. | 5 | 10 | | Nightfall | ||||
| Frenzy | Stance. (8 seconds.) You attack 33% faster. You take double damage. | 5 | 4 | | | Core | |||
| Gladiator's Defense | Elite Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block. Your attacker takes 5...29...35 damage whenever you block a melee attack this way. | 5 | 30 | | Tactics | Prophecies | |||
| Harrier's Haste | Stance. (5...13...15 seconds.) You move 25% faster and deal +5...13...15 damage to moving foes. | 5 | 20 | | Wind Prayers | Nightfall | |||
| Heket's Rampage | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds). You attack 33% faster. Ends if you use an attack skill. | 5 | 10 | | Beast Mastery | Nightfall | |||
| Hex Breaker | Stance. (5...65...80 seconds.) The next hex against you fails and the caster takes 10...39...46 damage. | 5 | 15 | | | Domination Magic | Core | ||
| Junundu Tunnel | Stance. (10 seconds.) You move 66% faster. End effect: knocks-down adjacent foes (3 seconds). Ends if you use a skill. | 5 | 30 | | Nightfall | ||||
| Lightning Reflexes | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 33% faster and have 75% chance to block. | 10 | 30 | | | Expertise | Core | ||
| Mantra of Concentration | Stance. (1...31...38 seconds.) The next time you would be interrupted, you are not interrupted. | 5 | 30 | | Inspiration Magic | Prophecies | |||
| Mantra of Earth | Stance. (30...78...90 seconds.) Reduces earth damage you take by 26...45...50%. You gain 2 Energy when you take earth damage. | 10 | 20 | | | Inspiration Magic | Core | ||
| Mantra of Flame | Stance. (30...78...90 seconds.) Reduces fire damage you take by 26...45...50%. You gain 2 Energy when you take fire damage. | 10 | 20 | | | Inspiration Magic | Core | ||
| Mantra of Frost | Stance. (30...78...90 seconds.) Reduces cold damage you take by 26...45...50%. You gain 2 Energy when you take cold damage. | 10 | 20 | | | Inspiration Magic | Core | ||
| Mantra of Inscriptions | Stance. (30...78...90 seconds.) Signets you successfully activate while in this stance recharge 25...45...50% faster. | 10 | 20 | | Inspiration Magic | Core | |||
| Mantra of Inscriptions (PvP) | Stance. (30...78...90 seconds.) Signets you successfully activate while in this stance recharge 5...29...35% faster. | 10 | 20 | | Inspiration Magic | Core | |||
| Mantra of Lightning | Stance. (30...78...90 seconds.) Reduces lightning damage you take by 26...45...50%. You gain 2 Energy when you take lightning damage. | 10 | 20 | | | Inspiration Magic | Core | ||
| Mantra of Persistence | Stance. (30 seconds.) Illusion hexes you cast last 20...44...50% longer. | 15 | 15 | | | Inspiration Magic | Core | ||
| Mantra of Recovery | Elite Stance. (5...17...20 seconds.) Your spells recharge 33% faster. | 5 | 20 | | Fast Casting | Core | |||
| Mantra of Resolve | Stance. (30...78...90 seconds.) Prevents interrupts against you. Prevention cost: lose 10...5...4 Energy or Mantra of Resolve ends. | 10 | 20 | | Inspiration Magic | Core | |||
| Mantra of Resolve (PvP) | Stance. (5 seconds.) Prevents interrupts against you. Prevention cost: lose 10...5...4 Energy or Mantra of Resolve ends. | 10 | 20 | | Inspiration Magic | Core | |||
| Mantra of Signets | Stance. (10...22...25). Your next signet recharges instantly. | 15 | 30 | | Inspiration Magic | Prophecies | |||
| Melandru's Resilience | Elite Stance. (8...18...20 seconds.) You have +4 Health regeneration and +1 Energy regeneration for each condition and hex on you. | 5 | 15 | | Wilderness Survival | Prophecies | |||
| Natural Stride | Stance. (1...7...8 seconds.) You move 33% faster and have 50% chance to block. Ends if you become hexed or enchanted. | 5 | 12 | | Wilderness Survival | Nightfall | |||
| Physical Resistance | Stance. (30...78...90 seconds.) You have +40 armor against physical damage. You have -24...14...12 armor against elemental damage. | 10 | 20 | | Inspiration Magic | Prophecies | |||
| Pious Concentration | Stance. (5...17...20 seconds.) Prevents interrupts. Prevention cost: you lose one enchantment or Pious Concentration ends. | 5 | 5 | | Earth Prayers | Nightfall | |||
| Pious Fury | Stance. Remove one of your enchantments. You attack 33% faster (2...5...6 seconds). | 5 | 10 | | Mysticism | Eye of the North | |||
| Pious Haste | Stance. (3...10...12 seconds.) You move 33% faster. End effect: you lose one enchantment. | 5 | 5 | | Mysticism | Nightfall | |||
| Practiced Stance | Elite Stance. (20...32...35 seconds.) Your preparations recharge 50% faster and last 30...126...150% longer. | 5 | 15 | | Expertise | Prophecies | |||
| Primal Rage | Elite Stance. (1...12...15 seconds.) You attack 33% faster and move 25% faster. You take double damage. | 5 | 15 | | Strength | Factions | |||
| Raven Flight | Stance. (5...15 seconds.) You cannot be knocked-down. | 15 | | Norn rank | Eye of the North | ||||
| Run as One | Stance. (5...13...15 seconds.) You and your pet move 25% faster. | 5 | 15 | | Beast Mastery | Factions | |||
| Rush | Stance. (8...18...20 seconds.) You move 25% faster. | 4 | | Strength | Prophecies | ||||
| Serpent's Quickness | Stance. (15...27...30 seconds.) Your skills recharge 33% faster. Ends if your Health drops below 50%. | 5 | 45 | | | Wilderness Survival | Prophecies | ||
| Shadow Walk | Stance. (30 seconds.) Shadow Step to target foe. End effect: return to your original location. Disables your attack skills for 1 second. You cannot cast enchantments. | 5 | 30 | | Nightfall | ||||
| Shadow of Haste | Stance. (10...34...40 seconds.) You move 15% faster. End effect: return to your original location. | 5 | 45 | | Shadow Arts | Factions | |||
| Shield Stance | Stance. (1...5...6 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block. No effect unless you have a shield equipped. You move 33% slower. | 5 | 15 | | | Tactics | Prophecies | ||
| Smoke Powder Defense | Stance. (8 seconds.) The next time you are struck, you take half damage and inflict Blindness condition (2...5...6 seconds) on adjacent foes. | 5 | 20 | | Shadow Arts | Eye of the North | |||
| Soldier's Defense | Stance. (1...5...6 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block while under the effects of a shout or chant. | 5 | 10 | | Tactics | Nightfall | |||
| Soldier's Speed | Stance. (5...17...20 seconds.) You move 25% faster while affected by a chant or shout. | 5 | 20 | | Tactics | Eye of the North | |||
| Soldier's Stance | Elite Stance. (4...9...10 seconds.) You attack 33% faster while under the effects of a shout or chant. | 5 | 8 | | Tactics | Nightfall | |||
| Sprint | Stance. (8...13...14 seconds.) You move 25% faster. | 5 | 15 | | | Strength | Core | ||
| Steady Stance | Elite Stance. (10 seconds.) The next time you would be knocked-down, you gain 1...3...3 adrenaline and 1...6...7 Energy instead. | 5 | 6 | | Tactics | Nightfall | |||
| Storm's Embrace | Stance. (10 seconds.) You move 25% faster. Renewal: whenever you take elemental damage. | 5 | 30 | | Nightfall | ||||
| Storm Chaser | Stance. (8...18...20 seconds.) You move 25% faster and gain 1...4...5 Energy whenever you take elemental damage. | 10 | 20 | | | Wilderness Survival | Core | ||
| Sugar Rush | Stance. (10 seconds.) You move 50% faster. | 5 | 15 | | Core | ||||
| Sugar Rush (stance) | Stance. (10 seconds.) You move 50% faster. | 5 | 15 | | Core | ||||
| Symbolic Posture | Stance. (5...17...20 seconds.) Your next signet recharges 20...68...80% faster. | 10 | 20 | | Fast Casting | Nightfall | |||
| Tiger's Fury | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You attack 25% faster. Disables your non-attack skills (5 seconds). | 10 | 10 | | | Beast Mastery | Prophecies | ||
| Tiger Stance | Stance. (4...9...10 seconds.) You attack 33% faster. Ends if you fail to hit. | 5 | 20 | | Strength | Factions | |||
| Trapper's Speed | Stance. (5...25...30 seconds.) Your traps recharge 25% faster and activate 25% faster. Ends if you hit with an attack. | 5 | 20 | | Expertise | Nightfall | |||
| Unseen Fury | Stance. Inflicts Blindness condition on adjacent foes (3...9...10). You cannot be blocked by Blinded foes for 10...26...30 seconds.) | 5 | 20 | | Shadow Arts | Factions | |||
| Unseen Fury (PvP) | Stance. (15...51...60 seconds.) You cannot be blocked by Blinded foes | 5 | 45 | | Shadow Arts | Factions | |||
| Volfen Pounce | Stance. (10...20 seconds.) You move 15...33% faster and deal 60...100 damage to adjacent targets. Ends when you deal damage. | ¾ | 15 | | Norn rank | Eye of the North | |||
| Vow of Piety | Stance. (20 seconds) +24 armor and +1...3...4 Health regeneration. Renewal: Whenever an enchantment on you ends. | 15 | 45 | | Wind Prayers | Nightfall | |||
| Warrior's Endurance (PvP) | Elite Stance. (5...29...35 seconds.) You gain 3 Energy each time you hit with a melee attack. No Energy gain if you have more than 10...22...25 Energy. | 5 | 30 | | Strength | Prophecies | |||
| Wary Stance | Stance. (1...5...6 seconds). You block attack skills. Gain adrenaline and 5 Energy for each block. Ends if you use a skill. | 10 | 10 | | Tactics | Prophecies | |||
| Way of the Assassin | Elite Stance. (20 seconds.) While wielding daggers, you attack 5...17...20% faster and have +5...29...35% chance to land a critical hit. | 5 | 12 | | Critical Strikes | Nightfall | |||
| Whirling Charge | Stance. (3...13...15 seconds.) You move and attack 25% faster. Ends if you are not enchanted. | 10 | 20 | | | Wind Prayers | Nightfall | ||
| Whirling Defense | Stance. (8...18...20 seconds.) You have 75% chance to block. Deals 5...10...11 damage to adjacent foes whenever you block a projectile attack. | 10 | 60 | | | Expertise | Core | ||
| Zojun's Haste | Stance. (5...10...11 seconds.) You move 33% faster and have 27...65...75% chance to block projectiles. Ends if you attack. | 5 | 30 | | Expertise | Factions |
[edit] List of form-specific stances
| Icon | Name | Description | | | | | Prof. | Attribute | Campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distortion | Stance. (1...4...5 second(s).) You have 75% chance to block. Block cost: you lose 2 Energy or Distortion ends. | 5 | 5 | | Illusion Magic | Bonus Mission Pack | |||
| Flee | Stance. (10 seconds.) You move 33% faster. | 30 | | Bonus Mission Pack | |||||
| HYAHHHHH! | Stance. (10 seconds.) You move 11% faster. Use this skill up to 3 times to gain an additional 11% faster movement each time. Ends if you use another skill or stop moving. | 5 | 1 | | Eye of the North | ||||
| Raven Flight | Stance. (13 seconds.) You cannot be knocked-down. | 15 | | Eye of the North | |||||
| Ursan Force | (13 seconds.) You move 30% faster and can break wooden barricades. | 12 | | Eye of the North | |||||
| Volfen Agility | Stance. (18 seconds.) Your Volfen skills recharge 66% faster. | ¼ | 30 | | Eye of the North |
[edit] List of monster skill stances
| Icon | Name | Description | | | | | Campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Scars | Stance. (7 seconds.) Shiro's attacks gain life stealing equal to the highest damage he takes while in this stance. | 11 | Factions | ||||
| Charging Spirit | Stance. (5 seconds.) You move 25% faster. Your next attack deals +50 damage and causes knock-down to all adjacent foes. Ends when you hit with an attack. | 20 | Eye of the North | ||||
| Corrupted Strength | Stance. (10 seconds.) All corrupted plants in the area are invulnerable to physical and elemental damage. | 3 | Nightfall | ||||
| Fingers of Chaos | Stance. (monster only) (5 seconds.) Your attacks cannot miss Rangers, remove enchantments from Monks, cause conditions on Warriors, interrupt Elementalists, and remove a hex when attacking Necromancers. | 5 | 15 | Core | |||
| Golem Boosters | Stance. (8 seconds.) You move 100% faster. Your next attack causes knock-down and this skill ends. | 5 | 30 | Eye of the North | |||
| Infernal Rage | Stance. (45 seconds.) Your melee attacks hit nearby foes. You gain +1,000 maximum Health and attack 33% faster. | 10 | 45 | Eye of the North | |||
| Jagged Crystal Skin | Stance. (monster only) (10 seconds.) 100 damage to foes near you whenever you take physical damage. | 5 | 10 | Prophecies | |||
| Junundu Tunnel | Stance. (30 seconds.) You move 33% faster. End effect: knocks-down adjacent foes (2 seconds). Ends if you use a skill. | 5 | Nightfall | ||||
| N.O.X. Field Dash | Stance. (10 seconds.) Move faster, knock aside foes, and deal 50 damage to them. | 2 | 15 | Core | |||
| Queen Armor | Stance. You gain +20 armor. Whenever you take damage, nearby foes are Blinded. | 5 | Nightfall | ||||
| Renewing Corruption | Stance. (20 seconds.) If Kuunavang is in casting range when this creature dies, Kuunavang is healed for 500 Health. | 5 | Factions | ||||
| Riposting Shadows | Stance. (20 seconds.) Shiro Shadow Steps to the next foe who attacks target and attempts a return attack. If this attack hits, Riposting Shadows is renewed. | 5 | 10 | Factions | |||
| Spirit Senses | Stance. (15 seconds.) You cannot be Blinded or Weakened; attacks are unblockable and steal 75 Health. | 75 | Eye of the North | ||||
| Turtle Shell | Stance. Reduces damage from non-critical hits. | Factions |















































































































