Swordsmanship

From Guild Wars Wiki

Swordsmanship is a warrior secondary attribute.

“

Swordsmanship increases the damage you do with Swords and your chance to inflict a critical hit when using a sword. Many skills, especially sword attack skills become more effective with higher Swordsmanship.

— In-game description

[edit] Inherent effect

Each point in swordmanship increases the damage you deal with sword and the chance to score a critical hit while using a sword. Swordmanship will also increase the damage of certain skills, and is also required for some items and skills to take effect.

[edit] Notes

• As with any melee class, the ability to apply Deep Wound is paramount; Sever Artery followed by Gash is a widely-used "chain" to cause Bleeding and Deep Wound on a target. While a target is low on Health (below 50% HP), Final Thrust is a great finisher; it is one of the most powerful Spike skills in the game.

• Elite Swordsmanship skills are few; only four exist in the game, and these have traditionally been outclassed by Unlinked or other attribute elites. They do, however, find use in specific builds.

• Hundred Blades is commonly used for farming and general PvE; it combines particularly well with Whirlwind Attack against large mobs.
• Crippling Slash is a solid, cheap snare that can also replace Sever Artery.
• Dragon Slash deals significant bonus damage and, together with "For Great Justice!", can be used to fuel adrenaline skills.
• Quivering Blade offers substantial damage at a low adrenaline cost, with a chance of dazing enemies.

[edit] Swordsmanship skills

Icon	Name	Description						Campaign
	Barbarous Slice	Sword Attack. Deals +5...25...30 damage. Inflicts Bleeding condition (5...13...15 seconds) if you are not in a stance.	6	0	0	0		Nightfall
	Crippling Slash	Elite Sword Attack. Inflicts Crippled condition (5...13...15 seconds) and Bleeding condition (10...22...25 seconds).	6	0	0	0		Nightfall
	Dragon Slash	Elite Sword Attack. Deals +10...34...40 damage. You gain 1...4...5 strikes of adrenaline if it hits.	10	0	0	0		Factions
	Final Thrust	Sword Attack. Deals +1...32...40 damage. Deals +1...32...40 more damage if target foe is below 50% Health. Lose all adrenaline.	10	0	0	0		Core
	Galrath Slash	Sword Attack. Deals +1...32...40 damage.	8	0	0	0		Prophecies
	Gash	Sword Attack. Deals +5...17...20 damage and inflicts Deep Wound condition (5...17...20 seconds) if your target is Bleeding.	6	0	0	0		Core
	Hamstring	Sword Attack. Inflicts Crippled condition (3...13...15 seconds).	0	10	0	15		Core
	Hundred Blades	Elite Skill. (15 seconds.) Deals 10...22...25 slashing damage to all adjacent foes whenever you attack with a sword.	0	5	0	25		Core
	Jaizhenju Strike	Sword Attack. Deals +1...24...30 damage. Unblockable unless you are in a stance.	0	5	0	8		Factions
	Knee Cutter	Sword Attack. You gain 2...6...7 Energy and 1...3...3 Adrenaline if target foe is Crippled.	5	0	0	1		Eye of the North
	Pure Strike	Sword Attack. Deals +1...24...30 damage. Unblockable unless you are in a stance.	0	5	0	8		Prophecies
	Quivering Blade	Elite Sword Attack. Deals +10...34...40 damage. Inflicts Dazed condition (5 seconds) if target foe was moving.	5	0	0	0		Factions
	Savage Slash	Sword Attack. Interrupts an action. Interruption effect: deals +1...32...40 damage if action was a spell.	0	5	0.5 ½	15		Core
	Seeking Blade	Sword Attack. Deals +1...16...20 damage. Deals 1...16...20 damage and inflicts Bleeding condition (25 seconds) if blocked.	0	5	0	4		Core
	Sever Artery	Sword Attack. Inflicts Bleeding condition (5...21...25 seconds).	4	0	0	0		Core
	Silverwing Slash	Sword Attack. Deals +1...32...40 damage.	8	0	0	0		Factions
	Standing Slash	Sword Attack. Deals +5...17...20 damage. Deals 5...17...20 more damage if you are in a stance.	6	0	0	0		Factions
	Steelfang Slash	Sword Attack. Deals +1...25...31 damage. You gain 1...4...5 adrenaline if target foe is knocked down.	8	0	0	1		Nightfall
	Sun and Moon Slash	Sword Attack. You attack target foe twice. Unblockable.	8	0	0	0		Factions