Fail

A skill can fail if some of its requirements are not met or if failure is triggered by another skill's effect. When a skill fails, its activation is disrupted, it recharges instantly and the skill cost (i.e. adrenaline, energy, overcast and/or health sacrifice) used on its activation is lost.

The different situations when a skill user does not meet the skill's requirements and will therefore experience skill failure are:

• The user having a low rank in a certain attribute. In this case, the skill usually still has a 50% chance of success.
• The user activating a skill specifically requiring a previous Lead, Off-hand or Dual attack on the target, a Knockdowned or hexed foe or an enchanted user. See also skill chain.
• The target of the skill dying (or casting a spell targeting prevention skill) during the activation. Some AoE skills will still activate successfully because they actually consider the target's location and not the target itself, see the section below.

Like block or miss, a failed attack skill is still considered attack (even if the target suffers no damage) and will still trigger effects from skills such as Empathy.

The Loose Magic environment effect causes failure of all skills.

Unlike interruption and knock down, there are currently no effects which prevent skill failure.

Skills that cause skill failure

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	"Can't Touch This!"	Shout. (20 seconds.) The next 1...4...5 touch-range skill[s] used against allies [sic] within earshot fail[s].	0	055	0	02020		paragona	CommandZ	Nightfall
	"Can't Touch This!" (PvP)	Shout. (20 seconds.) The next 1...4...5 touch-range skill[s] used against you fail[s].	0	055	0	02020		paragona	CommandZ	Nightfall
	Aegis (PvP)	Enchantment Spell. (1...3...3 seconds). Target party member cannot be targeted by hostile spells. Attacks against this party member fail. Cannot self-target.	0	1010	00.250.25¼	03030		monka	Protection PrayersZ	Core
	Guilt	Hex Spell. (6 seconds.) Target foe's next spell fails and you steal 5...12...14 Energy. No effect unless this foe's spell targets one of your allies.	0	055	02.002	02525		mesmera	Domination MagicZ	Prophecies
	Mark of Subversion	Hex Spell. (6 seconds.) Target foe's next spell fails and you steal 10...76...92 Health. No effect unless this foe's spell targeted one of its allies.	0	1010	02.002	03030		necromancera	Blood MagicZ	Prophecies
	Mistrust	Hex Spell. (6 seconds.) The next spell that target foe casts on one of your allies fails and deals 10...82...100 damage to target and nearby foes.	0	1010	02.002	01212		mesmera	Domination MagicZ	Nightfall
	Mistrust (PvP)	Hex Spell. (6 seconds.) The next spell that target foe casts on one of your allies fails and deals 10...62...75 damage to target and nearby foes.	0	1010	02.002	01212		mesmera	Domination MagicZ	Nightfall
	Riot Shield	Stance. (10 seconds.) You have a 100% chance to block attacks. Spells targeting you fail. Ends if you move.	0	055	0	02525		a	Z	Core
	Shadow Form (PvP)	Elite Enchantment Spell. (5...13...15 seconds.) Hostile spells targeting you fail, and attacks against you miss. End effect: lose all but 5...41...50 Health.	0	1010	01.001	06060		assassina	Shadow ArtsZ	Factions
	Shame	Hex Spell. (6 seconds.) Target foe's next spell fails and you steal 5...12...14 Energy. No effect unless this foe's spell targeted one of its allies.	0	1010	02.002	03030		mesmera	Domination MagicZ	Prophecies

Skills that can fail at low attribute rank

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Charm Animal (Codex)	Skill. Your animal companion will travel with you whenever you have Charm Animal equipped. Failure unless Beast Mastery 8 or higher.	0	1010	1010	0		rangera	Beast MasteryZ	Core
	Dark Fury	Enchantment Spell. Enchants party members (5 seconds). These party members gain one strike of adrenaline each time they hit with an attack. 50% failure chance unless Blood Magic 5 or more.	}17%	1010	00.750.75¾	0055		necromancera	Blood MagicZ	Prophecies
	Earth Shaker	Elite Hammer Attack. Knocks down target and adjacent foes. 50% failure chance unless Hammer Mastery is 5 or more.	8	0	0	0		warriora	Hammer MasteryZ	Prophecies
	Gale	Spell. Causes knock-down. 50% failure chance unless Air Magic 5 or more.	10	1010	01.001	0055		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Core
	Lyssa's Haste	Flash Enchantment Spell. (3...13...15 seconds.) Your Dervish enchantments recharge 33% faster. Initial Effect: interrupts all adjacent foes. End Effect: interrupts all adjacent foes. 50% failure chance unless Wind Prayers 5 or higher.	0	1010	0	01515		dervisha	Wind PrayersZ	Nightfall
	Lyssa's Haste (PvP)	Flash Enchantment Spell. (3...13...15 seconds.) Your Dervish enchantments recharge 33% faster. Initial Effect: interrupts all adjacent foes. End Effect: interrupts all adjacent foes. 50% failure chance unless Wind Prayers 5 or higher.	0	1010	0	02525		dervisha	Wind PrayersZ	Nightfall
	Oath Shot	Elite Bow Attack. Recharges all skills except Oath Shot if it hits. Disables all skills if it misses (10...5...4 seconds). 50% miss chance unless Expertise 8 or higher.	0	1010	0	02525		rangera	ExpertiseZ	Prophecies
	Plague Signet	Elite Signet. Transfers all conditions with 100...180...200% of their remaining durations from yourself to target foe. 50% failure chance unless Curses 5 or more.	0	0	01.001	0044		necromancera	CursesZ	Core
	Psychic Instability	Elite Spell. Interrupts an action. Interruption effect: if the action is a skill, cause knockdown for 2...4...4 seconds on target foe and all nearby foes. 50% failure chance unless Fast Casting 5 or higher.	0	055	00.250.25¼	01212		mesmera	Fast CastingZ	Factions
	Psychic Instability (PvP)	Elite Spell. Interrupts an action. Interruption effect: if the action is a skill, causes knockdown for 2...3...3 seconds on target foe and all adjacent foes. 50% failure chance unless Fast Casting 5 or higher.	0	055	00.250.25¼	01212		mesmera	Fast CastingZ	Factions
	Signet of Binding	Signet. You lose 200...80...50 Health. Gain control of target enemy-controlled spirit. 50% failure chance unless Spawning Power 5 or more.	0	0	02.002	01515		ritualista	Spawning PowerZ	Nightfall
	Slippery Ground	Spell. Causes knock-down if this foe is Blind or moving. Affects foes adjacent to your target. 50% failure chance unless Water Magic greater than 4.	0	055	01.001	01010		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Eye of the North
	Slippery Ground (PvP)	Spell. Causes knock-down if this foe is Blind or moving. 50% failure chance unless Water Magic 5 or higher.	0	055	01.001	02020		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Eye of the North
	Unyielding Aura (PvP)	Elite Enchantment Spell. Resurrects target party member (full Health, full Energy). End effect: this ally dies and leaves an exploited corpse. Does not incur a death penalty. 50% failure chance unless Divine Favor 5 or more.	-1	055	03.003	01515		monka	Divine FavorZ	Prophecies
	Verata's Aura	Enchantment Spell. (120...264...300 seconds.) Become master of all hostile undead servants in the area. End effect: your undead servants become masterless. 50% failure chance unless Death Magic 5 or more.	}33%	1515	00.750.75¾	03030		necromancera	Death MagicZ	Prophecies
	Verata's Gaze	Spell. Make target undead servant masterless. If it is already masterless, you become its master. 50% failure chance unless Death Magic 5 or more.	0	055	01.001	0055		necromancera	Death MagicZ	Prophecies
	Well of the Profane	Well Spell. (8...18...20 seconds.) Foes in this well lose all enchantments and cannot be the target of further enchantments. Exploits a fresh corpse. 50% failure chance unless Death Magic 5 or more.	0	2525	03.003	01010		necromancera	Death MagicZ	Core
	Yeti Smash	Hammer Attack. Attack all adjacent foes. Knocks down foes suffering from a condition. You lose all adrenaline. 50% failure chance unless Hammer Mastery is 5 or more.	6	0	0	0		warriora	Hammer MasteryZ	Factions

Skills that do not fail when target foe dies during activation

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Breath of Fire	Spell. Deals 10...34...40 fire damage each second (5 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location.	10	055	02.002	01010		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Factions
	Celestial Storm	Skill. Deals 40 damage of each elemental type each second (15 seconds). Hits all foes in the area of target's initial location.	0	0	01.001	morale boostmorale boost		elementalista	Z	Factions
	Churning Earth	Spell. Deals 10...34...40 earth damage each second (5 seconds). Hits foes near target's initial location. Causes knock-down to foes moving faster than normal.	0	1515	02.002	03030		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Factions
	Deep Freeze	Hex Spell. Also hexes foes in the area of your target (10 seconds). These foes move 66% slower. Initial effect: deals 10...70...85 cold damage.	0	2525	02.002	01515		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Defile Enchantments	Spell. Deals 6...49...60 damage to target and nearby foes. Deals 4...17...20 more damage for each enchantment on them.	0	1010	02.002	01515		necromancera	CursesZ	Factions
	Desecrate Enchantments	Spell. Deals 6...49...60 damage to target and nearby foes. Deals 4...17...20 more damage for each enchantment on them.	0	1010	02.002	01515		necromancera	CursesZ	Prophecies
	Dragon's Stomp	Spell. Deals 26...85...100 earth damage. Causes knock-down. Also hits foes near this foe.	10	2525	03.003	01515		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Factions
	Earthquake	Spell. Deals 26...85...100 earth damage. Also hits foes near target. Causes knock-down.	10	2525	03.003	01515		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Prophecies
	Eruption	Spell. Deals 10...34...40 earth damage each second (5 seconds). Hits foes near target's initial location. Inflicts Blindness condition (10 seconds).	0	2525	02.002	03030		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Prophecies
	Feast of Corruption	Elite Spell. Deals 16...67...80 damage to target and adjacent foes. Steal 8...34...40 Health from each hexed foe.	0	1515	02.002	02020		necromancera	CursesZ	Prophecies
	Fire Storm	Spell. Deals 5...29...35 fire damage each second (10 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location.	0	1010	02.002	02020		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Core
	Fireball	Spell. Projectile: deals 7...91...112 fire damage to target and adjacent foes.	0	1010	01.5001.51½	0077		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Core
	Ice Spikes	Hex Spell. Also hexes foes adjacent to target (2...5...6 seconds). These foes move 66% slower. Initial effect: deals 20...68...80 cold damage.	0	1515	01.5001.51½	01010		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Icicles	Hex Spell. Deals 75 cold damage to target and adjacent foes. These foes move 66% slower (5 seconds).	0	0	02.002	02525		elementalista	Z	Core
	Maelstrom	Spell. Deals 10...22...25 cold damage and interrupts spells each second (10 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location.	10	2525	02.002	03030		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Meteor	Spell. Deals 7...91...112 fire damage and causes knock-down. Also hits foes adjacent to target foe.	10	055	02.002	03030		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Core
	Meteor Shower	Spell. Deals 7...91...112 fire damage and causes knock-down every 3 seconds (9 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location.	10	2525	055	06060		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Prophecies
	Phoenix	Spell. Projectile: deals 10...50...60 fire damage to target and nearby foes. Heals allies for 20...68...80 if you are Overcast.	0	1010	01.5001.51½	0077		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Prophecies
	Plague Sending	Spell. Transfer 1...3...3 condition[s] and [its/their] remaining duration[s] from yourself to target foe and all adjacent foes.	}10%	011	01.001	0055		necromancera	CursesZ	Prophecies
	Ray of Judgment	Elite Spell. Deals 5...37...45 holy damage and inflicts Burning (1...3...3 second[s]) every second (5 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location.	0	1010	02.002	02020		monka	Smiting PrayersZ	Factions
	Rodgort's Invocation	Spell. Deals 15...99...120 fire damage. Also affects foes near your target. Inflicts Burning condition (1...3...3 second[s]).	0	2525	02.002	0088		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Prophecies
	Rust	Hex Spell. Deals 10...58...70 cold damage to target and adjacent foes. Hexes target and adjacent foes (5...17...20 seconds). Doubles signet activation time. Interrupts and disables signets for 1...8...10 second[s] if you are Overcast.	0	1010	01.001	0088		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Sandstorm	Elite Spell. Deals 10...26...30 earth damage each second (10 seconds). Hits foes near target foe's initial location. Hits attacking foes for 10...26...30 more earth damage each second.	0	1515	02.002	02525		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Nightfall
	Savannah Heat	Elite Spell. Deals 5...17...20 fire damage for each second since casting this spell (5 seconds). Hits foes near target's initial location.	0	055	02.002	02525		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Nightfall
	Searing Flames	Elite Spell. Hits foes near your target. Deals 10...82...100 fire damage to foes already Burning. Inflicts Burning condition (1...6...7 seconds) to foes not Burning.	0	1515	01.001	0022		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Nightfall
	Searing Heat	Spell. Deals 10...34...40 fire damage each second (5 seconds). Hits foes near target's initial location. End effect: inflicts Burning condition (3 seconds).	0	1515	02.002	02525		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Prophecies
	Shadow of Fear	Hex Spell. Also hexes foes adjacent to target (5...25...30 seconds). They attack 50% slower.	0	1010	02.002	0055		necromancera	CursesZ	Prophecies
	Snow Storm	Spell. Deals 30...40 cold damage each second (5 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target foe's initial location.	0	1010	01.001	01010		a	Deldrimor rankZ	Eye of the North
	Spirit Rift	Spell. After 3 seconds, affects foes adjacent to target's initial location. Deals 25...105...125 lightning damage and inflicts Cracked Armor (1...16...20 second[s]).	0	1010	02.002	0055		ritualista	Channeling MagicZ	Factions
	Unsteady Ground	Elite Spell. Deals 10...34...40 earth damage each second (5 seconds) and causes knock-down to attacking foes. Hits foes near target's initial location.	0	1010	02.002	01515		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Factions

Skills that trigger an effect on failed attacks

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Determined Shot	Bow Attack. Deals +5...17...20 damage. Recharges your attack skills if it fails to hit.	0	055	0	01010		rangera	MarksmanshipZ	Core
	Fox's Promise	Elite Enchantment Spell. (5...17...20 seconds.) Your dagger attacks are unblockable. Ends the next time you fail to hit.	0	1010	01.001	02020		assassina	Dagger MasteryZ	Nightfall
	Marksman's Wager	Elite Preparation. (18 seconds.) Gain 5...9...10 Energy whenever your arrows hit. Lose 10 Energy whenever your arrows fail to hit.	0	055	02.002	02424		rangera	ExpertiseZ	Prophecies
	Oath Shot	Elite Bow Attack. Recharges all skills except Oath Shot if it hits. Disables all skills if it misses (10...5...4 seconds). 50% miss chance unless Expertise 8 or higher.	0	1010	0	02525		rangera	ExpertiseZ	Prophecies
	Price of Failure	Hex Spell. (30 seconds.) 25% chance to miss. Target foe takes 1...37...46 damage whenever it fails to hit.	0	1515	02.002	02020		necromancera	CursesZ	Prophecies
	Repeating Strike	Off-Hand Attack. Deals +10...26...30 damage. This skill has +15 second recharge time if it misses. Must follow an off-hand attack.	0	055	0	0		assassina	Dagger MasteryZ	Factions
	Seeking Arrows	Preparation. (3...12...14 seconds.) Your arrows are unblockable. Ends if you fail to hit.	0	1515	02.002	02020		rangera	MarksmanshipZ	Factions
	Spear of Redemption	Spear Attack. Deals +5...17...20 damage. If it fails to hit, you lose one condition.	3	0	0	0		paragona	Spear MasteryZ	Eye of the North
	Spirit of Failure	Hex Spell. (30 seconds.) Target foe has 25% chance to miss. You gain 1...3...3 Energy whenever this foe misses.	0	1515	03.003	02020		mesmera	Inspiration MagicZ	Prophecies
	Tiger Stance	Stance. (4...9...10 seconds.) You attack 33% faster. Ends if you fail to hit.	0	055	0	02020		warriora	StrengthZ	Factions

Notes

• Despite Hex Breaker's description stating that the next hex against the user will fail, the hex is actually cast successfully (it is however not applied).

See also

• Cancel
• Disable
• Shutdown