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 of	Bonus or penalty on subsequent effects	Air of Disenchantment Air of Enchantment	Air of Superiority does not conform to this pattern.
Anguish	Synergy with hexes	Anguish Anguished Was Lingwah	Crippling Anguish does not conform to this pattern.
Animate	Create minions by exploiting a corpse	Animate Bone Fiend Animate Flesh Golem Animate Shambling Horror
Anthem	Triggered by attack skills	Anthem of Disruption Anthem of Envy Crippling Anthem
Aria	Triggered by use of spells	Aria of Restoration Aria of Zeal Hexbreaker Aria
Attunement	Gain a percentage of the Energy cost when using Elementalist skills	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	Effects are dependent on the target having the advantage	Lyssa's Balance Grenth's Balance	Isaiah's Balance does not conform to this pattern.
Banish	Bonus damage vs. summoned creatures	Banish Banishing Strike
Barbed	Inflicts bleeding	Barbed Arrows Barbed Spear Barbed Signet	"Barbed" is a weapon upgrade that lengthens the duration of the Bleeding condition by 33%.
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	AoE	Flame Burst 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
Clumsiness	Interrupts attacks	Clumsiness Signet of Clumsiness
Chorus	Triggered by use of chants or shout	Chorus of Restoration Energizing Chorus
Comfort	Healing	Comfort Animal Lion's Comfort Words of Comfort
Concentration	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
Corruption	Benefit from hexes and/or conditions	Feast of Corruption Signet of Corruption Signet of Deadly Corruption	Mystic Corruption does not conform to this pattern.
Creation	Energy management with summoned creatures	Boon of Creation Signet of Creation
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. Viper's Defense does not conform to this pattern.
Delusions	Removes a Mesmer hex from target foe	Drain Delusions Shatter Delusions
Distracting	Interrupts	Distracting Blow Distracting Shot Distracting Strike Psychic Distraction
Disrupt	Interrupts	Anthem of Disruption Disrupting Lunge Web of Disruption
Dwayna's	Relates to healing	Dwayna's Kiss Dwayna's Sorrow Dwayna's Touch
Echo	Becomes the next skill used	Echo Arcane Echo
Essence	Energy management	Essence Bond Essence Strike Reclaim Essence	Glyph of Essence has a negative effect on energy.
Ether	Related to Energy	Ether Lord Ether Signet Ethereal Burden
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	Unblockable under certain circumstances	Fox Fangs Fox's Promise Way of the Fox	Nine Tail Strike is also associated with this group.
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	Conditional 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	Grasping Was Kuurong causes knockdown rather than a snare.
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	Degeneration hex	Mark of Insecurity Recurring Insecurity
Instability	Knocks down	Psychic Instability Mark of Instability
Judge	Inflicts holy damage	Judge's Insight Judgment Strike Ray of Judgment Shield of Judgment
Lead	Requires earshot allies to function	"Lead the Way!" Leader's Comfort Leader's Zeal
Light	Significant healing	Blessed Light Ethereal Light Spirit Light	Light of Deldrimor, Light of Dwayna, and Spear of Light do not conform to this pattern.
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
Magehunter	unblockable vs enchanted foes	Magehunter's Smash Magehunter Strike
Mantis	Inflicts crippled	Black Mantis Thrust Leaping Mantis Sting Mantis Touch
Mantra	Stances unique to the Mesmer 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.
Mend	Removes conditions	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, and Spotless Mind do not conform to this pattern.
Mystic	Bonus for being enchanted	Mystic Healing Mystic Sandstorm Mystic Sweep	Signet of Mystic Speed does not conform to this pattern.
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
Penetrating	bonus damage and armor penetration	Penetrating Attack Penetrating Blow Penetrating Chop
Pious	removes a Dervish enchantment for a bonus effect	Pious Assault Signet of Pious Light	Pious Renewal is actually an enchantment that perfectly synergizes with the other Pious skills.
Plague	Transfers conditions from self to foe(s)	Plague Sending Plague Signet Plague Touch
Power	Energy for allies	Blood is Power Empowerment "The Power Is Yours!"	Glyph of Elemental Power, Power Attack, and Power Shot do not conform to these patterns.
	Interrupts a spell or chant	Power Spike Power Block Power Return
Prison	Snare hexes	Dark Prison Ice Prison Shadow Prison
Pure	Removal and/or reduced duration of conditions	Reap Impurities Purifying Finale Purifying Veil Pure Was Li Ming	Pure Strike does not conform to this pattern.
Purge	Removes all hexes and/or conditions	Purge Conditions Purge Signet
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 and Quicksand do 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 and "For Great Justice!" are also associated with this group. Primal Rage had a functionality change.
Rampage	increased attack speed	Heket's Rampage Never Rampage Alone Rampage as One
Refrain	Reapplied whenever a chant or shout ends	Bladeturn Refrain Burning Refrain Hasty Refrain Heroic Refrain
Remedy	Remove 1 condition	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	Regeneration while conditioned/hexed	Conviction Melandru's Resilience Resilient Was Xiko Resilient Weapon	Conviction is also associated with this group.
Restore	Conditional health gain	Song of Restoration Ballad of Restoration Aria of Restoration	Restoration, Restore Life, 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.
Reverse	Turns normally harmful effects into benefits	Reversal of Damage Reversal of Fortune Reverse Hex
Riposte	Block the next attack and damage the attacker	Riposte Deadly Riposte

S - Z

Keyword	Meaning	Examples	Notes
Savage	Interrupts with bonus vs. spells	Savage Shot Savage Slash Savage Pounce
Scavenger	gain energy when hitting foes with conditions	Scavenger's Focus Scavenger Strike
Scourge	Punishment hexes	Scourge Healing Scourge Sacrifice
Shadow	Shadow step to target foe	Shadow Fang Shadow Theft	Shadow Form does not conform to this pattern.
Shatter	Removes a hex or enchantment	Shatter Delusions Shattering Assault Shatter Storm	Shatterstone does not conform to this pattern.
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.
Song of	Triggered by use of skills	Song of Purification Song of Power Song of Restoration
Spider	Inflicts poison under certain circumstances	Black Spider Strike Falling Spider
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 Mystic Sandstorm Sandstorm Snow Storm	Shard Storm and Shatter Storm do not conform to these patterns.
	speed boost	Storm Chaser Storm Djinn's Haste Storm's Embrace
Symbolic	Enhances or is enhanced by signets	Symbolic Celerity Symbolic Posture Symbolic Strike	Symbols of Inspiration had a functionality change.
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
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.
Vengeful	Steals life when hit with an attack	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 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 / Asp	Inflicts poison	Viper's Defense Viper's Nest Entangling Asp
Vital	Increases maximum health	Vital Blessing Vital Boon Vital Weapon
Vocal	affects shouts and 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	affects attacks	Way of the Assassin Way of the Empty Palm Way of the Lotus
Weary	Inflicts weakness	Anthem of Weariness Wearying Strike	Withering Aura has a similar name and also conforms to this pattern. Well of Weariness 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.
Wrath	deals 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. Zealot's Fire actually causes you to lose energy.
... as One	Buffs you and your pet; No effect unless pet is alive	"Together as One!" Heal as One Rampage as One Strike as One

Divorced / 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 Madness and 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 severe 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. Vow of Revolution does not have a drawback.
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