Talk:Backfire

Hero AI

Heroes only use Backfire on foes wielding a caster weapon; meaning that a mesmer Hero will never cast it on for example Storm Riders, Risen Ashen Hulks or Imps. --The preceding unsigned comment was added by 85.228.24.213 (talk) at 17:46, 2008 June 18 (UTC).

Speaking of hero behaviour, a mesmer hero equipped with this skill and an interrupt will think nothing of casting backfire on an enemy, then preventing that enemy from casting any spells. --Mme. Donelle 22:44, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Nice!

This is a very good skill. This, along with Empathy, is one of the only two skills needed to totally shut down a player for 10 seconds.--Sum Mesmer Guy 17:05, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Indeed. If anyone new to mesmer has problems with playing one, put Empathy/Backfire in. You are probably not the best but the best with only two skills. Noctarch 02:48, 21 June 2008 (UTC)

Two words: Hex Removal. Diversion and Shame carry much more catastrophic effects. Shinomori 02:42, 15 October 2008 (UTC)

You're forgetting Guilt (: -- euphoracle | talk 02:56, 22 October 2008 (UTC)

Bug

Will not activate on lethal damage but abort the spell instead. -- Nox Coma 15:46, 9 March 2009 (UTC)

That's complete bull. I've been killed millions of times by this spell alone.. 92.239.41.229 13:48, 2 August 2009 (UTC)

WHAT THE HELL

The ARMOUR IGNORING damage done by this spell is way out of line.And for 10 seconds on top too.Doesn't take a brain surgeon to see this. Even the elite spell Visions of Regret Doesn't kick that much damage.Get Freaking real! --The preceding unsigned comment was added by 64.251.92.74 (talk).

GET FREAKING HEX REMOVAL.as you would put it.--Neil2250 17:33, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

You missed the point show one spell including elites from any class that will produce that much damage in that time frame that doesn't come with conditions. --The preceding unsigned comment was added by 64.251.92.74 (talk).

You missed my point too.GET A FREAKING HEX REMOVAL.--Neil2250 18:24, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

The fact still remains its overpowered.Besides how many hex removal skills are there that work before the damage is done.....NOT ONE. --The preceding unsigned comment was added by 64.251.92.74 (talk).

holy veil. -- euphoracle | talk 21:32, 12 June 2010 (UTC)

Ownt. PS: Sign comments with 4 tildes ( ~ )<- these DemonicFahrir 13:04, 21 June 2010 (UTC)

Holy veil is useless(Indifferent Omnivore 10:10, 14 September 2010 (UTC))

Doesn't stop Hex Eater Signet either lol. --File:User Chieftain Alex Chieftain Signature.pngChieftain Alex 10:19, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

please be joking :< -Auron 10:27, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

Sounds like someone raging for beeing made useless by ONE skill ~.~ Demonic Fahrir talk

"Besides how many hex removal skills are there that work before the damage is done.....NOT ONE." Correct .. not one but many. You could try Avatar of Dwayna, Contemplation of Purity, Purge Signet, Holy Veil, Signet of Removal... You seem to overlook that Backfire only triggers on spells, not on rituals, skills, signets, shouts, etc. --Manassas 13:43, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

are you really suggesting someone use avatar of dwayna to counter backfire? -Auron 15:18, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

No, I was only reacting to the allegation that there aren't any skills that remove Backfire without triggering it. --Manassas 09:48, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

It's not like you can't Interrupt a skill that takes over 1 second to cast even with 20 Fast Casting. Random Weird Guy 12:43, 14 July 2011 (UTC)

This, even with my 500ms ping I can interrupt Backfire. Well, I could, if I hadn't spammed CoF trying to interrupt Wastrel's Demise. >.< -- Hong 13:36, 14 July 2011 (UTC)

Backfire backfires

4 Xinrae's, ~200 dmg back to hexer. Now I wanna see 3 Xinrae healers in CM kill a mes with this 98.196.144.194 04:52, 17 November 2011 (UTC)

Backfire AI

(following the discussion in GWW:RFR)
I tested it with assassin and also with monk attacked by Storm Riders in Pockmark Flats (quite easy in NM). Backfire is their only attacking spell, so they should cast it whenever possible. When wielding any combination of martial weapon (sword, axe, shield, bow) or a single focus item, Backfire was never cast on me, even with 8 spells on skillbar and active use of healing. After switching to staff or wand, or wand + shield, the riders immediately cast Backfire. I can conclude that the common AI rule to use Backfire only against the foes with caster weapons is true, while Countess Nadya is an exception. Some tests with other uncommon NPCs or bosses may be useful. --109.252.109.9 10:45, 4 November 2018 (UTC)

We cannot deduce Nadya is the sole exception based on a test in the original Guild Wars game. Testing should also occur in Factions, Nightfall, Eye of the North, Bonus Mission Pack (if applicable), Beyond (Prophecies), Beyond (Eye of the North), and Beyond (Factions). Nadya only vouches for Vanguard Update (pre-Searing). - Infinite - talk 22:58, 4 November 2018 (UTC)

While I agree that additional tests will be definitely helpful, I don't know even a single case when AI works differently in different campaigns. So, asking to test it in all existing campaigns may be a bit excessive and not easily achievable. My assumption is that the common AI rules, which in most cases apply to all existing NPCs in all campaigns, may be in some cases overriden by particular AI of a special NPC (or a group of NPCs). If a particular skill works differently in different campaigns, usually they are the different skills with similar name and description, like Togo and NPCs skills in The Tengu Accords. For developers, changing the parameters and AI rules for such "offshoot" is much easier. Anyway I will try to test Backfire more when possible. --109.252.109.9 16:25, 9 November 2018 (UTC)

As per the discussion page on Chaos Storm, the hardmode AI was updated to allow it to cast these sort of spells on characters wielding martial weapons. It's quite likely that Nadya and other Vanguard quest enemies are using the Hard mode AI and received this update too.Vartherion (talk) 11:42, 14 January 2023 (UTC)