Skills

Skills (Abilities) in Ashes of Creation are built using a custom ability system developed in-house by Intrepid Studios.

Q: There are folks wondering is there an underlying system for the skills and combat from the UE gameplay ability system or is this a proprietary solution that we've created?

A: This is our our custom ability system that's been created at Intrepid. Adam and Keenan and Mike have had a significant hand in creating that. There is functionality that we need to occur in our ability system that's not capable of being done through what's natively available through Unreal Engine; and so as a result many of our systems that we utilize in Ashes of Creation are made custom in-house in order to better facilitate our needs. – Steven Sharif

Q: Do any abilities change based on weapon choice? For example, if I have a bow a equipped will Whirlwind be different based on that?

A: No. So one thing that we've changed since Alpha-1 is we now have a dedicated ranged slot and a dedicated main-hand, off-hand for melee slots; and so if you use an ability that is utilizing your ranged slot, you will spawn that weapon as you're using the ability, and then go back to your basic weapon selection. And you can toggle back and forth between using the ranged weapon slot or the melee weapon slot for your basic weapon attacks.

Alpha-2 Ranger skill tree user interface (WIP).

What you're seeing at a high level here is just what you'd pretty much expect of a traditional skill. We're doing something a little more advanced than just like a bottom up structure, because we're being a little bit more free-form in this iteration. This will obviously see more UI iterations in the future, but you'll see a mix of active and passive abilities here. Actives are indicated by their square shape, while the circular ones are representing passives; and one thing to note as well is that these passives are aiming to be a little more interesting than just like, this ability does more damage now, or it has a lower cooldown. We do have some of those too, but the goal with a lot of these passives in addition to that is to allow people to lean into unique play styles. So you'll notice that some of them are are changing your gameplay in meaningful ways; and that's the direction we want to take um player and character customization as a whole. – Tradd Thompson

Players receive skill points at specific points as they level. These can be used unlock Active and passive skills in archetype and weapon skill trees.

• Skill points accrue at specific XP milestones, such as 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 progress through the level, so as to avoid creating an imbalance with experience debt.

We do have this concept of experience debt that does accrue and we don't want to create an imbalance between skill points acquired versus experience, so we're going to predicate your skill points acquisition based on benchmarks you reach when leveling through a level. So these are going to be at specific points in the level, like one quarter progress, to half progress, to three quarters progress: you're going to get an influx of skill points and then you'll be able to allocate them into your skill tree. – Steven Sharif

• Skill points can be used to unlock universal skills at the expense of unlocking class-specific skills.

• Skill ranks will be added to certain skills in Alpha-2 phase-2.

• Respeccing (resetting and reallocating) adventuring skills may require travelling to a specific location rather than being able to be done on-the-fly.

• Augments do not cost skill points. It was previously stated that certain augments will have more expense required on the skill point side.

Some of the following information has not been recently confirmed by the developers and may not be on the current development roadmap.

• It will not be possible to max all skills in a skill tree.
• In terms of skill progression, players can choose to go "wide" and get a number of different abilities, or go "deep" into a few specific abilities.

Respeccing

Respeccing (resetting and reallocating) adventuring skills may require travelling to a specific location rather than being able to be done on-the-fly.

I am still conflicted on whether or not I want to allow respecs on-the-fly. I believe that respecing should be done at a particular location that requires a bit of transit and some strategic thinking ahead of time about the encounters that you're expecting, but respecing your class should be relatively easier obviously with that constraint of being at a particular location. – Steven Sharif

• Swapping between multiple saved specs may be able to be done after a suitable cooldown period.

• Respeccing artisan skills is going to be more difficult than respeccing adventuring skills.

Active skills

Alpha-2 Tank action bar (hotbar) user interface.

Players can build their characters with the active skills they want on their action bar (hotbar).

• The maximum number of skills a player can have on their action bar will be around 15-20.
  • Each archetype will have roughly 35-40 skills to choose from on average.
• There will be an option to include multiple action bars (hotbars) on a player's UI. For example: One Fighter will be different from another based on what active skills they have chosen.

Some people like to have a very minimalistic number of hot bars. They don't need necessarily to have three, four, five hot bars that are available; but some people do like that: They want to have all their items listed on their hotbar as well as their abilities, as well as as their mounts, as well as anything that they can essentially interact with as an icon. – Steven Sharif

• Players are not given skills as they level up, they must choose what skills they take.
• There is no spellbook requiring memorization.

There will be multiple hot-bars that you obviously have available, because you're going to have consumables, you're going to have active skills and whatnot. But the number of active skills are not going to overwhelm necessarily the character and be irrelevant especially at certain stages. – Steven Sharif

Primary skills

Alpha-2 Bard primary skills.

If from the eight archetypes whatever you choose as your secondary, you're going to receive a choice of augments that relate to some core ideal of that class. A tank is about controlling the battlefield, is about surviving. The mage is about dealing damage and elements and ability in AoEs. The rogue is going to be about stealth and critical damage. So those augments are going to to play towards those identities. – Steven Sharif

Primary skills (class abilities) are based on a player's archetype.

• A player may choose a secondary archetype when they reach level 25. The player can then augment their primary skills with effects from their secondary archetype.

• Outside of class-specific skills there may be a subset of universal skills, such as active block and dodge.
• Class skills are not affected by the type of weapon that is equipped.

• Primary skills in Alpha-2 are expected to be very different to those in Alpha-1.

Class augments

A player may choose a secondary archetype when they reach level 25. Each secondary archetype offers four different schools of augmentation. Each augment school affects a primary archetype's skills in different ways. For example: A Mage offers Teleportation and elemental schools of augments. These augments will affect a Fighter's primary skills differently than a Cleric's.

When you reach the class phase, which is around level 25 and you introduce that secondary archetype selection to create your one of 64 classes, then you'll have a number of augments that you'll be able to apply on a per-ability basis; and your core ability kit comes from your primary archetype selection; and those augments will change the look and feel of those abilities; and some will have the affect to create more darker thematic aspects to it. Or just generally different aesthetics to the abilities that represent the secondary [archetype] selection. – Steven Sharif

• The player can then augment their primary skills with effects from their secondary archetype.

• Players can augment a limited subset of their primary skills with passive effects from their secondary archetype. Augmentable skills will offer several augment options from the secondary tree. This is an example of horizontal progression.
  • These augments can be rudimentary, or they can significantly change the way the ability works.

The intent behind the augment system is not to provide new active abilities. They're intended to augment existing active abilities that are provided through your primary archetype; and so your secondary archetype selection completes your class selection, of which there's 64 types and you get augment skills that can apply certain attributes and mechanics to your existing active skills. So, if you have certain abilities, like a backstab as a Rogue primary archetype, and you take that healer secondary archetype selection, now the properties of your backstab will still remain the same as an active ability, however it might include things like life steal, or it might include things like susceptible weakness to the target, and reduces their healing because the definition of what those augments are intended to provide based on the archetype selected for the augments is within the schools of magic that live for that archetype: so a Cleric is about balancing life and death and the control of those types of hit points. – Steven Sharif

• Augments are intended to allow each class to feel different, rather than a minor variation on its primary archetype.

When we talk about augments, all we can say right now is what our intent is; and our intent is to execute on it in a way where it doesn't just feel like eight archetypes. So, whether or not we land that intent is something people are going to have to wait and see. But, know that our work is to ensure it doesn't just feel like eight archetypes. – Steven Sharif

• Augments can be rudimentary, or they can significantly change the way the ability works (such as its visuals, audio, and flavor). It is possible that some specific augments may be locked to specific abilities.

Q: How much will a subclass affect the mechanics of your abilities vs the visual and audio flavor?

A: Some of the ideas that we have with regards to augmentation is that they could be very rudimentary mechanics that get adjusted, such as like damage values, cooldowns, mana costs, distance, and range, some targeting changes; but they could also be very fundamental changes, which would include visuals and audios and flavor for a particular ability. – Steven Sharif

• Choosing the same primary and secondary archetype increases focus on that archetype. Choosing different archetypes allows characters to somewhat flirt with their role..

• Each augmentation has a level requirement.

• Augments do not cost skill points. It was previously stated that certain augments will have more expense required on the skill point side.

There's going to be a certain threshold at which you can no longer augment your active abilities based on the decisions you've augmented previous abilities, so you'll have to pick and choose which ones you want to apply the augments towards. – Steven Sharif

• Changing skill augmentations will require visiting a NPC in a Village node or higher. Switching secondary archetypes will likely be made easier during Alpha-2 phase-2 for the purposes of testing.

• Secondary archetype specialization will start sometime after the beginning of Alpha-2 phase-3. Every archetype may start with two augment schools.

Weapon skills

Weapons with skill trees starting in Alpha-2 phase 1.

Weapon skills grant passive skills, proc effects, and status conditions, rather than usable skills on a player's action bar. The more skill points that are allocated to the weapon tree, the greater a player's weapon familiarity with that specific weapon type. This influences things like the number of attacks, attack speed, and increased chances of proc effects from carrying out basic attacks with that weapon. These procs may offer synergy with the player's active skills. This synergy also applies to active skills from other characters.

Weapon skill trees are skill trees that you can unlock and invest points into as you continue to develop your experience with certain weapon types, certain weapon groups, like a dagger; and when you're doing your basic combo attack with those weapons, which is universal for all classes- anybody can use any type of weapon because stats can be changed on these weapon types through crafting and through drops- there will be certain proc effects that live on the weapon skill tree as you advance in them; and those proc effect effects will be able to interact with your archetype skills because they will have promotion type effects that occur when they synergize with one another. – Steven Sharif

• The weapon combo system determines special effects that proc based on weapon progression.
  • These procs may reduce or reset cooldowns on other skills on the player's hotbar.
  • Certain rotations can ensure the best chance of triggering a weapon proc, but there is no reliable way to ensure that proc activates.
  • Weapon progression such as set bonuses may change at what level any proc effects occur.

Our approach is not going to be providing skills through weapons. It's going to be providing skills through classes. – Steven Sharif

• Players can spec into weapon skills on their weapon skill tree (also referred to as Combat skills, and Combat tree) based on their preferred weapon types and the grade of the weapon.
  • Dual wielded weapons count as a single weapon type on the weapon skill tree.
  • Weapon skills will progress approximately 2-3 times faster than adventuring skills. This is subject to change and tuning during Alpha-2.

Q: With weapon leveling, does it mean you will level per weapon type or will it be per weapon; and if I get a better wand, for example, will I still have to level that up again?

A: It's weapon type. So if you start advancing within the wand class of weapons, you will persist that progression across all wands that you acquire.

• Certain higher-end weapons (and Armor) have active abilities, but the intention is that these abilities will not radically redefine the way an archetype is played.

Let's say a dagger has some slashing effects that bleed the target or that cripple the target... Every time you attack you have a chance to proc that effect. That effect then can synergize with what your active skills tree has available to it. So let's say your backstab deals 30 additional damage to a bleeding target. If you attack with your main weapon first and the target gets the bleed proc off and you do your backstab skill then you're synergizing your effects. – Steven Sharif

Weapon skill trees

Alpha-2 work-in-progress Greatsword weapon skill tree.

The intent here is to give you choices. Either I want to extend and improve my combo, or I want just passive benefits that increase my attack speed or crit chance. – Brian Ferguson

Weapon skill trees unlock passive skills, proc effects, and status conditions based on a player's experience with each weapon type. These do not unlock skills that are usable on a player's action bar.

• Maces, shortbows, longbows, one and two handed swords, wands, and spellbooks are all expected to have weapon skill trees with ~30+ nodes per nodes per tree starting in Alpha-2 phase 1. Additional weapon skill trees will be available in Alpha-2 phase 2 and beyond.
• Weapon skills will progress approximately 2-3 times faster than adventuring skills. This is subject to change and tuning during Alpha-2.

List of weapon skill trees

• 1H Daggers skills
• 1H Mace skills
• 1H Scepter skills
• 1H Sword Slash skills
• 2H Spear skills
• 2H Sword skills
• Book skills
• Daggers skills
• Dual-wield daggers skills
• Longbow skills
• Shortbow skills
• Spellbook skills
• Wand skills

Basic attacks

Alpha-2 Mage demonstrating a Frostbolt, Lightning Strike, and Wand weapon attack combo.

This is a single Target projectile attack that applies two stacks of Chilled to the enemy; and then after that hit him with a few wand attacks. Now you'll see that you've gotten a Frozen status effect on him and then he timed that really well there... in that very last frame you'll see that he hit him with a lightning effect... So that's a good way to get your burst damage if you're rotating your spells and your elements the correct way. – Keenan Reimer

Basic attacks (Combo attacks) are triggered for the equipped primary weapon by pressing Q or left-clicking the mouse (these buttons can be re-bound by the player).

• Players can select which weapon they wish to use as their primary weapon for basic attacks (default: `, but can be re-bound to another key).
  • Players may toggle back and forth between using their ranged weapon and melee weapon slot for basic attacks.

• Different weapon types have different basic attacks.

• Weapons with projectile attacks are capable of blind firing without having a target.
  • If the player is in action camera mode and their reticle is over a target, they will be able to soft lock onto that target, causing projectiles to home to targets who are within the correct range/angle.

When you have your weapon and you utilize a basic attack, you can blind fire that weapon, if it has a projectile associated with it, without having to have a target. In addition, if your reticle in action camera mode is over a target, you will have a soft target lock and projectiles will home to that target if within the right angle of direction. – Steven Sharif

• Sequences of basic attacks trigger the combat animation montage based on the weapon type.
  • Using a skill other than a basic attack will in general reset the weapon combo system.
• The developers are considering per-use consumables/buffs that apply certain rider effects to basic weapon attacks.

Basic attack	Icon	Weapon	Description
Book Combo Attack		Book	Fire from your spellbook at your target in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (58%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (22%🢆) Arcane damage 2. Hit 2 - (66%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (25%🢆) Arcane damage 3. Finisher - (82%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (33%🢆) Arcane damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (90%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (36%🢆) Arcane damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies Burning to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Bullseye Triggers Prism Triggers Arcane Amplifier 50% chance to trigger Essence Harvest Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Catalytic Projectiles Triggers Heartseeker 4. Extended Finisher - (106%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (40%🢆) Arcane damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (117%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (43%🢆) Arcane damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Echo Triggers Perfect Timing Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Heartseeker
Daggers Combo Attack		1H Daggers	Swipe and stab your daggers in front of you in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (53%🢆) Pierce damage 2. Hit 2 - (53%🢆) Pierce damage 3. Hit 3 - (46%🢆) Pierce damage 4. Hit 4 - (36%🢆) Pierce damage 5. Hit 5 - (18%🢆) Pierce damage (18%🢆) Pierce damage 6. Finisher - (36%🢆) Pierce damage (36%🢆) Pierce damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (66%🢆) Pierce damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Heartseeker 7. Extended Finisher - (66%🢆) Pierce damage (66%🢆) Pierce damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (73%🢆) Pierce damage (73%🢆) Pierce damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Echo Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Perfect Timing Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Heartseeker
Greatsword Combo Attack		2H Sword	Swing your greatsword in front of you in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (70%🢆) Slash damage 2. Hit 2 - (77%🢆) Slash damage 3. Finisher - (50%🢆) Slash damage (63%🢆) Slash damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (53%🢆) Slash damage (71%🢆) Slash damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Swordmaster's Swiftness Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Concussion 4. Extended Finisher - (56%🢆) Slash damage (77%🢆) Slash damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (62%🢆) Slash damage (85%🢆) Slash damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Echo Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Perfect Timing Triggers Swordmaster's Swiftness Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Concussion
Guard		Universal	Enter a guard state, blocking all incoming frontal attacks and consuming 100% Stamina relative to the amount of damage mitigated by blocking. While guarding, gain Mental Fortification. While guarding, gain Empowered Guard.
Longbow Combo Attack		Longbow	Fire your longbow at your target in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (66%🢆) Pierce damage 2. Hit 2 - (55%🢆) Pierce damage 3. Finisher - (85%🢆) Pierce damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (93%🢆) Pierce damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Heartseeker 4. Extended Finisher - (106%🢆) Pierce damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (116%🢆) Pierce damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Echo Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Perfect Timing Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Heartseeker
Mace Combo Attack		1H Mace	Swing your mace in front of you in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (53%🢆) Bludgeon damage 2. Hit 2 - (60%🢆) Bludgeon damage 3. Hit 3 - (47%🢆) Bludgeon damage 4. Finisher - (100%🢆) Bludgeon damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (50%🢆) Bludgeon damage (60%🢆) Bludgeon damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Unstoppable Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Concussion 5. Extended Finisher - (133%🢆) Bludgeon damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (65%🢆) Bludgeon damage (82%🢆) Bludgeon damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Echo Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Perfect Timing Triggers Unstoppable Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Concussion
Scepter Combo Attack		1H Scepter	Swing your mace in front of you in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (53%🢆) Arcane damage 2. Hit 2 - (60%🢆) Arcane damage 3. Hit 3 - (47%🢆) Arcane damage 4. Finisher - (100%🢆) Arcane damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (50%🢆) Arcane damage (60%🢆) Arcane damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Unstoppable Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Concussion 5. Extended Finisher - (133%🢆) Arcane damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (65%🢆) Arcane damage (82%🢆) Arcane damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Echo Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Perfect Timing Triggers Unstoppable Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Concussion
Shortbow Combo Attack		Shortbow	Fire your shortbow at your target in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (24%🢆) Pierce damage 2. Hit 2 - (17%🢆) Pierce damage (17%🢆) Pierce damage 3. Hit 3 - (24%🢆) Pierce damage 4. Hit 4 - (17%🢆) Pierce damage x 3 5. Finisher - (25%🢆) Pierce damage x 3 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (27%🢆) Pierce damage x 3 Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Arrowstorm 6. Extended Finisher - (21%🢆) Pierce damage x 5 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (23%🢆) Pierce damage x 5 Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Echo Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Perfect Timing Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Arrowstorm
Spear Combo Attack		Spear	Stab your spear in front of you in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (26%🢆) Pierce damage 2. Hit 2 - (53%🢆) Pierce damage 3. Hit 3 - (66%🢆) Pierce damage 3. Finisher - (100%🢆) Pierce damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (39%🢆) Pierce damage (70%🢆) Pierce damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Swordmaster's Swiftness Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Concussion 4. Extended Finisher - (59%🢆) Pierce damage (70%🢆) Pierce damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (70%🢆) Pierce damage (90%🢆) Pierce damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Echo Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Perfect Timing Triggers Swordmaster's Swiftness Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Concussion
Sword Combo Attack		1H Sword Slash	Swing your sword in front of you in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (40%🢆) Slash damage 2. Hit 2 - (40%🢆) Slash damage 3. Hit 3 - (53%🢆) Slash damage 4. Hit 4 - (47%🢆) Slash damage 5. Finisher - (80%🢆) Slash damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (88%🢆) Slash damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Swordmaster's Swiftness Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Concussion 6. Extended Finisher - (133%🢆) Slash damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (147%🢆) Slash damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Echo Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Perfect Timing Triggers Swordmaster's Swiftness Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Concussion
Wand Combo Attack		Wand	Fire from your wand at your target in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (32%🢆) Arcane damage 2. Hit 2 - (42%🢆) Arcane damage 3. Hit 3 - (42%🢆) Arcane damage 4. Hit 4 - (32%🢆) Arcane damage 5. Finisher - (58%🢆) Arcane damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (22%🢆) Arcane damage x 3 Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies Burning to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Bullseye Triggers Prism Triggers Arcane Amplifier 50% chance to trigger Essence Harvest Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Catalytic Projectiles Triggers Heartseeker 4. Extended Finisher - (106%🢆) Arcane damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (11%🢆) Arcane damage x 11 Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Echo Triggers Perfect Timing Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Heartseeker

Passive skills

• Passive skills are used to customize primary skills, weapon skills, and passive stats.
• Passive skills can be levelled up by allocating skill points on the skills UI.
• Passive skills enable players to work toward mastery of a weapon.
• Passive skills are based on the player's choice of primary archetype.
  • Some passives may be introduced with the choice of secondary archetype, but this hasn't been finalized yet.

All these passive abilities: mana regen, attack damage, critical hit damage, health regeneration, defense mitigation, maximum health: A lot of different changes from the passive side of things and these are based on what archetype you've chosen. – Steven Sharif

Skill	Icon	Origin	Description
Caravan Trail Speed Bonus		Caravan	Minor speed boost for travelling on a simple trail.
Extended Duration III		Greatsword	Extends the duration of the Second Strike and Perfect Timing proc effects by 2.5 seconds.
Greatsword Hit 3+		Greatsword	Weapon Combo Finisher. Greatsword Hit 3+ Unlocked. Has 25% chance to proc. Increased damage.
Greatsword Hit 3+: Extra Damage I		Greatsword	Increases the damage of Greatsword Hit 3+ by 10%.
Greatsword Hit 4		Greatsword	Weapon Combo Extended Finisher. Greatsword Hit 4 Unlocked. Increased damage.
Greatsword Hit 4+		Greatsword	Weapon Combo Extended Finisher. Greatsword Hit 4+ Unlocked. 25% chance to proc. Increased damage.
Greatsword Hit 4+: Extra Damage I		Greatsword	Increases the damage of Greatsword Hit 4 by 10%.
Greatsword Hit 4: Extra Damage I		Greatsword	Increases the damage of Greatsword Hit 4 by 10%.
Greatsword Hit 4: Extra Damage II		Greatsword	Increases the damage of Greatsword Hit 4 by 10%.
Hit 5+ Proc Chance I		Wand	Increases the base trigger chance of Hit 5+ to 50%.
Hit 5+ Proc Chance II		Wand	Increases the base trigger chance of Hit 5+ to 75%.
Hit 5+ Proc Chance III		Wand	Increases the base trigger chance of Hit 5+ to 100%.
Hit 6+ Proc Chance I		Wand	Increases the base trigger chance of Hit 6+ to 50%.
Hit 6+ Proc Chance II		Wand	Increases the base trigger chance of Hit 6+ to 75%.
Hit 6+ Proc Chance III		Wand	Increases the base trigger chance of Hit 6+ to 100%.
Instrument Drum		Bard	Choose to play your melodies with a drum.
Instrument Fiddle		Bard	Choose to play your melodies with a fiddle.
Instrument Flute		Bard	Choose to play your melodies with a flute.
Monologue		Bard	Increases the number of charges of Quick Wit by 1, but increases the cooldown by 2.
Potency I		Greatsword	Second Strike - Increases the damage of the Second Strike Proc by 25%. Perfect Timing - Increases the cooldown reset by 1 second.
Potency III		Greatsword	Second Strike - Increases the damage of the Second Strike Proc by 25%. Perfect Timing - Increases the cooldown reset by 1 second.
Resonant Weapon		Bard	Casting non-melody abilities will grant you 1 stack of Resonance Some songs and dances will grant an additional stack upon completion. Stacks up to 10 times. Resonance
Swordmaster: Consistent I		Greatsword	Adds Swordmaster: Swiftness - Increases effect duration by 0.5s. Swordmaster: Endurance - Increases minimum possible health restored by 0.5% Max HP.
Swordmaster: Consistent II		Greatsword	Adds Swordmaster: Swiftness - Increases effect duration by 0.5s. Swordmaster: Endurance - Increases minimum health restored by 0.5% Max HP.
Swordmaster: Endurance		Greatsword	Adds Swordmaster: Endurance proc to Greatsword Combo Finisher Procs & Extended Finisher Procs: 25% chance to recover 2-4% of your maximum health.
Swordmaster: Potential I		Greatsword	Adds Swordmaster: Swiftness - +5% Attack speed from effect. Swordmaster: Endurance - Increases maximum possible health restored by 1% Max HP.
Swordmaster: Proc Rate I		Greatsword	Increases all Swordmaster effect proc rates by 25%.
Swordmaster: Proc Rate II		Greatsword	Increases all Swordmaster effect proc rates by 25%.
Swordmaster: Proc Rate III		Greatsword	Increases all Swordmaster effect proc rates by 25%.
Wand Hit 5+		Wand	Wand Hit 5+ Unlocked. You have a 25% chance on the 5th hit to instead fire a beam at the target that triggers proc efffects. Triggers Weapon Finisher Effects.
Wand Hit 6+		Wand	Wand Hit 6+ Unlocked. Wand Hit 6+ Unlocked. You have a 25% chance on the 6th hit to instead fire a beam at the target that triggers proc effects. Deals 50% more damage if the previous wand combo hit was also a beam attack. Triggers Weapon Finisher Effects.
Weapon Mastery: Bows		Ranger	Reduce the cooldown of Barrage and Scattershot by 3 seconds upon hitting an enemy with a weapon combo finisher.
Weapon Proficiency IX		Greatsword	Increased Attack Speed by 1%.

Universal skills

Universal skills, such as active blocking, sprinting, and active dodging, are able to be unlocked by all archetypes based on a universal skill progression tree.

We are currently implementing, for the purposes of Alpha-2, a universal stamina system that all archetypes share. When it comes to active block, sprint, and dodge: those will be a part of a universal skill progression tree that players can choose to invest skill points into; and those skill points will share with their archetype active ability and passive ability skill points as well. So, if they're going to divest themselves of further progress within their archetype in lieu of investing in the Universal skill tree, they will have access to benefits that those universal skill tree progressions provide; and some of those benefits do include stat bonuses when utilizing those universal skills. Some of them include different types of effects that can only be granted the player through the universal skill tree as well, such as the ability to potentially parry an attack, or something along those lines. We'll be talking about the universal skill tree somewhere probably mids summerish timeframe, or late summerish timeframe, because it's still actively being developed; but the idea is to have that be an additional knob of customization that influences the way your character plays. – Steven Sharif

• Universal skill progression is intended to provide synergy will all archetypes.

Because it's a universal progression tree, the intent is to provide interactions with all the archetypes. So, it's not going to be specifically more beneficial for one archetype over the other. The intent is that each of the archetypes will have some synergy interaction benefit to their general kit identity through the universal skill tree. – Steven Sharif

• Skill points can be used to unlock universal skills at the expense of unlocking class-specific skills.

Q: Will each archetype be equally efficient with universal skills, like dodging and active blocking, or will each of them have their own versions and flavors, or will some people be more powerful than others?

A: We want to provide a progression path that's shared for those universal skills across all the archetypes. So when you spend skill points, you can choose to spend them within the universal skill set and unlock particular ability types for the universal skills as well, but you will be spending them from the skill points that you would normally spend within your class-specific skill tree; and this offers again a different wheel of customization that I think is interesting. – Steven Sharif

Skill	Icon	Description
Dodge		Exert your stamina to dodge out of harm's way, increasing your evasion by 100% for 0.5 seconds. Restores 7 Stamina if incoming damage is successfully dodged. After dodging, gain Evasive Maneuver.
Guard		Enter a guard state, blocking all incoming frontal attacks and consuming 100% Stamina relative to the amount of damage mitigated by blocking. While guarding, gain Mental Fortification. While guarding, gain Empowered Guard.
Sprint		Expend your stamina to increase your movement speed by 320% while active. While sprinting, gain Focused Sprint. While sprinting in combat, gain 1 stack of Escape Velocity every 1 second. When sprint ends, gain 1 second of Second Wind for every 4 seconds spent sprinting out of combat, or every 2 seconds spent sprinting in combat.

Universal skill upgrades

Skill upgrade	Icon	Upgrade to	Description
Dodge Training I		Dodge	Reduces the evasion penalty received while stamina is below maximum by 10%.
Dodge Training II		Dodge	Reduces the evasion penalty received while stamina is below maximum by 10%.
Empowered Guard		Guard	When guarding, your Physical and Magical Block Mitigation contribute 25% of their effectiveness to blocked attacks of the opposite type.
Escape Velocity		Sprint	Gain 1% additional movement speed every second while sprinting while in combat.
Escape Velocity Training II		Sprint	Gain an additional 1% movement speed every second while sprinting while in combat.
Escape Velocity Training III		Sprint	Gain an additional 1% movement speed every second while sprinting while in combat.
Evasive Maneuver		Dodge	After dodging, gain 15% increased evasion for 1 second.
Evasive Training I		Dodge	Increases the duration of Evasive Maneuver by 1 second.
Evasive Training II		Dodge	Increases the duration of Evasive Maneuver by 1 second.
Focused Sprint		Sprint	While sprinting, gain 100% resistance to Control effects.
Focused Training I		Sprint	Further increases resistance to Control effects while sprinting by 10%.
Focused Training II		Sprint	Further increases resistance to Control effects while sprinting by 10%.
Guard Training I		Guard	Increases block mitigation while guarding by 5%.
Guard Training II		Guard	Increases block mitigation while guarding by 5%.
Mental Fortification		Guard	While guarding, the duration of incoming Control effects is reduced by 100%.
Mental Fortification Training I		Guard	Further reduces the duration of incoming Control effects while guarding by 10%.
Mental Fortification Training II		Guard	Further reduces the duration of incoming Control effects while guarding by 10%.
Recuperation		Dodge	Regain 5 stamina upon successfully dodging an incoming attack.
Recuperation Training I		Dodge	Increases the amount of stamina regained upon a successful dodge by 5.
Recuperation Training II		Dodge	Increases the amount of stamina regained upon a successful dodge by 5.
Second Wind		Sprint	When sprint ends, regenerate 5 Stamina every 1 second for every 4 seconds spent sprinting out of combat, or every 2 seconds spent sprinting in combat.
Springstep		Dodge	Increases your Dodge distance by 50%.
Sprint Training I		Sprint	Increases sprint speed by 5%.
Sprint Training II		Sprint	Increases sprint speed by 5%.
Sprint Training III		Sprint	Increases sprint speed by 5%.
Stamina Training I		Sprint,Dodge,Guard	Increases maximum stamina by 10.
Stamina Training II		Sprint,Dodge,Guard	Increases maximum stamina by 10.
Stamina Training III		Sprint,Dodge,Guard	Increases maximum stamina by 10.
Sustained Guard		Guard	Reduces the stamina cost for successfully blocking an incoming attack by 25%.
Sustained Guard Training I		Guard	Further reduces the stamina cost for successfully blocking an incoming attack by 25%.
Sustained Guard Training II		Guard	Further reduces the stamina cost for successfully blocking an incoming attack by 25%.

Combat abilities

The aspiration for combat is for abilities to have corresponding counter-play abilities.

• The goal is to have special animations for parrying, blocking and evading.

Crowd control

Alpha-2 Mesmerizing Dance Bard skill diminishing returns. Visual effects by Sivaraamakrishnan Gurusamy Muthupandian.

The basic idea is we have created different categories of CC. So, you've got hard CC, you've got movement CC, you got activation CC, like silence and disarm; and each of those categories will tick up as the duration ticks; and once you've hit a max amount of duration of that CC category it'll kick in a temporary immunity period. So, we'll probably iterate on this more just as we do with everything else, but we wanted something in place just so that people can't perma-lock you down, 'cuz nobody likes that. – Tradd Thompson

Crowd control (CC/mezzing) effects include hard CCs, movement CCs, and activation CCs.

• There are diminishing returns on crowd control effects so as to avoid stun locking.
  • Each category of CC has an associated duration timer that grants temporary immunity to targets if the duration is exceeded. CC categories include:
    • Hard CCs (such as incapacitate, trip, and stun).
    • Movement CCs (such as snare, chill, root, and freeze).
    • Activation CCs (such as silence and disarm).

• CC effects do not apply to Non-combatant (green) players. The target of a CC ability must be flagged in order to suffer the CC effects. This prevents players from opening attacks that stun non-combatant players during a pull for example.

• All archetypes will have their own versions of CC breaks.
  • Melee archetypes will offer various mobility and CC counters against ranged archetypes, such as the Ranger.

• Some crowd-control abilities can dismount a mounted player. In that case the mount would persist with its own health pool and other stats.
  • In Alpha-1 testing mounts were not separate from the player.

There's also going to be effects that just stun the mount or stun you on the mount. – Steven Sharif

• Summoner's summons will be able to use crowd control.

Skill	Icon	Origin	Description
Air Strike		Ranger	Leap a great distance forward and into the air while firing three projectiles in a line along the path, each dealing (150%🢆) Physical damage to targets hit. Targets hit that are Snared become Rooted, and all Snared stacks on those targets are consumed.
Bear Trap		Ranger	Spawn a trap at the target location, which arms after 1 second. When an enemy triggers the trap, they take (50%🢆) Physical damage and become Rooted. Targets hit that are Snared become Rooted for 3 seconds, and all Snared stacks on those targets are consumed, increasing the rooted duration by 1 seconds per stack consumed.
Binding Chains		Cleric	Chains of Restraint's final tick applies Stunned.
Cataclysm		Fighter	Deal (275%🢆) Physical damage and apply Shaken to all enemies in a large area in front of you. If the target is Staggered, the effect is consumed and the target becomes Tripped. Deals 15% additional damage to Chilled targets. This bonus is doubled against Frozen targets.
Chains of Restraint		Cleric	Conjure a circle of radiant chains at target location for 8 seconds that deals (40%🢆) Radiant damage every second and applies to targets within the area of effect. Each Weakened target hit by the initial pulse becomes Rooted.
Charge		Tank	Channeled Ability: Charge forward in the direction you are facing. Enemies you collide with take (50%🢆) Physical damage damage and become Staggered. Charge will be canceled if another ability is activated or if the Charge key is pressed again.
Charge: Knockback		Tank	Adds a knockback to targets in the way of your Charge.
Clever Retort		Bard	Interrupt your target with a clever retort, applying 1 stacks of Silenced. Applies Humiliated if the target is Demoralized.
Condemn		Cleric	Apply Incapacitated (10 seconds ) to target enemy. If the target is Conflagrating, the target becomes Stunned (3 seconds ) instead.
Crippling Blow		Fighter	Deal (75%🢆) Physical damage and apply 1 stack of 1 stacks of Snared to target enemy. If the target is Staggered, apply another stack of 1 stacks of Snared to the target.
Discordance		Bard	Launch a wild burst of 3 discordant notes at your target, each dealing (50%🢆) Arcane damage and applying Staggered. The notes will bounce to random nearby enemies dealing reduced damage. Song Mastery: Dissonance
Ensnaring Vine Field		Ranger	Enemies acquire 1 stack of Snared per second while within Vine Field's area of effect.
Get Off The Stage		Bard	Knockback enemies in front of you with your instrument, dealing (125%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applying 3 stacks of Snared that tapers off over the course of 6 seconds. Also applies Disarmed to targets with Staggered.
Ground Pound		Tank	Slams the ground, dealing (200%🢆) Physical damage to enemies in front of you, while applying Tripped for 2 seconds to targets that were Staggered. Targets already Tripped are launched and take 25% more damage.
Knock Out		Fighter	Apply Incapacitated and Shaken to target enemy.
Leap Strike		Fighter	Leap to target location and deal (225%🢆) Physical damage around you while applying Staggered to targets hit. Apply 3 stacks of Snared to targets hit that were Shaken.
Lunging Assault		Fighter	Spend 15 Combat Momentum to lunge in a direction a short distance and perform an upward swing upon arrival, dealing (125%🢆) Physical damage and applying Snared to enemies in front of the caster. The caster is immune to hard disabling effects while lunging.
Marionette		Bard	Target enemy is afflicted with Marionette When Marionette expires, the target becomes Humiliated. "How embarrassing..."
Mesmerizing Dance		Bard	Quickly strike a dazzling pose! Mesmerizes all nearby enemies, applying 1 stacks of Incapacitated for 10 seconds. Any targets with Staggered also become 1 stacks of Stunned for 3 seconds.
Oppressive Reflect		Tank	If Reflect successfully reflects damage to an attacker, that attacker also becomes Tripped.
Shield Assault		Tank	Lunge forward and deal 125% physical damage while applying Staggered to enemies in front of you. If a target was hit, gain 25 courage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Shield Slam		Tank	Lunge forward and deal 150% physical damage while applying Staggered to that target. Gain 25 courage on hit. Generates 300% additional threat.
Slam: Knockback		Tank	Adds a powerful knockback to Slam.
Slumber		Mage	Applies Incapacitated to targets in a small area around the primary target. Lasts 10 seconds.
Thundering Shot		Ranger	Fire a lightning-infused projectile at target enemy, dealing (200%🢆) Physical damage and applying 10 stacks of Shocked to the target. If the primary target is Dazed, the effect is consumed and the target becomes Silenced.
Tremoring Bellow		Tank	Apply Snared to enemies in front of you with a loud shout. Then quickly follow up with a powerful ground stomp, dealing 150% physical damage to enemies around you. Generates 200% additional threat.
Tremoring Strike		Tank	Deal 175% physical damage and apply Tripped to target enemy for 2 seconds. Generates 200% additional threat.
Vine Field		Ranger	Summon a vine field at target location. Targets in the area take (125%🢆) Physical damage and become Rooted. Each target can only be hit once per instance. For each target hit by the initial tick that is Bleeding, 1 stack is consumed and that target becomes Hemorraging.

Crowd control breaks

All archetypes will have their own versions of crowd control breaks.

Skill	Icon	Origin	Description
Berserk		Fighter	Consume your Combat Momentum rapidly, gaining 30% more physical power and movement speed and immunity to disabling effects while active. Must have at least 20 Combat Momentum to activate, and the effect ends when all Combat Momentum is fully depleted.
Blink		Mage	Instantly teleport 20 meters in the direction you are moving. Breaks all rooting effects.
Call of the Wild		Ranger	Remove all Snared and Chilled statuses from the caster, and increase movement speed by 20% while becoming immune to all movement impairing effects for 8 seconds.
Exert		Fighter	Consume your Combat Momentum rapidly, gaining 30% more physical power and movement speed and immunity to disabling effects while active. Must have at least 20 Combat Momentum to activate, and the effect ends when all Combat Momentum is fully depleted.
Lunging Assault		Fighter	Spend 15 Combat Momentum to lunge in a direction a short distance and perform an upward swing upon arrival, dealing (125%🢆) Physical damage and applying Snared to enemies in front of the caster. The caster is immune to hard disabling effects while lunging.
Misdirection		Bard	Use your wiles to reduce both your own and nearby party members' threat against nearby monsters by (1000%🢆) Magical damage. Additionally breaks all disabling effects on the caster.
Purify		Cleric	Remove up to 3 dispellable debuffs from an ally.
Resonant Weapon		Bard	Casting non-melody abilities will grant you 1 stack of Resonance Some songs and dances will grant an additional stack upon completion. Stacks up to 10 times. Resonance
Unyielding Berserk		Fighter	Berserk breaks all disabling effects on the caster.
Unyielding Call of the Wild		Ranger	Call of the Wild breaks all disabling effects on the caster.
Unyielding Wings of Salvation		Cleric	Wings of Salvation breaks all disabling effects on the caster.
Whirlwind		Fighter	Channeled ability: Deal (45%🢆) Physical damage to all enemies around the caster with each spin while channeled, increasing the spin rate the longer it is channeled. The caster is immune to hard disabling effects while spinning. Activate the ability again to end channeling early. Deals 20% additional damage to Weakened targets.

Aggro/Threat generation

Threat (Aggro/Hate) is generated based on damage done, healing done, and modifiers on certain abilities.

• In PvE, aggro against player characters is based on a hate table.
• In PvP, aggro may force target switching to the Tank. Feedback on this will be sought during testing.

If we think about PVP settings and the role of taunt or hate, a lot of times for tanks in the MMOs that I've played- where you have a PvE and PvP scenario- those types of hate generation abilities don't really have cross application into the PVP realm; and that can feel bad, because typically a tank build-out can be delegated around how I generate hate; and if it has no cross application into PvP then effectively you're creating a class composition that just is not relevant in half of the game, or in that area of the game. So when we talk about how we're going to apply hate to player targets or taunt to player targets, sometimes that can move into the realm of target switching, or the ability to demand that target on the tank in a PvP scenario as well. That's something that we need to get player feedback on, because there's a lot of strong emotions around that type of mechanic. I for one am a big proponent of that. I think it's interesting. I think that it plays into the role of the tank and that it it hits a class fantasy that most tank players want to feel. And I think however on the flip side of that, it is a source of control; and anytime you're under the effects of some source of control, it's going to be a feel bad moment for the target that's being controlled. So that's why I think it generates a lot of feelings on both sides of the aisle. – Steven Sharif

• Balancing of threat generation between taunts, healing, and damage done will occur during Alpha-2 testing.

Right now the formula includes modifiers, so we can apply a modifier as we wish to either healing, values versus hate values. Those things are going to be balanced as we see play testing continue to see what's the right blend between the tank holding aggro, the healer not pulling it too often, and the DPS not grabbing it as well. So we want to have maximum flexibility in the formula and that's why modifiers exist there. – Steven Sharif

• Detargeting is the act of removing hate/threat/aggro from an enemy.
• There is a Taunt skill available for Alpha-2. In Alpha-0 testing there was a single-target taunt skill, called Hatred.

Q: There were a lot of concerns about threat [in the Alpha-2 Tank preview video]. A lot of people didn't understand how holding threat works, because you weren't holding threat at some point.

A: It's important to remember that these previews are done at a very low-level, so these are low-level skills and abilities that the archetypes have available to them; and so because of that, some of the functionality from these abilities they don't necessarily perform as well as you would want them to in a later stage of the game for that role. Now also keep in mind that balance is a perspective that needs to be incorporated also. So, threat is generated based off of a few factors: It's based off of damage done, it's based off of healing done, it's based off of threat generation modifiers that are on abilities. Now the tank in this situation I believe has two abilities that are going to generate additional threat. They have the slicing- the number two ability; and then they also have the shout ability. Both of those are creating additional threat. But with that being said, we need to tune probably those abilities up a little bit to contend with the DPS that's coming both from the ranger and with the heals that are coming out of the cleric. – Steven Sharif

Skill	Icon	Origin	Description
Desolate		Tank	Strikes your target and surrounding enemies for 150% physical damage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Grapple		Tank	Take aim and hurl a chained javelin at your target, damaging the first target it contacts and immediately pulling them to the caster. The target suffers a tapering snare for 3 seconds. Cannot be used on boss enemies.
Grit		Tank	Increase physical mitigation by 10% for 10 seconds. This can stack up to 2 times.
Inciting Strikes		Tank	Slash twice in an area in front of you, dealing damage (75%🢆) Physical damage damage per hit. Generate 3 Courage per target hit with each swing, up to a maximum of 10 Courage per swing. Generates 300% Threat.
Intimidating Aura		Tank	Emanate an aura around the caster for 8 seconds that deals (10%🢆) Magical damage with a 10% chance of applying Staggered every 0.5 seconds. Generates threat equal to 30% of your Maximum Health every tick.
Misdirection		Bard	Use your wiles to reduce both your own and nearby party members' threat against nearby monsters by (1000%🢆) Magical damage. Additionally breaks all disabling effects on the caster.
Pulverize		Tank	Move to your target and strike them for 225% physical damage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Shield Assault		Tank	Lunge forward and deal 125% physical damage while applying Staggered to enemies in front of you. If a target was hit, gain 25 courage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Shield Slam		Tank	Lunge forward and deal 150% physical damage while applying Staggered to that target. Gain 25 courage on hit. Generates 300% additional threat.
Slam		Tank	Deal (200%🢆) Physical damage to targets in front of you. Generates 300% additional threat.
Taunt		Tank	Taunt target enemy, generating threat equal to two times your maximum health and applying Humiliated.
Tremoring Bellow		Tank	Apply Snared to enemies in front of you with a loud shout. Then quickly follow up with a powerful ground stomp, dealing 150% physical damage to enemies around you. Generates 200% additional threat.
Tremoring Strike		Tank	Deal 175% physical damage and apply Tripped to target enemy for 2 seconds. Generates 200% additional threat.
Vengeance		Tank	Combo ability: Launch up to 3 consecutive attacks against target enemy. Each hit grants 1 stack of Vengeance to the caster, granting 2% of maximum health as temporary health for 8 seconds, up to 3 stacks. 1. Hit 1 - (120%🢆) Physical damage 2. Hit 2 - (130%🢆) Physical damage 3. Hit 3 - (150%🢆) Physical damage and applies Stunned Incoming damaging hits reduce this ability's cooldown by 0.5 seconds, and hits that were blocked reduce the cooldown by 1 second. This may trigger at a maximum of once per second. Generates 100% additional threat.

AoE skills

• AoE skills are intended to trade-off longer cooldowns and higher mana consumption against the size of the area of effect and the total damage output; and may not be as sustainable as single-target skills.

The paradigm I look towards is AoE abilities are not a sustainable farming approach or grinding approach as much as individual ability targeted abilities are. – Steven Sharif

• AoE skills will incorporate diminishing returns. These will be tuned based on testing and player feedback during Alpha-2.

Q: Should AOEs have an uncapped limit on the number of entities that it affects?

A: Our approach right now is no, they shouldn't be uncapped: that we're going to apply some diminishing return effects on AOEs, because we have certain instruments within level design or within encounter design that involve choke points, where we don't just want it to be about who can mage ball a particular location and prevent access as a result of that. – Steven Sharif

• Non-forced attacks, including AoE and status effects, will not hit non-combatant players.

• Players will be able to opt-in (via a checkbox) to allow their beneficial spells, or non-beneficial AoEs to hit combatants.

If you have that check-box for flagging with your AOEs and heals available then you will flag. If you do not have that box checked then on completion of the skill it will not flag you because the check was made at the start that there was a flagged party member; and then he will not he or she will not receive the beneficial effect as a result or the damage, if it's an offensive spell. – Steven Sharif

• Player collision inherently limits the number of individuals that can be affected by AoE skills.

We have a few ideas on how we want to approach AoEs. There's a vein of thought that is regarding diminishing returns [on] maximum number of targets. I'm not a huge fan of that. There is a diminishing return as it applies to damage conveyed. There is just the fact that we're a collision-based game and there's a limited number of bodies that can be located in a particular choke point, or in proximity. There's still things that we're testing especially as part of Alpha 2 that we'll likely be testing and want to get player feedback on as it relates to curbing the AoE approach of most raid comps; and a lot of different games have done a lot of different things to achieve that. We're going to be testing a lot of these different directions and finding which works best for Ashes. – Steven Sharif

Skill	Icon	Origin	Description
Absorption Field		Tank	Throw a rallying banner to the target location that spawns an Absorption Field upon impact. You and allies that enter the Absorption Field are granted temporary health equal to 15% of your maximum health. This can only be applied to any specific target once per 10 seconds.
Aegis		Tank	Create a protective dome around the caster for 15 seconds, transferring 20% of all damage received by targets within the area to the tank instead. Can be toggled off early to cancel the effect.
Amplified Lightning Strike		Mage	Lightning Strike applies up to 10 additional stacks of Shocked based on its charge level when cast. Additionally, if cast at full charge, lightning strike will also hit other nearby targets at base power.
Ball Lightning		Mage	Create a large ball of charged electricity that travels slowly forward, rapidly dealing (50%🢆) Lightning damage and applying Volatile to enemies it overlaps with.
Battle Cry		Fighter	Apply Weakened and Demoralized to all nearby enemies and Riled to the caster and all nearby party members. Gain 5 Combat Momentum for each target Riled and each enemy target that was Shaken.
Bear Trap		Ranger	Spawn a trap at the target location, which arms after 1 second. When an enemy triggers the trap, they take (50%🢆) Physical damage and become Rooted. Targets hit that are Snared become Rooted for 3 seconds, and all Snared stacks on those targets are consumed, increasing the rooted duration by 1 seconds per stack consumed.
Blizzard		Mage	Channel a massive blizzard around you, raining a barrage of hail shards upon your enemies while channeling. Periodically pulses Chilled to targets within the area. Each shard impact deals (50%🢆) Ice damage in a small area around it and applies Frozen to targets with Chilled.
Brutal Cleave		Fighter	Perform a wide sweeping attack, dealing (175%🢆) Physical damage to all enemies in front of you. This ability shares a cooldown with Overpower, and hitting an enemy with a weapon combo finisher refreshes its cooldown. +10-20 Combat Momentum (based on number of targets hit)
Caltrops		Rogue	Throw out a field of caltrops at target location. Enemies that move through this field will rapidly take (20%🢆) Pierce damage, become Snared, and have a chance to be dismounted (WIP). Lasts 10 seconds.
Cataclysm		Fighter	Deal (275%🢆) Physical damage and apply Shaken to all enemies in a large area in front of you. If the target is Staggered, the effect is consumed and the target becomes Tripped. Deals 15% additional damage to Chilled targets. This bonus is doubled against Frozen targets.
Cathartic Melody		Bard	Nearby party members gain Cathartic Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.
Chain Lightning		Mage	Release a powerful streak of lightning that hits your primary target and then chains outward to up to 5 nearby enemies from that target, dealing (225%🢆) Lightning damage to each and applies 10 stacks of Shocked to targets with Volatile. Aftershock
Chains of Restraint		Cleric	Conjure a circle of radiant chains at target location for 8 seconds that deals (40%🢆) Radiant damage every second and applies to targets within the area of effect. Each Weakened target hit by the initial pulse becomes Rooted.
Chaos		Bard	Nearby party members gain Chaos This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Tragedy
Cheerful Melody		Bard	Nearby party members gain Cheerful Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.
Chilling Lament (AoE)		Bard	Enemies in front of you are dealt (50%🢆) ice damage and afflicted with three seconds of chilled every second. Deals bonus damage to frozen targets.
Cleansing Wave		Cleric	Held ability: Fire a beam of healing energy toward a target ally. Charging this spell allows the beam to bounce to up to 4 additional friendly targets closest to the original target, based on how long it was charged. The initial hit heals for (300%🢆) healing and reduces with each subsequent bounce.
Climactic Whirlwind		Fighter	Perform a final swing in an area in front of you after ending Whirlwind's channel, dealing (175%🢆) Physical damage and applying Staggered to targets in front of the caster, while generating 5-10 Combat Momentum based on number of targets hit.
Collect Cargo		Caravan	Pick up cargo nearest the mouse location and add them to your caravan's storage if there's enough room.
Communal Restoration		Cleric	Restore health equal to (150%🢆) healing to all party members in range and apply Communal Restoration.
Cone of Cold		Mage	Blast a vortex of freezing wind in a cone in front of you, dealing (125%🢆) Ice damage and applying Frozen to targets with Chilled.
Conflict		Bard	Nearby party members gain Conflict This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Tragedy
Consecrating Wave		Cleric	Send forth a wave of radiance that deals (150%🢆) Radiant damage and applies Volatile to all enemies in front of you. Dispel 1 buff from each target hit that is Silenced. Restorative Consecrating Wave
Dark Lullaby (AoE)		Bard	Deal (25-75%🢆) spirit damage each second to enemies in front of you (scales in power over the course of the cast). This damage will not wake incapacitated targets. The final hit applies Stunned for 6 seconds to any incapacitated targets.
Desolate		Tank	Strikes your target and surrounding enemies for 150% physical damage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Destiny		Bard	Nearby party members gain Destiny This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Mystery
Discordance		Bard	Launch a wild burst of 3 discordant notes at your target, each dealing (50%🢆) Arcane damage and applying Staggered. The notes will bounce to random nearby enemies dealing reduced damage. Song Mastery: Dissonance
Divine Flare		Cleric	Place a targeted area on the ground that heals all targets after several seconds. Heals for (1000%🢆) healing divided amongst each target hit.
Divine Protection		Cleric	Divine Flare applies Divine Protection to allies inside its area of effect before detonation.
Epic Melody		Bard	Nearby party members gain Epic Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.
Explosive Thundering Shot		Ranger	The arrow transforms into an explosive shot that deals 25% more damage and also hits enemies in an area around the target, but the number of stacks of Shocked applied to targets hit is reduced to 5.
Get Off The Stage		Bard	Knockback enemies in front of you with your instrument, dealing (125%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applying 3 stacks of Snared that tapers off over the course of 6 seconds. Also applies Disarmed to targets with Staggered.
Grappling Hook		Rogue	Throw a grappling hook at your target location and pull yourself to that position. Taking direct damage during this effect will cause you to become Tripped for 1 second. Grappling Hook's cooldown is halved when out of combat.
Ground Pound		Tank	Slams the ground, dealing (200%🢆) Physical damage to enemies in front of you, while applying Tripped for 2 seconds to targets that were Staggered. Targets already Tripped are launched and take 25% more damage.
Healing Aura		Caravan	Provides healing to nearby defenders over time.
Hoarfrost		Mage	Unleash a blast of icy wind at target location, dealing (125%🢆) Ice damage and applying Chilled.
Hymn of the Mind (AoE)		Bard	Up to 4 allies in front of you gain mana equal to 0.8 + 4% magical power every second. Mana gained increases up to 200% based on the amount of mana the target is missing. This ability will favor low mana party members and yourself.
Inciting Strikes		Tank	Slash twice in an area in front of you, dealing damage (75%🢆) Physical damage damage per hit. Generate 3 Courage per target hit with each swing, up to a maximum of 10 Courage per swing. Generates 300% Threat.
Intercept		Tank	Rush to an ally's defense, granting temporary health to yourself and the target equal to 10% of your maximum HP for 10 seconds upon arrival.
Intimidating Aura		Tank	Emanate an aura around the caster for 8 seconds that deals (10%🢆) Magical damage with a 10% chance of applying Staggered every 0.5 seconds. Generates threat equal to 30% of your Maximum Health every tick.
Iron Aura		Tank	Reduces damage taken by 5% for all party members within 10 meters.
Joy		Bard	Nearby party members gain Joy This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Comedy
Leap Strike		Fighter	Leap to target location and deal (225%🢆) Physical damage around you while applying Staggered to targets hit. Apply 3 stacks of Snared to targets hit that were Shaken.
Lovely Serenade (AoE)		Bard	Up to five allies in front of you are healed for (50%🢆) healing every second. This ability will favor injured party members and yourself.
Maddening Dance		Bard	Deal (55%🢆) Arcane damage and dispel 1 buff on nearby enemies every second. Damage increases with less targets, up to (55%🢆) Arcane damage. Avert Your Gaze To your allies, this dance merely looks silly, but to your enemies, it is a maddening, horrific sight.
Magma Field		Mage	Erupts the earth at target location, forming a boiling pool of lava that deals (60%🢆) Fire damage and applies Burning at (50%🢆) Fire damage power every second to enemies within the area. Lasts 7 seconds. Pyromania
Maim		Fighter	Perform a powerful melee strike in a short forward cone, dealing (250%🢆) Physical damage to all targets hit. Deals 20% additional damage to recently Tripped targets.
Menacing Melody		Bard	Nearby party members gain Menacing Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.
Mesmerizing Dance		Bard	Quickly strike a dazzling pose! Mesmerizes all nearby enemies, applying 1 stacks of Incapacitated for 10 seconds. Any targets with Staggered also become 1 stacks of Stunned for 3 seconds.
Misdirection		Bard	Use your wiles to reduce both your own and nearby party members' threat against nearby monsters by (1000%🢆) Magical damage. Additionally breaks all disabling effects on the caster.
Nimble Dance		Bard	Grants Nimble, Pep, and cleanses 1 debuff (favoring crowd control effects) from yourself and nearby allies every second.
Party Stride		Ranger	Applies Strider to all group members within 30 meters. Strider Increases ground movement speed of target by 10%.
Pensive Melody		Bard	Nearby party members gain Pensive Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.
Raining Death		Ranger	Fire two consecutive volleys of arrows in a wide area in front of you, dealing (100%🢆) Physical damage and applying 1 stack of Wounded to enemies with each hit. Deals 20% additional damage to Shocked targets.
Resonant Weapon		Bard	Casting non-melody abilities will grant you 1 stack of Resonance Some songs and dances will grant an additional stack upon completion. Stacks up to 10 times. Resonance
Resplendent Beam		Cleric	Held ability: Fire a beam of healing energy toward a target ally. Charging this spell allows the beam to bounce to up to 4 additional friendly targets closest to the original target, based on how long it was charged. The initial hit heals for (300%🢆) healing and reduces with each subsequent bounce.
Restorative Consecrating Wave		Cleric	Consecrating Wave additionally heals you and up to 10 allies for (250%🢆) healing.
Saga		Bard	Complete your tale with a grand finale, consuming all of your current themes. The specific saga you have access to is determined by the combination of your current themes.
Scatter Shot		Ranger	Fires a spread of projectiles, dealing (125%🢆) Physical damage to every enemy target in a cone area in front of the caster. Weapon combo finishers reduce this ability's cooldown by 3 seconds.
Shield Assault		Tank	Lunge forward and deal 125% physical damage while applying Staggered to enemies in front of you. If a target was hit, gain 25 courage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Shielding Dance		Bard	Heal yourself and nearby allies for (50%🢆) healing every second and apply up to one instance of 1 stacks of Shield to each target as they enter the dance radius.
Slam		Tank	Deal (200%🢆) Physical damage to targets in front of you. Generates 300% additional threat.
Slumber		Mage	Applies Incapacitated to targets in a small area around the primary target. Lasts 10 seconds.
Tremoring Bellow		Tank	Apply Snared to enemies in front of you with a loud shout. Then quickly follow up with a powerful ground stomp, dealing 150% physical damage to enemies around you. Generates 200% additional threat.
Tremoring Strike		Tank	Deal 175% physical damage and apply Tripped to target enemy for 2 seconds. Generates 200% additional threat.
Triumph		Bard	Nearby party members gain Triumph This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Comedy
Vengeance		Tank	Combo ability: Launch up to 3 consecutive attacks against target enemy. Each hit grants 1 stack of Vengeance to the caster, granting 2% of maximum health as temporary health for 8 seconds, up to 3 stacks. 1. Hit 1 - (120%🢆) Physical damage 2. Hit 2 - (130%🢆) Physical damage 3. Hit 3 - (150%🢆) Physical damage and applies Stunned Incoming damaging hits reduce this ability's cooldown by 0.5 seconds, and hits that were blocked reduce the cooldown by 1 second. This may trigger at a maximum of once per second. Generates 100% additional threat.
Vine Field		Ranger	Summon a vine field at target location. Targets in the area take (125%🢆) Physical damage and become Rooted. Each target can only be hit once per instance. For each target hit by the initial tick that is Bleeding, 1 stack is consumed and that target becomes Hemorraging.
Wall		Tank	Summons a glorious Wall at the target location. Obstructs movement and blocks projectiles.
Whirlwind		Fighter	Channeled ability: Deal (45%🢆) Physical damage to all enemies around the caster with each spin while channeled, increasing the spin rate the longer it is channeled. The caster is immune to hard disabling effects while spinning. Activate the ability again to end channeling early. Deals 20% additional damage to Weakened targets.
Wings of Salvation		Cleric	Sprout phoenix-like wings and dash to target ally, granting Wings of Salvation to the caster and target on arrival.
Wonder		Bard	Nearby party members gain Wonder This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Mystery

Animation cancelling

Animation cancelling will not be a combat mechanic in Ashes of Creation.

• Players will be able to cancel channeled abilities.

Targeted skills

Targeted skills require either a soft or hard locked target.

• Soft locking is when the reticle moves over a valid target while in action mode. The targeting plate will appear slightly grayed out to indicate that this is a soft-lock target. If the reticle moves away from the target or the target moves away from the reticle, the target is lost..
• Hard locking is when the player uses right-mouse on a soft-locked target in action mode, or when the player selects a valid target in tab mode. The targeting plate will not be grayed-out to indicate that a hard-lock target is selected. Unlike soft locking, if the target moves out of the reticle, the target is not lost. Tab will still cycle between hard-locked targets in action mode based on proximity priority.
• Targeted skills will be greyed out if the target is not within a valid range.
• The developers will be testing additional targeting methods, such as target-of-target as well as separate friendly and enemy targets, most likely during Alpha-2.

Skill	Icon	Origin	Description
Acrobatic Strike		Rogue	Quickly strike your target 3 times for (33%🢆) Physical damage whilst flipping to the other side of them. Puts your target Off Balance If your target is facing you upon activation, gain Advantage.
Anthem of Alacrity		Bard	Target ally gains Anthem of Alacrity: Attack speed increased by 25% and casting speed increased by 25%. Lasts 10 seconds.
Arcane Volley		Mage	Fire a volley of 7 arcane missiles at your target, dealing (35%🢆) Arcane damage each.
Barrage		Ranger	Fires a continual barrage of arrows at your target for 1.5 seconds, dealing (15%🢆) Physical damage per arrow. Each hit against Bleeding targets reduces the cooldown of this ability by 0.1 seconds. Double this bonus against Hemorraging targets.
Barrier		Cleric	Sacrifice 25% of your maximum health and apply that much temporary health to target ally for 10 seconds. Does not stack.
Bless Weapon		Cleric	Imbue your target's weapon with radiant light, granting them Bless Weapon.
Blitz		Fighter	Charge directly toward target enemy, dealing (100%🢆) Physical damage to the target on arrival.
Book Combo Attack		Book	Fire from your spellbook at your target in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (58%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (22%🢆) Arcane damage 2. Hit 2 - (66%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (25%🢆) Arcane damage 3. Finisher - (82%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (33%🢆) Arcane damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (90%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (36%🢆) Arcane damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies Burning to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Bullseye Triggers Prism Triggers Arcane Amplifier 50% chance to trigger Essence Harvest Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Catalytic Projectiles Triggers Heartseeker 4. Extended Finisher - (106%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (40%🢆) Arcane damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (117%🢆) Arcane damage Bounces to 3 enemies for (43%🢆) Arcane damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Echo Triggers Perfect Timing Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Heartseeker
Chain Lightning		Mage	Release a powerful streak of lightning that hits your primary target and then chains outward to up to 5 nearby enemies from that target, dealing (225%🢆) Lightning damage to each and applies 10 stacks of Shocked to targets with Volatile. Aftershock
Chilling Lament		Bard	Target enemy is dealt (75%🢆) ice damage and afflicted with four seconds of Chilled every second. Deals bonus damage to frozen targets.
Cleansing Wave		Cleric	Held ability: Fire a beam of healing energy toward a target ally. Charging this spell allows the beam to bounce to up to 4 additional friendly targets closest to the original target, based on how long it was charged. The initial hit heals for (300%🢆) healing and reduces with each subsequent bounce.
Clever Retort		Bard	Interrupt your target with a clever retort, applying 1 stacks of Silenced. Applies Humiliated if the target is Demoralized.
Combust		Mage	Instantly combust your target, dealing (125%🢆) Fire damage and applying Conflagrating if they are Burning.
Condemn		Cleric	Apply Incapacitated (10 seconds ) to target enemy. If the target is Conflagrating, the target becomes Stunned (3 seconds ) instead.
Crippling Blow		Fighter	Deal (75%🢆) Physical damage and apply 1 stack of 1 stacks of Snared to target enemy. If the target is Staggered, apply another stack of 1 stacks of Snared to the target.
Dark Lullaby		Bard	Deal (50-100%🢆) spirit damage to target enemy each second (scales in power over the course of the cast). This damage will not wake an incapacitated target. The final hit applies Stunned for 6 seconds if the target is incapacitated.
Death's Mark		Rogue	Your target is afflicted with Death's Mark Killing your marked target will reset the cooldown and heal you for 50% of your max health or your target's max health, whichever is lesser. Death's Mark is only usable while Stealthed and has a minimum range of 15 meters.
Defiant Light		Cleric	Grant target ally Defiant Light
Deliverance		Cleric	Held ability: Charges up healing energy that heals a target ally upon release, scaling in power the longer it is charged, up to (500%🢆) healing
Discordance		Bard	Launch a wild burst of 3 discordant notes at your target, each dealing (50%🢆) Arcane damage and applying Staggered. The notes will bounce to random nearby enemies dealing reduced damage. Song Mastery: Dissonance
Enchant Weapon		Mage	Enchant up to one ally's weapon to match your current set of elemental empowerments. The enchantment will favor the greater of their magical or physical power stat. The enchantment will last one hour with a single empowerment or 30 seconds if multiple are applied.
Feint		Rogue	Dash behind your target with a feinting strike, dealing (70%🢆) Physical damage. Gain Guile Devious
Fireball		Mage	Hurl a ball of fire toward your target, dealing (250%🢆) fire damage and applying Burning for (100%🢆) fire damage.
Firebolt		Mage	Hurl a bolt of fire toward your target, dealing (125%🢆) fire damage and applying Burning for (75%🢆) fire damage. 3 charges.
Flash Cure		Cleric	3 charges. Instantly heal target ally for (175%🢆) healing. This may be used during other ability activations.
Frostbolt		Mage	Launch a bolt of frost towards your target, dealing (250%🢆) Ice damage and applying Chilled. Shattering Shards
Gambit		Bard	In a daring maneuver, transfer life to or from target party member, depending on who has a lower percent health. This ability will not reduce either player below 25% health. The character that loses life in this exchange gains Solace.
Grapple		Tank	Take aim and hurl a chained javelin at your target, damaging the first target it contacts and immediately pulling them to the caster. The target suffers a tapering snare for 3 seconds. Cannot be used on boss enemies.
Headshot		Ranger	Deal (200%🢆) Physical damage to target enemy. Deals 25% more damage to targets below 50% of their maximum health and applies 1 stack of Wounded for each 25% missing health of the target. Physical penetration increased by 25% against Dazed targets. This bonus is doubled against Silenced targets.
Healing Touch		Cleric	Heal target ally in melee range for (500%🢆) healing.
Hunting Bow		Hunting	undefined
Hymn of the Mind		Bard	Target ally gains mana equal to 2+5% magical power. Every second Mana gained increases up to 200% based on the amount of Mana the target is missing.
Intercept		Tank	Rush to an ally's defense, granting temporary health to yourself and the target equal to 10% of your maximum HP for 10 seconds upon arrival.
Jest		Bard	Jest with target ally, healing for (150%🢆) healing and applying Glee and Pep. Shares cooldown with Mock.
Judgment		Cleric	If cast on an ally, restore health equal to (1500%🢆) healing to the target. If cast on an enemy, deal (280%🢆) Radiant damage and apply Burning for (150%🢆) Fire damage to the target. If the enemy target is Shaken, the caster is healed for the damage dealt.
Knock Out		Fighter	Apply Incapacitated and Shaken to target enemy.
Lethal Blow		Fighter	Deal (125%🢆) Physical damage to target enemy, plus additional damage based on the target's missing health, up to a maximum total of (125%🢆) Physical damage. Chance to critically hit increased by 15% against Bleeding targets. This bonus is doubled against Hemorraging targets.
Lightning Strike		Mage	Held ability: Charge up a bolt of lightning to unleash upon your target, dealing (100%🢆) Lightning damage based on how long it was charged. Applies 5 stacks of Shocked to target. Amplified Lightning Strike
Longbow Combo Attack		Longbow	Fire your longbow at your target in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (66%🢆) Pierce damage 2. Hit 2 - (55%🢆) Pierce damage 3. Finisher - (85%🢆) Pierce damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (93%🢆) Pierce damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Heartseeker 4. Extended Finisher - (106%🢆) Pierce damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (116%🢆) Pierce damage Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Echo Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Perfect Timing Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Heartseeker
Lovely Serenade		Bard	Target ally is healed for (150%🢆) healing every second. The final hit applies Glee.
Marionette		Bard	Target enemy is afflicted with Marionette When Marionette expires, the target becomes Humiliated. "How embarrassing..."
Mark Prey		Ranger	Mark target enemy, temporarily converting the current active Hunt into a debuff against that target. When the Mark expires, the active Hunt effects are returned to the caster along with a temporary defensive bonus. A Hunt must be active to cast this ability.
Mark of the Bear		Ranger	Marks the target, reducing their mitigation by 25%.
Mark of the Raven		Ranger	Marks the target, triggering up to (33%🢆) Physical damage every time the target is hit, scaling based on the target's missing health %.
Mark of the Tiger		Ranger	Marks the target, increasing critical chance versus the target by 25%.
Mend		Cleric	3 charges. Instantly launch a healing projectile toward target ally. Restores (150%🢆) healing in health upon arrival.
Mock		Bard	Ridicule target enemy, damaging them for (125%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applying 1 stacks of Demoralized. Fierce Wit Shares cooldown with Jest.
Overpower		Fighter	Deal (150%🢆) Physical damage to target enemy. This ability shares a cooldown with Brutal Cleave, and hitting an enemy with a weapon combo finisher refreshes its cooldown. +10 Combat Momentum
Party Stride		Ranger	Applies Strider to all group members within 30 meters. Strider Increases ground movement speed of target by 10%.
Power Shot		Ranger	Deal (200%🢆) Physical damage to target enemy. This ability generates 25 Focus and does not consume Focus when dealing damage.
Protect		Tank	Intercept attacks that strike your friendly nearby target, redirecting 30% of the damage taken to you. Must remain within 15 meters of the target to maintain protection. If this range is exceeded for more than 5 seconds, the effect ends. If your target already has Protect from another Tank, you cannot activate Protect. If your target already has your Protect, activating Protect again will toggle it off.
Pulverize		Tank	Move to your target and strike them for 225% physical damage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Purify		Cleric	Remove up to 3 dispellable debuffs from an ally.
Quick Wit		Bard	Jest with target ally, healing for (150%🢆) healing and applying Glee and Pep. Ridicule target enemy, damaging them for (125%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applying 1 stacks of Demoralized. Fierce Wit
Regeneration		Ranger	Grants 10 Regeneration Rating per Ranger level to a target ally. Can be maintained on one ally at a time. If your target already has Regeneration from another Ranger, you cannot activate Regeneration. If your target already has your Regeneration, activating Regeneration again will toggle it off.
Resplendent Beam		Cleric	Held ability: Fire a beam of healing energy toward a target ally. Charging this spell allows the beam to bounce to up to 4 additional friendly targets closest to the original target, based on how long it was charged. The initial hit heals for (300%🢆) healing and reduces with each subsequent bounce.
Resurrect		Cleric	Resurrect target ally with 25% of their max health and mana.
Rupture		Fighter	Deal (50%🢆) Physical damage and apply a debuff to the target. While the debuff is active, the target acquires 1 Wounded stack per second while moving. After 5 seconds, the target takes another (150%🢆) Physical damage, plus 10% additional damage for each stack of Wounded it has, up to a maximum total of (150%🢆) Physical damage On the initial hit, if the target is Bleeding, 1 stack is consumed and that target becomes Hemorraging.
Salvo		Ranger	Fire all stored charges in rapid succession, dealing (50%🢆) Physical damage per hit. Weapon combo finishers restore 1 charge of this ability.
Sap		Rogue	Stab your target with a draining dagger that deals (50%🢆) Physical damage and consumes up to 10 stacks of Poisoned to apply Sap If the target has 10 stacks of Poisoned upon activation, gain Advantage.
Scatter Shot		Ranger	Fires a spread of projectiles, dealing (125%🢆) Physical damage to every enemy target in a cone area in front of the caster. Weapon combo finishers reduce this ability's cooldown by 3 seconds.
Shadow Step		Rogue	Teleport behind your target. If used on an enemy that is more than 15 meters away, gain Advantage. Ethereal
Shatter		Mage	When you deal lightning damage to a recently Frozen target, they are dealt a bonus 300% ice damage. Shattered can only be triggered once every 4 seconds per caster against the same target.
Shield Slam		Tank	Lunge forward and deal 150% physical damage while applying Staggered to that target. Gain 25 courage on hit. Generates 300% additional threat.
Shortbow Combo Attack		Shortbow	Fire your shortbow at your target in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (24%🢆) Pierce damage 2. Hit 2 - (17%🢆) Pierce damage (17%🢆) Pierce damage 3. Hit 3 - (24%🢆) Pierce damage 4. Hit 4 - (17%🢆) Pierce damage x 3 5. Finisher - (25%🢆) Pierce damage x 3 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (27%🢆) Pierce damage x 3 Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Arrowstorm 6. Extended Finisher - (21%🢆) Pierce damage x 5 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (23%🢆) Pierce damage x 5 Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Echo Triggers Special Extended Finisher: Perfect Timing Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Arrowstorm
Sleep Dart		Rogue	Shoot a sleep dart at target enemy that applies Physical damage. Minimum range of 8 meters.
Slumber		Mage	Applies Incapacitated to targets in a small area around the primary target. Lasts 10 seconds.
Smite		Cleric	Smite your target, dealing (150%🢆) Radiant damage. If activated while in melee range of the target, this spell has no cast time. If the target is Burning, it becomes Conflagrating.
Snipe		Ranger	Deal (400%🢆) Physical damage and apply Shaken to target enemy. If the target is Bleeding, 1 stack is consumed and that target becomes Hemorraging.
Soothing Glow		Cleric	Apply Soothing Glow to target ally. 2 charges.
Stab		Rogue	Deals (125%🢆) Pierce damage. Consumes Advantage to deal a bonus (125%🢆) Pierce damage and apply Exposed. Backstab: This ability deals 50% more damage from behind your target. Stab's cooldown is halved when used from Stealth.
Strider		Ranger	Target ally gains Strider
Taunt		Tank	Taunt target enemy, generating threat equal to two times your maximum health and applying Humiliated.
Thorns		Ranger	Envelop target ally with thorns, dealing damage equal to 1/3 the Ranger's level and a 10% chance of applying Bleeding to attackers each time that ally is struck. Can be maintained on one ally at a time and can not be applied to a target already affected by Thorns.
Throw		Rogue	Throw a spinning blade at your target to deal (100%🢆) Pierce damage and apply (100%🢆) Pierce damage for 6 seconds or up to 12 seconds on full health targets. Throw bounces up to 5 times to other nearby enemies dealing lesser damage with each bounce.
Thump		Rogue	Deal (50%🢆) Bludgeon damage, apply Dazed, and apply Silenced for 1 second. If you have Advantage, instead apply Silenced for 4 seconds.
Thundering Shot		Ranger	Fire a lightning-infused projectile at target enemy, dealing (200%🢆) Physical damage and applying 10 stacks of Shocked to the target. If the primary target is Dazed, the effect is consumed and the target becomes Silenced.
Tomahawk		Tank	Throw a Tomahawk at target enemy, dealing (100%🢆) Physical damage. Deals 50% more damage to targets hit from behind.
Tremoring Strike		Tank	Deal 175% physical damage and apply Tripped to target enemy for 2 seconds. Generates 200% additional threat.
Vengeance		Tank	Combo ability: Launch up to 3 consecutive attacks against target enemy. Each hit grants 1 stack of Vengeance to the caster, granting 2% of maximum health as temporary health for 8 seconds, up to 3 stacks. 1. Hit 1 - (120%🢆) Physical damage 2. Hit 2 - (130%🢆) Physical damage 3. Hit 3 - (150%🢆) Physical damage and applies Stunned Incoming damaging hits reduce this ability's cooldown by 0.5 seconds, and hits that were blocked reduce the cooldown by 1 second. This may trigger at a maximum of once per second. Generates 100% additional threat.
Wallop		Fighter	Spend 25% of current Combat Momentum to deal (150%🢆) Physical damage plus additional damage depending on how much Combat Momentum was spent, up to a maximum total of (150%🢆) Physical damage. If the target is Staggered, the effect is consumed and the target becomes Tripped.
Wand Combo Attack		Wand	Fire from your wand at your target in a series of attacks. 1. Hit 1 - (32%🢆) Arcane damage 2. Hit 2 - (42%🢆) Arcane damage 3. Hit 3 - (42%🢆) Arcane damage 4. Hit 4 - (32%🢆) Arcane damage 5. Finisher - (58%🢆) Arcane damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Finisher - (22%🢆) Arcane damage x 3 Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Applies Burning to struck targets Applies Chilled to struck targets Applies Volatile to struck targets Triggers Bullseye Triggers Prism Triggers Arcane Amplifier 50% chance to trigger Essence Harvest Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Catalytic Projectiles Triggers Heartseeker 4. Extended Finisher - (106%🢆) Arcane damage 25% chance to instead trigger a Deadly Extended Finisher - (11%🢆) Arcane damage x 11 Applies Bleeding to struck targets Applies Snared to struck targets Applies Wounded to struck targets Applies Dazed to struck targets Applies Staggered to struck targets Triggers Echo Triggers Perfect Timing Triggers Bullseye Triggers Refreshing Followthrough Triggers Ward Triggers Rhythmic Swings Triggers Inner Fire Triggers Heartseeker
Wings of Salvation		Cleric	Sprout phoenix-like wings and dash to target ally, granting Wings of Salvation to the caster and target on arrival.

Indirect fire skills

Alpha-2 Chain Lightning arcing around an environmental obstacle.

Indirect fire skills are targeted skills where the projectiles may path around obstructions that are not in line-of-sight, so long as the maximum distance travelled for the skill is not exceeded.

• This is a prototype concept that is subject to testing and balancing.
• A limited number of these may exist throughout different class kits.

Some abilities might have indirect fire. So, if you have let's say a Archer or Ranger who has the ability to select a Mage as their secondary class; and they might want to augment a Snipe ability in order to go around a corner like an Arcane Archer might have... Some abilities might not care about that line-of-sight. They might care the distance to the target around the corner, or the path that it's taking; and if it's outside that path is too long it might not be able to reach them of course. – Steven Sharif

Skill	Icon	Origin	Description
Chain Lightning		Mage	Release a powerful streak of lightning that hits your primary target and then chains outward to up to 5 nearby enemies from that target, dealing (225%🢆) Lightning damage to each and applies 10 stacks of Shocked to targets with Volatile. Aftershock
Headshot		Ranger	Deal (200%🢆) Physical damage to target enemy. Deals 25% more damage to targets below 50% of their maximum health and applies 1 stack of Wounded for each 25% missing health of the target. Physical penetration increased by 25% against Dazed targets. This bonus is doubled against Silenced targets.

Templated skills

Templated skills allow blind firing (free aim) without a target while in action mode. If a player moves into the path of the attack they can be struck.

One of the differences between tab and action combat mode is you can launch projectiles in action combat mode as a blind fire option, and if a target or if something moves in the way between the time of that projectile launching and impacting either its max distance, or a piece of terrain, or another target, it's possible that players might move into that projectile. – Steven Sharif

• Not all projectiles can be body-blocked.

• Some templated skills may have template indicators, but in general will require the player to assess the correct range for the skill.

If it is a templated ability, which means it's skill-based to use, you'll need to get a feel for those distances; and that's some skill-based learning where you get an idea for what those distances are. Some of those will have template indicators but they'll be very in-world and immersive. We're not utilizing more UI-centric looking indicators, but generally the AoE templates are meant to be skill-based. – Steven Sharif

• Basic weapon attacks from projectile weapons are capable of blind firing without having a target.

Q: Why did you move away from arrows being projectiles?

A: We are still using projectiles, but we are using a locking mechanism in tab-targeting for those projectiles to home to the target should you have a valid angle in that perspective. The action side of that is that you can blind-fire projectiles. – Steven Sharif

Skill	Icon	Origin	Description
Absorption Field		Tank	Throw a rallying banner to the target location that spawns an Absorption Field upon impact. You and allies that enter the Absorption Field are granted temporary health equal to 15% of your maximum health. This can only be applied to any specific target once per 10 seconds.
Anthem of Alacrity (AoE)		Bard	You and the 3 closest allies in front of you gain Anthem of Minor Alacrity: Attack speed increased by 10% and casting speed increased by 10%. Lasts 10 seconds.
Battle Roar		Dragon	The mount rears up in a stance of dominance, emitting a thunderous roar whilst flapping its wings forward twice. The first wing flap applies a 25% mitigation buff on allies, and the second applies a 25% power buff on allies, each buff lasting for 15 seconds.
Bear Trap		Ranger	Spawn a trap at the target location, which arms after 1 second. When an enemy triggers the trap, they take (50%🢆) Physical damage and become Rooted. Targets hit that are Snared become Rooted for 3 seconds, and all Snared stacks on those targets are consumed, increasing the rooted duration by 1 seconds per stack consumed.
Caltrops		Rogue	Throw out a field of caltrops at target location. Enemies that move through this field will rapidly take (20%🢆) Pierce damage, become Snared, and have a chance to be dismounted (WIP). Lasts 10 seconds.
Chains of Restraint		Cleric	Conjure a circle of radiant chains at target location for 8 seconds that deals (40%🢆) Radiant damage every second and applies to targets within the area of effect. Each Weakened target hit by the initial pulse becomes Rooted.
Climactic Whirlwind		Fighter	Perform a final swing in an area in front of you after ending Whirlwind's channel, dealing (175%🢆) Physical damage and applying Staggered to targets in front of the caster, while generating 5-10 Combat Momentum based on number of targets hit.
Concentrated Scatter Shot		Ranger	Scatter Shot becomes a held ability. After being fully charged, you instead fire a single projectile in a forward line that pierces through enemies dealing (250%🢆) Physical damage.
Dark Lullaby (AoE)		Bard	Deal (25-75%🢆) spirit damage each second to enemies in front of you (scales in power over the course of the cast). This damage will not wake incapacitated targets. The final hit applies Stunned for 6 seconds to any incapacitated targets.
Divebomb		Dragon	Launch into the air and then dive toward target location, dealing (100%ﾒ) physical damage and applying Tripped to enemies around you upon landing.
Divine Flare		Cleric	Place a targeted area on the ground that heals all targets after several seconds. Heals for (1000%🢆) healing divided amongst each target hit.
Grappling Hook		Rogue	Throw a grappling hook at your target location and pull yourself to that position. Taking direct damage during this effect will cause you to become Tripped for 1 second. Grappling Hook's cooldown is halved when out of combat.
Hoarfrost		Mage	Unleash a blast of icy wind at target location, dealing (125%🢆) Ice damage and applying Chilled.
Hunt of the Bear		Ranger	Toggled Ability Call forth the spirit of the bear, imbuing yourself with 10% increased penetration. Mark of the Bear: When Mark Prey is cast while this Hunt is active, reduce target mitigation by 15%. When the Mark expires, the caster receives 15% increased mitigation for 10 seconds. Only one Hunt may be active at a time, and Hunts may not be activated while a Mark is currently active.
Hymn of the Mind (AoE)		Bard	Up to 4 allies in front of you gain mana equal to 0.8 + 4% magical power every second. Mana gained increases up to 200% based on the amount of mana the target is missing. This ability will favor low mana party members and yourself.
Inciting Strikes		Tank	Slash twice in an area in front of you, dealing damage (75%🢆) Physical damage damage per hit. Generate 3 Courage per target hit with each swing, up to a maximum of 10 Courage per swing. Generates 300% Threat.
Leap Strike		Fighter	Leap to target location and deal (225%🢆) Physical damage around you while applying Staggered to targets hit. Apply 3 stacks of Snared to targets hit that were Shaken.
Lovely Serenade (AoE)		Bard	Up to five allies in front of you are healed for (50%🢆) healing every second. This ability will favor injured party members and yourself.
Magma Field		Mage	Erupts the earth at target location, forming a boiling pool of lava that deals (60%🢆) Fire damage and applies Burning at (50%🢆) Fire damage power every second to enemies within the area. Lasts 7 seconds. Pyromania
Shield Assault		Tank	Lunge forward and deal 125% physical damage while applying Staggered to enemies in front of you. If a target was hit, gain 25 courage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Slicing Maim		Fighter	Maim launches a piercing projectile that deals (100%🢆) Physical damage, plus 20% additional damage to recently tripped targets, to enemies in its path.
Tremoring Bellow		Tank	Apply Snared to enemies in front of you with a loud shout. Then quickly follow up with a powerful ground stomp, dealing 150% physical damage to enemies around you. Generates 200% additional threat.
Vine Field		Ranger	Summon a vine field at target location. Targets in the area take (125%🢆) Physical damage and become Rooted. Each target can only be hit once per instance. For each target hit by the initial tick that is Bleeding, 1 stack is consumed and that target becomes Hemorraging.
Wall		Tank	Summons a glorious Wall at the target location. Obstructs movement and blocks projectiles.

Skills by archetype

Bard skills

Bards fill a tactical support role, including a broad range of offensive and defensive combat skills in addition to support abilities and buffs.

• Bard mechanics include melodies, dances, songs, and stories.
  • Bards (like other archetypes) cannot use their abilities while mounted, but this may change in future.

One of the big things we wanted to do with this Bard specifically was not to focus specifically on just song or dance, but have a culmination of a bunch of different of these themes all together in the same kit. – John Collins

• Bard AoE effects are generally not obstructed by line-of-sight.
• Bards may choose to activate buffs that augment tanking, DPS and healing in their proximity.
  • Bard buffs apply to characters in the same group.
• Bards offer proximity-based or proc-based healing, but to a much lesser degree than Clerics.
• Bards are able to aid in the restoration of Mana.
• Bards are able to play musical instruments.
• Sagas are powerful Bard ultimate abilities that can have big effects on the battlefield.
• Bards will have utility outside of combat, but this will not include restoring rested XP, and also may not include stealth type skills.
  • The ability to give buffs out of combat may be a post-level 25 skill that might be available later in Alpha-2.
• Bards are not intended to have siege summon capabilities, but sagas may fulfill a similar role on the battlefield.

Skill	Icon	Description
Anthem of Alacrity		Target ally gains Anthem of Alacrity: Attack speed increased by 25% and casting speed increased by 25%. Lasts 10 seconds.
Anthem of Alacrity (AoE)		You and the 3 closest allies in front of you gain Anthem of Minor Alacrity: Attack speed increased by 10% and casting speed increased by 10%. Lasts 10 seconds.
Cathartic Melody		Nearby party members gain Cathartic Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.
Chaos		Nearby party members gain Chaos This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Tragedy
Cheerful Melody		Nearby party members gain Cheerful Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.
Chilling Lament		Target enemy is dealt (75%🢆) ice damage and afflicted with four seconds of Chilled every second. Deals bonus damage to frozen targets.
Chilling Lament (AoE)		Enemies in front of you are dealt (50%🢆) ice damage and afflicted with three seconds of chilled every second. Deals bonus damage to frozen targets.
Clever Retort		Interrupt your target with a clever retort, applying 1 stacks of Silenced. Applies Humiliated if the target is Demoralized.
Conflict		Nearby party members gain Conflict This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Tragedy
Dark Lullaby		Deal (50-100%🢆) spirit damage to target enemy each second (scales in power over the course of the cast). This damage will not wake an incapacitated target. The final hit applies Stunned for 6 seconds if the target is incapacitated.
Dark Lullaby (AoE)		Deal (25-75%🢆) spirit damage each second to enemies in front of you (scales in power over the course of the cast). This damage will not wake incapacitated targets. The final hit applies Stunned for 6 seconds to any incapacitated targets.
Destiny		Nearby party members gain Destiny This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Mystery
Discordance		Launch a wild burst of 3 discordant notes at your target, each dealing (50%🢆) Arcane damage and applying Staggered. The notes will bounce to random nearby enemies dealing reduced damage. Song Mastery: Dissonance
Epic Melody		Nearby party members gain Epic Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.
Flourish		Slide forward gracefully in your aimed direction and gain Pep. Can be used concurrently with any other ability. Dance Mastery: Energy Dance Mastery: Power
Fortissimo		Costs 5 Resonance to activate. Gain Fortissimo
Gambit		In a daring maneuver, transfer life to or from target party member, depending on who has a lower percent health. This ability will not reduce either player below 25% health. The character that loses life in this exchange gains Solace.
Get Off The Stage		Knockback enemies in front of you with your instrument, dealing (125%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applying 3 stacks of Snared that tapers off over the course of 6 seconds. Also applies Disarmed to targets with Staggered.
Hymn of the Mind		Target ally gains mana equal to 2+5% magical power. Every second Mana gained increases up to 200% based on the amount of Mana the target is missing.
Hymn of the Mind (AoE)		Up to 4 allies in front of you gain mana equal to 0.8 + 4% magical power every second. Mana gained increases up to 200% based on the amount of mana the target is missing. This ability will favor low mana party members and yourself.
Jest		Jest with target ally, healing for (150%🢆) healing and applying Glee and Pep. Shares cooldown with Mock.
Joy		Nearby party members gain Joy This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Comedy
Lovely Serenade		Target ally is healed for (150%🢆) healing every second. The final hit applies Glee.
Lovely Serenade (AoE)		Up to five allies in front of you are healed for (50%🢆) healing every second. This ability will favor injured party members and yourself.
Maddening Dance		Deal (55%🢆) Arcane damage and dispel 1 buff on nearby enemies every second. Damage increases with less targets, up to (55%🢆) Arcane damage. Avert Your Gaze To your allies, this dance merely looks silly, but to your enemies, it is a maddening, horrific sight.
Marionette		Target enemy is afflicted with Marionette When Marionette expires, the target becomes Humiliated. "How embarrassing..."
Menacing Melody		Nearby party members gain Menacing Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.
Mesmerizing Dance		Quickly strike a dazzling pose! Mesmerizes all nearby enemies, applying 1 stacks of Incapacitated for 10 seconds. Any targets with Staggered also become 1 stacks of Stunned for 3 seconds.
Misdirection		Use your wiles to reduce both your own and nearby party members' threat against nearby monsters by (1000%🢆) Magical damage. Additionally breaks all disabling effects on the caster.
Mock		Ridicule target enemy, damaging them for (125%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applying 1 stacks of Demoralized. Fierce Wit Shares cooldown with Jest.
Nimble Dance		Grants Nimble, Pep, and cleanses 1 debuff (favoring crowd control effects) from yourself and nearby allies every second.
Pensive Melody		Nearby party members gain Pensive Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.
Quick Wit		Jest with target ally, healing for (150%🢆) healing and applying Glee and Pep. Ridicule target enemy, damaging them for (125%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applying 1 stacks of Demoralized. Fierce Wit
Saga		Complete your tale with a grand finale, consuming all of your current themes. The specific saga you have access to is determined by the combination of your current themes.
Shielding Dance		Heal yourself and nearby allies for (50%🢆) healing every second and apply up to one instance of 1 stacks of Shield to each target as they enter the dance radius.
Triumph		Nearby party members gain Triumph This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Comedy
Wonder		Nearby party members gain Wonder This buff can stack once with itself at reduced efficacy. Generates Theme of Mystery

Some of the following information has likely been superceded by newer information. It is included here for archival reasons.

• Some buffs are related to how the Bard performs in combat: If a bard lands a skill shot against a target, allies within a certain range might be granted a temporary buff that relates to the skill that the bard used.

• Certain higher tier Bard abilities will utilize proximity-based ground templates that require the party or raid to move into (and out of) formations indicated by the template to gain added benefits or buffs.

Cleric skills

Restoration. Enhancement. Debilitation. Clerics keep their team in the fight by bolstering their combat abilities and cursing their enemies. Far from simply supporting their allies through healing, a Cleric is also capable of wielding destructive force in the face of danger.

• There will be a healthy combination of healing and offensive spells available to allow a Cleric to level and progress as a solo player. It's left to the player to decide whether they will spec into more solo or support-oriented group-focussed gameplay. Choice of a secondary archetype will enable further customization in this respect.

There's going to be a significant amount of offensive capability for the Cleric because we don't want to create that dynamic where cleric as a support class is inoperable without a companion or a party to go with. We want that Cleric to still be able to survive on their own: to be able to level and progress as a solo player. – Steven Sharif

Skill	Icon	Description
Barrier		Sacrifice 25% of your maximum health and apply that much temporary health to target ally for 10 seconds. Does not stack.
Bless Weapon		Imbue your target's weapon with radiant light, granting them Bless Weapon.
Chains of Restraint		Conjure a circle of radiant chains at target location for 8 seconds that deals (40%🢆) Radiant damage every second and applies to targets within the area of effect. Each Weakened target hit by the initial pulse becomes Rooted.
Cleansing Wave		Held ability: Fire a beam of healing energy toward a target ally. Charging this spell allows the beam to bounce to up to 4 additional friendly targets closest to the original target, based on how long it was charged. The initial hit heals for (300%🢆) healing and reduces with each subsequent bounce.
Communal Restoration		Restore health equal to (150%🢆) healing to all party members in range and apply Communal Restoration.
Condemn		Apply Incapacitated (10 seconds ) to target enemy. If the target is Conflagrating, the target becomes Stunned (3 seconds ) instead.
Consecrating Wave		Send forth a wave of radiance that deals (150%🢆) Radiant damage and applies Volatile to all enemies in front of you. Dispel 1 buff from each target hit that is Silenced. Restorative Consecrating Wave
Defiant Light		Grant target ally Defiant Light
Deliverance		Held ability: Charges up healing energy that heals a target ally upon release, scaling in power the longer it is charged, up to (500%🢆) healing
Divine Flare		Place a targeted area on the ground that heals all targets after several seconds. Heals for (1000%🢆) healing divided amongst each target hit.
Divine Infusion		Consume Divine Power to instantly complete the remaining cast time of any spell currently being cast. The amount of Divine Power consumed is proportional to the amount of cast time remaining upon activation.
Essence Infusion		While active your spells consume Divine Power instead of mana or health. Uses normal resource cost if insufficient Divine Power to cast.
Flash Cure		3 charges. Instantly heal target ally for (175%🢆) healing. This may be used during other ability activations.
Healing Touch		Heal target ally in melee range for (500%🢆) healing.
Judgment		If cast on an ally, restore health equal to (1500%🢆) healing to the target. If cast on an enemy, deal (280%🢆) Radiant damage and apply Burning for (150%🢆) Fire damage to the target. If the enemy target is Shaken, the caster is healed for the damage dealt.
Mend		3 charges. Instantly launch a healing projectile toward target ally. Restores (150%🢆) healing in health upon arrival.
Purify		Remove up to 3 dispellable debuffs from an ally.
Resplendent Beam		Held ability: Fire a beam of healing energy toward a target ally. Charging this spell allows the beam to bounce to up to 4 additional friendly targets closest to the original target, based on how long it was charged. The initial hit heals for (300%🢆) healing and reduces with each subsequent bounce.
Resurrect		Resurrect target ally with 25% of their max health and mana.
Smite		Smite your target, dealing (150%🢆) Radiant damage. If activated while in melee range of the target, this spell has no cast time. If the target is Burning, it becomes Conflagrating.
Soothing Glow		Apply Soothing Glow to target ally. 2 charges.
Wings of Salvation		Sprout phoenix-like wings and dash to target ally, granting Wings of Salvation to the caster and target on arrival.

Some of the following information has likely been superceded by newer information. It is included here for archival reasons.

• Clerics have control over life and this may relate to utility abilities that relate to corruption.

Fighter skills

The Fighter archetype includes maneuverability and "closing the gap" mechanics to enable the fighter to quickly traverse distances on the battlefield as well as debuffs that can reduce healing received on a target.

Skill	Icon	Description
Battle Cry		Apply Weakened and Demoralized to all nearby enemies and Riled to the caster and all nearby party members. Gain 5 Combat Momentum for each target Riled and each enemy target that was Shaken.
Berserk		Consume your Combat Momentum rapidly, gaining 30% more physical power and movement speed and immunity to disabling effects while active. Must have at least 20 Combat Momentum to activate, and the effect ends when all Combat Momentum is fully depleted.
Blitz		Charge directly toward target enemy, dealing (100%🢆) Physical damage to the target on arrival.
Blood Fusion		Return 100% of damage dealt as health and 50% of damage dealt as mana over the next 6 seconds. Resource replenished is diminished for each target hit beyond the first. 25% additional damage returned as health from Bleeding targets. This bonus is doubled against Hemorraging targets.
Brutal Cleave		Perform a wide sweeping attack, dealing (175%🢆) Physical damage to all enemies in front of you. This ability shares a cooldown with Overpower, and hitting an enemy with a weapon combo finisher refreshes its cooldown. +10-20 Combat Momentum (based on number of targets hit)
Cataclysm		Deal (275%🢆) Physical damage and apply Shaken to all enemies in a large area in front of you. If the target is Staggered, the effect is consumed and the target becomes Tripped. Deals 15% additional damage to Chilled targets. This bonus is doubled against Frozen targets.
Crippling Blow		Deal (75%🢆) Physical damage and apply 1 stack of 1 stacks of Snared to target enemy. If the target is Staggered, apply another stack of 1 stacks of Snared to the target.
Exert		Consume your Combat Momentum rapidly, gaining 30% more physical power and movement speed and immunity to disabling effects while active. Must have at least 20 Combat Momentum to activate, and the effect ends when all Combat Momentum is fully depleted.
Form Of Celerity		While in this form, the caster receives +2% Movement Speed per 10 Combat Momentum, up to a maximum of +20%. Overpower and Brutal Cleave apply Staggered to targets hit. Shifting form costs 20% of current Combat Momentum and triggers cooldown for all Combat Forms. Triggers cooldown for 10 seconds when deactivated.
Form Of Ferocity		While in this form, the caster receives 1.5% Attack Speed per 10 Combat Momentum, up to a maximum of 15%. Overpower and Brutal Cleave apply Bleeding to targets hit. Shifting form costs 20% of current Combat Momentum and triggers cooldown for all Combat Forms. Triggers cooldown for 10 seconds when deactivated.
Form Of Fluidity		While in this form, the caster receives +1.5% Evasion and +2.5% Disable Evasion per 10 Combat Momentum, up to a maximum of +15% and +25%, respectively. Overpower and Brutal Cleave apply Shaken to targets hit. Shifting form costs 20% of current Combat Momentum and triggers cooldown for all Combat Forms. Triggers cooldown for 10 seconds when deactivated.
Knock Out		Apply Incapacitated and Shaken to target enemy.
Leap Strike		Leap to target location and deal (225%🢆) Physical damage around you while applying Staggered to targets hit. Apply 3 stacks of Snared to targets hit that were Shaken.
Lethal Blow		Deal (125%🢆) Physical damage to target enemy, plus additional damage based on the target's missing health, up to a maximum total of (125%🢆) Physical damage. Chance to critically hit increased by 15% against Bleeding targets. This bonus is doubled against Hemorraging targets.
Lunging Assault		Spend 15 Combat Momentum to lunge in a direction a short distance and perform an upward swing upon arrival, dealing (125%🢆) Physical damage and applying Snared to enemies in front of the caster. The caster is immune to hard disabling effects while lunging.
Maim		Perform a powerful melee strike in a short forward cone, dealing (250%🢆) Physical damage to all targets hit. Deals 20% additional damage to recently Tripped targets.
Overpower		Deal (150%🢆) Physical damage to target enemy. This ability shares a cooldown with Brutal Cleave, and hitting an enemy with a weapon combo finisher refreshes its cooldown. +10 Combat Momentum
Rupture		Deal (50%🢆) Physical damage and apply a debuff to the target. While the debuff is active, the target acquires 1 Wounded stack per second while moving. After 5 seconds, the target takes another (150%🢆) Physical damage, plus 10% additional damage for each stack of Wounded it has, up to a maximum total of (150%🢆) Physical damage On the initial hit, if the target is Bleeding, 1 stack is consumed and that target becomes Hemorraging.
Wallop		Spend 25% of current Combat Momentum to deal (150%🢆) Physical damage plus additional damage depending on how much Combat Momentum was spent, up to a maximum total of (150%🢆) Physical damage. If the target is Staggered, the effect is consumed and the target becomes Tripped.
Whirlwind		Channeled ability: Deal (45%🢆) Physical damage to all enemies around the caster with each spin while channeled, increasing the spin rate the longer it is channeled. The caster is immune to hard disabling effects while spinning. Activate the ability again to end channeling early. Deals 20% additional damage to Weakened targets.

Q: What percentage of Fighter skills are templated attacks versus requiring a target?

A: There's probably four or five abilities right now that require a single target and then I think the rest are either like on self or some template conal attack or something. – Steven Sharif

Mage skills

Skill	Icon	Description
Arcane Circle		Place a powerful rune of magic upon the ground beneath you that grants you Arcane Might while standing within. Lasts 10 seconds.
Arcane Eye		Conjure a magical eye above you, that applies Revealing Gaze to stealthed enemies within a 20 meter radius. Lasts 10 seconds.
Arcane Volley		Fire a volley of 7 arcane missiles at your target, dealing (35%🢆) Arcane damage each.
Ball Lightning		Create a large ball of charged electricity that travels slowly forward, rapidly dealing (50%🢆) Lightning damage and applying Volatile to enemies it overlaps with.
Blink		Instantly teleport 20 meters in the direction you are moving. Breaks all rooting effects.
Blizzard		Channel a massive blizzard around you, raining a barrage of hail shards upon your enemies while channeling. Periodically pulses Chilled to targets within the area. Each shard impact deals (50%🢆) Ice damage in a small area around it and applies Frozen to targets with Chilled.
Chain Lightning		Release a powerful streak of lightning that hits your primary target and then chains outward to up to 5 nearby enemies from that target, dealing (225%🢆) Lightning damage to each and applies 10 stacks of Shocked to targets with Volatile. Aftershock
Combust		Instantly combust your target, dealing (125%🢆) Fire damage and applying Conflagrating if they are Burning.
Cone of Cold		Blast a vortex of freezing wind in a cone in front of you, dealing (125%🢆) Ice damage and applying Frozen to targets with Chilled.
Enchant Weapon		Enchant up to one ally's weapon to match your current set of elemental empowerments. The enchantment will favor the greater of their magical or physical power stat. The enchantment will last one hour with a single empowerment or 30 seconds if multiple are applied.
Fireball		Hurl a ball of fire toward your target, dealing (250%🢆) fire damage and applying Burning for (100%🢆) fire damage.
Firebolt		Hurl a bolt of fire toward your target, dealing (125%🢆) fire damage and applying Burning for (75%🢆) fire damage. 3 charges.
Frostbolt		Launch a bolt of frost towards your target, dealing (250%🢆) Ice damage and applying Chilled. Shattering Shards
Hoarfrost		Unleash a blast of icy wind at target location, dealing (125%🢆) Ice damage and applying Chilled.
Illuminate		Conjure a circle of light around you that lights up your surroundings.
Lightning Strike		Held ability: Charge up a bolt of lightning to unleash upon your target, dealing (100%🢆) Lightning damage based on how long it was charged. Applies 5 stacks of Shocked to target. Amplified Lightning Strike
Magma Field		Erupts the earth at target location, forming a boiling pool of lava that deals (60%🢆) Fire damage and applies Burning at (50%🢆) Fire damage power every second to enemies within the area. Lasts 7 seconds. Pyromania
Prismatic Beam		Channel a powerful beam in front of you that periodically deals (50%🢆) Magical damage and has additional effects based on your Elemental Empowerment: Fire: Apply Burning for (25%🢆) Fire damage per hit. Ice: Apply Chilled for 1 second per hit. Lightning: 33% chance per hit to trigger an arcing bolt that bounces up to 2 times, dealing (35%🢆) Lightning damage and applying Volatile for 1.5 seconds to targets hit. Arcane (no empowerment): Each hit drains 1 Mana per target, returning up to 3 Mana to the caster.
Shell		Apply Shell
Slumber		Applies Incapacitated to targets in a small area around the primary target. Lasts 10 seconds.
Thermal Equalibrium		Whenever you apply Frozen to a target, refresh the duration of your applied Conflagrating statuses on that target.

Ranger skills

The majority of a Ranger's skill tree will likely be ranged, but there will be options to incorporate melee aspects.

• Some abilities require a bow to be equipped.
• Instead of a minimum range requirement, certain Ranger skills, such as Thundering Shot, currently have variable effects conferred at different ranges.
• The majority of Ranger abilities allow movement while casting. Only a few abilities impose movement penalties while casting.

Skill	Icon	Description
Air Strike		Leap a great distance forward and into the air while firing three projectiles in a line along the path, each dealing (150%🢆) Physical damage to targets hit. Targets hit that are Snared become Rooted, and all Snared stacks on those targets are consumed.
Barrage		Fires a continual barrage of arrows at your target for 1.5 seconds, dealing (15%🢆) Physical damage per arrow. Each hit against Bleeding targets reduces the cooldown of this ability by 0.1 seconds. Double this bonus against Hemorraging targets.
Bear Trap		Spawn a trap at the target location, which arms after 1 second. When an enemy triggers the trap, they take (50%🢆) Physical damage and become Rooted. Targets hit that are Snared become Rooted for 3 seconds, and all Snared stacks on those targets are consumed, increasing the rooted duration by 1 seconds per stack consumed.
Call of the Wild		Remove all Snared and Chilled statuses from the caster, and increase movement speed by 20% while becoming immune to all movement impairing effects for 8 seconds.
Camouflage		Gain Camouflage Any actions besides sprint will cancel this effect, as well as incoming damage or other negative effects. This will trigger a 60 second cooldown.
Disengage		Quickly strike enemies in front of you while backflipping in the opposite direction. Targets hit by the strike take Physical damage and acquire 1 stack of Snared for 10 seconds.
Enhance Armament: Barbs		Toggled Ability Enemies hit by your Finisher s, Extended Finisher s, Salvo, or Scattershot become Bleeding.
Enhance Armament: Concussion		Toggled Ability Enemies hit by your Finisher s, Extended Finisher s, Salvo, or Scattershot become Dazed.
Enhance Armament: Weight		Toggled Ability Enemies hit by your Finisher s, Extended Finisher s, Salvo, or Scattershot become Snared.
Headshot		Deal (200%🢆) Physical damage to target enemy. Deals 25% more damage to targets below 50% of their maximum health and applies 1 stack of Wounded for each 25% missing health of the target. Physical penetration increased by 25% against Dazed targets. This bonus is doubled against Silenced targets.
Hunt of the Bear		Toggled Ability Call forth the spirit of the bear, imbuing yourself with 10% increased penetration. Mark of the Bear: When Mark Prey is cast while this Hunt is active, reduce target mitigation by 15%. When the Mark expires, the caster receives 15% increased mitigation for 10 seconds. Only one Hunt may be active at a time, and Hunts may not be activated while a Mark is currently active.
Hunt of the Raven		Toggled Ability Call forth the spirit of the raven, imbuing yourself with 10% increased accuracy. Mark of the Raven: When Mark Prey is cast while this Hunt is active, reduce target evasion by 25%. When the Mark expires, the caster receives 15% increased evasion for 10 seconds. Only one Hunt may be active at a time, and Hunts may not be activated while a Mark is currently active.
Hunt of the Tiger		Toggled Ability Call forth the spirit of the tiger, imbuing yourself with 10% increased critical chance. Mark of the Tiger: When Mark Prey is cast while this Hunt is active, reduce target critical avoidance by 25%. When the Mark expires, the caster receives 25% increased critical avoidance or 10 seconds. Only one Hunt may be active at a time, and Hunts may not be activated while a Mark is currently active.
Lightning Reload		Grants a charge of Lightning Reload, allowing you to fire one ability Shot for free, ignoring it's cooldown and other costs. Affected Abilities: Power Shot Snipe Barrage Headshot Scatter Shot Raining Death Thundering Shot
Mark Prey		Mark target enemy, temporarily converting the current active Hunt into a debuff against that target. When the Mark expires, the active Hunt effects are returned to the caster along with a temporary defensive bonus. A Hunt must be active to cast this ability.
Mark of the Bear		Marks the target, reducing their mitigation by 25%.
Mark of the Raven		Marks the target, triggering up to (33%🢆) Physical damage every time the target is hit, scaling based on the target's missing health %.
Mark of the Tiger		Marks the target, increasing critical chance versus the target by 25%.
Party Stride		Applies Strider to all group members within 30 meters. Strider Increases ground movement speed of target by 10%.
Power Shot		Deal (200%🢆) Physical damage to target enemy. This ability generates 25 Focus and does not consume Focus when dealing damage.
Raining Death		Fire two consecutive volleys of arrows in a wide area in front of you, dealing (100%🢆) Physical damage and applying 1 stack of Wounded to enemies with each hit. Deals 20% additional damage to Shocked targets.
Regeneration		Grants 10 Regeneration Rating per Ranger level to a target ally. Can be maintained on one ally at a time. If your target already has Regeneration from another Ranger, you cannot activate Regeneration. If your target already has your Regeneration, activating Regeneration again will toggle it off.
Salvo		Fire all stored charges in rapid succession, dealing (50%🢆) Physical damage per hit. Weapon combo finishers restore 1 charge of this ability.
Scatter Shot		Fires a spread of projectiles, dealing (125%🢆) Physical damage to every enemy target in a cone area in front of the caster. Weapon combo finishers reduce this ability's cooldown by 3 seconds.
Snipe		Deal (400%🢆) Physical damage and apply Shaken to target enemy. If the target is Bleeding, 1 stack is consumed and that target becomes Hemorraging.
Strider		Target ally gains Strider
Thorns		Envelop target ally with thorns, dealing damage equal to 1/3 the Ranger's level and a 10% chance of applying Bleeding to attackers each time that ally is struck. Can be maintained on one ally at a time and can not be applied to a target already affected by Thorns.
Thundering Shot		Fire a lightning-infused projectile at target enemy, dealing (200%🢆) Physical damage and applying 10 stacks of Shocked to the target. If the primary target is Dazed, the effect is consumed and the target becomes Silenced.
Vine Field		Summon a vine field at target location. Targets in the area take (125%🢆) Physical damage and become Rooted. Each target can only be hit once per instance. For each target hit by the initial tick that is Bleeding, 1 stack is consumed and that target becomes Hemorraging.

Rogue skills

All classes are capable adventurers, but rogues excel at delving the deepest dungeons and finding the most hidden of treasures.

• Rogues will have utility skills that enable them to discover hidden doors, traps and additional treasures.
• These will be randomly spawned throughout different times of the day to ensure that encounters are not the same each time.

If you're in a party and you have a Rogue that's available, they'll be able to use that utility skill to discover these random doors that might exist in a dungeon. Now the way we make it so that it's not essentially the same door every time and it's just a first time thing and every time thereafter where that door's at, is these locations are randomly spawned throughout different times of the day so they'll change essentially as you go into a dungeon at different times. So it'll be important and relevant for parties to make sure that they have a diversity of archetypes available to them. And in particular for the rogues case because they can find those hidden type doors and then have access to different types of loot tables based off of that. – Steven Sharif

Skill	Icon	Description
Acrobatic Strike		Quickly strike your target 3 times for (33%🢆) Physical damage whilst flipping to the other side of them. Puts your target Off Balance If your target is facing you upon activation, gain Advantage.
Adrenaline		Gain Adrenaline Usable without breaking Stealth.
Backstab		Stab your target in the back dealing (200%🢆) Pierce damage damage. Requires being behind your target. Consumes Advantage to deal (200%🢆) Pierce damage bonus damage.
Caltrops		Throw out a field of caltrops at target location. Enemies that move through this field will rapidly take (20%🢆) Pierce damage, become Snared, and have a chance to be dismounted (WIP). Lasts 10 seconds.
Death's Mark		Your target is afflicted with Death's Mark Killing your marked target will reset the cooldown and heal you for 50% of your max health or your target's max health, whichever is lesser. Death's Mark is only usable while Stealthed and has a minimum range of 15 meters.
Doublestrike		Strike again with the last used melee ability from this list: -Stab -Lacerate -Thump
Feint		Dash behind your target with a feinting strike, dealing (70%🢆) Physical damage. Gain Guile Devious
Flurry		Quickly strike your target twice for (50%🢆) Physical damage. Gain Flurry Weapon combo finishers grant a charge of Flurry. Flurry does not interrupt your weapon combo.
Grappling Hook		Throw a grappling hook at your target location and pull yourself to that position. Taking direct damage during this effect will cause you to become Tripped for 1 second. Grappling Hook's cooldown is halved when out of combat.
Kick		Deals (30%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applies Tripped. Consumes Advantage to instead hit all targets within melee range and apply Tripped for 1 extra second.
Lacerate		Deals (75%🢆) Physical damage and applies Bleeding. If the target is already bleeding, instead applies Hemorraging. Consumes Advantage to instead hit all targets in frontal melee range for (150%🢆) Physical damage with normal melee AoE falloff.
Poison		Gain Poison
Sap		Stab your target with a draining dagger that deals (50%🢆) Physical damage and consumes up to 10 stacks of Poisoned to apply Sap If the target has 10 stacks of Poisoned upon activation, gain Advantage.
Shadow Cascade		Dash 20 meters forward through your enemies. After a short delay, deals Shadow Cascade to each target hit, increasing based on the amount of missing health on the target. All targets hit suffer Bleeding. Targets that are Poisoned become Exposed. Targets below 50% health suffer Hemorraging. Requires and consumes Advantage.
Shadow Step		Teleport behind your target. If used on an enemy that is more than 15 meters away, gain Advantage. Ethereal
Shuriken		Throw a shuriken at your target, dealing (75%🢆) Pierce damage and bouncing to up to 4 other nearby enemies dealing lesser damage each bounce. Each hit applies any currently active Poison, otherwise applies (75%🢆) Pierce damage.
Sleep Dart		Shoot a sleep dart at target enemy that applies Physical damage. Minimum range of 8 meters.
Smoke Bomb		Throw a smoke bomb down beneath you that lasts 10 seconds. While within, you are unobservable and activating or leaving Stealth only incurs a 3 second cooldown. While within, you also gain Blurred. Enemies within are periodically afflicted with Blinded.
Stab		Deals (125%🢆) Pierce damage. Consumes Advantage to deal a bonus (125%🢆) Pierce damage and apply Exposed. Backstab: This ability deals 50% more damage from behind your target. Stab's cooldown is halved when used from Stealth.
Stealth		Gain Stealth In either case, Stealth's cooldown will trigger again. Gain Advantage. Stealth can only be activated when out of line of sight or more than 15 meters away from all non-allies. Fade into the shadows...
Thrash		Deals (80%🢆) Physical damage to your target. This ability can be activated up to 2 more times in a short time frame for increasing damage. However, you must activate another ability before it can be recast. The third and final strike will apply Bleeding to your target and grant Advantage to yourself. Thrash does not interrupt your weapon combo.
Throw		Throw a spinning blade at your target to deal (100%🢆) Pierce damage and apply (100%🢆) Pierce damage for 6 seconds or up to 12 seconds on full health targets. Throw bounces up to 5 times to other nearby enemies dealing lesser damage with each bounce.
Thump		Deal (50%🢆) Bludgeon damage, apply Dazed, and apply Silenced for 1 second. If you have Advantage, instead apply Silenced for 4 seconds.
Umbral Cloak		Apply Umbral Cloak Consumes Advantage to clear all damaging debuffs and crowd control effects.

Summoner skills

The summoner uses abilities that channel through their summons (also referred to as class skill pets).

• Summoners can summon up to three Summons.

You gain your summons from your summoner class as an active skill and then skills can be further developed with points. – Steven Sharif

• Abilities from the summon appear on the summoner's hotbar. The summoner is essentially playing through their summon.
  • Summoner has control over their summon, unless the summon is under ancillary effects.

• Summoner summons will be able to fulfil DPS, Tank, and Healing/Support roles.
  • Summons will be able to use crowd control (CC).

• Summoners will not be able to fuse with or be taken over by their normal summons.
  • In the case of siege summons the summoner does become the summon.

• Summoners may also have the ability to transfer pain to their summons, meaning that a portion of damage or threat taken by the summoner can be transferred to their summon instead.

• Summoner summons are not the same as combat pets.
  • Summoner's summons will add to the summoner's power when they are summoned, unlike combat pets, which take a portion of the player's power.

The Summoner archetype does not have that portion of power taken away when they summon their pet. That's part of their... power is their summon. – Steven Sharif

• Summons will exist until another summon is cast, the summon is killed, or the summoner logs off.

• Summoners may be able to name their summons, but will not be able to change their creature type, which is part of the nameplate above the summon.

• Summons follow the same PvP flagging rules as players and share the player's flag status.

Summons follow the same flagging rules as players, if your summon pks someone, you gain corruption – Steven Sharif

• Summoners summon different varieties of summons, depending on the class and augments they choose.
  • Animals.
  • Spirits.
  • Skeletons, zombies and other undead summons will be possible with death-based cleric augments.
  • Corpses (potentially).
  • Some summoners may summon multiple things.
  • Other summoners may only summon one powerful thing.
  • Certain summoners may only be able to summon effects and/or temporary energies.

Some of the following information has not been recently confirmed by the developers and may not be on the current development roadmap.

• Summons can be leveled through the application of skill points to their active skill.

• Augments from a secondary archetype can be applied to a summon.

For example: If your summon had a sweeping attack with a claw, or had the ability to bite an opponent, or rush an opponent; and you took teleportation, you could rush them similar to how I've given an example with the tank: Teleporting to a target instead. Or, its claws could combust on impact on a target dealing some burn damage that persists. Or... let's say your summon traditionally was some type of bear or bear cat, you could apply an elemental augment and now it could be a transparent flaming bioluminescent cat; and its damage would be fire based. So, that's how we want to influence the active skills with how augments apply; and that's how it would apply with Summoners. – Steven Sharif

Tank skills

Skill	Icon	Description
Absorption Field		Throw a rallying banner to the target location that spawns an Absorption Field upon impact. You and allies that enter the Absorption Field are granted temporary health equal to 15% of your maximum health. This can only be applied to any specific target once per 10 seconds.
Aegis		Create a protective dome around the caster for 15 seconds, transferring 20% of all damage received by targets within the area to the tank instead. Can be toggled off early to cancel the effect.
Charge		Channeled Ability: Charge forward in the direction you are facing. Enemies you collide with take (50%🢆) Physical damage damage and become Staggered. Charge will be canceled if another ability is activated or if the Charge key is pressed again.
Desolate		Strikes your target and surrounding enemies for 150% physical damage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Fortify		Consumes all Courage to reduce damage taken for 10 seconds. Increases mitigation by 10% plus an additional 0.1% per Courage spent, up to a total maximum of 20%. While active, generate 300% Courage from damage taken.
Grapple		Take aim and hurl a chained javelin at your target, damaging the first target it contacts and immediately pulling them to the caster. The target suffers a tapering snare for 3 seconds. Cannot be used on boss enemies.
Grit		Increase physical mitigation by 10% for 10 seconds. This can stack up to 2 times.
Ground Pound		Slams the ground, dealing (200%🢆) Physical damage to enemies in front of you, while applying Tripped for 2 seconds to targets that were Staggered. Targets already Tripped are launched and take 25% more damage.
Inciting Strikes		Slash twice in an area in front of you, dealing damage (75%🢆) Physical damage damage per hit. Generate 3 Courage per target hit with each swing, up to a maximum of 10 Courage per swing. Generates 300% Threat.
Indomitable Spirit		Gain Indomitable Spirit
Intercept		Rush to an ally's defense, granting temporary health to yourself and the target equal to 10% of your maximum HP for 10 seconds upon arrival.
Intimidating Aura		Emanate an aura around the caster for 8 seconds that deals (10%🢆) Magical damage with a 10% chance of applying Staggered every 0.5 seconds. Generates threat equal to 30% of your Maximum Health every tick.
Iron Aura		Reduces damage taken by 5% for all party members within 10 meters.
Protect		Intercept attacks that strike your friendly nearby target, redirecting 30% of the damage taken to you. Must remain within 15 meters of the target to maintain protection. If this range is exceeded for more than 5 seconds, the effect ends. If your target already has Protect from another Tank, you cannot activate Protect. If your target already has your Protect, activating Protect again will toggle it off.
Pulverize		Move to your target and strike them for 225% physical damage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Reflect		You brace for the next hit, doubling your block mitigation rating. The first incoming attack within the next 3 seconds is reflected back to the attacker, dealing (100%🢆) Physical damage plus additional damage based on the amount of damage taken by the deflected attack, up to a maximum total of (100%🢆) Physical damage. Generates 200% additional threat.
Rush of Courage		You feel a surge of resolve. Gain 100 Courage.
Shake It Off		Activate to instantly restore 50% of the difference between damage taken and healing taken in the past 4 seconds. Always heals for at least 10% of your maximum HP. Cannot heal for more than 30% of your Maximum HP.
Shield Assault		Lunge forward and deal 125% physical damage while applying Staggered to enemies in front of you. If a target was hit, gain 25 courage. Generates 300% additional threat.
Shield Slam		Lunge forward and deal 150% physical damage while applying Staggered to that target. Gain 25 courage on hit. Generates 300% additional threat.
Slam		Deal (200%🢆) Physical damage to targets in front of you. Generates 300% additional threat.
Taunt		Taunt target enemy, generating threat equal to two times your maximum health and applying Humiliated.
Tomahawk		Throw a Tomahawk at target enemy, dealing (100%🢆) Physical damage. Deals 50% more damage to targets hit from behind.
Tremoring Bellow		Apply Snared to enemies in front of you with a loud shout. Then quickly follow up with a powerful ground stomp, dealing 150% physical damage to enemies around you. Generates 200% additional threat.
Tremoring Strike		Deal 175% physical damage and apply Tripped to target enemy for 2 seconds. Generates 200% additional threat.
Vengeance		Combo ability: Launch up to 3 consecutive attacks against target enemy. Each hit grants 1 stack of Vengeance to the caster, granting 2% of maximum health as temporary health for 8 seconds, up to 3 stacks. 1. Hit 1 - (120%🢆) Physical damage 2. Hit 2 - (130%🢆) Physical damage 3. Hit 3 - (150%🢆) Physical damage and applies Stunned Incoming damaging hits reduce this ability's cooldown by 0.5 seconds, and hits that were blocked reduce the cooldown by 1 second. This may trigger at a maximum of once per second. Generates 100% additional threat.
Wall		Summons a glorious Wall at the target location. Obstructs movement and blocks projectiles.

Caravan skills

Caravan components grant passive and active skills to a caravan.

Skill	Icon	Description
Collect Cargo		Pick up cargo nearest the mouse location and add them to your caravan's storage if there's enough room.
Convert to Caravan		Allows the raft caravan to turn into a vehicle that can traverse land.[ citation needed ]
Convert to Raft		Allows the caravan to turn into a vehicle that can cross calm waters.
Healing Aura		Provides healing to nearby defenders over time.
Repulsor Blast		Blast away nearby attackers.
Speed Boost		Gives the caravan a temporary speed boost.

Caravan passive skills

- None -

Siege abilities

War Beast 3D render. 3D model by Jessica Jennings.

Group summons, such as Siege golems and Tank barricades, may be able to be activated by players combining certain archetype abilities while in the same group.

• Bards are not intended to have siege summon capabilities, but sagas may fulfill a similar role on the battlefield.

Do we intend for there to be synergy between multiple archetypes, or different archetypes in skill activation? And I think we've talked about this in the past: We gave an example actually. I think I heard a Golem in this example, but we gave an example of Summoners using combined powers to summon a larger Golem. There is a desire to explore that path. I think our ability system facilitates that already. – Steven Sharif

Some of the following information has not been recently confirmed by the developers and may not be on the current development roadmap.

• Up to eight players of the same primary archetype can band together to create monumental effects during a siege. The classes will need to be in the same group or raid.

Summoner

Summoners may be able collaborate together during sieges to summon larger creatures, such as Golems.

We do have the concept of siege summons being a thing with multiple summoners being required in order to create that siege summon. In those situations your character becomes the summon. So you don't have an AI that takes over your previous character but instead the recipient of those additional spell effects becomes the actual summon itself. – Steven Sharif

• The target of the group summon becomes the summon itself.
  • Previously it was stated that the party-leader becomes the summon.

Some of the following information has not been recently confirmed by the developers and may not be on the current development roadmap.

• A siege summon will have an incremental size based on the number of summoners participating in that summon activity, with a maximum of eight.
• The number of summoners participating in the summon will determine its overall size.
• All summoners must be in the same party and the party leader must be a summoner.
  • The party leader initiates the summon and then takes control of it.
  • Once summoned, the party leader cannot be changed.
  • If the party disbands, the summon ends. There will be a grace period to handle disconnects.
  • The party may also contain non-Summoners.

Tank

Tanks may in future be able to combine their Walls in a way that snaps to other tank walls.

• Previously it was suggested that this would require eight Tanks using their summon wall abilities together.

Utility skills

Alpha-2 Ranger Camouflage skill.

We have what are called utility skills and a lot of MMORPGS really only focus on active combat skills, but some of the favorite things that I've had as a gamer is tabletop RPGs like Pathfinder or Dungeons and Dragons, and there are skills in those games that are relevant to either your environment or the quest line; and they're a little bit sometimes "story mode". – Steven Sharif

A utility skill is a typically non-combat skill that interacts with the environment and offers counters and horizontal progression against other archetype abilities. Utility skills lend themselves toward how classes navigate and deal with hazards in the world.

When we think about utilities, some of the examples of those utilities might be a Rogue has invisibility. How do you address invisibility? Well, a Ranger might have a utility ability that spawns a Hound that trails invisible targets within an AoE radius of the Ranger and you get that location. Whereas, a Mage might have an Arcane Eye that actually reveals them to the party of the raid. Those are the types of utility skills that we want to create. They offer counters and horizontal progression against the other archetype abilities. – Steven Sharif

• Classes will have different utility abilities, such as detecting traps and other hazards. For example: The Mage's detection spell casts light and reveals magical explosive hazards.
  • Certain classes are able to climb/parkour in certain areas. This is not a free-form ability. It will likely be restricted to certain quests, locations or objects.
  • Certain classes (such as Rogues) will have stealth abilities.

Q: What kind and how many special or unique activities can we expect classes to perform outside of combat, such as rogue's opening locks, tracking enemies as a ranger, or removing corruption from the ground as a cleric?

A: Just thirty minutes ago I was talking about those utility abilities like finding tracks, or cleansing poisons, arcane eye to reveal secret passages. The idea is how do we blend the traditional tabletop RPG role of utility and/or skill checks into the setting of a graphical MMORPG; and I think that it's both a complement of the skill kit that's available and how it interacts with the world for those curated or special designs within these locations. So to answer that question: that is intended- we've shown a little bit of that in the past and it is something that we want to make feel compelling and rewarding and viable as a use-case scenario in many different settings that you might find yourself in within the world. – Steven Sharif

• All classes will have maneuverability/traversal utility abilities.
• Utility skills exist that can help players discover hidden paths and entrances and may lead to discovering hidden quests while exploring.
• Certain objects exist in the world (such as ladders and slides) that aid player mobility.

We don't just have the approach of your class being reflected in your combat abilities but also there are utility abilities that certain classes have that other classes don't have. – Steven Sharif

• Utility skills will be fleshed out further in later Alpha-2 update releases.

Some of the following information has not been recently confirmed by the developers and may not be on the current development roadmap.

• There will be a grappling hook utility skill or item.
• Rogues may also have a spyglass utility skill.

Skill	Icon	Origin	Description
Arcane Eye		Mage	Conjure a magical eye above you, that applies Revealing Gaze to stealthed enemies within a 20 meter radius. Lasts 10 seconds.
Blink		Mage	Instantly teleport 20 meters in the direction you are moving. Breaks all rooting effects.
Camouflage		Ranger	Gain Camouflage Any actions besides sprint will cancel this effect, as well as incoming damage or other negative effects. This will trigger a 60 second cooldown.
Collect Cargo		Caravan	Pick up cargo nearest the mouse location and add them to your caravan's storage if there's enough room.
Convert to Caravan		Caravan	Allows the raft caravan to turn into a vehicle that can traverse land.[ citation needed ]
Convert to Raft		Caravan	Allows the caravan to turn into a vehicle that can cross calm waters.
Enchant Weapon		Mage	Enchant up to one ally's weapon to match your current set of elemental empowerments. The enchantment will favor the greater of their magical or physical power stat. The enchantment will last one hour with a single empowerment or 30 seconds if multiple are applied.
Family summon		Utility skill	Long duration cast (30 seconds to a minute) with an approximate 30 minute cooldown that slowly summons each of your family members to your location (up to eight members). Players cannot be summoned in the following cases: While in combat, if they are corrupted, or if they are engaged in an event, such as node wars, guild wars, sieges, arenas or participation in the caravan system. If they have mats, gatherables or certs in their inventory. This will be tested in Alpha-2 phase-3.
Fishing		Fishing	Attempt to cast your fishing line, fails if the casts would not land in valid water.
Illuminate		Mage	Conjure a circle of light around you that lights up your surroundings.
Party Stride		Ranger	Applies Strider to all group members within 30 meters. Strider Increases ground movement speed of target by 10%.
Pathfinding		Bounty hunter	Reveals corrupted player locations on the bounty hunter's map. Activating this ability will flag the bounty hunter for combat only to corrupted players for a period of one hour from the time of activation. The pathfinding ability can be toggled on or off.
Shell		Mage	Apply Shell
Stealth		Rogue	Gain Stealth In either case, Stealth's cooldown will trigger again. Gain Advantage. Stealth can only be activated when out of line of sight or more than 15 meters away from all non-allies. Fade into the shadows...

Skill transfer

Players will not be able to transfer their skills to other players.

Kickstarter skill FX

All Kickstarter backers will receive a skill effects (FX) set.

• Includes unique colors and additional effects for certain skills. For example: A mage with her fireball skill may fire off a ball of searing white flames as opposed to the traditional colors of that skill.

Visuals

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  2020-03-28
• 2019-06-28
• 2018-09-28
• 

  2018-08-08
• 

  2018-08-04
• 

  2018-08-04

See also

• Skill augments
• Archetypes
• Classes
• User interface
• Combat