Trait

The trait interface of an elementalist. The grandmaster tier traits have not yet been unlocked.

Traits are used to enhance a character's skills and other actions. They are accessed by spending trait points into trait lines, which also increase the attributes associated with each line.

Trait points

Characters acquire their first trait point at level 11 and earn 1 additional point with each new level, for a total of 70 trait points at level 80.

Trait points can be adjusted via the "Skills and Traits" tab on the hero panel at any time a character is out of combat. Spending points in a trait line has the following effects:

• Increases attributes associated with that line,
• unlocks that line's minor traits,
• unlocks that line's major trait slots, where major traits can be selected.

Spending trait points can be done at any time. In PvE and WvW, however, resetting trait points has to be done by:

• Using a Training Manual, or
• Paying 5 /point to a trainer (at L80, this costs 3  50 ).

In structured PvP, trait points can be refunded when not in a match. As structured PvP builds are saved separately, trait allocation in PvP has no effect on PvE and WvW.

Trait lines are split into three tiers, each of which requires the purchase of a training manual to unlock, which can only be used if the previous training manual is unlocked. The tiers are as follows:

Tier	Unlock level	Training Manual	Cost	Notes
Adept	11	Adept's	10	Allows spending up to 10 points in each trait line.
Master	40	Master's	1	Allows spending up to 20 points in each trait line.
Grandmaster	60	Grandmaster's	2	Allows spending up to 30 points in each trait line.

Trait lines

Ranger trait lines.

Each character has access to five profession-specific trait lines. Each point spent increases two attributes, one from each of the following groups:

Primary/profession-specific attributes

 Power +10 — increases damage dealt.

 Precision +10 — increases critical hit chance.

 Toughness +10 — increases armor.

 Vitality +10 — increases health.

Attunement Recharge Rate +2%; specific for Elementalists

Pet Attribute Bonus +1; specific for Rangers

Burst Damage +0.1%; specific for Warriors

all other Profession-specific attributes +1% — see trait lines by profession below.

Secondary attributes

 Boon Duration +1% — increases boon duration.

 Condition Damage +10 — increases condition damage.

 Condition Duration +1% — increases condition duration.

 Critical Damage +1% — increases critical hit damage.

 Healing Power +10 — increases healing.

Traits

Ranger traits

Traits are passive abilities that can enhance skills, provide additional effects, provide bonuses to damage and attributes, and modify other actions. Each profession has access to 15 minor and 60 major traits across five different trait lines.

• Minor traits are represented by small hexagons; minor traits are automatically granted and cannot be changed.
• Major traits are represented by larger hexagons; major traits must be selected from a list when a major trait slot is unlocked.

Traits are unlocked and slots become available based on the number of points allocated to a trait line. The following table shows the layout of traits:

Trait tier	Adept		Master		Grandmaster
Trait type	Minor	Major	Minor	Major	Minor	Major
Unlocks at	5	10	15	20	25	30

Based on the above table when 25 points are allocated, all 3 minor traits are unlocked as are the Adept and Master major slots and traits.

There is only one minor trait at each of the 3 tiers. Adept level major traits can be used in any of the 3 major slots (if available), master level majors can use the master or grandmaster slot, and grandmaster level major traits can occupy only that slot.

Regarding major traits, there are always 6 per line for adept level, 4 for master and another 2 for grandmaster.

Trait lines by profession

Each profession has five unique trait lines and one unique attribute.

* denotes a profession-specific attribute

Soldiers

Guardian (trait list)
Line	Primary attribute	Secondary attribute
Zeal	Power	Condition Duration
Radiance	Precision	Condition Damage
Valor	Toughness	Critical Damage
Honor	Vitality	Healing Power
Virtues	Virtue Recharge Rate*	Boon Duration

Warrior (trait list)
Line	Primary attribute	Secondary attribute
Strength	Power	Condition Duration
Arms	Precision	Condition Damage
Defense	Toughness	Healing Power
Tactics	Vitality	Boon Duration
Discipline	Burst Damage*	Critical Damage

Adventurers

Engineer (trait list)
Line	Primary attribute	Secondary attribute
Explosives	Power	Condition Duration
Firearms	Precision	Condition Damage
Inventions	Toughness	Healing Power
Alchemy	Vitality	Boon Duration
Tools	Tool Belt Recharge Rate*	Critical Damage

Ranger (trait list)
Line	Primary attribute	Secondary attribute
Marksmanship	Power	Condition Duration
Skirmishing	Precision	Critical Damage
Wild. Survival	Toughness	Condition Damage
Nature Magic	Vitality	Boon Duration
Beastmastery	Pet Attribute Bonus*	Healing Power

Thief (trait list)
Line	Primary attribute	Secondary attribute
Deadly Arts	Power	Condition Duration
Critical Strikes	Precision	Critical Damage
Shadow Arts	Toughness	Healing Power
Acrobatics	Vitality	Boon Duration
Trickery	Steal Recharge Rate*	Condition Damage

Scholars

Elementalist (trait list)
Line	Primary attribute	Secondary attribute
Fire Magic	Power	Condition Duration
Air Magic	Precision	Critical Damage
Earth Magic	Toughness	Condition Damage
Water Magic	Vitality	Healing Power
Arcana	Attunement Recharge Rate*	Boon Duration

Mesmer (trait list)
Line	Primary attribute	Secondary attribute
Domination	Power	Condition Duration
Dueling	Precision	Critical Damage
Chaos	Toughness	Boon Duration
Inspiration	Vitality	Healing Power
Illusions	Shredding Recharge Rate*	Condition Damage

Necromancer (trait list)
Line	Primary attribute	Secondary attribute
Spite	Power	Condition Duration
Curses	Precision	Condition Damage
Death Magic	Toughness	Boon Duration
Blood Magic	Vitality	Healing Power
Soul Reaping	Life Force Pool*	Critical Damage

Trivia

• ArenaNet decided against including racial traits in the game as a matter of game balance: each race should be equally effective in each profession. For example, there should not be important differences between norn and asura warriors.
• The trait system was redesigned into tiers prior to the second Beta Weekend Event.

References

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Trait lists