Barrier

In-game screenshot of Barrier's effect on a health orb.

Barrier is a combat mechanic introduced in the Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire expansion. It creates a health barrier that takes damage prior to the health bar. Barrier disappears 5 seconds after being applied. Applying a barrier while one is already active will add to it, but the previously-existing barrier will still disappear 5 seconds after it was originally applied. The amount of barrier generated is based on the source's healing power, and is capped at 50% of the recipient's maximum health.

Similar to healing, the barrier total a skill applies can be calculated using the following formula:

(Coefficient * Healing Power) + Base Value

It is not affected by outgoing healing modifiers.

Related skills

Weapon skills that grant barrier

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   Shock Shield
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   Lava Skin (Dual Attack)
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   Molten Burst (Dual Attack)
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   Call of Valor

Profession skills that grant barrier

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   Sand Cascade (shade)
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   Desert Shroud (shade)

Healing skills that grant barrier

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   Sand Flare

Utility skills that grant barrier

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   Bulwark Gyro
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   Sand Swell (when using the portal)
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   Serpent Siphon
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   Stone Resonance

Mount 'Engage' skill that grants barrier

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   Pounce upgraded with Bolster Allies

Bundle skills that grants barrier

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   Stone Sheath blocking an attack applies the effect Tectonic Shift, giving a barrier each second (with Magnetic Shield from Conjure Earth Shield)
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   Magnetic Shield pulling an enemy applies the effect Tectonic Shift, giving a barrier each second (with Magnetic Shield from Conjure Earth Shield)

Bundle skills that deals bonus damage while having barrier

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   Crippling Shield (with Magnetic Shield from Conjure Earth Shield)

Related traits

Traits that grant barrier

•  Impact Savant - A percentage of the strike damage you deal is converted into barrier. Your vitality is reduced.
•  Crystal Configuration: Eclipse - Corona Burst grants stability on each attack and creates a barrier for each target struck.
•  Desert Empowerment - Manifest Sand Shade grants a barrier to allies near it.
•  Herald of Sorrow - Desert Shroud becomes Harbinger Shroud.
•  Invigorating Strikes - Gain vigor when using a Dual Attack. Dodge rolling grants a barrier.
•  Elemental Refreshment - Gain barrier when using Dual Attack abilities.
•  Resilient Spirit — Periodically gain barrier for each unique boon you have.

Traits that improve barrier

•  Adaptive Armor - Incoming barriers are stronger. Reduce incoming condition damage while you have barrier.

Traits that benefit from barrier

•  Abrasive Grit - Granting an ally a barrier removes conditions afflicting them and grants might. This effect only occurs with barrier from scourge skills and traits.

Related equipment

Upgrade components that grant barrier

Runes

•   Superior Rune of the Rebirth — (6) When suffering a lethal blow.
•   Superior Rune of the Scourge — (6) When struck below 75% health.
•   Superior Rune of the Weaver — (6) When executing a leap finisher.
•   Superior Rune of Sanctuary — (6) When receiving any heal.

Notes

• Damage dealt to enemy barriers appears as yellow damage numbers.
• Barrier applied to allies appears as light-blue "healing" numbers.
• Barrier will not reduce fall damage.

Version history

Patch	Changes
October 01, 2019	Updated the visual effects of this effect to be less profession specific.
August 28, 2018	Barrier is now displayed in light-blue text when applied. Additionally, granting and receiving barrier is now displayed in the combat log.
December 12, 2017	The application of the barrier effect no longer resets the delay or decay of existing barriers. Barrier no longer decays over time; each application now disappears after 5 seconds, and all skills that grant barrier now give 15% more barrier.
November 07, 2017	The duration before decay begins has been increased from 1 second to 2 seconds. The time for the barrier to decay has been reduced from 4 seconds to 3 seconds.
September 22, 2017	Path of Fire release: Barrier has been added to the game.

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Effects (stacking)