Defiance bar

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Defiance bars are grayed out when locked, and they are blue when unlocked. Look for skills that have Defiance Break or apply control effects to deplete the defiance bar and make the target vulnerable for a short period of time.

— Defiance Bar, in-game hint, Shing Jea Training Grounds

The Defiance bar, commonly known as a break bar, is a mechanic encountered on some NPCs that makes the defiant NPC immune to control effects such as knockdown, daze or stun. Defiance bars are most commonly found on champion or higher-ranked enemies in Central Tyria, but can be present on creatures of all ranks in expansion and Living World zones.

Defiance bars are located beneath the target's health bar and can have three states; locked (gray), unlocked (blue) or recharging (brown), and may transition from one state to the other depending on the NPC's combat mechanics. When unlocked, players can use control effects (also known as crowd control, cc) to deal damage to the defiance bar to break it and make the NPC vulnerable .

Mechanics[edit]

The Defiance bar appears directly below the enemy's health bar when targeted. In some circumstances, such as when riding a Siege Turtle, players also have a defiance bar. The appearance of the bar corresponds to its behavior:

DefianceLocked defiance bar
A gray, segmented bar, known as a "locked" defiance bar, indicates that the enemy is currently completely immune to any crowd control.
DefianceDefiance bar teal.png
A blue bar indicates that crowd control skills, including soft control conditions such as blinded or chilled, will reduce the bar but the enemy is immune to their intended effects, e.g. cannot be blinded or interrupted. The amount depleted depends on the effect applied to the enemy. In most cases, the defiance bar will slowly regenerate over time if no crowd control conditions are being applied, so it's best for players to coordinate their efforts to all apply crowd control at the same time, rapidly reducing the bar to zero. Once the bar is fully depleted, a special effect occurs (see "Defiance break" below). The defiance bar can then begin to recharge, lock forever, or remain locked until the enemy attempts a powerful attack.
DefianceImmune (recharging) defiance bar
A brown bar indicates that the enemy's defiance was recently broken; they are completely immune to any crowd control and the defiance bar is recharging. Crowd control skills will not reduce the bar or affect the rate at which it recharges. Once the bar has fully recharged, it can turn blue again, or transition to a locked state depending on the enemy.

The unlocked state allows control effects to reduce the defiance bar in the same way that damage reduces an enemy's health bar. All control effects have a pre-determined value of damage they do against a defiance bar, displayed in the tooltip of their parent skill or trait. "Hard" control effects damage the bar instantly for the full amount. "Soft" control effects like the condition Immobilize deal their defiance damage over time.

Traits, skills, and sigils that apply effects when interrupting an attack will still activate against an enemy with a defiance bar[1] regardless of its state, reducing their defiance bar if it is unlocked. There is a 3-second cooldown after every interrupt to prevent activating multiple effects during the same attack animation. This cooldown is not shared between players.

Defiance break[edit]

Example of breaking a defiance bar. In this case, it interrupted a dangerous attack.

When players break an enemy's defiance by fully depleting the blue defiance bar, one or more of the following will happen:

Hovering over the Defiance bar with your mouse will display the effect that happens when the bar is depleted.

Window time[edit]

In some case the defiance bar is only unlocked for a short period of time, challenging players to coordinate and break the bar as quickly as possible within a short period of time. Failing to do so will most often cause a devastating attack to be released or other unfortunate events.

Many powerful enemies, particularly those found in Heart of Maguuma, have a locked bar most of the time; however when they are about to launch a strong attack or perform an action that highly empowers them, the segmented bar will unlock and turn teal for a short time, becoming locked again after launching their attack. Players can stun the boss and prevent the attack from launching by using crowd control skills to fully deplete the bar before the attack begins.

Examples
  • White Mantle Cleric - Their defiance bar appears when they start channeling a skill that will heal all nearby White Mantle by a large amount. Breaking it will interrupt their channel.
  • The Shatterer (Slay the Shatterer, world boss event) - A defiance bar will appear as it prepares to use its Shard Storm attack. Breaking The Shatterer's defiance bar before it can launch the attack will interrupt and stun the Shatterer, and make it vulnerable to attack for a short period.
  • Legendary Vinetooth Prime (Defeat Vinetooth Prime) - The vinetooth will occasionally get up on its hind legs and walk away, revealing its defiance bar. Breaking it will cause it to get knocked down and make it take more damage from attacks. It is difficult to complete the event in time without breaking its bar at least once.
  • Vale Guardian - After 66% health, the Vale Guardian will raise its hand in the air and release balls of energy, dealing large amounts of damage. Breaking its bar will interrupt this attack.
  • Special mention: Defeat Three-Toed Tootsie - While Three-Toed Tootsie does not have a defiance bar of her own, occasionally it will show "Tootsie will abscond in: X:XX" in the event assistant. Players will need to use a hard control skill on her before the timer runs out, else Tootsie will run away and the event will reset.

Permanent break[edit]

Rather than recharging, some enemies that start with a Defiance bar will lose it permanently once it has been broken. These enemies often have powerful attacks or boons that will be lost for the remainder of the fight once their Defiance bar has been broken.

Examples
  • During the Dragon's Stand meta-event, Legendary Axemaster Hareth receives reduced damage as long as his bar has not been broken. Once broken, the bar locks rather than entering recharge state and his damage reduction is lost for that encounter.

Dynamic scaling[edit]

Event scaling affects the Defiance bar strength. After more than 5 players join an event it will be harder to break a Defiance bar and the individual Crowd Control contribution required from each player goes up. This also causes the bar to recharge more slowly which means it takes more time until the Defiance bar becomes vulnerable again.

The following table shows an example of an enemy with a base strength of 600. Note: Scaling is not the same for all enemies and not all defiance bars scale.

Player count Bar strength Bar per player Time to regenerate (seconds) Time to recharge (seconds)
1 600 600 20 15
2 600 300 20 15
3 600 200 20 15
4 600 150 20 15
5 600 120 20 15
6 780 130 26 19.5
7 960 137 32 24
8 1140 143 38 28.5
9 1320 147 44 33
10 1500 150 50 37.5
Player count Bar strength Bar per player Time to regenerate (seconds) Time to recharge (seconds)
15 2400 160 80 60
20 3300 165 110 82.5
25 4200 168 140 105
30 5100 170 170 127.5
35 6000 171 200 150
40 6900 173 230 172.5
45 7800 173 260 195
50 8700 174 290 217.5
100 17700 177 590 442.5
200 35700 179 1190 829.5

Control effects[edit]

Soft control effects[edit]

Soft control effects are categorized as effects that hinder an enemy's movement or skill usage. They are mostly non-damaging conditions and are affected by condition duration. As such, they deal damage over time to the Defiance bar. Additionally, these effects will apply to the foe for the purposes of triggering traits but not apply their debuff effect. Fears and taunts are inherently hard control effects, however they act as soft control effects with regards to the defiance bar.

Condition Defiance Bar Damage
Fear.png Fear 100 per second
Taunt.png Taunt 75 per second
Immobile.png Immobile 50 per second
Slow.png Slow 50 per second
Chilled.png Chilled 33 per second
Blinded.png Blinded 20 per second
Weakness.png Weakness 20 per second
Crippled.png Crippled 15 per second

Hard control effects[edit]

Hard control effects are effects that can directly interrupt skill usage or displace an enemy. As such, they deal instant damage to the Defiance bar. The damage inflicted is solely based on the duration of the effect. Effect type or tooltip distance does not affect the damage they deal. These effects still trigger traits that apply immediately on interrupted/disabled foes (such as Lightning Rod), but will not apply their control effect so traits like Ancient Seeds will not trigger on following attacks. Damage dealt is based on following formula:

Defiance bar damage = 100 * effect duration

All effects deal a minimum of 100 damage. Traits and sigils that increase the duration of these effects will also cause them to do more damage to the bar.

Skill details[edit]

For the tooltip fact, see also: Defiance Break
Effect Defiance Bar Damage Skills
Warrior icon small.png Warrior Guardian icon small.png Guardian Revenant icon small.png Revenant Engineer icon small.png Engineer Ranger icon small.png Ranger Thief icon small.png Thief Elementalist icon small.png Elementalist Mesmer icon small.png Mesmer Necromancer icon small.png Necromancer Other
Daze.png Daze1 100
(<1 s)
Warrior icon small.png Uppercut (from Rampage)
Berserker icon small.png Gun Flame
Spellbreaker icon small.png Full Counter
Spellbreaker icon small.png Disrupting Stab
Renegade icon small.png Darkrazor's Daring (hits up to 6 times) Daredevil icon small.png Distracting Daggers
Specter icon small.png Well of Silence
Weaver icon small.png Polaric Leap Mesmer icon small.png Phantasmal Mage
Mirage icon small.png Mirage Thrust
Mirage icon small.png Phantom Razor
Chronomancer icon small.png Time Sink (per clone)
Virtuoso icon small.png Bladesong Dissonance (per blade)
Harbinger icon small.png Voracious Arc
100
(1 s)
Warrior icon small.png Pommel Bash
Berserker icon small.png Skull Grinder
Berserker icon small.png Rupturing Smash
Firebrand icon small.png Symbol of Vengeance (with Unrelenting Criticism trait) Engineer icon small.png Throw Shield
Engineer icon small.png Launch Personal Battering Ram
Engineer icon small.png Explosive Entrance (with Flashbang trait)
Mechanist icon small.png Jade Mortar (with Mech Core: Jade Dynamo trait)
Ranger icon small.png Thunderclap
Druid icon small.png Primal Echoes
Ranger icon small.png Dazing Screech (with Black Moa; hits up to 3 times)
Ranger icon small.png Call Lightning (with Storm Spirit)
Thief icon small.png Choking Gas
Thief icon small.png Steal (with Sleight of Hand trait)
Mesmer icon small.png Chaos Storm (first hit only)
Mesmer icon small.png Lesser Chaos Storm (first hit only; with Method of Madness trait.)
Mesmer icon small.png Diversion (per clone)
Necromancer icon small.png Wail of Doom Dazing Strike (Leap finisher into Lightning Field)
150
(1.5 s)
Vindicator icon small.png Reaver's Rage Ranger icon small.png Hilt Bash (from the front)
Druid icon small.png Lunar Impact
Untamed icon small.png Overbearing Smash (counts for 225 CC)
Weaver icon small.png Katabatic Wind Mesmer icon small.png Mantra of Distraction Necromancer icon small.png Wail of Doom (traited)
200
(2 s)
Dragonhunter icon small.png Light's Judgment Scrapper icon small.png Spare Capacitor Ranger icon small.png Call of the Wild
Ranger icon small.png Charge (Rock Gazelle skill)
Ranger icon small.png Concussion Shot
Ranger icon small.png Dazing Screech (with Pink Moa)
Druid icon small.png Glyph of Equality (when not in Celestial Avatar)
Soulbeast icon small.png Charge (soulbeast merged with a Rock Gazelle pet)
Thief icon small.png Head Shot
Daredevil icon small.png Impact Strike
Thief icon small.png Tactical Strike (while Flanking)
Thief icon small.png Helmet Breaker
Elementalist icon small.png Comet
Elementalist icon small.png Magnetic Surge (With Conjure Earth Shield)
Weaver icon small.png Pile Driver
Mesmer icon small.png Counter Blade
Mesmer icon small.png Magic Bullet (second target)
Detonate (Power Matrix skill) Detonate (with a Power Matrix)
300
(3 s)
Willbender icon small.png Quick Retribution (sequence skill of Roiling Light) Asura tango icon 20px.png Technobabble
Norn tango icon 20px.png Shriek (when using Become the Raven)
350 3
(3.5 s)
Sentinel Rifle Rifle Butt (with a Sentinel Rifle)
Stun.png Stun1 100
(<1 s)
Bladesworn icon small.png Dragon Slash—Force (1 charge with Unyielding Dragon trait)
Bladesworn icon small.png Dragon Slash—Boost (1 charge with Unyielding Dragon trait)
Bladesworn icon small.png Dragon Slash—Reach (1 charge with Unyielding Dragon trait)
Mechanist icon small.png Rocket Fist Prototype (2x) Thief icon small.png Pistol Whip
100
(1 s)
Warrior icon small.png Earthshaker (level 1)
Warrior icon small.png Skull Crack (level 1)
Warrior icon small.png Whirling Strike (level 1)
Scrapper icon small.png Thunderclap Elementalist icon small.png Shocking Bolt (while having an Air Elemental summoned)
Elementalist icon small.png Transmute Lightning
Chronomancer icon small.png Tides of Time (Up to 2 times) Harbinger icon small.png Vile Blast Shocking Aura Shocking Aura (when hit)
150
(1.5 s)
Warrior icon small.png Earthshaker (level 2)
Warrior icon small.png Whirling Strike (level 2)
Spellbreaker icon small.png Disrupting Stab (on targets using skills)
Ranger icon small.png Hilt Bash (from the back) Specter icon small.png Mind Shock Catalyst icon small.png Shock Blast
Weaver icon small.png Earthen Synergy
Reaper icon small.png Executioner's Scythe
200
(2 s)
Warrior icon small.png Earthshaker (level 3)
Warrior icon small.png Shield Bash
Warrior icon small.png Skull Crack (level 2)
Warrior icon small.png Whirling Strike (level 3)
Warrior icon small.png Throw Boulder (from Rampage)
Willbender icon small.png Heel Crack Engineer icon small.png Static Shock
Engineer icon small.png Electrified Net (with Net Turret)
Engineer icon small.png Supply Crate
Engineer icon small.png Throw Mine
(and Detonate follow up skill)
Ranger icon small.png Concussion Shot (When hit from behind) Daredevil icon small.png Palm Strike Elementalist icon small.png Static Field (also skill of the same name with Conjure Lightning Hammer) Reaper icon small.png "Chilled to the Bone!"
250
(2.5 s)
Mesmer icon small.png Magic Bullet (first target)
300
(3 s)
Berserker icon small.png Head Butt
Warrior icon small.png Skull Crack (level 3)
Revenant icon small.png Jade Winds Mesmer icon small.png Signet of Domination
500
(5 s)
Bladesworn icon small.png Dragon Slash—Force (10 charges with Unyielding Dragon trait)
Bladesworn icon small.png Dragon Slash—Boost (10 charges with Unyielding Dragon trait)
Bladesworn icon small.png Dragon Slash—Reach (10 charges with Unyielding Dragon trait)
Flash Discharge Flash Discharge (during the Cardinal Sabir fight with 5 stacks of Violent Currents)
Metal Rod Stunning Strike (with a Metal Rod)
Knockdown.png Knockdown 100
(1 s)
200
(2 s)
Warrior icon small.png Seismic Leap (from Rampage) Guardian icon small.png Hammer of Wisdom Revenant icon small.png Drop the Hammer
Renegade icon small.png Scorchrazor
Engineer icon small.png Slick Shoes Ranger icon small.png Takedown (Smokescale skill)
Soulbeast icon small.png Brutal Charge (when melded with any canine pet)
Soulbeast icon small.png Takedown (when melded with smokescale pet)
Untamed icon small.png Thump
Untamed icon small.png Exploding Spores
Daredevil icon small.png Reflexive Strike (after blocking with Bandit's Defense) Elementalist icon small.png Earthquake
Catalyst icon small.png Wind Storm
Weaver icon small.png Mud Slide
Necromancer icon small.png Charge (with Summon Flesh Golem)
Scourge icon small.png Oppressive Collapse
Unstable Magic Volley Unstable Magic Volley (while gliding in Bloodstone Fen and Lake Doric; hits up to 3 times)
Norn tango icon 20px.png Leap (when using Become the Wolf)
Springer Cannonball (with Forceful Impact mastery)
Rock (level 22) Throw Rock (with a Rock (level 22))
300
(3 s)
Warrior icon small.png Backbreaker
Warrior icon small.png Bull's Charge
Warrior icon small.png Tremor
Berserker icon small.png Wild Blow
Guardian icon small.png Bane Signet Revenant icon small.png Energy Expulsion Engineer icon small.png Explosive Rockets (with Rocket Turret) Soulbeast icon small.png Brutal Charge (when melded with any porcine pet) Thief icon small.png Pitfall
Deadeye icon small.png Binding Shadow (on marked target only)
Elementalist icon small.png Meteor (when holding Boulder) Chronomancer icon small.png Gravity Well (first pulse) Charr tango icon 20px.png Rocket Jump (with equipped Charrzooka)
Throw Ember Charge Throw Ember Charge
400
(4 s)
Warrior icon small.png Backbreaker (against weakened foes) Willbender icon small.png Heaven's Palm Revenant icon small.png Energy Expulsion (empowered) Daredevil icon small.png Hook Strike Elementalist icon small.png Gale
500
(5 s)
Smash (Shovel) Smash (with a Termite Shovel)
Launch.png Launch2 232 Warrior icon small.png Stomp Guardian icon small.png Banish Herald icon small.png Chaotic Release Engineer icon small.png Booby Trap
Engineer icon small.png Personal Battering Ram
Engineer icon small.png Thump (with Thumper Turret)
Engineer icon small.png Elixir X (Debris Tornado and Dust Charge while as a Tornado)
Holosmith icon small.png Holographic Shockwave (in Photon Forge mode)
Holosmith icon small.png Prime Light Beam
Scrapper icon small.png Blast Gyro
Mechanist icon small.png Core Reactor Shot (with Mech Frame: Variable Mass Distributor)
Mechanist icon small.png Sky Circus (with Mech Core: J-Drive)
Ranger icon small.png Spike Trap
Ranger icon small.png Lightning Assault (with Electric Wyvern.)
Ranger icon small.png Head Toss (with rock gazelle)
Ranger icon small.png Wing Buffet (Used by any Wyvern)
Soulbeast icon small.png Wing Buffet (soulbeast) (when melded with any wyvern pet)
Daredevil icon small.png Uppercut (Impact Strike second cast)
Deadeye icon small.png Shadow Gust (on marked target only)
Elementalist icon small.png Wind Blast (with equipped Lightning Hammer)
Elementalist icon small.png Tornado (Debris Tornado and Dust Charge while as a Tornado)
Necromancer icon small.png Charge (with Summon Flesh Golem) Channeled Agony Channeled Agony (downed with Spectral Agony mastery trained)
Roller Beetle Roll Out (with Wrecking Ball mastery)
Norn tango icon 20px.png Howl (when using Become the Wolf)
Bomb (bundle skill) Bomb (bundle skill) (with a Bandit's Improvised Bomb, Bomb (consumable), Explosive Charge, Miner's Explosive Charge, Seaweed Bomb or Vigil Clearing Device)
Celestial Dash Hypernova Launch (in Shattered Observatory after defeating Viirastra/Artsariiv)
332 Engineer icon small.png Big Ol' Bomb
Engineer icon small.png Overcharged Shot
Elementalist icon small.png Updraft Norn tango icon 20px.png Charge (when using Become the Bear)
Wooden Plank (consumable) Plank Buster (with a Wooden Plank, Plank, or Pirate's Peg Leg)
Knockback.png Knockback2 150 Warrior icon small.png Kick (also available from Rampage)
Warrior icon small.png Rifle Butt
Warrior icon small.png Repeating Shot (4 hits)
Warrior icon small.png Staggering Blow
Guardian icon small.png Shield of Absorption
Guardian icon small.png Sanctuary (hits up to 5 times or 7 times traited)
Dragonhunter icon small.png Deflecting Shot
Willbender icon small.png Heaven's Palm (when hits non-targeted enemies)
Revenant icon small.png Forceful Displacement
Revenant icon small.png Surge of the Mists (up to 9 hits in total)
Engineer icon small.png Air Blast
Engineer icon small.png Magnetic Inversion
Mechanist icon small.png Force Signet
Ranger icon small.png Point-Blank Shot
Ranger icon small.png Counterattack Kick
Druid icon small.png Glyph of the Tides
Soulbeast icon small.png Tail Lash (when melded with any devourer pet)
Deadeye icon small.png Shadow Gust Elementalist icon small.png Gust
Tempest icon small.png Tidal Surge
Elementalist icon small.png Crashing Waves (while having an Ice Elemental summoned)
Mesmer icon small.png Illusionary Wave
Virtuoso icon small.png Psychic Force
Charr tango icon 20px.png Rocket Spray (with equipped Charrzooka)
Norn tango icon 20px.png Heavy Swipe (when using Become the Bear)
Norn tango icon 20px.png Wind blast (when using Become the Raven)
Norn tango icon 20px.png Dash (when using Become the Snow Leopard)
Plank Spin.png Plank Spin (with a Wooden Plank, Plank, or Pirate's Peg Leg)
Pull.png Pull2 150 Spellbreaker icon small.png Magebane Tether Guardian icon small.png Pull (after using Binding Blade)
Dragonhunter icon small.png Hunter's Verdict
Dragonhunter icon small.png Dragon's Maw
Firebrand icon small.png Blazing Edge
Firebrand icon small.pngChapter 3: Heated Rebuke (while using Tome of Justice)
Revenant icon small.png Temporal Rift
Revenant icon small.png Call to Anguish
Engineer icon small.png Magnet (with Tool Kit)
Engineer icon small.png Grappling Line
Holosmith icon small.png Prismatic Singularity
Ranger icon small.png Path of Scars
Druid icon small.png Glyph of the Tides (while in Celestial Avatar)
Soulbeast icon small.png Prelude Lash (when melded with a pet of the Versatile archetype)
Ranger icon small.png Fang Grapple (Fanged Iboga skill)
Thief icon small.png Scorpion Wire
Specter icon small.png Shadowfall
Elementalist icon small.png Magnetic Shield (with Conjure Earth Shield)
Tempest icon small.png Cyclone
Mesmer icon small.png Into the Void
Chronomancer icon small.png Gravity Well (third pulse)
Necromancer icon small.png Spectral Grasp
Reaper icon small.png Grasping Darkness
Raptor Tail Spin (Raptor with Round Up mastery)
Float.png Float 100
(1 s)
Chronomancer icon small.png Gravity Well (second pulse)
125
(1.25 s)
Weaver icon small.png Gale Strike
250
(2.5 s)
Weaver icon small.png Tailored Victory
300
(3 s)
Harbinger icon small.png Vital Draw
Transform 300
(3 s)
Engineer icon small.png Toss Elixir X
600
(6 s)
Mesmer icon small.png Signet of Humility
Stun.png Petrified 150
(1.5 s)
Thief icon small.png Basilisk Venom (also given to up to 4 nearby allies)
Freeze 300
(3 s)
Elementalist icon small.png Deep Freeze (with equipped Frost Bow)
Ward 150
per pass
Guardian icon small.png Line of Warding
Guardian icon small.png Ring of Warding
Dragonhunter icon small.png Dragon's Maw
Dragonhunter icon small.png Hunter's Mark (created by Hunter's Ward)
Thief icon small.png Seal Area (on entering and exiting area) Elementalist icon small.png Unsteady Ground (only once)
1 Sigils and traits that increase the duration of stuns and dazes will also increase the damage to the defiance bar.
2 Distance does not affect damage to the defiance bar.
3 Sentinel Rifle's Rifle Butt deals 350 Defiance Bar damage but causes a 2 second Daze.png Daze on enemies without a defiance bar.

Mob-specific defiance bars[edit]

Example of a locked defiance bar, found on a Legendary Wyvern.
Name Bar unlock requirement Bar strength Scaling Regeneration per second Window time Breaking effect Cooldown
Blighted Canach Special attack 15 0 0 ? 5 seconds of Stun ?
Blighted Eir Stegalkin Special attack 100 0 20 ? 15 seconds of Stun ?
Mordrem Guard Punisher Special attack 100 0 0 2.4 seconds 5 seconds of Stun with increased damage (Exposed) ?
Arrowhead Hatchling None 200 0 20 5 seconds of Stun with increased damage (Exposed) ?
Veteran Mordrem Bonebreaker None 200 0 28.6 7 seconds of Knockdown ?
Blighted Garm ? 300 0 0 5 seconds of Stun ?
Chak Bracer, Chak Sapper None 300 0 3 Death 0 seconds
Faolain (During Bitter Harvest) ? 300 0 7.5 5 seconds of Stun with increased damage (Exposed) 30 seconds
Mushroom Stomper ? 300 0 3 Jumps to a random location after 1.3 seconds. Loses his buff and is disabled for 4.5 seconds. 37.5 seconds
Veteran Zintl Cavalier ? 500 ? 50 5 seconds of Knockdown 50 seconds
Champion Chak Lobber, Champion Mordrem Guard Cavalier, Champion Mordrem Teragriff, Champion Mordrem Troll, Champion Overgrown Husk, Champion Coztic Bladedancer ? 600 180 (30%) per player after 5 players 30 5 seconds of Stun with increased damage (Exposed) ?
Champion Mushroom Emperor ? 600 ? 6 3.75 seconds of Stun 40 seconds
Fractal and dungeon bosses that are Champion or Legendary rank, Minor Fire Wyvern, Toxx, Veteran Arrowhead, Veteran Chak Lobber, Veteran Mordrem Stonehead, Veteran Stonehead None 600 0 30 5 seconds of Stun with increased damage (Exposed) 40 seconds
Veteran Chak Blitzer ? 600 ? 0 11.5 seconds 3 seconds of Stun and removes the shield ?
Veteran Converted Nuhoch, Veteran Xocotl Crusher ? 600 ? 60 8.5 seconds of Stun with increased damage (Exposed) 60 seconds
Veteran Mushroom King ? 600 ? ? 3.75 seconds 5 seconds of Stun with increased damage (Exposed) ?
Legendary Vinetooth Prime During Soul Feast ? ? ? ? ? seconds of Knockdown and increased damage (Exposed) 60 seconds
Champion Partially Digested Husk None 600 0 20 5 seconds of Stun and increased damage (Exposed) 15
Legendary Amber Great Jungle Wurm Head, Legendary Cobalt Great Jungle Wurm Head, Legendary Crimson Great Jungle Wurm Head None 5000 0 ? Interrupts current attack and applies increased damage (Exposed) ?

Fractal-specific defiance bars[edit]

Fractal Encounter Enemy Bar unlock requirement Bar strength Window time Breaking effect
Swampland Fractal Kill Bloomhunger Bloomhunger While channeling special attacks 1000 Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 5 seconds of Exposed
Nightmare Fractal (Challenge Mote) MAMA Red Static Assault Knight None 800 Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed
Nightmare Fractal (Challenge Mote) MAMA Blue Dynamic Assault Knight None 800 Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed
Nightmare Fractal (Challenge Mote) MAMA Green Synergetic Assault Knight None 800 Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed
Nightmare Fractal (Challenge Mote) MAMA MAMA While not channeling the special attack 1800 Causes 4 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed
Nightmare Fractal (Challenge Mote) Defeat Siax the Unclean Siax the Corrupted While channeling Caustic Explosion 2000 Causes 4 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed
Nightmare Fractal (Challenge Mote) Kill Ensolyss Ensolyss of the Endless Torment None 2000 Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed
Shattered Observatory Fractal (Challenge Mote) Skorvald the Shattered Skorvald the Shattered While not channeling special attacks 2200 Causes 6 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed
Shattered Observatory Fractal (Challenge Mote) Defeat Artsariiv Artsariiv 100%-66% none, 66%-33% and 33%-0% if being hit by the blue ball 2100 Causes 8 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed
Shattered Observatory Fractal (Challenge Mote) Defeat Arkk and deactivate the DDR Arkk While channeling Force of the Nightmare attack 1800 Causes 9 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed
Sunqua Peak Fractal (Challenge Mote) Ai, Keeper of the Peak Ai, Keeper of the Peak While not under the effect Resilient Form 3200 6.5 seconds or 17 seconds
(depending on the sequence of attacks)
Causes 6 seconds of Stun, 10 seconds of Exposed and locks the breakbar
Sunqua Peak Fractal (Challenge Mote) Ai, Keeper of the Peak Sorrow None 1500 10 seconds Interrupts the cast of the deadly spell and defeats Sorrow
Silent Surf Fractal (Challenge Mote) Defeat the mysterious attacker Kanaxai, Scythe of House Aurkus While channeling Gathering Shadows 1200 varying Prevents the summoning of an Aspect and causes a varying duration of Stun and Exposed

Raid-specific defiance bars[edit]

Raid Encounter Enemy Bar unlock requirement Bar strength Regeneration per second Window time Breaking effect Cooldown
Spirit Vale Defeat the Vale Guardian Vale Guardian Below 66% HP, while channeling its Magic Storm attack 2000 0 30 seconds Interrupts the Magic Storm attack 30 seconds
Spirit Vale Vale Divisions
Defeat the Vale Guardian
Blue Guardian, Green Guardian, Red Guardian At 0% HP 1000 0 Death
Spirit Vale Destroy Gorseval Gorseval the Multifarious While channeling Ghastly Rampage 4500 0 25 seconds Interrupts Ghastly Rampage and causes 4.5 seconds of knockdown 10-15 seconds after either the World Eater attack has finished or all four Charged Souls have been defeated
Spirit Vale Defeat Sabetha the Saboteur "Knuckles" While casting Platform Quake 1000 0 5 seconds Interrupts Platform Quake and causes 5 seconds of stun with 50% increased damage 15 seconds
Salvation Pass Defeat Slothasor Slothasor At 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, 10% HP while being under the effect of Narcolepsy 4000 0 120 seconds Interrupts Narcolepsy 0 seconds
Salvation Pass Protect the caged prisoners Berg While casting Mordremoth's Smash 2000 0 2 seconds, 4 seconds while under the Effect of Not the Bees! Interrupts Mordremoth's Smash and causes 8 seconds of daze 5 seconds, 20 seconds while under the Effect of Not the Bees!
Salvation Pass Protect the caged prisoners Bandit Saboteur While placing a bomb 200 0 ? seconds Interrupts planting the bomb
Salvation Pass Protect the caged prisoners Bandit Bombardier While building a mortar 200 0 ? seconds Interrupts building the mortar
Salvation Pass Defeat Inquisitor Matthias Gabrel Allied player that is affected by Blood Sacrifice Above 40% of Matthias Gabrel's HP, during a Blood Sacrifice 2500 0 10 seconds Frees the affected player 45 seconds
Stronghold of the Faithful Destroy the Keep Construct Keep Construct After both stacks of Xera's Embrace have been removed 3500 0 Becomes untargetable and cancels current mechanic and attack 0 seconds
Stronghold of the Faithful Defeat Xera Xera Below 90% HP, while channeling her "Increased Bloodstone Fragments Spawn"? attack 3000 0 Interrupts the channel 60 seconds
Bastion of the Penitent Defeat Samarog Samarog Every 10% of its HP 4500 0 15 seconds Interrupts the Brutalize attack 0 seconds
Bastion of the Penitent Free the prisoner from his bonds Saul D'Alessio (Thief at 75%) While casting his boonsteal attack 300 0 4 seconds Interrupts the boonsteal attack and causes a 5s stun 15 seconds (5 seconds if interrupted)
Bastion of the Penitent Free the prisoner from his bonds Saul D'Alessio (Drunkard at 25%) While casting his teleport attack 300 0 2 seconds Interrupts the teleport attack and causes a 5s stun 15 seconds (5 seconds if interrupted)
Hall of Chains Defeat the Soulless Horror Soulless Horror During the cast of Howling Death 3000 0 6.75 seconds. Interrupts the cast of Howling Death ~60 seconds
Hall of Chains Restore the Statue of Death and Resurrection Eater of Souls (Hall of Chains) During the cast of Imbibe 2500 0 11 seconds Interrupts the cast of Imbibe 30 seconds
Hall of Chains Defeat Dhuum Ender's Echo While challenge mode is active 2000 0 Stuns the Enders Echo and drops any players that are currently caught. Recharge not known.
Mythwright Gambit Engage the conjured amalgamate Conjured Shield While under the effect of Conjured Barrier 200 0 Conjured Barrier is stripped and it stops attacking 10 seconds
Mythwright Gambit Engage the conjured amalgamate Conjured Warrior While under the effect of Conjured Barrier 200 0 Conjured Barrier is stripped 10 seconds
Mythwright Gambit Defeat the twin largos Nikare, Kenut Below 50% HP, while channeling Aquatic Barrage 2000 0 Interrupts the cast of Aquatic Barrage and applies 8 seconds of Exposed ?
Mythwright Gambit Enter the Mythwright Cauldron and stop Qadim Ancient Invoked Hydra During the cast of Fiery Meteor 1400 0 Interrupts the cast of Fiery Meteor and applies 3 seconds of Exposed 8 seconds
Mythwright Gambit Enter the Mythwright Cauldron and stop Qadim Qadim While channeling Riposte 2400 0 ~7 seconds Interrupts Riposte ?
Mythwright Gambit Enter the Mythwright Cauldron and stop Qadim Apocalypse Bringer 1400 0 3 seconds Interrupts cast of Summon and applies 3 seconds of Exposed 10 seconds
Mythwright Gambit Enter the Mythwright Cauldron and stop Qadim Wyvern Patriarch 1400 0 7 seconds Interrupts cast of #53132 and applies 5 seconds of Exposed 8 seconds
The Key of Ahdashim Defeat Cardinal Sabir Cardinal Sabir At the same time as Electrical Repulsion (non-regenerating bar) 15000 (NM)
18000 (CM)
0 Removes Electrical Repulsion from players, removes barrier from Sabir and Sabir casts Bolt Break. At 90% and 70% of Cardinal Sabir's health, and 22 seconds after the regenerating defiance bar is broken (only once, below 30% hp).
The Key of Ahdashim Defeat Cardinal Sabir Cardinal Sabir While Sabir gains stacks of Ion Shield (regenerating bar) 3000 (NM)
3500 (CM)
600 (NM)
700 (CM)
Removes all stacks of Ion Shield from Cardinal Sabir and Sabir casts Bolt Break. First one occurs 17 seconds into the 3rd phase, subsequent ones 27 seconds after the previous defiance bar is broken.
The Key of Ahdashim Defeat Cardinal Sabir Voltaic Wisp/Paralyzing Wisp 600 0.6 Stuns and increases incoming damage for 10 seconds. 15 seconds
The Key of Ahdashim Defeat Qadim the Peerless Pylon While under the effects of Clutched by Chaos 1000 0 Applies Cleansed Conductor 0 seconds
The Key of Ahdashim Defeat Qadim the Peerless Entropic Distortion While Incorporeal 400 0 Stuns and becomes vulnerable to damage ?
The Key of Ahdashim Defeat Qadim the Peerless Qadim the Peerless While channeling ??? 2000 0 ? Interrupts ??? and stuns 0 seconds

Strike-specific defiance bars[edit]

Strike Mission Enemy Bar unlock requirement Bar strength Regeneration per second Window time Breaking effect Cooldown
Fraenir of Jormag Icebrood Construct When channeling Seismic Crush 8000 [verification requested] ? ? Interrupts Seismic Crush1
Causes 5 seconds of Stun
?
Voice of the Fallen and Claw of the Fallen The Voice and the Claw When the Voice and Claw merge 6000 ? 25 seconds ? ?
Boneskinner Boneskinner Every 10% HP if skill not on cooldown or in-queue 2500 ? 3 seconds Causes 8 seconds of Stun and Exposed ?
Whisper of Jormag Whisper of Jormag While casting Frigid Vortex ? ? ? ? ?
Whisper of Jormag Doppelganger N/A ? ? ? ?
Forging Steel Champion Icebrood Kodan N/A ? ? Removes Unstable Magic Abilities and applies Lockout
Causes 5 seconds of Stun
?
Forging Steel Champion Stone Summit Drake Rider N/A ? ? Causes 3 seconds of Stun and dismounts
Causes 5 seconds of Stun and Exposed if dismounted
?
Forging Steel Champion Stone Summit Drake After dismount and defiance bar off-cooldown ? ? ? ?
Forging Steel Ancient Forgeman While under the effects of Harpoon Vulnerability 2500 [verification requested] ? 12 seconds Causes Exposed Weakness ?
Cold War Champion Icebrood Goliath 30 seconds after spawning then every 40 seconds 3000 0 Removes Unstable Magic Abilities and applies Lockout
Causes 3 seconds of Stun
40 seconds
Cold War Champion Icebrood Beast 30 seconds after spawning then every 40 seconds 3000 0 Removes Unstable Magic Abilities and applies Lockout
Causes 3 seconds of Stun
40 seconds
Cold War Champion Corrupted Kodan 30 seconds after spawning then every 40 seconds 3000 0 Removes Unstable Magic Abilities and applies Lockout
Causes 3 seconds of Stun
40 seconds
Cold War Champion Ice Giant 30 seconds after spawning then every 40 seconds 3000 0 Removes Unstable Magic Abilities and applies Lockout
Causes 3 seconds of Stun
40 seconds
Cold War Minister of Morale ?2 6000 0 Removes Unstable Magic Abilities and applies Lockout
Causes 3 seconds of Stun
60 seconds
Cold War Propaganda Balloon N/A 400 0 Death 0 seconds
Aetherblade Hideout Captain Mai Trin N/A 3500 ? Causes 10 seconds of Stun and Exposed 60 seconds
Aetherblade Hideout Scarlet Phantom N/A 9000 ? Death 0 seconds
Aetherblade Hideout Echo of Scarlet Briar N/A 3500 ? Causes 10 seconds of Stun and Exposed 60 seconds
Xunlai Jade Junkyard Ankka After channeling Death's Embrace 600 (NM)
3000 (CM)
0 15 seconds Causes 10 seconds of Stun and Exposed ?
Xunlai Jade Junkyard Reanimated Spite While Ankka is under the effects of Necrotic Ritual 800 (NM)
2000 (CM)
? ? Death 0 seconds
Xunlai Jade Junkyard Reanimated Hatred N/A ? (NM)
3000 (CM)
? ? ? ?
Xunlai Jade Junkyard (CM)
Harvest Temple
Zhaitan's Reach N/A 600 0 Death 0 seconds
Xunlai Jade Junkyard (CM) Reanimated Antipathy N/A 3000 ? Death 0 seconds
Kaineng Overlook The Enforcer Normally permanently locked3 1000 ? Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed 30 seconds
Kaineng Overlook The Sniper When channeling Jade Laser Shot 600 (NM)
1000 (CM)
30 15.75 seconds Interrupts Jade Laser Shot
Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed
?
Harvest Temple Heart of Jormag
Heart of Primordus
Heart of Kralkatorrik
Heart of Mordremoth
Heart of Zhaitan
Heart of Soo-Won
When all stacks of Void Shell are removed 1500 (NM)
2500 (CM)
30 Death 0 seconds
Harvest Temple Elite Void Warforged N/A 500 ? Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed 30 seconds
Harvest Temple Elite Void Brandbomber N/A 500 ? Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed 30 seconds
Harvest Temple Champion Void Time Caster N/A 2000 ? Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed 30 seconds
Harvest Temple Champion Void Giant N/A 1000 ? Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed 30 seconds
Harvest Temple Champion Void Saltspray Dragon Below 75% HP 1500 ? 15 seconds Removes Aerial Defense
Causes 10 seconds of Exposed after 5 seconds
60 seconds (20 seconds if interrupted)
Harvest Temple Champion Void Obliterator N/A 1000 30 Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed 30 seconds
Harvest Temple (CM) Champion Void Goliath N/A 1000 30 Causes 5 seconds of Stun and 10 seconds of Exposed 30 seconds
Old Lion's Court Prototype Vermilion When channeling Spaghettification 1800 (NM)
3600 (CM)
0 10 seconds (NM) Reverses the Spaghettification attack zone
Causes Malfunctioning Ley-Woven Shielding
Causes 5 seconds of Stun and Exposed when next targetable
?
Old Lion's Court Prototype Arsenite When channeling Dysapoptosis 1800 (NM)
3600 (CM)
0 10 seconds (NM) Reverses the Dysapoptosis attack zone
Causes Malfunctioning Ley-Woven Shielding
Causes 5 seconds of Stun and Exposed when next targetable
?
Old Lion's Court Prototype Indigo When channeling Thundering Ultimatum 1800 (NM)
3600 (CM)
0 10 seconds (NM) Reverses the Thundering Ultimatum attack zone
Causes Malfunctioning Ley-Woven Shielding
Causes 5 seconds of Stun and Exposed when next targetable
?
Cosmic Observatory Dagda When channeling Planet Crash 3600 ? ? Interrupts and weakens the Planet Crash skill
Causes 5 seconds of Exposed
?
Temple of Febe Cerus At 80%, 50%, and 10%, while channeling Petrify 3600 ? ? Interrupts the Petrify skill and summons Embodiments of Cerus ?
1 Not breaking the defiance bar may be preferable if nearing 70% HP (when it becomes invulnerable) to avoid animation locking and extending the invulnerability period.
2 The defiance bar periodically locks itself but progress remains the same when unlocked.
3 The defiance bar normally remains locked unless a previous fight attempt was made.

Notes[edit]

  • Defiance bars replaced the Unshakable mechanic on October 23, 2015 when Heart of Thorns was released.
    • Some enemies in the game, especially in the older content like dungeons or the personal story, still use Unshakable mechanic instead of the Defiance bar, for example Bria in Hellion Forest.
    • Some even have latent traits of both mechanics, making the defiance bar malfunction in a multitude of ways. For example, champion enemy may be susceptible to some control effects as if they were normal ranked, completely immune to others, and the rest causes defiance bar damage as intended.
  • Initially, some skills and traits were designed to grant a Defiance bar to players. This was removed between the second and third beta weekend events of Heart of Thorns, although players still gain a defiance bar when transformed into an Enchanted Armor during the Battle in Tarir or when they have a Dragon Banner in WvW.
  • The Defiance bar recharges and registers damage from soft control effects every 0.24 seconds. This slightly affects the actual effect of control conditions. For example, a 1-second Fear may tick a total of 4 or 5 times causing 96 or 120 defiance bar damage.
    • The Defiance bar starts ticking when any control effect is applied. For example, starting with a 1-second fear always results in 96 defiance bar damage.
  • Superior Sigil of Paralyzation modifies the duration of Stuns and Dazes. Against targets with a defiance bar it will also increase the defiance bar damage dealt by the same amount (i.e. 100 defiance bar damage becomes 130 defiance bar damage). However, if a skill remains as less than 1s of stun or daze, it will be rounded up to 1s, dealing 100 defiance bar damage. For example, the defiance bar damage of Darkrazor's Daring isn't affected by the sigil.

Trivia[edit]

  • Contrary to the in-game hint, the unlocked bar color is teal rather than blue.

References[edit]