Initiative
Initiative is a skill cost mechanic unique to the thief profession. It replaces recharge on the thief's weapon skills with a pool of twelve points which are spent when the skills are used and gradually returns over time. Using initiative the thief is able to tactically attack an opponent with their own chains and bursts of damage until they run out of the resource.
Thieves have a base of 12 initiative. Initiative is represented by twelve diamond-shaped indicators above the weapon skill slots. The initiative pool can be expanded up to 15 points through the primary trait line Trickery. Whenever a weapon skill is used, it will consume a certain number of initiative from the available pool. Initiative will replenish naturally at one point every second.
Contents
Skills which use initiative[edit]
Weapon | Equipped in | Skill | Initiative cost |
---|---|---|---|
Dagger | Main hand | Heartseeker | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Off hand | Dancing Dagger | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Cloak and Dagger | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Pistol | Main hand | Bola Shot | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Off hand | Head Shot | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Black Powder | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Sword | Main hand | Infiltrator's Strike | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Short bow | Both hands | Cluster Bomb | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Disabling Shot | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Choking Gas | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Infiltrator's Arrow | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Staff | Both hands | Weakening Charge | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Debilitating Arc | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Dust Strike | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Vault | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Rifle | Both hands | Skirmisher's Shot![]() |
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Double Tap![]() |
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Death's Retreat | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
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Kneel | ![]() | ||
Harpoon gun | Aquatic | Deluge | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Escape | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Disabling Shot | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Ink Shot | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Spear | Aquatic | Flanking Dive | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Nine-Tailed Strike | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
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Tow Line | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
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Shadow Assault | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Dual skills[edit]
Main weapon | Off-hand weapon | Skill | Initiative cost |
---|---|---|---|
Dagger | Dagger | Death Blossom | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pistol | Shadow Shot | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
None | Twisting Fangs | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Pistol | Dagger | Shadow Strike | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Pistol | Unload | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
None | Repeater | ![]() ![]() | |
Sword | Dagger | Flanking Strike | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Pistol | Pistol Whip | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
None | Stab | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Skills which restore initiative[edit]
Unload —
if all attacks hit (PvE) /
if all attacks hit (PvP/WvW)
Infiltrator's Signet —
every 10s
Roll for Initiative —
Mercy —
plus
per
spent
Related traits[edit]
- Shadow's Rejuvenation — Regenerate health and initiative while in stealth.
- Assassin's Reward — Heal yourself whenever you use a skill that uses initiative. Heal yourself for each point of initiative spent.
- Upper Hand — Gain initiative and regeneration when you evade an attack.
- Kleptomaniac — Stealing gives you initiative.
- Preparedness — Increases maximum initiative by 3.
- Lead Attacks — Increases damage and condition damage per initiative spent. Steal gains reduced recharge time.
- Quick Pockets — Gain initiative on swapping weapons while in combat.