Kneel

Your base and maximum movement speed is reduced. Gain access to kneel skills, which have increased projectile velocity. You can still dodge roll while kneeling. Kneeling is canceled if you swap weapons or use Free Action. — In-game description

Kneel

Profession

Thief (skill list)

Specialization

Deadeye

Weapon

Rifle

Sequence

 → 

Game link

API

40600

“

0.5½  0.5½  

1

2

 

Kneel

Your base and maximum movement speed is reduced. Gain access to kneel skills, which have increased projectile velocity. You can still dodge roll while kneeling. Kneeling is canceled if you swap weapons or use Free Action.

 Initiative: 1

 Base Movement Speed: −75%

 Maximum Movement Speed: −75%

 Interval: 3 seconds

 Velocity Increase: 50%

 Range: 1,500

— In-game description

Skills

• Kneel skills are enhanced versions of the deadeye rifle skills, which become available after using Kneel. Swapping weapons or activating Free Action cancels kneeling.

#	Skill				Description
1	Deadly Aim	0.75¾			Kneel. Fire a shot that inflicts vulnerability on your target. Applies additional vulnerability against your marked target.
2	Spotter's Shot	0.75¾	3		Kneel. Fire a bullet that grants you boons and inflicts conditions on your target.
3	Three Round Burst	1	4		Kneel. Fire three bullets that grant might if they hit your target.
4	Sniper's Cover	0.25¼	4		Kneel. Create a barrier of shadows that blocks incoming missiles. Kneeling while within the barrier allows you to use Death's Advance.
4	Death's Advance	0.25¼	2		Kneel. Shadowstep forward while granting yourself stealth.
5	Free Action				Kneel. Stop kneeling and move freely. If you used at least one kneel skill, gain swiftness.

Related traits

Acrobatics

• Assassin's Reward — Heal yourself whenever you use a skill that uses initiative. Heal yourself for each point of initiative spent.

Trickery

• Preparedness — Increases maximum initiative by 3. Gain increased expertise.
• Lead Attacks — Increases all damage dealt per initiative spent. Steal gains reduced recharge time.

Notes

• Causes the kneeling effect.
  • While kneeling, the deadeye recovers 1 extra initiative every 3 seconds.
• Your character will occasionally shout out one of the following lines upon activating this skill.
  • Lock and load.
  • This looks like a good spot.
  • This seems like a good spot.
  • Setting up.
  • Sniper's position secured.

Version history

For a detailed skill history, see here.

Patch	Changes
June 25, 2024	Reduced the initiative cost from 2 to 1 in PvE only.
November 30, 2022	Fixed an issue that allowed immobilized players to dodge attacks while kneeling.
November 29, 2022	Increased initiative cost from 1 to 2. While kneeling, players can now move at a 75% reduced speed. Kneel is no longer canceled when you become disabled.
July 10, 2018	The transition to the kneeling state now happens immediately on activation to allow for smoother skill queuing. The aftercast has been slightly reduced.
May 08, 2018	This skill no longer uses the ammunition system. The recharge remains at 0.5 seconds to prevent thieves from unintentionally reentering this mode after exiting from their kneel stance, and initiative regeneration is now increased while kneeling.
September 22, 2017	Path of Fire release: Kneel has been added to the game.

Trivia

• Prior to the balance change that allowed walking while using this skill, a lightly-colored ring appeared around the player to indicate the 1500 unit range.

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Skill types and profession mechanics