Lightning Rod

This article is about the elementalist trait. For other uses, see Lightning Rod (disambiguation).

Cast Lightning Rod when you disable a foe. Disables include stun, daze, knockback, pull, knockdown, sink, float, launch, taunt, and fear. — In-game description

Lightning Rod

Specialization

Air (trait list)

Tier

Grandmaster

Type

Major

Training cost

8 Hero points

Game link

API

API

“

Lightning Rod

Cast Lightning Rod when you disable a foe.
Disables include stun, daze, knockback, pull, knockdown, sink, float, launch, taunt, and fear.

— In-game description

Trait skill

Skill			Description
Lightning Rod (PvE)			Call down lightning on a disabled foe.
Lightning Rod (WvW, PvP)			Call down lightning on a disabled foe.

Mechanics

•   Lightning Rod activates before crowd control effects occur.
  • This means traits like  Stormsoul do not increase the damage of this trait skill.

Related skills

Weapon skills that are improved by this trait

•   Shocking Aura — Dagger, when attuned to air
•   Transmute Lightning — Dagger, when attuned to air
•   Updraft — Dagger, when attuned to air
•   Earthquake — Dagger, when attuned to earth
•   Dazing Discharge — Pistol, when attuned to air
•   Comet — Focus, when attuned to water
•   Gale — Focus, when attuned to air
•   Gust — Staff, when attuned to air
•   Static Field — Staff, when attuned to air
•   Unsteady Ground — Staff, when attuned to earth
•   Undertow — Spear, when attuned to water
•   Twister — Spear, when attuned to air
•   Lesser Derecho — Spear, when attuned to air
•   Derecho — Spear, when attuned to air
•   Harden — Spear, when attuned to earth
•   Undercurrent — Trident, when attuned to water
•   Electrocute — Trident, when attuned to air
•   Air Bubble — Trident, when attuned to air
•   Lightning Cage — Trident, when attuned to air
•   Rock Anchor — Trident, when attuned to earth
•   Tidal Surge — Warhorn, when attuned to water
•   Cyclone — Warhorn, when attuned to air
•   Katabatic Wind — Dagger, when attuned to air and water
•   Mud Slide — Dagger, when attuned to water and earth
•   Enervating Earth — Pistol, when attuned to air and earth
•   Earthen Synergy — Scepter, when attuned to air and earth
•   Polaric Leap — Sword, when attuned to air
•   Gale Strike — Sword, when attuned to air and earth
•   Pile Driver — Staff, when attuned to air and earth
•   Absolute Zero — Trident, when attuned to air and water
•   Wind Storm — Hammer, when attuned to air
•   Shock Blast — Hammer, when attuned to air

Bundle skills that are improved by this trait

•   Deep Freeze — Frost Bow
•   Wind Blast — Lightning Hammer
•   Static Field — Lightning Hammer
•   Magnetic Surge — Magnetic Shield (bundle)
•   Magnetic Shield — Magnetic Shield (bundle)

Transform skills that are improved by this trait

•   Debris Tornado — Tornado
•   Dust Charge — Tornado

Utility skills that are improved by this trait

•   Arcane Wave — Arcane

Elite skills that are improved by this trait

•   Tornado — Cantrip
•   Whirlpool — Cantrip
•   Shocking Bolt
•   Crashing Waves
•   Tailored Victory

Version history

For a detailed trait history, see here.

Patch	Changes
March 28, 2023	(Undocumented) Removed unnecessary spaces in the list of control effects.
April 28, 2020	Reduced power coefficient from 1.2 to 0.95 in PvP and WvW.
February 25, 2020	Competitive content update: (Competitive split) Reduced weakness duration from 4 seconds to 3 seconds.
January 26, 2016	The attack that this trait produces will now trigger after a target has become disabled rather than simultaneously.
June 23, 2015	Specialization update: Updated this trait to reflect the introduction of the specialization mechanic.
September 09, 2014	Lightning Rod now triggers on any form of disable rather than on interrupt.
April 15, 2014	Lightning Rod has been added to the game.