Malice

This article is about the Deadeye profession mechanic. For the focus, see Malice (weapon). For the sigil, see Superior Sigil of Malice. For the charr NPC, see Malice Swordshadow.

Malice

Effect type

Effect

Stacking

Intensity

Visual appearance
Malice counter with 5 stacks of malice.

Malice is a profession mechanic exclusive to the thief's deadeye elite specialization that grants bonus effects to Stealth Attacks. Floating orbs above the endurance bar indicate how many stacks of malice have accumulated. All stacks of malice are removed when the marked target dies, or another target is marked.

Generating malice

Malice can only be generated by attacking a marked target with a skill that costs initiative.

• 1 malice is gained per skill that hits the marked target (not per hit of the skill)
• 1 additional malice is gained if that skill critically hits.
• These gains can only occur once per skill use.

If Malicious Intent has been traited, Deadeye's Mark and Stealth Attacks will generate 1 malice.

Skills affected by malice

• Malice enhances the Deadeye's stealth attacks against their marked target. All stacks of malice will be consumed if the stealth attack hits.

Weapon	Skill	Type	Bonus effect
Axe	Malicious Cunning Salvo	Stealth Attack	Increases the duration of poison this skill applies by 1 second per stack.
Dagger	Malicious Backstab	Stealth Attack	Deals 10% bonus damage per stack.
Pistol	Malicious Sneak Attack	Stealth Attack	Increases the duration of torment this skill applies by 1 second per stack.
Rifle	Malicious Death's Judgment	Stealth Attack	Deals 10% bonus damage per stack.
Scepter	Malicious Shadowsquall	Stealth Attack	Increases the duration of poison this skill applies by 1 second per stack.
Staff	Malicious Hook Strike	Stealth Attack	Increases the duration of quickness this skill applies by 0.75¾ second per stack.
Short bow	Malicious Surprise Shot	Stealth Attack	Affects 1 more target per stack.
Sword	Malicious Tactical Strike	Stealth Attack	Gain 10 endurance per stack.
Harpoon gun	Malicious Ripper	Stealth Attack	Applies  Bleeding (10s) per stack.
Spear	Malicious Deadly Strike	Stealth Attack	Deals 15% bonus damage per stack.

• At 5 stacks of malice or more, the Deadeye's stolen skills will also grant the Deadeye stealth.

Related skills

Skill	Description
Deadeye's Mark	Mark a target, causing your initiative attacks to generate malice when they hit or critically hit your mark. Lose all malice when the mark ends or when this skill is recast on a new target. Malice is only gained once per skill use.
Mercy	Cantrip. Lose all malice, instantly refresh Deadeye's Mark, and gain initiative. Gain additional initiative for each stack of malice you had prior to using this skill.

Related traits

 Deadeye

•  Deadeye's Gaze - Steal is replaced with Deadeye's Mark, which unlocks new Stolen skills and malice generation. Stealth attacks consume malice for bonus effects. Gain access to rifles and cantrips.
•  Malicious Intent - Marking a target or striking your mark with a stealth attack will immediately grant malice.
•  Maleficent Seven - Increase the maximum malice-stack count. Restore initiative and gain boons upon reaching the maximum number of malice stacks.

Notes

• Your character will occasionally shout out one of the following lines upon reaching maximum malice:
  • All I need is one breath and one bullet.
  • It's time.
  • You won't survive this.
  • A little to the left, and ...

Bug:

The color of the malice orbs depends on the environment the player is in. Sometimes it is hard to see how much malice one has accumulated, for example in the Auric Basin at night where the orbs are always light blue.

Trivia

• Before the May 8, 2018 game update, malice was generated passively at a rate of 1 every 4 seconds when a target was marked. This was reduced to 1 every 2 seconds while attacking the marked target.

Version history

For a detailed effect history, see here.

Patch	Changes
May 08, 2018	Malice no longer generates over time. Malice no longer increases damage to the player's marked target.
February 06, 2018	Malice is no longer drained when marking the same target again.
September 22, 2017	Path of Fire release: Malice has been added to the game.

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Skill types and profession mechanics