Movement Speed

This article is about speed at which characters move. For general mobility, see Movement. For the boon granting increased movement speed, see Swiftness.

Movement Speed refers to the distance a character travels over a period of time, relative to the ground, by using the movement keys or movement actions.

Base speed

Movement Speed can be expressed in units per second (u/s). Forward motion is fastest, and can be increased by various bonuses. Entering combat reduces this speed by about 30%. Forward speed is used whenever the forward key is held, including when holding e.g. forward and right simultaneously.

Sideways or backward motion is much slower than forward motion and both are unaffected by movement speed increases and/or being in combat. The backpedaling speed is used whenever the backward key is pressed, including when holding e.g. backward and right simultaneously.

Direction	Out of combat (u/s)	In combat (u/s)
Forward	294	210
Strafing	180	180
Backpedaling	105	105
Cap	400	400

Walking speed is 80 units per second in all directions, both in combat and out of combat.

Movement speed bonuses and debuffs

Most movement speed increases do not stack with each other—only the greatest value takes effect. For example, a character under the effect of Signet of Air (+25%) and swiftness (+33%) will only move 33% faster. Maximum movement speed is universally capped at 400 units per second; this translates to 136% of base out-of-combat speed, but 190% of base in-combat speed. As such, the capped movement speed can be achieved out-of-combat with a mere 40% movement speed increase, whereas in-combat this requires a 100% increase i.e. Superspeed. Superspeed only makes use of its full 100% increase while in combat.

Debuffs like Crippled (-50%) and Chilled (-66%) subtract from the total move speed modifier, and Rising Momentum and swim-speed infusions add their effects on top of it. Thus, a character with swiftness, superspeed, a speed booster, a writ of speed, cripple, and one stack of Rising Momentum would have 100 (strongest bonus out of the first four effects) - 50 + 5 = 55% bonus speed, or 210 * 1.55 = 325.5 u/s.

Sideways and backward motion cannot be increased beyond their base levels by any effect, including Superspeed.

Maximizing movement speed

The following example combinations of effects result in the maximum speed out of combat:

Effect(s)	Bonus	Effective Speed
Superspeed	100	136%
Superior Rune of Speed with  Swiftness	66	136%
Swiftness with  Woven Stride	40	136%
Swiftness + 1x Rising Momentum	38	136%
Impossible Odds	50	136%

The following example combinations of effects result in the maximum speed in combat:

Effect(s)	Bonus	Effective Speed
Superspeed	100	190%
Superior Rune of Speed with  Swiftness + 5x Rising Momentum	91	190%
Impossible Odds + 8x Rising Momentum	90	190%

Slopes

On a slope, the numbers above apply to the total speed (horizontal + vertical). As a consequence, the horizontal speed is lower.

Underwater

Underwater swimming speed is very similar to running speed on land. Base speeds and the effect of buffs like swiftness are the same in every direction. Swim-speed infusions provide an additive bonus to forward speed on top of most buffs, but are still subject to the 400 u/s speed cap. This means a +10 infusion and swiftness will hit the cap when out of combat, but even the +30 infusion increases speed in combat.

Effect(s)	Bonus	Speed Out of Combat	Speed In Combat
Superspeed	100	136%	190%
Swim-Speed Infusion +10 +  Swiftness	43	136%	146%
Swim-Speed Infusion +24 +   Superior Rune of Speed with  Swiftness	90	136%	190%
Swim-Speed Infusion +10 +   Impossible Odds + 6x Rising Momentum	90	136%	190%
Swim-Speed Infusion +30 +  Swiftness	63	136%	163%

Gliding

While gliding, the horizontal speed is 294 u/s, and 390 u/s when leaning forward. The vertical speed is around 113 u/s in both cases.

Mounts

Mount	Speed (u/s)
Raptor	600
Springer	575
Skimmer	540 (land and underwater) 850 (water surfaces)
Jackal	625
Griffon	500
Griffon (airborne)	624
Griffon (dive lvl 1)	1200
Griffon (dive lvl 2)	2000
Roller Beetle	0-1800
Warclaw (PvE)	550
Warclaw (WvW)	450
Skyscale	500
Skyscale (airborne)	300 (ascending) 612 (forward) 650 (descending)

Related effects

Effect	Change
Superspeed	+100%
Superior Rune of Speed with  Swiftness	+66%
Mist Form	+66%
Woven Air	+50%
Celeritas Spores	+40%
Blessing of Elements	+40%
Flame's Embrace	+40%
Swiftness	+33%
Leader of the Pact (I, II, III)	+5%, +15%, +33% in major cities
Speed boons	+15%
Rising Momentum	+5% for each point of active upkeep, stacks with other movement speed increases
Hamstrung	-1% for each 1% missing health (max of 70%)
Unseen Burden	-1% for each stack up to 99 stacks
Ichor	-33%
Crippled	-50%
Chilled	-66%
Quicksand	-90%
Immobile	Unable to move or turn.
Stun	Unable to move or turn.

Related skills

•   Dagger Storm (+100%, 4 seconds)
•   Mist Form (+66%, 3 seconds)
•   Weave Self (+50%, while, and after, attuning to Air)
•   Impossible Odds (+50% while active)
•   Whirling Axe (+50% while spinning)
•   Signet of the Hunt (+25%, both player and pet, permanent)
•   Signet of Shadows (+25%, permanent)
•   Signet of Air (+25%, permanent)
•   Signet of the Locust (+25%, permanent)

Related traits

•  Warrior's Sprint (+25%, with melee weapons)
•  Mecha Legs (+25% Movement Speed; Reduce duration of movement-impairing conditions by 33%)
•  Zephyr's Speed (+25%, while attuned to air)
•  Woven Stride (Swiftness has 20% increased effectiveness.)
•  Quickening Thirst (+25% when health is above 75%)
•  Time Marches On (+25% Movement Speed; Reduce duration of movement-impairing conditions by 25%)
•  Natural Stride (+33% Movement Speed while not under a movement-impairing condition; Reduce duration of movement-impairing conditions by 33%)
•  Pet's Prowess (+30% Movement Speed while in Beastmode)
•  Meld with Shadows (+50% Movement Speed while in stealth)
•  Rising Momentum (+5% per each pip of energy upkeep, stacks with other movement speed increases)
•  Soaring Devastation (+25% Movement Speed while Wings of Resolve is not on cooldown)

Related equipment

•   Superior Rune of Speed (Rank 6: +66% Movement Speed during swiftness)
•   Superior Rune of the Traveler (Rank 6: +25% Movement Speed)
•   Superior Rune of Fireworks (Rank 6: +25% Movement Speed)
•   Superior Rune of Surging (Rank 6: +25% Movement Speed)
•   Rune of the Lynx (PvP) (Rank 6: +25% Movement Speed) (Currently only available in sPvP)
•   Swim-Speed Infusion +10-30% (Underwater only, stacks with other movement speed increases)

Related consumables

•   Writ of Masterful Speed (+25% Movement Speed)
•   Writ of Studied Speed (+15% Movement Speed)
•   Writ of Basic Speed (+10% Movement Speed)
•   Swift Moa Feather (+10% Movement Speed)

See also

• Speed boons, a service provided by NPCs in major cities.
• Speed Booster, a Booster consumable that grants a separate 15% speed boost.
• Research on mount speeds can be found here.