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. Falling speed is 1024 u/s unmounted.

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%	143%
Swim-Speed Infusion +30 +  Swiftness	63	136%	163%
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%

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	120 (Walk) 600 180 (backwards)
Springer	126 (Walk) 575 180 (backwards)
Skimmer	250 (Walk) 550 (land and underwater) 850 (water surfaces) 200 (backwards everywhere)
Jackal	125 (Walk) 625 140 (backwards)
Griffon	125 (Walk) 500 624 (airborne) 1200 (dive lvl 1)[verification requested] 2000 (dive lvl 2) 130 (backwards)
Roller Beetle	61 (Walk) 0-1800 65 (backwards)
Warclaw	138 (Walk) 550 (PvE) 450 (WvW) 130 (backwards in PvE)
Skyscale	125 (Walk) 500 300 (ascending) 600 (airborne) 650 (descending) 130 (backwards)
Siege Turtle	28 (Walk) 382 (Unboosted, teal bar) 588 (Unboosted, red bar) 650 (with Overdrive) 56 (backwards)

Notes

Skiffs

Mode	Speed (u/s)
Backwards	147
Slow Cruise	300
Moderate Clip	600
Full Throttle	800
Turbo Boost	1000

Notes

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
Ferocious Symbiosis	+5% per stack, up to 5 stacks, granted to the opposite when pet or ranger attack, appears to stack 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

Weapon skills

•   Whirling Axe — Movement Speed Increase: 50%
•   Relentless Whirl — Movement Speed Increase: 50%

Utility skills

•   Impossible Odds — Movement Speed Increase: 50%
•   Shift Signet — Movement Speed Increase: 25%
•   "Sic 'Em!" — "Sic 'Em!" (10s): +40% Damage, +40% Movement Speed
•   Signet of the Hunt — Signet of the Hunt: +25% Movement Speed
•   Signet of Shadows — Movement Speed Increase: 25%
•   Mist Form — Movement Speed Increase: 66%
•   Signet of Air — Signet of Air (effect): +25% Movement Speed
•   Signet of the Locust — Movement Speed Increase: 25%

Elite skills

•   Dagger Storm — Movement Speed Increase: 100%
•   Weave Self — Woven Air: +50% Movement Speed; Perfect Weave (10s): +20% Boon Duration, +20% Healing Increase to Others, +20% Condition Damage, -20% Incoming Damage, +50% Movement Speed

Common skills

•   Eagle's Rush — Movement Speed Increase: 50%
•   Overdrive — Movement Speed Increase: 10%

Related traits

Traits that increase movement speed

• Soaring Devastation (Dragonhunter) — Wings of Resolve delivers an attack upon landing. Movement speed is increased when Wings of Resolve is not on cooldown.
• Righteous Sprint (Willbender) — Gain increased movement speed. Gain swiftness when you activate a virtue.
• Rising Momentum (Herald) — Gain increased movement speed for each point of upkeep currently in use.
• Aggressive Onslaught (Strength) — Gain quickness when you disable an enemy. While you have quickness, your movement speed is increased. This stacks with other movement speed increases.
• Warrior's Sprint (Discipline) — Run faster while wielding melee weapons, and deal increased strike damage while you have swiftness. Movement skills break immobilization when used.
• Mecha Legs (Inventions) — Movement speed is increased. Cripple, chill, and immobilize durations are reduced.
• Pet's Prowess (Beastmastery) — Your pet moves faster and deals more damage on critical hits.
• Natural Stride (Druid) — Reduces duration of movement-impairing conditions. Your movement speed is increased as long as you have none of these conditions.
• Ferocious Symbiosis (Untamed) — You and your pet grant each other increased damage and movement speed when striking enemies. When this triggers, it refreshes the duration of all stacks
• Zephyr's Speed (Air) — Your chance to critically strike is increased. While attuned to air, your movement speed is also increased.
• Time Marches On (Chronomancer) — You move 25% faster. The duration of incoming movement-impairing conditions is reduced by 25%.
• Speed of Sand (Mirage) — Mirage Cloak increases your movement speed.
• Quickening Thirst (Blood Magic) — Increases movement speed above the health threshold. Dagger skills recharge faster if activated while above the health threshold.

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 (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.