Special action skill

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Special action skills are additional skills which can appear above the skill bar during certain encounters and events. By default, they are bound to the N key.

List of special action skills[edit]

Open world[edit]

Central Tyria[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Impaling Throw.png Return to Sender 0.75¾ 1 All Legendary Bandit Executioner locations, as well as White Mantle locations. Gained after using Counter Magic before being struck by Sword of Vengeance, a skill used by Legendary Bandit Executioner and several White Mantle foes.
Sensor Tracking.png Sensor Tracking 10 Activate the guidance enchantment to indicate the direction and proximity of magical sensors. Bloodtide Coast, Frostgorge Sound, Lornar's Pass, Snowden Drifts, Southsun Cove Gained after talking to the Elemental Sprite.

Heart of Maguuma[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Shroom Jukes.png Return to Checkpoint Abaddon's Ascent Upon reaching a checkpoint in the jumping puzzle.
Shroom Jukes.png Return to Checkpoint 5 Teleport back to the last checkpoint you reached. Searing Ascent Upon reaching a checkpoint in the jumping puzzle.
Scan.png Scan 6 Use the technomagic detector to locate nearby Zinn's stashes. Draconis Mons Using an Ancient Asuran Power Source.
Counter Magic (skill).png Counter Magic 1 Counter certain magical attacks, and remove any lingering effects. Bloodstone Fen Gained during fights with some enemies in Bloodstone Fen after the Counter Magic mastery is trained.

Ruins of Orr[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Dirge of Balthazar.png Dirge of Balthazar 3 0 Applies Turning the Tide to all creatures in the area of effect.

Enemies affected by the following:
  Incoming damage increased,
  Constant burning damage,
  Burning damage increased while moving.

Allies affected by the following:
  Increased crit chance,
  Increased endurance regeneration,
  Incoming damage lowered.
Siren's Landing Acquired randomly when interacting with a Chancel of Echoes.
Dirge of Dwayna.png Dirge of Dwayna 3 0 Applies Preservation of Life to all allies in the area of effect.

Fallen allies are revived.
All allies will auto-revive the next time they fall.

There is a modest countdown before the auto-revive kicks in. If you are revived by other means before the countdown finishes, the effect is not expended.
Siren's Landing Acquired randomly when interacting with a Chancel of Echoes.
Dirge of Grenth.png Dirge of Grenth 3 0 Applies Breath of the Mist to all creatures in the area of effect.

Enemies affected by the following:
  Skills and actions take longer to complete
  Movement is slowed,
  Skills take longer to recharge.

Allies affected by the following:
  Skills and actions complete more quickly,
  Movement speed is increased,
  Incoming critical hits trigger protection.
Siren's Landing Acquired randomly when interacting with a Chancel of Echoes.
Dirge of Lyssa.png Dirge of Lyssa 3 0 Applies Own Worst Enemy to all creatures in the area of effect.

Enemies suffer from a 50% chance to fumble all attacks while under the effect.

Affected allies split incoming damage 50/50 with whatever attacked them while under effects of Own Worst Enemy.

If the attacker is also affected by Your Own Worst Enemy, 100% of the damage is reflected back to the attacker and the player takes no damage from that attack.
Siren's Landing Acquired randomly when interacting with a Chancel of Echoes.
Dirge of Melandru.png Dirge of Melandru 3 0 Applies Wild Growth to all creatures in the area of effect.

Attacks made against enhanced allies trigger Retaliation and Bleeding.

As the performer of this dirge, you also benefit from a summoned mushroom spike thrower that will fight for you.
Siren's Landing Acquired randomly when interacting with a Chancel of Echoes.

Crystal Desert[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Threaten.png Threaten 10 Threaten the Zaishen zealot. Crystal Oasis Move within range of a Zaishen Zealot at the Give aid to the refugees at Marifa Camp heart.
Smell.png Smell Danger 2 Use your mount's sense of smell to locate nearby hidden enemies. Elon Riverlands Available during Use your mount to sniff out and defeat burrowed devourers event.
Use Whip.png Lasso 5 Lasso the target to bring it to a screeching stop (some enemies may require multiple lassos to bring down). Elon Riverlands Move within range of a Veteran Skritt Runner.
Scan Etheric Field.png Tether 7 Tether the target, forcing them to move toward Agent Maziz for capture. The Desolation Weaken an Annealed Abomination during the Weaken Annealed Abominations, and use Tether to bring them to Maziz event.
File:Elegant Fan Focus.png Fan 10.5½ Fan the air in front of you to clear out the clouds of perfume. Domain of Vabbi Move within range of a Perfume cloud.
Dragon's Wing (skill).png Warp 3 Warp back to the last grounded checkpoint you reached. Domain of Vabbi Move off the path of the race.
Brandstone Multitool.png Equip Brandstone Multitool Use to equip the Brandstone Multitool. Domain of Istan Using Brandstone Multitool while on foot.
Locate Impact Site.png Locate Impact Site 0.25¼ 3 Points toward Brandstone impact sites in the Domain of Istan. Domain of Istan Using Brandstone Multitool while mounted.
Geyser.png Geyser Boost 3 Surge upward on a jet of water. Can only be used while hovering above water. Sandswept Isles Available during the race at Northern Complex Coves.
Magnetic Discharge.png Gravimetric Tunneling Field Oscillator 1 60 Teleports you to the field tech turret that granted you this ability.
Note: Passing by another gravimetric tunneling field oscillator will replace this skill with their own version.
Domain of Kourna Getting close to a [FTT] Gravimetric Tunneling Field Oscillator.
Stab (thief spear skill).png Blazing Spear 0.5½ 15 Throw a flaming spear at a foe, applying burning to foes near your target. Highly effective against Riftstalkers. Jahai Bluffs Walk over the griffon roost at Almorra's Stand during Destroy the Death-Branded Shatterer event while mounted.
Detect Corrupted Sand.png Detect Corrupted Sand 1 5 Use the compass to find corrupted sand in the desert.

A blue ping indicates a distant source.
A yellow ping indicates a nearby source.
A red ping indicates a source very close by.
Jahai Bluffs Sand Compass.
Ping PJKT D33-J4Y.png Ping PJKT D33-J4Y Use the device to establish a wireless connection with D33-J4Y and choose songs to play in Sun's Refuge. Sun's Refuge Talk to Pact Archaeologist Barapp.

Shiverpeak Mountains[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Oil Reclamation Pump (skill).png Oil Reclamation Pump 10.75¾ 5 Vacuums oil. Empty at the station where the pump was found. Thunderhead Peaks Acquire a pump during Use oil reclamation pumps to clean up the spills! event.
Equip Priory Scan Gun.png Equip Priory Scan Gun 3 Equip your Priory scan gun to search local dig sites for sturdy and fragile artifacts. Thunderhead Peaks Interacting with Priory Scan Guns at Help the Priory with their excavations.
Place Dragonsblood Shrapnel Mine.png Place Dragonsblood Shrapnel Mine 0.5 Place one of Canach's new Dragonsblood shrapnel mines, which explode when hostiles approach. Thunderhead Peaks Interacting with Crate of Mines during Repair defenses and place mines! at Thunderhead Keep.
Switch to Personal Skills!.png Can't Rally Group 2 3 Lacking the charisma needed to rally this many people. Thunderhead Peaks Granted when near a group of discouraged soldiers at The Grotto without a full bar of charisma.
Rally the Crowd.png Inspire 0.25¼ 3 Hearten a discouraged soldier. Thunderhead Peaks Granted when near discouraged soldiers at The Grotto.
Switch to Commanding Mummies!.png Rally Group 1 3 Use charisma to rally a group of soldiers. Thunderhead Peaks Granted when near a group of discouraged soldiers at The Grotto with a full bar of charisma.
Dragonsblood Spear (Thunderhead Keep).png Dragonsblood Spear 0.5½ 0.5 Hurl the dragonsblood spear at your target, piercing all enemies along its path. Branded targets take increased damage and are aflicted with bleeding and vulnerability. Thunderhead Peaks Interacting with Dragonsblood Spear caches during Defeat the Wrathbringer at Thunderhead Keep.

Ascalon[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Come to Me!.png Hands in the Air 0.75¾ "Come on, get pumped!" Grothmar Valley Granted to players during Pump up the crowd!.

Far Shiverpeaks[edit]

Primary articles: Essence manipulation, United Legions Waystation Synchronization
Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Spirit Nova.png Spirit Nova 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and launches lesser creatures. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Resilience Tier 1 and are fighting powerful Aberrant creatures.
Spirit Nova.png Spirit Nova 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and launches lesser creatures. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Resilience Tier 2 and are fighting powerful Aberrant creatures.
Spirit Nova.png Spirit Nova 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and launches lesser creatures. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Resilience Tier 3 and are fighting powerful Aberrant creatures.
Spirit Nova.png Spirit Nova 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and launches lesser creatures. If used on a creature with the Essence of Valor, the strike will bounce to nearby foes. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Resilience Tier 4 and are fighting powerful Aberrant creatures.
Night Terror.png Night Terror 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and pulls lesser creatures into its destruction. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Valor Tier 1 and are fighting powerful Sons of Svanir enemies.
Night Terror.png Night Terror 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and pulls lesser creatures into its destruction. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Valor Tier 2 and are fighting powerful Sons of Svanir enemies.
Night Terror.png Night Terror 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and pulls lesser creatures into its destruction. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Valor Tier 3 and are fighting powerful Sons of Svanir enemies.
Night Terror.png Night Terror 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and pulls lesser creatures into its destruction. If used on a creature with the Essence of Vigilance, the strike will bounce to nearby foes. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Valor Tier 4 and are fighting powerful Sons of Svanir enemies.
Shattered Psyche.png Shattered Psyche 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and floats lesser creatures in the air. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Vigilance Tier 1 and are fighting powerful Fallen enemies.
Shattered Psyche.png Shattered Psyche 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and floats lesser creatures in the air. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Vigilance Tier 2 and are fighting powerful Fallen enemies.
Shattered Psyche.png Shattered Psyche 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and floats lesser creatures in the air. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Vigilance Tier 3 and are fighting powerful Fallen enemies.
Shattered Psyche.png Shattered Psyche 1 1 A powerful blast that deals immense damage and floats lesser creatures in the air. If used on a creature with the Essence of Resilience, the strike will bounce to nearby foes. Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast Will only show up while you have Power of Vigilance Tier 4 and are fighting powerful Fallen enemies.
Electromagical Pulse (skill).png Electromagical Pulse 1 12 Stun and damage enemies within a medium radius. Slow enemies within a large radius. Deal bonus defiance bar damage. Drizzlewood Coast Granted after selecting the according dialog option from United Legions Waystation.
Remote Charge (skill).png Remote Charge 0.5½ 8 Throw a charge at your target area. The charge can be manually detonated remotely, or it will explode after duration ends. Drizzlewood Coast Granted after selecting the according dialog option from United Legions Waystation.
Rocket Jump and Parachute.png Rocket Jump/Parachute 0.5½ 30 Fires a rocket at the ground that launches the player into the air. If you're already in the air, it'll activate the parachute instead. Drizzlewood Coast Granted after selecting the according dialog option from United Legions Waystation.
Electromagical Pulse (skill).png Electromagical Pulse 2.0 1 12 Stun and damage enemies within a medium radius. Slow enemies within a large radius. Deal bonus defiance bar damage. Drizzlewood Coast Granted after selecting the according dialog option from United Legions Waystation after unlocking the United Legions Waystation Mastery mastery.
Remote Charge (skill).png Remote Charge 2.0 0.5½ 5 Throw a charge at your target area. The charge can be manually detonated remotely, or it will explode after duration ends. When detonated, it will cause additional explosions in the area. Drizzlewood Coast Granted after selecting the according dialog option from United Legions Waystation after unlocking the United Legions Waystation Mastery mastery.
Rocket Jump and Parachute.png Rocket Jump/Parachute 2.0 0.5½ 30 Fires a rocket at the ground that launches the player into the air. If you're already in the air, it'll activate the parachute instead. Drizzlewood Coast Granted after selecting the according dialog option from United Legions Waystation after unlocking the United Legions Waystation Mastery mastery.

Story[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Triage.png Minor Breakthrough 10.25¼ Release your built-up guilt and damage the manifestation of self-doubt! Shining Blade Secrets Speak to one of the ghosts during the Manifestation of Self-Doubt encounter.
Communicator Ping.png Communicator Ping 1 5 Use your communicator to detect the direction and proximity of other communication signals.

A blue ping response indicates the signal is far away.
A yellow ping response indicates the signal is nearby.
A red ping response indicates the signal is very close.
A Meeting of Ministers Gained after the fixing the gate golem and talking to Taimi.
Surprised.png Coordinated Attack 1.25 Successfully performing a coordinated, well-timed attack with Aurene will stun the creature and give Aurene an opening to break through the creature's defenses.

This must be timed correctly with Aurene. Otherwise, you run the risk of Aurene missing her attack window.
Precocious Aurene Gained when standing in the white circle during the battle against the Mordrem Leyleecher.
Triage.png Triage 1 Help gravely wounded Shining Blade agents get back on their feet. Shining Blade Secrets Available during the Henge of Denravi re-enactment.
"For Great Justice!".png "Cheer!" 40.5½ 30 Skills recharge faster. Shining Blade Secrets Available to spectators during the Manifestation of Self-Doubt fight.
Prod.png Spectral Smite 0.75 While infused with Lazarus's power, harness it to smite your foes. Dragon Vigil Gained after throwing a destroyer's pustule bomb at the Veteran Destroyer of Hope.
Scan.png Scan 0.5½ 2 A portable scanner. Heart of the Volcano (story) Given by Taimi.
Release Energy.png Release Energy 0.75¾ 0.5 Release the volatile ley energy at the target, stripping away volatile plating. If the target does not have volatile plating, this skill will apply vulnerability and refund its cost. A Kindness Repaid Picking up Volatile Ley Energy.
Unsheathe Sohothin.png Unsheathe Sohothin 1.5 Unsheathe the mighty Sohothin. Beast of War Granted upon trying to drop Sohothin.
Legendary Prisoner Stance.png Legendary Prisoner Stance Invoke the power of the legendary prisoner Palawa Joko. The Hero of Istan Given to Revenants.
Unchained Desolation.png Unchained Desolation 2 5 Unleash enough raw fury to sunder steel. The Hero of Istan Gain by using the  Legendary Prisoner Stance.png Legendary Prisoner Stance action skill.
Touch of the Sun.png Touch of the Sun 0.5½ Hurl an energy ball to damage Lonai and destroy her shades. The Charge Gain by picking up a Solar Core.
Scan Corporeal Field.png Equip Tassi Box Equip Marjory's Tassi box to investigate the crime scene. Hard Boiled, No More Secrets Unequip the Tassi box.

Fractals of the Mists[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Paralytic Dagger.png Enhanced Reflexes 1 Blessed by the almighty Joko, you leap higher, take reduced fall damage, move quicker, break stuns, and evade attacks. Twilight Oasis Fractal Gained after getting awakened by Joko.
Stab (Rusty Old Torch).png Flickering Flame 0.5½ There is just enough heat to light a single fire with this torch. Chaos Fractal Gained at the start of the blizzard section.
Activate... (blue).png Hex Shield 32 Protect a platform from disappearing. Thaumanova Reactor Fractal Gained during the fight against the Thaumanova Anomaly.
Celestial Dash.png Hypernova Launch 8 Launch yourself to a point using cosmic energy. Shakes the earth when you land, and prevents damage from attacks. Shattered Observatory Fractal Gained after the encounter with Viirastra.
Stab (Rusty Old Torch).png Ignite 0.5½ Use a torch to ignite your target. Snowblind Fractal Gained at the start.
Light of Deldrimor.png Light of Deldrimor 7 Reveals hidden objects, protects tiles, slows, and applies Light Vulnerability to corrupted foes. Deepstone Fractal Gained by charging the Vibrant Crystal with orbs.
Ancestral Grace.png Nova Dash 0.5 Dash through the air. Mistlock Sanctuary Gained after successfully completing the bouncing marble minigame and then interacting with the marble.
Celestial Dash.png Nova Launch 9 Launch yourself to a point using cosmic energy. Prevents damage from attacks. Shattered Observatory Fractal Gained after travelling through the first rift.
Celestial Dash.png Nova Launch 0.5 Launch yourself to a point using cosmic energy. Prevents damage from attacks. Mistlock Sanctuary Enter the instance.

Raids[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Core Capture.png Expel Energy By focusing intently, unleash the build-up energy from Arcing Affliction. Hall of Chains Gained during the fight with Dhuum.
Rally the Crowd.png Issue Challenge 45 Challenge the Soulless Horror, causing her to focus her attacks on you. Hall of Chains Granted by interacting with one of two runes at the Besieged Ruins.
Reclaimed Energy.png Reclaimed Energy 0.5½ 1 Hurl harvested energy at a tile to empower it. Hall of Chains Gained during the fight with Eater of Souls.
Celestial Dash.png Celestial Dash 10.25¼ 5 Dash at the speed of a shooting star to your target location. Source: prison waters Bastion of the Penitent Gained after walking through the Mystic Waters.
Claim.png Claim 8 Claim a tile for your team. Bastion of the Penitent During the fight against the Mursaat Overseer.
Mursaat Overseer's Shield.png Dispel 18 Dispel the protective shield surrounding an enemy game piece. Bastion of the Penitent Gained during fight against Mursaat Overseer.
Over Here!.png Over Here! 3 Call your ally to your location. Stronghold of the Faithful Gained during the Siege the Stronghold encounter.
Intervention.png Intervention 15 Harness the excess ambient magic to create a dome that protects against Xera's deadliest attack. Stronghold of the Faithful Gained during the fight with Xera.
Protect.png Protect 180 Create a protective dome that nullifies all incoming damage for a short time. Bastion of the Penitent Gained during the fight with Mursaat Overseer.
Purge.png Purge Purge Slothasor's volatile poison, leaving a damaging pool behind. Salvation Pass Caused by Slothasor.
Purge.png Purge Fight against the corrupted blood magic and purge it from your soul. Salvation Pass Caused by Matthias Gabrel.
Sapper Bomb.png Sapper Bomb 0.5½ Throws the sapper bomb in your hand. Explosion damages allies and enemies. Spirit Vale Caused by Bandit Sappers while fighting Sabetha the Saboteur.
Conjured Protection.png Conjured Protection 1 1 Invoke the power of Conjured Shield to protect yourself and your allies. Mythwright Gambit Gained by collecting shield orbs from Conjured Shields or Conjured Amalgamate.
Conjured Slash.png Conjured Slash 0.75¾ 3 Invoke the power of Conjured Greatsword and strike down the target. Deals increased damage and applies a stack of Fractured for each stack of Conjured Greatsword power. Destroys 1 stack of Conjured Barrier. Mythwright Gambit Gained by collecting greatsword orbs from Conjured Greatswords or Conjured Amalgamate.
Increase Gravity.png Drop Mythwright Gambit Gained upon leaving Qadim's Menagerie.
Flash Discharge.png Flash Discharge 3 To discharge the electrical buildup from violent currents, zip to a targeted location. Damage and stuns foes at the target point.

Obtained by reaching 5 stacks of Violent Currents.
The Key of Ahdashim Reaching 5 stacks of Violent Currents.
Flux Disruptor- Activate.png Flux Disruptor: Activate 1 Activate the flux disruptor near an energy source to harness its power. Use with caution. The Key of Ahdashim Gained during the fight against Qadim the Peerless.
Flux Disruptor- Deactivate.png Flux Disruptor: Deactivate 1 Deactivate the flux disruptor to detach from energy sources. The Key of Ahdashim Gained after activating the flux disruptor.

Strike Mission[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Artillery Strike.png Artillery Strike Call in volley from Smodur's guns, dealing damage and knocking down targets in a large area. Strike Mission: Cold War Gained after destroying enough Dominion Bombers.
Endless Spotted Beetle Tonic.png Health Tonic 1 0.5 Toss one of Nicabar's health tonics, granting health, magic find, and increased outgoing damage to allies in the targeted area. Forging Steel Granted by picking up a Health Tonic (object) inside the strike mission.
Fire Snowball.png Snowball 0.5 Throw a snowball to spread Wintersday cheer and heal snowmen. Secret Lair of the Snowmen Granted by interacting with Endless Snowpiles and Snowball Piles in the strike mission.

Player versus Player[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Rally the Crowd.png Rally the Crowd Shout to the crowd to gain their favor and gain an effect that gives your team +50 to all stats. Eternal Coliseum Gained after reaching 7 stacks of Coliseum Prestige.
Giant Meteor.png Giant Meteor 1 30 Summons a giant icy meteor at the target location. Djinn's Dominion Gained after capturing Yasmi's Favor.
Disenchantment Field.png Disenchantment Field 1 30 Drops a field that removes all boons and all conditions from anyone within the field. Djinn's Dominion Gained after capturing Yasmi's Favor.
Waxing Doom.png Waxing Doom 10.25¼ 30 Launches a missile at your target, applying Corrupted Essence. Djinn's Dominion Gained after capturing Yasmi's Favor.

Other[edit]

Skill Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description Location Requirement
Summon Familiar.png Feline Communication 5 Communicate with this cat in a way you don't quite understand. Anywhere with a Feline Familiar Gained by walking up to a Feline Familiar.
Equip Mist-Step Travel Skills.png Equip Mist-Step Travel Skills 0.5 Step through the Mists to travel quickly to merchants in Armistice Bastion, or teleport to major cities in Tyria. Armistice Bastion Access to Armistice Bastion via Armistice Bastion Pass or Armistice Bastion Pass (2 weeks).
Use Whip.png Lasso 5 Throw out a lasso to stop the rampaging creature. Crystal Oasis, Thunderhead Peaks Move within range while the enemy is fleeing.
Cap Hop.png Mushroom King's Blessing 5 The power of adrenal mushrooms instantly refreshes your skills. Special Forces Training Area Entering the area.
Use Soul Binder.png Use Soul Binder 2 Attach a tether to floating Branded rocks or fast-moving creatures. Dragonfall Be within range.
Throw Boulder.png Release 2 Release your chained rock. Dragonfall Be within range.
Melee Attack (Enemy of My Enemy).png Mortar Shot 5 Command your turtle to fire a long-range mortar shot that removes shields from void creatures and Jade Brotherhood mechs. Dragon's End Have a borrowed Juvenile Siege Turtle (NPC).

Trivia[edit]

  • The special action skill was released on November 17, 2015 alongside the Spirit Vale raid.
  • The first special action skill was Sapper Bomb in the Sabetha raid encounter.
    • During development, sapper bombs replaced a player's 1-5 skill and were often accidentally thrown away during combat. [1]

References[edit]