Adrenaline

Adrenaline is a resource unique to the warrior profession. It is used to fuel burst skills, which become more powerful depending on how much adrenaline is spent. One point (or strike) of adrenaline is generated every time a non-burst attack connects with an enemy.

There are three stages (also called bars or levels) of adrenaline, and it takes 10 strikes of adrenaline to fill each stage, for a total of 30 strikes to reach maximum adrenaline. After 2 seconds outside of combat mode, adrenaline will decay at a rate of about 3 strikes per second.

Using a burst attack expends all full bars of adrenaline (i.e. multiples of 10 strikes), and the effect and power of a burst skill depends on how many complete stages of adrenaline were consumed. The adrenaline is spent even if the skill fails to hit. Burst skills can still be activated out of combat provided that the warrior has enough adrenaline to do so.

Adrenaline stages are unlocked through level rewards: Stage 1 is available at level 5, stage 2 at level 11, and stage 3 at level 15.

Elite specialization changes

Core warrior functionality is retained until the first minor trait for the equipped elite specialization is trained.

Berserker — While in Berserk mode, maximum adrenaline is one bar (10 strikes).

Spellbreaker — Maximum adrenaline is two bars (20 strikes). Burst skills only expend one bar and are always used at stage 1 strength.

Bladesworn — Adrenaline is replaced by Flow.

Paragon — Burst skills only expend one bar and are always used at stage 1 strength.

Related skills

Weapon skills that grant adrenaline

•   Adrenaline Rush — Adrenaline: 3
•   Counterblow — Adrenaline: 5
•   Defiant Roar — Adrenaline: 10
•   Parry — Adrenaline If Not Attacked: 6
•   Riposte — Adrenaline If Not Attacked: 6
•   Tactical Blow — Adrenaline: 5
•   Valiant Leap — Adrenaline: 5

Healing skills that grant adrenaline

•   "To the Limit!" — Adrenaline: 30
•   Blood Reckoning — Adrenaline: 10 (in PvE); Adrenaline: 30 (in PvP, WvW)
•   "We Shall Return!" — Echo Adrenaline: 10

Utility skills that grant adrenaline

•   Berserker Stance — Adrenaline: 7
•   Signet of Fury — Adrenaline: 30
•   Outrage — Adrenaline: 5 (in PvE); Adrenaline: 10 (in WvW, PvP); Bonus Adrenaline: 5 (in PvE); Bonus Adrenaline: 10 (in WvW, PvP)
•   Shattering Blow — Adrenaline: 5 (in PvE); Adrenaline: 10 (in WvW, PvP)
•   Sundering Leap — Adrenaline: 10 (in WvW, PvP); Bonus Adrenaline on Hit: 10 (in WvW, PvP); Bonus Adrenaline on Hit: 5 (in PvE); Adrenaline: 5 (in PvE)
•   Wild Blow — Adrenaline: 5 (in PvE); Adrenaline: 10 (in WvW, PvP)
•   Imminent Threat — Adrenaline: 3
•   "Brace Yourselves!" — Adrenaline: 10; Echo Adrenaline: 10
•   "Find Their Weakness!" — Adrenaline per Enemy Struck: 3

Elite skills that grant adrenaline

•   Signet of Rage — Adrenaline: 2
•   Head Butt — Adrenaline: 30

Profession mechanic skills that grant adrenaline

•   Berserk — Adrenaline: 10

Related traits

Traits that grant Adrenaline

• Axe Mastery (Discipline) — Adrenaline: 2
• Brave Stride (Strength) — Adrenaline: 5 (in PvE); Adrenaline: 3 (in PvP, WvW)
• Burst Mastery (Discipline) — Adrenaline Restored: 33%
• Cleansing Ire (Defense) — Adrenaline: 1
• Furious (Arms) — Adrenaline: 1
• Merciless Hammer (Defense) — Adrenaline: 7
• Opportunist (Arms) — Adrenaline: 5
• Shield Master (Defense) — Adrenaline: 1
• Versatile Rage (Discipline) — Adrenaline: 5
• Loss Aversion (Spellbreaker) — Adrenaline: 2
• Inspiring Implements (Paragon) — Adrenaline: 5
• Invigorating Tempo (Paragon) — Adrenaline: 1

Player chatter

• As adrenaline bars fill, the character will occasionally shout one of the following lines depending on their race and gender.

Race	Gender
	Male	Female
Asura	Stage 1: Adrenaline rising! Gaining adrenaline! Stage 2: Adrenaline approaching maximum! Almost there! Stage 3: Fully adrenalized! I’m all wound up! They’ll regret riling me up!	Stage 1: Adrenaline rising! Gaining adrenaline! Stage 2: Almost ready! Almost there! Stage 3: Adrenaline full! Adrenaline is full. Give me something to pummel.
Charr	Stage 1: Adrenaline rising! Stage 2: Getting pumped! That's the stuff! Stage 3: (roar) Adrenaline full! Feel the adrenaline! Ready! Ready for anything!	Stage 1: Adrenaline building! Gaining adrenaline! Stage 2: Adrenaline almost full. Almost ready. Stage 3: Moving out! Prepared to strike! Ready to hit!
Human	Stage 1: Adrenaline rising! Gaining adrenaline! Stage 2: Almost ready! Almost there! Stage 3: Just getting started! Now we can fight for real! Ready to unleash!	Stage 1: Adrenaline rising. Gaining adrenaline. Stage 2: Almost ready! Almost there. Stage 3: Adrenaline full! Adrenaline-rush! I'm ready to unleash.
Norn	I can feel Bear's Power! I can take on the World! So much power! My strength increases! Yes! I'm ready to defeat anything!	Yes! Gaining adrenaline! Adrenaline rising! Almost ready! I'm as strong as Bear! Give me something to hit! Time to strike! Movin' out! (in male Asura voice)
Sylvari	Adrenaline flows though me! Almost full of adrenaline. I'm gaining adrenaline. I'm flushed with adrenaline! Just about full of adrenaline! Adrenaline at full! Feel the adrenaline.	So close. My adrenaline is rising. Adrenaline surging. Adrenaline at maximum.

Anomaly:

Despite not having a third bar to fill, spellbreaker's chatter will play the stage 2 lines implying not having full adrenaline.

Trivia

The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on Adrenaline.

• Originally, according to The Making of Guild Wars 2 book, all warrior skills would cost adrenaline to activate.
• The pre-alpha version of adrenaline seen in the first GW2 demo granted a passive damage bonus. This was later available for some time as the trait Berserker's Power before its rework.
• Player chatter could previously also play while adrenaline was decaying outside of combat, leading to unintuitive lines like "Gaining adrenaline!" while losing adrenaline.

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Skill types and profession mechanics