Chain

This article is about is about a skill mechanic. For the jeweler crafting component, see Chain (crafting).

Chain refers to the specific subset of sequence skills that occupy the first weapon skill slot. Like all sequence abilities, chains are effectively multiple skills sharing one slot on a skill bar and activated in strict order. The next skill in chain becomes available only if the previous one successfully hit the target.

If a character is interrupted in the middle of a chain, for example, by being stunned, the sequence will be reset back to its first skill. A chain also resets if another weapon skill used in the middle of a sequence, including skills from off-hand weapons. However, some utility abilities with quick activation and short execution times can be used in a middle of a chain without interrupting it. Most chains can also be continued after dodging and then quickly continuing attacking.

Since by default the first weapon skill is set to auto-attack, chains are primarily meant to be used in that mode. If chain skills are not set to auto-attack and are used manually, they have to be activated quickly enough to continue through the sequence.

List of chain skills

Weapon, bundle and transform skills

#	Skill			Description
Guardian
Mace
1	True Strike	0.5½		Chain. Smash your foe.
1	Pure Strike	0.5½		Chain. Bash your foe.
1	Faithful Strike	0.75¾		Hit your foe with a final strike and heal nearby allies.
Sword
1	Sword of Wrath			Chain. Slash your foe once.
1	Sword Arc	0.5½		Chain. Slash your foe again.
1	Sword Wave	0.5½		Send out waves of attacks that strike multiple targets.
Greatsword
1	Strike	0.5½		Chain. Strike your foe.
1	Vengeful Strike	0.5½		Chain. Strike your foe again.
1	Wrathful Strike	0.5½		Attack with a final, powerful strike that applies might for each foe you strike.
Hammer
1	Hammer Swing	0.5½		Chain. Strike your foe.
1	Hammer Bash	0.5½		Chain. Bash your foe.
1	Symbol of Protection	1		Symbol. Smash a mystic symbol onto the ground that gives protection to you and your allies.
Staff
1	Bolt of Wrath	0.5½		Fire a bolt that damages foes.
1	Searing Light	0.5½		Fire a projectile that explodes upon impact and damages enemies.
1	Seeking Judgment	0.5½		Fire a seeking projectile that explodes upon contact and damages enemies.
Trident
1	Light Ball	0.5½		Fire a sundering ball of light that damages foes.
1	Detonate Light	0.5½		Fire a ball of light that detonates on impact to heal allies and damage foes.
1	Judgment of Light	0.75¾		Fire a barrage of bouncing light missiles that damage enemies and heal allies.
Firebrand
Axe
1	Core Cleave	0.5½		Cleave at your enemy with a physical and a magical axe.
1	Bleeding Edge	0.5½		Slice through your foe again, physically and magically, as your weapon is heating up.
1	Searing Slash	0.5½		Unleash your searing axe in an overhand slash, following it up with a magical edge.
Revenant
Mace
1	Misery Swipe	0.25¼		Swing your mace at your foe.
1	Anguish Swipe	0.5½		Sweep your mace back for a second blow.
1	Manifest Toxin	0.5½		Deliver a crushing blow that sends toxic energy chaining to enemies behind each target.
Sword
1	Preparation Thrust	0.5½		Stab your foe with your sword, inflicting vulnerability.
1	Brutal Blade	0.75¾		Slice foes, damaging them and inflicting vulnerability.
1	Rift Slash	0.5½		Slash foes, creating a rift on them that explodes for additional damage after a short delay.
Staff
1	Rapid Swipe	0.5½		Swipe your staff at your foe.
1	Forceful Bash	0.5½		Bash your foe with your staff.
1	Rejuvenating Assault	1		Cleave foes around you with your staff, healing nearby allies.
Vindicator
Greatsword
1	Mist Swing	0.5½		Swing at enemies with your greatsword.
1	Mist Slash	0.5½		Swing your greatsword again, inflicting vulnerability.
1	Arcing Mists	0.5½		Cleave your foes, inflicting vulnerability and chilling them.
Warrior
Axe
1	Chop	0.25¼		Chain. Chop your foe.
1	Double Chop	0.25¼		Chain. Chop your foe twice.
1	Triple Chop	10.5½		Deliver three final chops to your foe.
Mace
1	Mace Smash	0.5½		Chain. Smash your foe.
1	Mace Bash	0.5½		Chain. Bash your foe.
1	Pulverize	0.75¾		Thrash your foe, leaving them weakened.
Sword
1	Sever Artery	0.5½		Chain. Bleed your foe with a slash.
1	Gash	0.5½		Chain. Bleed your foe with a gash.
1	Hamstring	0.25¼		Cripple your foe with a precise slash.
Greatsword
1	Greatsword Swing	0.5½		Chain. Slash your foe.
1	Greatsword Slice	0.5½		Chain. Slice your foe.
1	Brutal Strike	0.5½		Hit your foe with a final brutal strike.
Hammer
1	Hammer Swing	0.5½		Chain. Bash your foe.
1	Hammer Bash	0.5½		Chain. Bash your foe again.
1	Hammer Smash	0.5½		Smash the ground and damage nearby foes.
Staff
1	Balanced Strike	0.5½		Chain. A balanced staff strike.
1	Reverse Strike	0.5½		Chain. A follow-up reverse-handed staff strike.
Spear
1	Stab	0.5½		Chain. Stab your foe.
1	Jab	0.75¾		Chain. Jab your foe.
1	Impale	0.75¾		Impale your foe and cripple them.
Spellbreaker
Dagger
1	Precise Cut	0.25¼		Chain. Strike your foe. This attack deals increased critical damage.
1	Focused Slash	0.25¼		Chain. Strike your foe. This attack has increased critical-hit damage.
1	Keen Strike	0.25¼		Chain. Strike your foe and gain might. Gain additional might on critical hit.
Bladesworn
Unsheathe Gunsaber
1	Swift Cut	0.5½		Chain. Slash your foe, then fire off a ranged shot. Foes hit by the initial attack take less damage from the follow-up shot.
1	Steel Divide	0.5½		Chain. Swing your gunsaber and fire a second shot. Foes hit by the initial attack take less damage from the follow-up shot.
1	Explosive Thrust	0.75¾		Chain. Hit your foe with a final, brutal stab, and fire a shot that causes a secondary explosion. Foes hit by the initial attack take less damage from the follow-up shot.
Engineer
Sword
1	Sun Edge	0.5½		Strike your foe and inflict vulnerability.
1	Sun Ripper	0.5½		Strike your foe again and inflict vulnerability.
1	Gleam Saber	0.75¾		Unleash a burst of stored energy with your sword and recharge your other sword skills.
Tool Kit
1	Smack	0.5½		Chain. Smack your foe. Repair turrets.
1	Whack	0.5½		Chain. Whack your foe. Repairs turrets.
1	Thwack	1		Thwack your foe. Repairs turrets.
Scrapper
Hammer
1	Positive Strike	0.5½		Chain. Smack your hammer into your foe while empowering yourself.
1	Negative Bash	0.5½		Chain. Slam your hammer into your foe to leave them vulnerable.
1	Equalizing Blow	0.5½		Chain. Bring down your hammer on your foe.
Holosmith
Sword
1	Sun Edge	0.5½		Strike your foe and inflict vulnerability. This attack deals more damage based on your heat level.
1	Sun Ripper	0.5½		Strike your foe again and inflict vulnerability. This attack deals more damage based on your heat level.
1	Gleam Saber	0.75¾		Unleash a burst of stored energy with your sword and recharge your other sword skills. This attack deals more damage based on your heat level.
Ranger
Mace
1	Germinate	0.5½		Chain. Strike with your mace.
1	Burgeon	0.5½		Chain. Slam your target.
1	Cultivate	0.75¾		Swing an uppercut at your target, crippling them and granting vigor to nearby allies. Gain Nature's Strength if you hit an enemy. This skill cannot activate Force of Nature.
Sword
1	Slash	0.5½		Chain. Slash your foe.
1	Crippling Thrust	0.25¼		Chain. Stab your foe, crippling them for a short time.
1	Precision Swipe	0.75¾		Deliver a blow to your foe. Your pet gains might for each foe struck.
Greatsword
1	Slash	0.5½		Chain. Slash your foe.
1	Slice	0.5½		Chain. Slice your foe.
1	Enduring Swing	0.75¾		Slash at your foe. This attack restores endurance if it hits.
Spear
1	Drake's Swipe	0.5½		Chain. Swing your spear. If your enemy is far away, use Bee's Sting instead.
1	Wyvern's Lash	0.5½		Chain. Strike with your spear, crippling your foe. If your enemy is far away, use Bee's Sting instead.
1	Cheetah's Strike	0.75¾		Heave your spear, gaining swiftness if you strike an enemy. If your enemy is far away, use Bee's Sting instead.
1	Stab	0.5½		Chain. Stab your foe.
1	Jab	0.75¾		Chain. Jab your foe.
1	Toxic Strike	0.5½		Deliver a final poisonous attack.
Soulbeast
Dagger
1	Groundwork Gouge	0.25¼		Swipe past your foe's defenses, exposing their vulnerability.
1	Leading Swipe	0.25¼		Rake your dagger across your foe, leaving them bleeding.
1	Serpent Stab	0.25¼		Slash across your foe, poisoning them.
1	Deadly Delivery	0.25¼		Strike deeply into your foe, inflicting multiple conditions.
Untamed
Hammer
1	Hammer Strike	0.5½		Chain. Strike your foe.
1	Hammer Slam	0.5½		Chain. Strike your foe again.
1	Heavy Smash	0.5½		Smash the ground and damage nearby foes.
Thief
Dagger
1	Double Strike			Chain. Strike your foe twice.
1	Wild Strike			Chain. Strike your foe again, bleeding them. Gain endurance with a successful strike.
1	Lotus Strike	0.25¼		Strike your foe and inflict Poison.
Sword
1	Slice			Chain. Slice your foe.
1	Slash	0.5½		Chain. Slash your foe again.
1	Crippling Strike	0.5½		Cripple your foe with a final strike.
Spear
1	Stab	0.5½		Chain. Stab your foe.
1	Jab	0.75¾		Chain. Strike your foe again.
1	Poison Tip Strike	0.75¾		Poison your foe with a final attack.
2	Mantis Sting	0.5½		Lead Attack. Cripple your foe with a quick strike.
2	Entangling Asp	0.75¾		Follow Up. Poison your foe with a sweeping strike. Movement impaired foes are immobilized.
2	Falling Spider	0.75¾		Finisher. Strike nearby enemies, inflicting multiple conditions. Deal more damage and inflict additional conditions against controlled and immobilized foes.
3	Unsuspecting Strike	0.75¾		Lead Attack. Leap at your foe and inflict conditions. Inflict additional stacks against foes above the health threshold.
3	Vampiric Slash	0.5½		Follow Up. Strike your foes and siphon health from them. Siphon additional health from vulnerable foes. Striking an enemy with a follow-up attack enables finisher attacks.
3	Shattering Assault	0.5½		Finisher. Strike foes in front of you and remove boons from them, then enter stealth. Remove additional boons from weakened foes.
Daredevil
Staff
1	Staff Strike	0.5½		Strike your enemies with your staff.
1	Staff Bash	0.5½		Swing your staff a second time, striking multiple enemies.
1	Punishing Strikes	1		Whirl your staff around, striking nearby enemies.
Specter
Scepter
1	Shadow Bolt	0.75¾		Chain. Fire a projectile that hinders foes and helps allies.
1	Double Bolt	0.75¾		Chain. Fire two projectiles that hinder foes and help allies.
1	Triple Bolt	10.5½		Fire three missiles that hinder foes and help allies.
Elementalist
Lightning Hammer
1	Lightning Swing	0.5½		Chain. Bash your foe.
1	Static Swing	0.5½		Chain. Strike your foe again.
1	Thunderclap	0.5½		Smash the ground and damage nearby foes.
Magnetic Shield (bundle)
1	Shield Smack	0.5½		Smack your foe with the magnetic shield.
1	Shield Smash	0.75¾		Smash your foe with the magnetic shield.
1	Crippling Shield	0.75¾		Throw your shield in a line, crippling struck foes. This attack deals bonus damage if you have barrier.
Weaver
Sword
Fire Attunement
1	Fire Strike	0.5½		Build elemental flames into your sword and strike your enemies.
1	Fire Swipe	0.5½		Heat your sword a second time and strike your enemies for increased damage.
1	Searing Slash	0.75¾		Heat your sword a final time and use the full power of your flames to sear enemies and ignite them.
Water Attunement
1	Seiche	0.5½		Imbue your blade with water, healing yourself for each target you strike.
1	Clapotis	0.5½		Deliver a second strike that heals yourself for each target it hits.
1	Breaking Wave	0.75¾		Strike your enemies and unleash a wave that heals allies.
Air Attunement
1	Charged Strike	0.5½		Strike your foe with shocking force.
1	Polaric Slash	0.5½		Deliver a second strike, gaining swiftness.
1	Call Lightning	0.75¾		Deliver the final attack, calling lightning strikes onto enemies.
Earth Attunement
1	Crystal Slash	0.5½		Strike your opponent with your serrated blade.
1	Crystalline Strike	0.5½		Attack enemies with a second vicious attack.
1	Crystalline Sunder	0.75¾		Unleash a final crushing blow.
Catalyst
Hammer
Water Attunement
1	Stream Strike	0.5½		Chain. Strike your foe with a watery blow.
1	Water Rush	0.5½		Chain. Slam your foe with a rush of water.
1	Chilling Crack	0.5½		Crack the ground to chill your foes.
Mesmer
Scepter
1	Ether Bolt	0.5½		Chain. Shoot a bolt of energy at your target.
1	Ether Blast	0.5½		Chain. Shoot a second bolt of energy at your target.
1	Ether Clone	0.75¾		Clone. Deliver a damaging attack directly to your target. Summon a clone that casts Ether Bolt. Inflict torment instead if you have the maximum number of illusions.
Sword
1	Mind Slash			Chain. Slash your foe to make them vulnerable.
1	Mind Gash	0.5½		Chain. Gash your foe to make them vulnerable.
1	Mind Spike	0.5½		Stab your foe and rip a boon off of them. Does additional damage when the target has no boons.
Spear
1	Stab	0.5½		Chain. Stab your foe.
1	Jab	0.75¾		Chain. Jab your foe.
1	Evasive Strike	0.5½		Evade while delivering a powerful final attack.
Mirage
Axe
1	Lacerating Chop	0.5½		Inflict bleeding on your target.
1	Ethereal Chop	0.5½		Inflict Torment on your target.
1	Mirror Strikes	0.5½		Inflict bleeding and torment on your target.
Necromancer
Dagger
1	Necrotic Slash			Chain. Slash your foe twice.
1	Necrotic Stab			Chain. Strike your foe again.
1	Necrotic Bite	0.25¼		Strike your foe and gain life force.
Scepter
1	Blood Curse	0.5½		Chain. Bleed your foe.
1	Rending Curse	0.5½		Chain. Bleed your foe.
1	Putrid Curse	0.5½		Chain. Poison and bleed your foe.
Sword
1	Enervation Blade			Chain. Fire a wide piercing projectile from your blade. Heal if a target is struck. Healing is reduced for each target beyond the first.
1	Enervation Echo	0.5½		Chain. Fire another wide piercing projectile from your blade.
1	Deathly Enervation	0.75¾		Fire an even wider piercing projectile that inflicts chill.
Spear
1	Cruel Strike	0.5½		Chain. Stab your foe.
1	Wicked Strike	0.75¾		Chain. Strike your foe again.
1	Reaper's Scythe	0.75¾		Reap life force from nearby foes.
1	Dark Slash	0.75¾		Chain. Slash your foes with your spear.
1	Deadly Slice	0.5½		Chain. Slice foes in front of you with your spear.
1	Sinister Stab	0.75¾		Stab foes and chill them. Gain a soul shard if you strike a foe.
Reaper
Greatsword
1	Dusk Strike	0.75¾		Chain. Cleave foes in front of you.
1	Fading Twilight	0.75¾		Chain. Cleave foes in front of you again.
1	Chilling Scythe	1		Chain. Strike foes, and chill them. A successful strike reduces the recharge on Gravedigger.
Reaper's Shroud
1	Life Rend	0.5½		Chain. Shroud. Cleave foes in front of you. This skill inherits traits from Life Blast.
1	Life Slash	0.5½		Chain. Shroud. Cleave foes in front of you again. This skill inherits traits from Life Blast.
1	Life Reap	0.5½		Shroud. Cleave foes around you, gaining life force for each foe struck. This skill inherits traits from Life Blast.

Common skills

#	Skill			Description
Caladbolg
1	Daybreak Blade	0.5½		Slash your foe once, then again on the backswing.
1	Flashing Arc	0.5½		Medium range sword attack.
Dimensional Anchor
1	Anchor Swing	0.5½		Blink left and bash your foe.
1	Anchor Bash	0.5½		Blink right and bash your foe again.
1	Anchor Smash	0.5½		Blink to your target and smash the ground to damage nearby foes.
Dredge Mining-Laser
1	Dredge Mining Cannon	20.25¼	20.5½	Designed to be used against heavily reinforced objects.
1	Weapon Malfunction		12	Throw caution to the wind and fire anyway!
Experimental Hammer
1	Hammer Swing	0.5½		Bash and taunt your foe.
1	Hammer Bash	0.5½		Bash and taunt your foe again.
1	Hammer Smash	0.5½		Smash the ground, damaging and stunning nearby foes.
Failed Experimental Greatsword
1	Strike	0.5½		Strike your foe.
1	Vengeful Strike	0.5½		Strike your foe again.
1	Wrathful Strike	0.5½		Attack your foe with a wrathful strike.
Harpoon Guns
1	Harpoon Shot	0.75¾		Fire a harpoon at the target. If it hits, you can reel the target in.
1	Reel It In	0.75¾		Reel in a harpooned target. Make sure you catch it!
Jotun Greatsword (bundle)
1	Slash	0.5½		Slash your foe.
1	Slash	0.5½		Slice your foe.
1	Slash	0.5½		Hit your foe with a final brutal strike.
Occam's Enchanted Hammer
1	Hammer Swing	0.5½		Bash your foe.
1	Hammer Bash	0.5½		Bash your foe again.
1	Hammer Smash	0.5½		Smash the ground and damage nearby foes.
Sohothin
1	Sohothin's Bite			Quick melee slash.
1	Sohothin's Sting	0.5½		Quick melee slash.
1	Sohothin's Roar	1		A slower devastating slash. Reduces cooldown on Flame Spit and Cataclysm.
Toysmasher
1	Hammer Swing	0.5½		Bash your foe.
1	Hammer Bash	0.5½		Bash your foe again.
1	Hammer Smash	0.5½		Smash the ground and damage nearby foes.
Unsheathe Flamesaw
1	Greatsword Swing	0.5½		Slash your foe.
1	Greatsword Slice	0.5½		Slice your foe.
1	Brutal Strike	0.5½		Hit your foe with a final brutal strike.

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Skill types and profession mechanics