Nightfall

This article is about the necromancer skill. For the campaign from the original game, see Guild Wars. For the book, see Nightfall (book).

Call down a growing column of shadows that damages and conditions foes every pulse. The initial strike blinds foes and converts their boons into conditions. Gain life force while inside the area. — In-game description

Nightfall

Profession

Necromancer (skill list)

Specialization

Reaper

Weapon

Greatsword

Game link

API

29855

“

0.5½  

20

25

20

 

Nightfall

Call down a growing column of shadows that damages and conditions foes every pulse. The initial strike blinds foes and converts their boons into conditions. Gain life force while inside the area.

 Damage: 464 (1.15)^?

 Damage: 147 (0.364)^?

 Blindness (3s): Next outgoing attack misses.

₄ Cripple (2s): -50% Movement Speed

 Protection (3s): -33% Incoming Damage

 Boons Converted to Conditions: 3

 Boons Converted to Conditions: 1

 Boons Converted to Conditions: 2

 Life Force: 7%

 Life Force: 5%

 Number of Targets: 5

 Pulses: 4

 Interval: 1 second

 Maximum Radius: 360

 Combo Field: Dark

— In-game description

Related traits

Curses

• Chilling Darkness — Blinding a target will also apply chill.
• Target the Weak — Increases critical-hit chance for each condition on the foe. Gain condition damage based on your precision.

Death Magic

• Dark Defiance — If you are disabled, gain protection. Incoming condition damage is reduced while you have protection. Disables include stun, daze, knockback, pull, knockdown, sink, float, fear, taunt, and launch.
• Corrupter's Fervor — Inflicting a condition on a foe grants carapace. Gain pulsing protection while at or above the carapace threshold.

Reaper

• Blighter's Boon — Gain life force when you apply a boon to yourself or remove a boon from an enemy. If you are in reaper's shroud, gain health instead.

Notes

• Has an initial radius of 170.
• Unlike many similar skills, the damage is per pulse.
• Boons are corrupted per the following:

Boon	Condition
Aegis	Burning (1 stack, 3 s)
Alacrity	Chilled (3 s)
Fury	Blinded (5 s)
Might	Weakness (5 s)
Protection	Vulnerability (3 stacks, 8 s)
Quickness	Slow (3 s)
Regeneration	Poisoned (6s)
Resistance	Chilled (3 s)
Resolution	Confusion (3 stacks, 5 s)
Stability	Fear (1 s)
Swiftness	Crippled (10 s)
Vigor	Bleeding (2 stacks, 8 s)

Version history

For a detailed skill history, see here.

Patch	Changes
January 13, 2026	This skill will now only convert boons to conditions and blind enemies on the initial strike. Reduced the pulse interval from 2 to 1. This skill now also grants protection to the necromancer and grants life force to the necromancer every interval if they are inside the area.
February 11, 2025	Increased the cooldown from 30 seconds to 40 seconds in WvW only.
August 22, 2023	Secrets of the Obscure release: Increased cooldown from 20 seconds to 30 seconds in WvW only.
May 02, 2023	Increased power coefficient from 1.05 to 1.15 in PvE only.
November 29, 2022	Reduced cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
June 28, 2022	Reduced cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvP and WvW.
February 25, 2020	Competitive content update: (Competitive split)Reduced power coefficient per strike from 0.7 to 0.364.
March 05, 2019	Increased the damage of this skill by 50% in PvE only.
September 23, 2017	Fixed a bug in which this skill's visuals desynced when affected by quickness or slow.
February 22, 2017	This skill now converts boons into conditions from enemies it hits.
October 23, 2015	Heart of Thorns release: Nightfall has been added to the game.

Trivia

• Nightfall is the name of the Elona-set third campaign of Guild Wars.