Troubadour

“

"A cycle reborn, a world to mend."

Troubadours weave magical effects on the battlefield with the power of ballad and story. A journeyed troubadour may lift the spirits of their allies and friends - or demoralize their enemies.

— In-game description

Troubadour is an elite specialization for the mesmer unlocked with the Visions of Eternity expansion.

Troubadours are mesmers who seek to support their allies in battle through the power of music and the fantastical tales of Tyrian heroics. Being more aurally focused, troubadours opt to manifest their power by generating musical notes with their abilities rather than visually deceptive clones. These notes are used to extend the duration of their instrumental enchantments, allowing them to command a lasting presence in combat. Once their orchestra is in full swing, troubadours use their keynote skill, Crescendo, to swing the tide of battle with appropriate flair.

List of troubadour skills

See also: List of mesmer skills

Profession mechanic

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Using their musical talents, Troubadours replace the normal Mesmer visual clone with waves of sonic magic, employing a wide range of instruments to enact effects in battle, like damaging enemies or supporting allies.

— Promo description

• When playing as a troubadour, mesmer shatter skills are replaced by individual instruments.
• Troubadours will build Notes instead of summoning clones. Each Note is visually represented in the staff lines graphic with a music note (3 Note charges in total).
• When an instrument is played, it produces an initial effect, consumes any available Notes, and also appears on the field for a basic, limited duration. A small bar above the instrument's icon indicates the remaining time left on field.
  • Additional time on field will be gained in increments corresponding to how many Notes were consumed.
• Instruments on the field will also provide additional Performance effects when related tale utility skills are used by the troubadour.

#	Skill			Description
F1	Lively Lute	0.5½	12	Perform with your lute, sending out damaging sound waves toward an enemy and healing tones towards allies. The lute will then consume all notes to continue playing in the background. The lute's duration is extended for each note consumed.
F2	Flustering Flute	0.5½	20	Play an enchanting tune with the flute, confusing enemies in front of you. Enemies in the center of the music will be dazed. The flute will then consume all notes to continue playing in the background. The flute's duration is extended for each note consumed.
F3	Deafening Drum	0.25¼	25	Slam the drum to release a percussive shock wave, disabling enemies. The strength of the disable increases the closer an enemy is. The drum will then consume all notes to continue playing in the background. The drum's duration is extended for each note consumed.
F4	Harmonious Harp	2	25	Gain distortion and strum the harp, continuously healing nearby allies. The harp will then consume all notes to continue playing in the background. The harp's duration is extended for each note consumed.
F5	Crescendo	10.25¼	35	Strike up the band and unleash a wave of sonic magic. Instruments playing in the background contribute to the amplitude, increasing the strength of the wave.

Slot skills

Healing

Skill				Description
Tale of the Second Scion		1	15	Deliver the story of Aurene and the dragon cycle, rejuvenating nearby allies and increasing their incoming healing.

Utility

Skill				Description
Tale of the Soulkeeper			20	Rouse allies with the legend of Almorra Soulkeeper, granting offensive boons.
Tale of the Honorable Rogue			4	Quote the escapades of Dougal Keane, causing nearby allies to become extraordinarily nimble with a burst of speed.
Tale of the Valiant Marshal			30	Orate the heroism of Trahearne, calling nearby allies to action. Break their stuns and brace them for battle.
Tale of the Tortured Mastermind		0.5½	20	Recall the cruelty of Scarlet Briar as you revile your target with a battery of insults, damaging their ego.

Elite

Skill				Description
Tale of the August Queen		1	75	Retell how Queen Jennah protected her city in their time of need, granting allies distortion and chaos aura.

List of troubadour traits

See also: List of mesmer traits

Tier	Trait		Description
Minor Adept	Wandering Minstrel		Build up notes instead of summoning illusions. Shatters are replaced by instrument skills, which consume notes to continue playing. Gain access to Tales. While out of combat, you will automatically generate a note every 10 seconds.
Major Adept	Mayhem		Flustering Flute now applies torment. Dodging reduces the recharge of Flustering Flute.
Major Adept	Raconteur		Tales heal and grant protection to nearby allies.
Major Adept	Syncopate		Deafening Drum releases an additional quick wave after a delay. Deal damage to enemies you disable.
Minor Master	Symphonic Resonance		Instruments provide bonuses while playing in the background.
Major Master	Shredding		Lively Lute fires an additional wave at your enemy. The lute's damage bonus is increased.
Major Master	Life of the Party		Lively Lute and Crescendo grant boons to affected allies.
Major Master	Love Song		Harmonious Harp's distortion lasts longer. Strike damage from nearby enemies is reduced while the harp is playing in the background.
Minor Grandmaster	Harmonize		Gain a note when you use a phantasm skill.
Major Grandmaster	Fortissimo		After using Crescendo, gain a note every interval for a duration. Gain increased attributes for each instrument you have playing.
Major Grandmaster	Call and Response		When you use an instrument above the note threshold, create an afterimage that plays that instrument after a delay.
Major Grandmaster	Altered Chord		Crescendo prompts your last-played instrument to take the spotlight, augmenting Crescendo's effects. Playing an instrument recharges Crescendo if a note was consumed.

Lore

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Since the firstborn emerged from beneath the boughs of the Pale Tree thirty-six years ago, many sylvari have taken the lesson, “Where life goes, so too, should you,” to heart—traversing Tyria, battling their “inner dragons,” and finding their place in the time after. These far-flung travelers have seen and done much in such a short time, and some—whether through whim or Wyld Hunt—have taken to regaling Tyrians with tales of recent famous and infamous figures, such as the cunning Dougal Keane, the fearless Almorra Soulkeeper, and even the scathing Scarlet Briar.

Now these sylvari troubadours have returned home from their time abroad to share their craft in good faith and to strengthen the bonds between their people and the rest of the Tyrian Alliance.

Troubadours spin dramatic ballads and tales as their words weave magic and music to raise allies’ spirits and demoralize their foes. Their recitals can even be accompanied by illusory instruments for additional effect.

— Official website

Gallery

Specialization background.

Promotional material

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  Teaser 06/30/25

• 

  Reveal

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  Concept art

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  Promotional screenshot

• 

  Promotional screenshot

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  Valentine's Day Card from 2026

Icons

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  Official icon

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  Official icon

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  Wiki icon

Notes

• The Troubadour mentor Cillian can be found at the Constellation Shelter in the Grove.

Trivia

• In the concept art, the troubadour wears Heritage armor (light), the armor worn by mesmer in the original Guild Wars, with slightly modified leggings and no head armor.

External links

• Elite Specializations Are Back: Mesmer, Ranger, and Guardian, Guildwars2.com
• Elite Specializations: Troubadour, Galeshot, Luminary, YouTube.com
• Elite Specialization Livestream: Troubadour, Galeshot, Luminary | Visions of Eternity, Twitch.com
• Troubadour Tales: Elite Specialization Storytelling, Guildwars2.com

References

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Mesmer