gww>Toraen: this template serves no good purpose, it just discourages most people from editing

2025-04-25T04:15:57Z

this template serves no good purpose, it just discourages most people from editing

New page

{{TOCright}}{{cleanup}}
As [[melee]] [[damage]] is very effective, there are many [[melee counter]]s in the game to protect against it. These [[counter]]s are sometimes known as "melee hate". Most [[PvP]] [[build]]s will incorporate at least some melee hate — many PvP builds carry quite a bit of melee hate. The amount and type of melee counters carried by a PvP [[team]] or [[character]] is heavily influenced by the [[metagame]].

Some PvP builds are known for their melee countering abilities. [[Blindbot]]s, for example, are [[elementalist]]s who spam [[Blinding Surge]] to quickly and constantly [[blind]] melee attackers. [[Lineback]]ers are hammer wielding [[warrior]]s who use [[knock down]]s to prevent enemy warriors from [[attack]]ing.

Warriors, [[ranger]]s, [[assassin]]s, [[dervish]]es and [[paragon]]s are often referred to as "[[Martial|physicals]]." Physical hate and melee hate are mostly interchangeable terms, as most counters work equally well against both (the notable exception being [[kiting]], which works slightly less against ranged attackers).

== General overview of melee counters ==

* [[Kiting]] can be performed by anyone, and is often the most effective means of preventing melee damage. Kiting can be both augmented and countered by [[speed boost]]s. It comes at the cost of not being able to perform an action while kiting.

* [[Snare (tactic)|Snares]] can prevent an enemy from reaching melee range or helping with kiting.

* [[Knock down]]s can function as a snare or interrupt.

* [[Armor]] is the first line of defense against most kinds of damage. Characters with high [[armor rating]] (such as warriors and paragons) suffer far less [[pressure]] from attacks.

* Protective [[enchantment]]s. Some enchantments grant the recipient a chance to [[block]] attacks. Others can prevent damage, either through direct damage resistance or via increasing armor rating. Over reliance on enchantments can leave a character vulnerable to [[List of enchantment removal skills|enchantment removal]], such as [[Shattering Assault]].

* Protective [[weapon spell]]s function much like enchantments, but cannot be removed or [[Effect stacking|stacked]]. Protective [[shout]]s cannot be removed and can be stacked.

* [[Ward spell]]s, and to a lesser extent [[spirit]]s, can create an area of relative safety from melee attacks.

* [[Stance]]s can give a player a chance to block, a speed boost, or sometimes both at the same time.

* [[Miss]]-chance [[hex]]es [[punish]] the attacker while mitigating damage.
** The [[blind]] [[condition]] causes enemies to miss 90% of attacks. While conditions can be removed faster than hexes, blindness is the most effective attack counter in the game. Blindness will not prevent characters from successfully using [[touch skill]]s, such as [[Vampiric Touch]].

* [[Interrupt]]s: properly timed, an interrupt can greatly reduce the damage output of an attacker. For example, an interrupt can be used to break an [[Assassin attack chaining|assassin attack chain]]. Some [[spell]]s specifically interrupt attacks.

* Incentives. Some [[Attack#Related skills|skills punish attacks]]. [[Area of effect]]s, such as [[nuke]]s, [[trap]]s, [[spirit]]s, [[nature ritual]]s or [[Well spell|wells]] can convince an attacker to leave an area, or punish those who don't.

== Melee counters by profession ==

=== {{w}} [[Warrior]] ===

Warriors have the highest [[armor rating]] in the game against physical damage, augmented by [[shield]]s. In addition, they have many [[stance]]s useful for running away from danger or protecting themselves from attacks. They also have means to inflict cripple and weakness to enemies, as well as knock them down. Warrior is sometimes used as a [[secondary profession]] to gain access to the defensive stances.

* [[Knock down]]s, particularly in the [[Hammer Mastery]] [[attribute]], warriors have many knock downs that can be used to aid a [[kiting]] teammate. [[Bull's Strike]] is a popular choice from the [[Strength]] attribute. [[Counter Blow]] is another popular choice for [[lineback]]er warriors, who concentrate on putting [[pressure]] and disrupting the enemy melee [[profession]]s.

*[[Rush]] and [[Sprint]] can be used to escape from melee combat, or to catch up enemy melee attackers harassing your backline.

*[[Crippling Slash]], [[Hamstring]], [[Axe Rake]], and [["You're All Alone!"]] can [[cripple]] enemy melee attackers. "You're All Alone!" additionally causes [[weakness]] on its [[target]].

*[["Charge!"]] and [["Retreat!"]] can grant a [[speed boost]] to [[Ally|allies]].

*[[Auspicious Parry]] can quickly block attacks, while building up a warrior's ability to deal damage.

*[[Deadly Riposte]], [[Riposte]], and [[Gladiator's Defense]] block attacks and deal damage back to the attacker. While common in the [[arena]]s and [[PvE]], these skill are much less popular in more organized [[PvP]] matches.

*[[Defensive Stance]], [[Disciplined Stance]], [[Shield Stance]], [[Balanced Stance]], [[Wary Stance]], and [[Soldier's Defense]] are all defensive stances.

*[[Bonetti's Defense]] is a defensive stance of particular use, because it costs no [[energy]] and can cause energy gain. Sometimes seen on arena monk [[build]]s.

*[[Devastating Hammer]], [[Axe Twist]], [[Forceful Blow]], and [[Staggering Blow]] all cause the weakness condition.

=== {{r}} [[Ranger]] ===

Rangers have many stances useful for kiting and/or blocking attacks, in addition to decent armor rating. Ranger [[trap]]s are effective at crippling or blinding enemy melee attackers, and their [[animal companion]]s are effective at keeping enemies at bay.

*[[Dodge]], [[Zojun's Haste]], [[Escape]], [[Lightning Reflexes]], [[Dryder's Defenses]], [[Natural Stride]], and [[Storm Chaser]] increase movement speed and possibly divert enemy aggression.

*[[Whirling Defense]] is popular because of its lengthy [[duration]].

*[[Throw Dirt]] is a touch-ranged blinding skill.

*[[Spike Trap]], [[Barbed Trap]], and [[Snare]] are useful for crippling enemy melee. Presetting traps can aid the ranger's [[backline]] when they are forced to [[kite]].

*[[Dust Trap]] and [[Smoke Trap]] blind the enemy.

*[[Crippling Shot]] or [[Pin Down]] for an unconditional cripple. [[Melandru's Shot]] cripples moving targets, but also adds [[bleeding]] and also deals good damage, making it useful both offensively and defensively.

*[[Rampage as One]] provides a speed boost while still allowing the ranger to use a stance.

=== {{mo}} [[Monk]] ===

Monks are a common target, and so often have to pay particular attention to ensuring they carry the sufficient melee counters – either on their own [[skill bar]] or on an ally.

*[[Amity]] and [[Pacifism]] are hexes that completely remove an enemy's ability to attack. Both skills require careful team coordination to work effectively.

*[[Guardian]], [[Aegis|Aegis (PvE)]], [[Pensive Guardian]], [[Shield of Deflection]], and [[Shield Guardian]] are enchantments that block attacks. Guardian is extremely popular because of its short [[recharge]], low energy cost, and unconditional effect.

*[[Bane Signet]] knocks down an attacker.

*[[Retribution]] and [[Holy Wrath]] are enchantments that reflect attack damage back on to an attacker.

*[[Shield of Absorption]] and [[Shielding Hands]] are not specifically against melee, but are the most popular counters against attacks with high frequency and lower damage output, such as most [[Jagged Strike]]-based assassin attack chains.

=== {{n}} [[Necromancer]] ===

The [[Curses]] attribute of the necromancer is stacked with melee counters. Necromancers are the most common source of melee hate. Other professions, especially casters such as Elementalists, sometimes take some form of anti-melee skills from this attribute.

*[[Enfeeble]], [[Enfeebling Blood]], [[Enfeebling Touch]], [[Oppressive Gaze]], [[Blood of the Aggressor]], [[Withering Aura]] and [[Virulence]] cause the weakness condition, reducing damage caused by enemy attacks.

*[[Faintheartedness]], [[Shadow of Fear]] and [[Meekness]] reduces [[attack speed]], which greatly reduces the [[pressure]] from a melee attacker.

*[[Insidious Parasite]], [[Price of Failure]], [[Spiteful Spirit]] and [[Spoil Victor]] deal damage to attackers. Melee attackers, in particular, tend to have a fast attack speed, and so take more damage from these skills.

*[[Reckless Haste]] causes attackers to miss, while increasing their attack speed. Has synergy with hexes that [[punish]] attacking, especially Price of Failure and Spiteful Spirit.

*[[Well of Darkness]], [[Well of Suffering]] and [[Well of the Profane]] potently change the flow of battle, giving an advantage to [[kite]]rs who draw melee attackers into the well.

*[[Plague Touch]], [[Plague Sending]] and [[Plague Signet]] can be used defensively to return conditions back to melee attackers, who often inflict conditions on their targets.

=== {{me}} [[Mesmer]] ===

Mesmers have many melee counters in their [[Illusion Magic]] attribute.

*[[Empathy]], [[Visions of Regret]], [[Clumsiness]], [[Wandering Eye]], [[Ineptitude]], [[Signet of Clumsiness]], and [[Images of Remorse]] cause damage to attackers. Ineptitude in particular causes damage and also blinds attackers. Clumsiness, Signet of Clumsiness, and Wandering Eye all interrupt attackers.

*[[Blackout]] will not only disable an enemy's skills for a few seconds, but also removes any [[adrenaline]] built up for warrior, paragon and dervish adrenaline skills.

*[[Ancestor's Visage]], [[Sympathetic Visage]], and [[Soothing Images]] work to halt adrenaline build up.

*[[Crippling Anguish]], [[Ethereal Burden]]/[[Kitah's Burden]], [[Imagined Burden]], and [[Shared Burden]] are hex based snares useful for aiding kiters. Due to lengthy recharges, most are not commonly seen in PvP. Crippling Anguish is a bit more popular than the rest, especially in the [[arena]]s.

*[[Distortion]] is a blocking stance with a fast recharge and major drawback. It was once commonly used on [[flag running]] [[Cripshot Ranger]]s.

*[[Physical Resistance]] is a stance that increases armor rating against physical attacks. It is not commonly used because of the drawback (reduced armor rating against [[elemental damage]]).

*[[Spirit of Failure]]: in addition to causing a minor miss chance, this hex can also generate quite a bit of energy for the caster when combined with another hex or the blind condition.

*[[Spirit Shackles]] can quickly drain an attacker of energy.

*[[Signet of Midnight]] blinds attackers. It also blinds the user, which then can be applied to another melee attacker via a skill such as [[Plague Touch]].

=== {{e}} [[Elementalist]] ===

*[[Blinding Surge]] and [[Blinding Flash]] are quick, [[spam]]mable counters, causing blindness on the target. Useful for fast saves or reducing [[pressure]].

*[[Blurred Vision]] is an area of effect hex causing attacks to miss.

*[[Ice Spikes]], [[Ice Prison]], [[Shard Storm]], [[Mind Freeze]] and [[Icy Shackles]] are snaring hexes that allow allies to escape enemies more easily.

*[[Grasping Earth]] is a cheap, fast recharging snare that can be effectively used with few points in [[Earth Magic]].

*[[Storm Djinn's Haste]] and [[Windborne Speed]] provide speed boosts for kiting away from melee ranged attackers. Windborne Speed can be used to save kiting allies from melee ranged attackers.

*[[Teinai's Wind]] and [[Whirlwind]] both knock down attacking characters in melee range. Not popular because the elementalist must position himself near a melee character for it to be effective.

*[[Eruption]] causes blind; however, its lengthy recharge restricts its usefulness.

*[[Sliver Armor]] is an enchantment that blocks attacks and causes damage. More often used in PvE and Earth elementlist based [[gimmick build]]s.

*[[Ward Against Foes]], [[Ward Against Melee]], and [[Ward of Stability]] can protect a large number of allies from harm. Unlike enchantments, stances, or spirits, wards cannot be removed by enemy counters; however, characters clustered in a ward can be easy victims to area of effect damage.

=== {{a}} [[Assassin]] ===

Assassins have more fragile armor rating for a melee profession, and yet end up spending at least some time on the [[frontline]] or [[gank]]ing solo. To compensate, they have many skills to help avoid melee damage. Many of these skills involve [[Shadow step]]ing into position. Because assassin skills are very effective at controlling positions, sometimes [[backline]] characters will take assassin as a secondary to aid in kiting.

*[[Critical Defenses]], [[Flashing Blades]], and [[Shroud of Distress]] are enchantments and stances that reduce the chance of the user being hit by attacks. More commonly used in PvE.

*[[Temple Strike]] causes blind, but more often used for [[Daze]].

*[[Black Mantis Thrust]], [[Leaping Mantis Sting]], [[Crippling Dagger]], [[Entangling Asp]], [[Scorpion Wire]], [[Shadow Prison]], [[Caltrops]], and [[Hidden Caltrops]] – while more often used offensively – these skills can be used to snare or knock down enemy melee attackers. Leaping Mantis Sting in particular is popular, partially for this reason.

*[[Siphon Speed]] is a useful and common snare.

*[[Siphon Strength]] [[debuff]]s enemy attack damage. Unpopular in PvP.

*[[Blinding Powder]], a blind. Not often used outside of PvE.

*[[Dark Escape]], [[Death's Retreat]], [[Return]], [[Shadow of Haste]], [[Dash]], and [[Recall]] can be used to aid in kiting, with side benefits.

*[[Heart of Shadow]] and [[Viper's Defense]] shadow step to a nearby location away from your target.

*[[Shadow Form]] can give the caster a variable amount of damage reduction, depending on other assassin enchantments.

*[[Aura of Displacement]] and [[Shadow Meld]] enables an assassin to escape if it starts taking too much damage.

=== {{rt}} [[Ritualist]] ===

In addition to direct counters, offensive [[spirit spammer]]s can create a dangerous area for melee ranged characters to enter, providing a safe haven for more vulnerable characters.

* [[Shadowsong]] causes blindness with its attacks. [[Gaze from Beyond]] can also be used to inflict quick blindness.

* [[Displacement]] creates a wide area of protection against attacks, [[Union]] is also effective against most physical attackers. However, spirits die rather quickly under melee [[pressure]]; this can be counteracted with [[Soul Twisting]] and, to a lesser extent, [[Ritual Lord]].

* [[Earthbind]] overrides [[Stun Immunity|immunity to knock down]] and increases the duration of any knock down effect on enemy to at least 3 seconds.

* [[Soothing]] slows enemy adrenaline build up.

* [[Dulled Weapon]] provides subtractive damage reduction and removes any possibilities of critical damage.

* [[Binding Chains]] is a short but potent snare that punishes its target for moving.

* [[Weapon of Shadow]] and [[Weapon of Warding]] are decent protections that (unlike stances or enchantments) cannot be removed by enemy counters.

=== {{p}} [[Paragon]] ===

Paragons have excellent armor rating augmented by a shield. Most of their more general defensive shouts are of use against melee attackers, and they have a few shouts that directly counter melee attackers.

* [["Fall Back!"]] and [["Incoming!"]] grants an excellent, area of effect speed boost with bonus healing. Perfect for aiding kiting teammates.

* Both [["Make Haste!"]] and [["Lead the Way!"]] will grant a speed boost to an ally.

* [[Bladeturn Refrain]] and [[Defensive Anthem]] grant chance to block incoming attacks.

* [["Can't Touch This!"]] is the only direct counter to [[touch skill]]s in the game. Because it is such a specific counter, it is not commonly used.

=== {{d}} [[Dervish]] ===

Medium armor rating usually means that dervishes cannot take the role of a main tank. However, their armor inherently provides additional health, and their primary attribute provides additional armor while enchanted. In addition, dervishes have a wide selection of melee counters to choose from, many of which affect all foes at close range, making them suitable for countering melee attackers.

* [[Armor of Sanctity]] causes weakness on adjacent foes and reduce damage from foes suffering from a condition.

* [[Aura of Thorns]], [[Crippling Sweep]], [[Grenth's Grasp]], and [[Harrier's Grasp]] can all cause cripple.

* [[Dust Cloak]] and [[Ebon Dust Aura]] cause blind.

* [[Shield of Force]], [[Mirage Cloak]] and [[Attacker's Insight]] block incoming attacks.

== See also ==
* [[Anti-caster tactics]]
* [[Anti-summon skill]]

[[Category:Tactics (gameplay)]]
[[Category:Unofficial terms]]

Anti-martial tactics - Revision history

gww>Toraen: this template serves no good purpose, it just discourages most people from editing