self>SabSparrow at 20:07, 25 October 2025

2025-10-25T20:07:11Z

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[[File:Interruption (visuals).jpg|thumb|200px|An [[non-player character|NPC]] in [[Fort Aspenwood]] that was interrupted.]]
[[Interrupt]]ion is a core [[game mechanic]]. It is also a tactic and an [[action]] that prevents a [[foe]] from completing their current action. An interrupt can be triggered by a [[skill]] or an [[effect]]. Some interrupts affect only [[spell]]s or [[attack skill]]s, while others will not interrupt unless certain prerequisites are met.

Actions that can be interrupted include any skill with an activation time and all [[attack]]s. Interrupts will only trigger if they successfully interrupt a skill or action. You cannot interrupt a character who is running, using an [[emote]], or activating a skill without an activation time. [[Knock down]]s, death, skill [[fail]]ure, and skill [[disable|disabling]] (e.g. [[Blackout]]) can stop an action from completing, but they are not considered interrupts; skills that prevent interrupts (such as [[Mantra of Resolve]]) are ineffective against these actions.

The [[dazed]] [[condition]] interrupts the target's spells on application, and a dazed target's spells are interrupted by any successful attacks.

If you are interrupted:
*Your character staggers back for a split second, your activation bar halts and flashes purple, and your casting symbol "pops".
*Your current skill ends and it cannot be activated again until it has [[recharge time|recharged]].
*Any skills waiting to be activated will be [[Skill_queue|un-queued]].

==Techniques for successful interrupting==
[[File:Distracting Shot (large).jpg|thumb|200 px|right|[[Distracting Shot]] - one of the most commonly used interrupt skills.]]
===General tips===
*''Practice:'' It is critical to practice your timing. The [[Grawl (Ascalon)|Grawls]] and [[Grawl Ulodyte]]s outside of [[Sardelac Sanitarium]] make excellent [[target]]s; they are relatively weak and cast plenty of spells.
*''Adjust your [[user interface]]:'' Increase the size of your Skill Monitor so it will be easier to see when the enemy is using a skill.
*''Choose the right time and the right skill:'' A good interrupter can stop ''many'' actions; a great interrupter stops many of the critical ones.
**''Avoid predicting:'' Avoid the temptation to predict the next skill all the time — it is often better to allow the skill to activate than to waste the interrupt, the energy, and the [[aftercast delay]].
**''Avoid interrupting low-impact actions:'' It is usually more important to interrupt a [[Meteor Shower]] than a [[Lava Font]], so try not to interrupt just because you can. Note that there are several skills that interrupt and disable, which are useful for stopping low recharge, often used skills.
**''[[Attack skill]]s can be interrupted:'' Keep in mind that their effects are triggered halfway into the casting time. For this reason it can be difficult to successfully interrupt them.
*''Close distance for projectiles:'' Projectile interrupts (e.g. [[Savage Shot]]) need time to travel to your target; you can increase the chance of successfully interrupting by being close to the target.
*''Use audio cues:'' Learn the sounds that can help you determine what skills are being used. For example, [[Resurrection Chant]] gives off a loud, distinct jingly/windy noise that gives it away.
*''Use visual cues:'' Skill animations for certain longer casting skills are also distinct and can help in switching to the proper target for an interrupt. For example, the animation for [[Resurrection Signet]] is unique.
*[[Ranger]]s can be less cautious using interrupts because many of their interrupting skills have lower recharges than those of other professions and do damage regardless of whether they successfully interrupt.

===PvP-specific tips===
*Time your interrupts to coincide with the ending of [[knock down]]s and [[punish]]ment effects (e.g. [[Diversion]] or [[Blackout]]) dished out by yourself, or your allies.
*''Know your enemy:'' Some actions can be predicted. Knowing your enemy helps you determine when and how they are likely to act.
**Learn the skill chains used by your opponents. For example, if the opposing [[infuser]] is in the habit of always using [[Word of Healing]] on themselves, immediately after infusing, you can get in the habit of interrupting it after your team spikes. Another example is against [[spike|caster spikes]] where they will often follow their first spell with a second.
*''Learn opponent counter measures:'' If you know an opponent will try to counter a particular skill, you can cancel your first skill midway and interrupt their counter. An example would be an elementalist using [[Gale]] to interrupt your [[Diversion]] or [[Apply Poison]]. Canceling your own skill and using an interrupt will stop [[Gale]].

===PvE-specific tips===
*PvE players use interrupts as a means of [[Shut down|shutting down]] targets permanently or almost permanently using two basic techniques:
**''Use [[AoE]] interrupts:'' Focus on shutting down larger groups of enemies in order to mitigate their collective damage and/or healing capabilities. Commonly used skills include [[Panic]], [[Psychic Instability]], and [[Cry of Frustration]].
**''Use strong single target interrupt effects:'' Shutting down a single powerful foe can often turn the tide of battle, especially if that foe has particularly harmful abilities (e.g. [[Kanaxai]]), large amount of [[health]] (e.g. [[Rotscale]]), or helps the enemy group survive (e.g. [[Fozzy Yeoryios]]). Long-lasting interrupts include [[Broad Head Arrow]], [[Power Block]] (shuts down casters), and [[Shivers of Dread]] (to allow team members with cold-damage weapons to shut down a target foe).

== Interruption Effects ==
{{:Interrupt effect}}

==List of interrupt skills==
{{main|List of interrupt skills}}

==Related skills==
{{main|List of skills related to interrupt skills}}

{{featured article}}
[[Category:Interrupt|+]]
[[Category:Game mechanics]]
[[Category:Tactics (gameplay)]]

Interrupt - Revision history

self>SabSparrow at 20:07, 25 October 2025