Guild Wars 2

Like a number of block skills work right now in game how come offhand sword is 1 instance of block instead of a duration in which you block attacks? I see warriors reventant and even shield skill 4 on mesmer work like that. It just boggles my mind that this one skill blocks just one attack.

It can’t be the fact that it has a second skill attached to it because both rev off hand blocks do too so, yeah. Would it be too much to make it like a short durr in which you block attacks instead of 1 block? Dont see how this would be bad or op in any way.

That’s the difference between reactive block and block skills. Reactive block are skills that are meant to open an opportunity for counter attack while block skills just block. Beside scepter#2 work the exact same way as that skill so that’s not the “only” skill that work that way.

To sum it up :
- Warrior skills (mace/sword) need a melee attack to trigger the adrenaline gain and break the block. Can block projectiles for full duration. Shield just block.
- Guardian (mace) block 1 attack be it melee or range.
- Revenant (sword) have no condition to trigger the 2nd part of the skill except having enough energy.
- Mesmer (sword/scepter) can only block 1 attack if range is <900 not sure what happen if range is superior.
- Chronomancer (shield) need you to block attack for the full duration of the skill to unlock the 2nd skill.

Dadnir.5038:

That’s the difference between reactive block and block skills. Reactive block are skills that are meant to open an opportunity for counter attack while block skills just block. Beside scepter#2 work the exact same way as that skill so that’s not the “only” skill that work that way.

To sum it up :
- Warrior skills (mace/sword) need a melee attack to trigger the adrenaline gain and break the block. Can block projectiles for full duration. Shield just block.
- Guardian (mace) block 1 attack be it melee or range.
- Revenant (sword) have no condition to trigger the 2nd part of the skill except having enough energy.
- Mesmer (sword/scepter) can only block 1 attack if range is <900 not sure what happen if range is superior.
- Chronomancer (shield) need you to block attack for the full duration of the skill to unlock the 2nd skill.

the sword offhand is also free of the block to use the secondary skill

Actually sword OH and scepter could benefit if the block was a duration block and you just summon the phantasm on the first target that hit you first but keep blocking.
Would make the skill less clunky.

Those block skills are fine as they are

I actually really love how the blocks function, especially after the evasion frame was added to them.

If something were to be changed about them (and i’d love to see this change applied to all clone producing abilities), I’d like to see them get the scepter auto attack treatment and not produce a clone if you already have 3 illusions out.

I used to feel that way regarding ranged attacks (like ranger GS) but Illusionary Riposte and Counter feel a lot better since they added evasion during the counter attack animation.

I would have preferred it be more punishing than defensive for the sake of PvP, but it doesn’t need to block more, it’s still a one handed sword after all.