Guild Wars 2

Do these skills activate the CC before or after the damage? In other words, do the related traits (Merciless Hammer and Unsuspecting Foe) add damage to these skills themselves, or only attacks used afterward?

It depends on when the stun is applied. In the case of Earthshaker, I know the stun is applied before the damage so those trait bonuses are applied to the damage.

Earthshaker applies stun then damage, backbreaker applies damage then knockdown.

Unsuspecting foe works with stun, not knockdowns.

Thanks, you two.

And yeah, I’m aware that UF does not apply to Backbreaker, but MH does. Or at least, it does AFTER Backbreaker, apparently.

No UF will not apply after the knockdown, or during any knockdown. Stuns and knockdowns are different. Sigil of paralyzation also does not work with knockdowns.

Mace and Hammer f1’s and shield 4 work with UF, nothing else does.

Jonwar.9205:

No UF will not apply after the knockdown, or during any knockdown. Stuns and knockdowns are different. Sigil of paralyzation also does not work with knockdowns.

Mace and Hammer f1’s and shield 4 work with UF, nothing else does.

Different trait. He’s talking about Merciless Hammer when he mentioned Backbreaker.

Ah, right, misread. Yes, MH will work on stunned, knockdowned and I believe dazed (though I haven’t tested this) enemies.