Upkeep

[[Image:Upkeep.png]] Upkeep
Upkeep is the maintenance cost for certain permanent skill effects. Currently, the only skills requiring Upkeep are some Monk and Assassin Enchantments; and the only kind of Upkeep is "-1 Energy Recovery". Effects that require Upkeep can at any time be canceled by the caster, which makes both the effect and the Upkeep end.

When maintaining skills that have upkeep, the caster needs to be mindful of their reduced energy supply or try to get more energy some other way. For example, Monks might utilize Blessed Signet or counter with Peace and Harmony, Mesmers can utilize Inspiration Magic that will increase their energy reserves, and a Warrior could use mostly adrenaline-based skills.

If a player has negative energy regeneration and the player's energy would drop below zero, the player loses all maintained enchantments (starting with those most recently cast) until his energy regeneration isn't negative any more. For example, if a Monk were maintaining 8 enchantments (putting their energy regeneration at -4 pips), they would lose the four most recently cast enchantments, setting their energy regeneration to 0. This is especially common (and devastating) in the case of a Mo/Me PvP Bonder.

A skillful monk can easily maintain more than 10 enchantments as a bonder. With Mesmer profession as secondary, and using the Mantra of Inscriptions stance coupled with Blessed Signet, its possible to gain more than 20 energy every 5 seconds or so. Additionally, if Balthazaars Spirit is cast along with Life Bond on party members, the damage reduction you receive is translated as one energy per damage. Against heavy melee, you might find that using Blessed Signet quite possibly unnecessary.

You can also get additional energy regeneration through external sources such as Blood is Power (elite) or Melandrus Resilience (stance) and many others. Nature's Renewal (spirit) will double the upkeep cost and also double the casting time for enchantments.

Note: There are other Enchantments and Hexes, which incorporate energy degeneration, such as Malaise. These are not considered Upkeep because they do not last forever and don't offer the same cancelling interface as upkeep enchantments do. They too will be lost upon the death of the caster, or usually if the caster's energy drops to zero.