Stance

Stance: "A posture that provides an advantage in battle, either by protecting against attacks or improving your offensive abilities."

Stances give special bonuses to their users for a period of time. Stances don't have activation times or targets. As a result, stances cannot be interrupted, and can be activated while performing other activities such as attacking or running. Only one stance may be active at a time; activating a second stance will end the first one. There are very few ways to end an enemy's stance. However, some stances can be ended by the user through certain actions, such as attacking or moving. Currently, only Warriors, Rangers, Mesmers, Assassins and Dervishs have stances.

List of stances

 * For a complete list of stances see: Category:Stances.

Skills affected by being in a stance

 * Jaizhenju Strike can be blocked or evaded when using a stance.
 * Pure Strike can be blocked or evaded when using a stance.
 * Standing Slash deals more damage if using a stance.

Skills that can end a foe's stances

 * Wild Strike
 * Wild Blow

Other skills related to stances

 * Mirrored Stance copies whatever stance the hexed foe has entered.
 * Renewing Smash recharges all Warrior stances if it hits.
 * "On Your Knees!" recharges all stances if any knocked down foes are adjacent.

Possible effects of stances
Stances have a wide variety of offensive and defensive effects. Be aware that stances sometimes come with side-effects, e.g. gain or loss of energy. Stances can:
 * Increase attack speed
 * Increase movement speed
 * Increase armor rating
 * Give a chance to block attacks
 * Give a chance to evade attacks
 * Increase the chance of a critical hit
 * Block the next attack against the user
 * Give the user and party members a chance to block attacks
 * Increase adrenaline gained
 * Prevent knockdowns
 * Give hammer attacks a knockdown effect
 * Give energy on each successful hit
 * Prevent the next hex cast on the user
 * Prevent interruption
 * Reduce damage taken from a specific damage type
 * Decrease recharge of signets
 * Decrease recharge of skills
 * Increase duration and decrease recharge of preparations
 * Poison an attacking enemy
 * Reduce all damage taken by half
 * Prevent blinded foes from blocking or evading
 * Teleport the user