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 (exception). 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 using skills. Currently, only Warriors, Rangers, Mesmers, Assassins and Dervishes have stances.

List of stances
See Stance skills quick reference. Category list: Category:Stances.

Skills affected by being in a stance

 * Jaizhenju Strike cannot be blocked when not using a stance.
 * Pure Strike cannot be blocked when not using a stance.
 * Standing Slash deals more damage if using a stance.
 * Barbarous Slice doesn't cause bleeding if in a stance.

Skills that can end a foe's stances

 * Wild Strike
 * Wild Blow
 * Wild Throw

Other skills related to stances

 * Mirrored Stance a hex that copies whatever stance the target foe enters.
 * Renewing Smash recharges all Warrior stances if it hits.
 * "On Your Knees!" recharges all stances if any adjacent foes are knocked down.
 * Mark of Insecurity a hex that causes stances on target foe to end 50% sooner.

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
 * Increase the chance of a critical hit
 * Increase adrenaline gained
 * Prevent knockdowns
 * Give hammer attacks an interrupt 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
 * Increase duration of certain hexes cast by the user
 * Decrease recharge of all skills
 * Increase duration and decrease recharge of preparations
 * Poison an attacking enemy
 * Reduce all damage taken by half
 * Prevent blinded foes from blocking your attacks
 * Teleport the user
 * Decrease recharge for certain skills
 * Decrease Activation Time for certain skills
 * Give health regeneration