Skill type

Skill Type
Skills come in a number of types. Some Skills or game mechanics interact with only certain types of Skills. The Skill type is recorded in the Type label.

There are 10 'Basic Skill Types', but there exist further specialisations of certain types, as shown by multiple levels in the following list


 * Skill - The most basic Skill type. Pure skills are hard to counter, because their casting Time is usually very low and their effects instantaneous, which makes them hard to prevent or cancel. Few Skills can interrupt pure skills directly.
 * Attack skill - Attacks on an enemy with any weapon.
 * Melee attack skill - Requires the use of any melee weapon (bare hands do not count as melee weapons).
 * Axe melee attack skill - Requires the use of an Axe.
 * Hammer melee attack skill - Requires the use of a Hammer.
 * Sword melee attack skill - Requires the use of a Sword
 * Pet melee attack skill - Requires a pet.
 * Ranged attack skill - Requires the use of a Bow, Wand or Staff.
 * Bow ranged attack skill - Requires the use of a bow.
 * Glyph skill - Affects the next spell you cast. At most one Glyph at a time can be active.
 * Nature Ritual skill - Creates a Spirit creature that affects all creatures, allies and enemies, in its area.
 * Preparation skill - Enhances your attacks for a certain time span. At most one preparation at a time can be active.
 * Shout skill - Instantly affects either nearby allies or nearby foes.
 * Signet skill - Has no energy cost but long casting time and/or recharge time.
 * Spell skill - Most skills are Spells.
 * Enchantment spell skill - Puts positive effects on an ally.
 * Maintained enchantment spell skill - Stays on the target for the cost of one energy regeneration.
 * Hex spell skill - Puts a negative, duration-based effect on one or more enemies.
 * Stance skill - Affects only the caster. At most one Stance at a time can be active.
 * Trap skill - Covers the area around a Ranger.

Elite Skills
Skills can also be classified as Elite skill. Each skill is Elite or non-Elite, in addition to any classifications. A player may only have one elite skill equipped at a time, except when they capture one, or copy an elite skill (with Mesmer skills like Arcane Mimicry). While there is some debate as to whether Elite is actually a type of skill, it currently seems to be the best fit.