Undead

The undead were once living creatures, but after their death, were somehow supernaturally animated. Because these horrifying creatures are not actually living, they find it hard (if not impossible) to regenerate their bodily tissue, thus most undead are seen with the flesh rotting off their bodies and bare bones protruding through their garments. With this in mind, its not hard to understand why some undead creatures are capable of inflicting their victims with disease. Another side-effect of being animated (as opposed to being alive) is that most undead creatures do not have blood flowing through their veins, and as such they cannot be made to bleed. This renders useless certain skills that many warriors and rangers equip.

In the world of Tyria, the Undead infest the northern parts of the Kingdom of Kryta. They seem to be the animated remnants of the army of Orr though as they sometimes drop Decayed Orr Emblems. These Undead Legions assaulting Kryta are the minions of the Lich Lord. In addition to the undead hordes in Tyria, there is an undead Skeleton Army prowling the battlefield in the Fissure of Woe.

While the majority of the undead encountered currently in Guild Wars are humanoid, any once-living creature could be reanimated. In fact, a Necromancer can cast any animation spell (like Animate Bone Horror or Animate Bone Fiend) on the body of any living creature as soon as it dies, whether it's a human, a Charr, a Moss Scarab or a Hydra.

Any party should be careful when adventuring in undead-infested regions such as Kryta. A solitary undead mage which seems like easy picking suddenly becomes dangerous when numerous previously-unseen ghouls burst forth from the sand to come to its rescue.

Smiting Prayers and any weapon that deals holy damage will deal double damage to undead creatures.

For a listing of known types of undead units see Category:Undead.