Balance

From HammerWiki

For the Order Quest, see Balance I.

Balance is the game mechanic of the  Swordmaster career, it works by restricting some abilities from being used unless the toon is in the proper Balance. There are three levels of balance Normal Balance, Improved Balance and Perfect Balance.

Switching between the three levels is done by using some abilities that allow progress between the various degrees of Balance.

The Balance mechanic (along with the Plan one) used to be referred as Combo, and work quite differently in the beta, Balance was not a tri-state effect but a gauge that filled with some attacks called Blade Dances.

Contents 1 Normal Balance 2 Improved Balance 3 Perfect Balance 4 See also

[edit] Normal Balance

These are the abilities that can be used in any balance, using them will set the Swordmaster in Improved Balance.

Usually Normal Balance abilities are the most expensive ones, and provide an average amount of utility.

With the exception of Protection of Hoeth they all need a target, so Swordmaster who invest in the Hoeth Mastery tree are the only ones free to set themselves into any fight without needing a target to initiate the cycle, the others need a target (any target, even a critter will do) to get to Improved Balance.

Ensorcelled Blow

Simple Hoeth attack dealing Spirit Damage, can be improved with tactics to land a DoT too.

Graceful Strike

Vaul attack dealing some direct Physical Damage and some more via a 5 second DoT, builds threat, it's the basic tanking rotation attack.

Gryphon's Lash

Khaine Physical Damage attack that can't be blocked or parried (it can still be dodged).

Sapping Strike

Khaine 5 seconds Physical DoT that also drains AP. 10s cooldown. Requires 5 points in the Path of Khaine.

Protection of Hoeth

Hoeth 5 seconds shield that absorbs a finite amount of damage. It's the only Normal Balance ability that doesn't require a target. Requires 5 points in the Path of Hoeth.

[edit] Improved Balance

These are the abilities that can ONLY be used in Improved Balance and set the Swordmaster to Perfect Balance.

Improved Balance abilities provide for many utility effects, they have a slightly higher cost than Normal Balance abilities (on average)

Quick Incision

Khaine 5 seconds Physical DoT and Snare.

Eagle's Flight

Vaul Physical direct damage that also increases Parry chance for 5 seconds. Useful to increase survivability and in the average tanking rotation.

Intimidating Blow

Vaul Physical direct damage that drains Morale points. Only useful in RvR.

Wrath of Hoeth

Hoeth PBAoE Spiritual Damage attack that also lowers Spiritual Resistance for 20 seconds to affected enemies. Essential tool in the Swordmaster arsenal, even if a little expensive.

Phoenix's Wing

Khaine

Crushing Advance

[edit] Perfect Balance

[edit] See also

• Swordmasters also possess the ability to enchant their weapons with one of the three available buffs, which is sort of a semi-mechanic, the three abilities are:
  • Nature's Blade, chance on hit to AoE steal stats from the enemies and buffs the party with them.
  • Phantom's Blade, chance on hit to create a temporary shield that absorbs a finite amount of damage.
  • Heaven's Blade, chance on hit to reduce the Resistances of the enemy.
• Mechanics
• Plan