Ward

A ward (commonly collectively called lines) is a type of skill that stops enemies from passing through its area of effect while allowing allies to move freely. Circular wards prevent enemies from both entering and exiting the designated area.

Enemies who come in contact with a ward will be knocked back, and leaps will be interrupted. The effect is unblockable and cannot be dodged through, but their control effect can be prevented using  Stability or invulnerability. They can still be crossed with shadowsteps, but circular wards will cause the character to be interrupted upon arrival. Line-shaped wards can also be jumped over.^{[verification requested]}

List of ward skills

#	Skill	Weapon			Description
Guardian
5	Line of Warding	Staff	0.25¼	30	Ward. Create a line in front of you that foes cannot cross.
5	Ring of Warding	Hammer	0.75¾	30	Ward. Create a ring around you that foes cannot cross. Trapped foes cannot exit the ring while it is active.

See also

These skills are not classified as wards, but function similar to the skill type.

Skill				Description
Guardian
Sanctuary		1	40	Consecration. Form a protective healing shelter for allies. Block foes and their missiles from entering.
Dragonhunter
Hunter's Ward		1	20	Form your arrows into a barrier, and deal damage at the location.
Dragon's Maw		0.5½	40	Trap. Lay a trap that pulls enemies and creates a barrier that holds them in.
Untamed
Nature's Binding		0.75¾	25	Cantrip. Surround nearby foes with a cage of nature they cannot escape. Enemies that were not struck are unaffected by active cages.
Thief
Seal Area			3	Create an area that blocks projectiles and prevents enemies from entering or leaving.
Elementalist
Unsteady Ground		0.25¼	30	Create unsteady ground that foes cannot cross.
Other
Force Wall			12	Create a wall of force at the target area. Foes cannot pass through.

These skills cannot be evaded either, but produce other control effects instead of short knockback.

Skill				Description
Engineer
Slick Shoes			30	Gadget. Spray oil behind you, knocking down foes. If underwater, foes entering the field are blinded and slowed.
Elementalist
Static Field		0.75¾	30	Create an electrical field that stuns foes crossing it.
Lightning Cage		0.5½	30	Create an electrical field that stuns foes crossing it.
Weaver
Mud Slide		1	20	Dual Attack. Trip your foes with mud as you slide past them.
Necromancer
Spectral Ring		0.25¼	30	Spectral. Create a spectral ring that protects allies and inflicts fear on foes. Gain life force when a foe is inflicted by fear from this skill. This skill can only inflict fear on the same foe once per interval.

Other

Weapon skills

•   Ice Wall — Trident

Bundle skills

•   Static Field — Lightning Hammer
•   Wall of Ice — Koda's Hammer (Dragon Response Mission)
•   Wall of Ice — Koda's Hammer (Edge of the Mists)

Activity

•   Electrical Storm — Aspect Arena

Notes

• In PvE the skills also cause an initial hit of defiance break to defiant foes. Some may subsequently cause large amounts because of their pulsing effect while the enemy remains in it or tries to cross it.

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Skill types and profession mechanics