Binding Blade

This article is about the guardian greatsword skill. For the effect it causes, see Binding Blade (effect).

Throw blades at your foes, causing damage over time. Bound foes can be pulled to you. The effect ends when a foe moves out of range. — In-game description

Binding Blade

Profession

Guardian (skill list)

Weapon

Greatsword

Sequence

 → 

Game link

API

9147

“

0.75¾  25  

Binding Blade

Throw blades at your foes, causing damage over time. Bound foes can be pulled to you. The effect ends when a foe moves out of range.

 Damage: 605 (1.5)^?

 Damage: 4 (0.01)^?

 Binding Blade (10s): 1,600 (3.0)^? Damage

 Binding Blade (10s): 1,600 (1.0)^? Damage

 Number of Targets: 5

 Maximum Blade Duration: 10 seconds

 Maximum Leash Range: 600

 Combo Finisher: Whirl

— In-game description

Mechanics

The skill throws projectile blades at up to 5 nearby foes, dealing damage over time with the  Binding Blade effect to those they hit. Affected foes can then be pulled using the associated   Pull sequence skill, but this removes the damage over time effect.

Multiple projectiles can hit the same target if they intercept the projectiles. For example, if several enemies are present in range, and the skill is used inside one of the enemies' hitbox, then all projectiles will hit that target from inside its' hitbox. If only one target is present in range, then only one projectile will be launched, and using the skill inside the enemy's hitbox will have no additional effect. Using the skill inside the enemy hitbox is only possible if the "Melee Attack Assist" option in the General Options is disabled.

• This skill will proc the whirl finisher one time.
• Damage over time component is determined by the following formula:
  • (0.3 * Power) + 2 * Level damage per second.
  • (0.3 * Power) + 160 damage per second at Level 80 and (0.1 * Power) + 160 damage per second at Level 80 in PVP and WVW
  • The damage-over-time effect of this skill is unaffected by Vulnerability.
• If the foe dodges when the   Pull is activated, they will not be pulled the full distance.
• This skill can hit targets in stealth.
• This skill does not affect epic rank foes.

Related traits

Zeal

• Zealous Blade — Your power is increased. Gain additional power while wielding a greatsword. Your greatsword skills have reduced recharge.

Version history

For a detailed skill history, see here.

Patch	Changes
July 18, 2023	This skill will now use a different animation with less aftercast.
November 29, 2022	Increased pulse damage power coefficient from 0.2 to 0.3 in PvE only.
August 23, 2022	(PvE only) Damage multiplier on initial hit increased from 1.0 to 1.5.
February 25, 2020	Competitive content update: (Competitive split) Reduced initial strike power coefficient from 1.0 to 0.01. Reduced pulse damage power coefficient from 0.2 to 0.1.
May 08, 2018	The condition-damage aspect of this skill is now affected by Zealous Blade.
February 22, 2017	Reduced recharge from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.
August 28, 2012	Game release: Binding Blade has been added to the game.

See also

•   Magnetic Shield
•   Vortex