Specialization

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Specializations are now unlocked. You can now spend hero points in the training tab on specializations. Once you begin training a specialization, you can set your active specialization in the build tab of the hero panel.

— Specializations

A specialization, also known as a trait line, is a profession mechanic that allows players to customize their characters by concentrating on different aspects of their profession through various traits. Depending on the character's level, up to three specializations can be chosen, and each fully trained specialization provides 3 minor traits and the choice of 3 out of 9 major traits—split between adept, master, and grandmaster traits. Players can freely change specializations and traits when out of combat.

Each character in the core game can choose from five core specializations per profession, while accounts with expansion packs unlocked gain access to one elite specialization for each profession per expansion.

Unlocking specializations

Training panel interface.

To begin training a specialization your character must be at least level 21, then follow the below steps. In Structured PvP game mode, players do not need to unlock anything, as all skills and traits available to the account will be unlocked while within the Heart of the Mists lobby.

• Step 1: Open your Hero panel and go to the Training tab. The Training tab is the third tab from the top on the far left of the Hero panel.
• Step 2: Select one of the tracks under Specializations. Tracks are located on the left side of the Training tab.
• Step 3: Once you select a track, it will become visible, showing you a circle with all of the selected track's associated traits.
• Step 4: In the center of the selected track, there will be a trait, a button that allows you to learn the trait, and a cost (listed in Hero points).
• Step 5: To learn a trait, click on the Train button and confirm that you're willing to pay its Hero point cost. Once completed, the next trait in the track will become available. Once all traits in a track have been purchased, the circle will be completed.

It is possible to train multiple traits at once by selecting a trait further along into the track and then clicking Train. Fully unlocking a core specialization costs 60 hero points.

Once at least one trait is trained in any specialization you may go into the Build tab and equip it into an empty slot. Traits may also be selected once equipped. Specializations may be swapped freely when not in combat. Specialization slots are unlocked at levels 21, 45, and 71. Level 80 characters will have exactly enough hero points to train all core skills and specializations—completing hero challenges will allow you to train skills and specializations sooner. Excess hero points may be used to train elite specializations.

Elite specializations

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Elite specializations can now be unlocked in the training tab of the Hero Panel. You must complete all core specializations in order to start training an elite specialization. Hero points are used to train elite specializations. Once you begin training an elite specialization, you can set it as active in the bottom specialization slot of the Build tab.

— Level 80 rewards.

In contrast to core specializations, which merely modify how certain skills and effects work, choosing an elite specialization fundamentally changes the way a given profession plays by altering or expanding on the base profession mechanic and providing access to a new weapon, healing skill, elite skill and a set of utility skills of the same skill type. All core profession skills, weapons and specializations will still be available while an elite specialization is equipped.

Training an elite specialization is basically the same as a core specialization, however there are a few requirements:

• The account must own the respective expansion
• The character must be level 80
• All core skills and specializations must be fully trained

It will take 250 hero points to fully unlock an elite specialization. Hero points can be obtained through completing hero challenges found in any core Tyria or expansion zone or purchased from a Heroics Notary. The first trait costs 30 hero points to train, with subsequent traits costing 10 points and skills costing 15 points each. Elite specializations gradually unlock the specialization specific traits and skills at the same time—there is no separation of traits and skills. Upon training the first trait you will also unlock the respective specialization collection.

Elite specializations can only be equipped in the bottom (third) specialization slot in the hero panel, which has a faint golden frame around it. Elite specialization exclusive weapons and skills cannot be equipped or used unless the respective elite specialization is also equipped. Equipping a weapon without its respective elite specialization will have its respective weapon skills greyed out—making them unusable. Removing or swapping the elite specialization will cause any currently slotted skills to be greyed out.

Weaponmaster Training is an account-wide feature available in the Secrets of the Obscure expansion that unlocks the elite specialization weapons for use to the entire profession. Beyond requiring at least one level 80 character to unlock the feature, it's not otherwise level-restricted and can be used afterwards on characters below level 80.

List of specializations

Specialization	Focus
Guardian
Core
Zeal		Symbols and spirit weapons • Scepter, Greatsword
Radiance		Signets, burning and blinding • Sword, Torch
Valor		Blocking and meditations • Shield, Focus
Honor		Dodging, healing and shouts • Mace, Staff
Virtues		Consecrations and virtues • Hammer
Elite
Dragonhunter		Hunt your target with improved ranged attacks, cripple and target lockdown. Virtues gain a physical effect, which can be further upgraded. Grants access to longbows and traps.
Firebrand		Bolster the frontline with melee support and quickness. Virtues become tomes, allowing usage of several skills before recharging. Grants access to axes and mantras.
Willbender		Chase and control your foes with superior martial arts. Virtues now move you around the battlefield, enhancing your strikes and scorching the earth with Willbender Flames. Grants access to off-hand swords and physical skills.
Revenant
Core (requires a purchased expansion)
Corruption		Resistance, torment and damaging conditions
Retribution		Defense and resolution
Salvation		Healing, condition removal and damage mitigation
Invocation		Legend swapping and fury
Devastation		Damage and life stealing
Elite
Herald		Invoke Glint for improved health and group boons and effects. Improves Upkeep skills. Grants access to shields, the Legendary Dragon Stance, and the Facet of Nature.
Renegade		Boost your allies' attacks and hamper your foes with Kalla Scorchrazor's warband effects and Citadel Orders. Improves all damage, Fury and Bleeding. Grants access to short bows and the Legendary Renegade Stance.
Vindicator		Launch into the fray with a new dodge-jump and flip between the attacks of Luxon champion Archemorus and the aide of Kurzick champion Saint Viktor. Grants access to greatswords and the Legendary Alliance Stance.
Warrior
Core
Strength		Might, physical utility skills, control and damage • Greatsword
Arms		Critical hits, signets and condition damage • Sword
Defense		Toughness and damage endurance • Shield, Mace, Hammer
Tactics		Soldier's Focus, AOE might, and shouts • Warhorn
Discipline		Adrenaline gain, banners and weapon swapping • Axe, Rifle, Longbow, Harpoon Gun
Elite
Berserker		Go Berserk for higher damage and burning. Grants access to torches, rage skills, and primal burst skills.
Spellbreaker		Gain Insight on your enemies. Counter their attacks, control their actions, and remove their boons. Improves crowd control. Grants access to daggers and meditations.
Bladesworn		Switch to your new second weapon, the elite gunsaber. Charge-and-release for an immensely powerful Dragon Slash attack, replacing Burst skills. Improves Ammunition. Grants access to off-hand pistol and armaments.
Engineer
Core
Explosives		Explosive Entrance, power and vulnerability • Grenade Kit
Firearms		Condition Damage and critical hits • Pistol, Flamethrower
Inventions		Healing, protection and turrets • Shield
Alchemy		Elixirs and boons • Med Kit, Elixir Gun
Tools		Tool belt skills, utility kits, and endurance
Elite
Scrapper		Task your Gyros to support you and your nearby allies, generating superspeed and barrier. Grants access to hammers, well skills, and the Function Gyro.
Holosmith		Wield multiple holographic weapons with the Photon Forge. Manage its heat levels for added effects to your skills. Grants access to swords and exceed skills.
Mechanist		Customize your Jade Mech CJ-1 and command it to fight beside you in battle. Grants access to maces and signet skills.
Ranger
Core
Marksmanship		Long range damage and signets • Longbow, Harpoon Gun
Skirmishing		Mobility, traps, and weapon swapping • Sword, Short bow
Wilderness Survival		Defensive combat maneuvers and conditions • Dagger, Torch
Nature Magic		Boons and spirits • Warhorn
Beastmastery		Pets • Greatsword, Spear, Axe
Elite
Druid		Collect astral force and heal your allies with the forces of nature. Grants access to staves, and the Celestial Avatar form, which changes your weapon and glyph skills while active.
Soulbeast		Merge with your pet, enter Beastmode and take on the power of wild creatures. Improves combat damage and conditions. Grants access to main hand daggers and stances.
Untamed		Unleash your pet, granting it new skills, then unleash yourself to gain increased damage and enhanced skills. Adds boon removal. Improves crowd control. Grants access to hammers and cantrips.
Thief
Core
Deadly Arts		Power and poison • Dagger
Critical Strikes		Critical hits and signets • Pistol, Harpoon Gun
Shadow Arts		Healing, damage mitigation, stealth, and stealth attacks• Venoms
Acrobatics		Dodging and mobility • Sword, Spear
Trickery		Stealing and managing initiative
Elite
Daredevil		Dash. Strike. Evade. Dare to fight longer with extra endurance and enhanced dodge effects. Improves weakness. Grants access to staves and physical skills.
Deadeye		Snipe your target from long range. Deadeye's Mark generates malice, which provides bonus effects to stealth attacks. Grants access to rifles and cantrips.
Specter		Siphon your enemy's shadow to fuel your Shadow Shroud, and restore your chosen ally through the damage you deal. Improves outgoing healing and barrier. Grants access to scepters and shadowstep wells.
Elementalist
Core
Fire		Fire skills, burning and conjured weapons.
Air		Air skills, glyphs, movement speed, and spike damage.
Earth		Earth skills, bleeding, defense, and signets.
Water		Water skills, healing, vulnerability and cantrips.
Arcane		General improvements, arcane utility skills, and switching of attunements.
Elite
Tempest		Store up your elemental magic and overload for powerful channeled abilities in an area. Improves Aura share. Grants access to warhorns and shouts.
Weaver		Weave the elements together for new Dual Attacks. Improve damage, movement and self-sustain. Grants access to swords and stances.
Catalyst		Augment your strikes for added effects, while your summoned Jade Sphere mimics your attunements, providing combo fields and boons. Improves auras and stats through Elemental Empowerment. Grants access to hammers and augments.
Mesmer
Core
Domination		Interrupt improvements, boon removal and vulnerability • Greatsword
Dueling		Critical hits, clone generation and blinds • Pistol, Sword, Spear
Chaos		Defense and application of random boons and conditions • Staff, Trident
Inspiration		Phantasms, signets, mantras and healing • Focus
Illusions		Shattering and illusions • Torch, Scepter
Elite
Chronomancer		Manipulate time in an area with slows, crowd control, and quickness or alacrity. Grants access to shields, wells, and new shatter skills, including the added Continuum Split.
Mirage		Shadow Step, Mirage Cloak, even swap places with your clones to deceive your enemy, then ambush them. Improves Condition Damage. Grants access to axes and deceptions.
Virtuoso		Inflict real cuts with your Blade illusions and Bladesongs, trading in clones and shatters. Improves strike damage, Fury, and Bleeding. Grants access to main-hand daggers and psionics.
Necromancer
Core
Spite		Damage, boon removal and signets • Axe, Focus
Curses		Critical hits, conditions, and corruptions • Scepter
Death Magic		Minions, Carapace and other damage reductions
Blood Magic		Life stealing, healing and reviving allies. • Dagger, Warhorn
Soul Reaping		Death Shroud and life force • Staff
Elite
Reaper		Chill your enemies and reap them up close. Death Shroud is replaced by the powerful melee Reaper's Shroud. Grants access to greatswords and offensive shouts.
Scourge		Burn and Torment your foes, punish their boons and bolster your allies; either around you or your incorporeal Sand Shades. Replaces Death Shroud with Desert Shroud’s barrier. Grants access to torches and punishment skills.
Harbinger		Playing with Blight is hazardous to your health. Imbue it into your skills for added benefits. The blighting Harbinger Shroud is powerful and nimble, but no longer shields your health. Grants access to main-hand pistol and elixirs.

Related achievements

• Heart of Thorns elite specialization achievements
• Path of Fire elite specialization achievements
• End of Dragons elite specialization achievements

Notes

• If the player is wielding a weapon whose proficiency is unlocked by an elite specialization and selects another specialization in the third slot, the corresponding weapon skills will be blanked out until the player either removes the weapon or changes back to the corresponding elite specialization, unless the player has the Weaponmaster Training.
• If the player trains the initial proficiency of an elite specialization but does not train the minor adept (or any other traits), the player will be able to use the elite specialization's weapon but not have a replaced profession mechanic.
  • For example using this strategy, a Reaper would have access to Death Shroud, but lack any other traits from the Reaper specialization.

Trivia

• The hover text on the third specialization slot reads "Core and Elite", whereas the first and second only state "Core".
• Specializations replaced trait lines and were part of a trait system rework in the June 23, 2015 game update.
• Originally, it cost 400 hero points to fully unlock an elite specialization. This was changed in the October 27, 2015 game update.

See also

• Build
• Elite specialization equipment — armor and weapons connected to the elite specializations obtainable via collections
• Template