Symbol of Protection

This article is about the guardian skill. For the trait skill that previously had the same name, see Lesser Symbol of Protection.

Symbol. Smash a mystic symbol onto the ground that gives protection to you and your allies. — In-game description

Symbol of Protection

Profession

Guardian (skill list)

Weapon

Hammer

Type

Symbol

Activ. type

Chain

Sequence

 →  → 

Game link

API

9161

“

1  

Symbol of Protection

Symbol. Smash a mystic symbol onto the ground that gives protection to you and your allies.

 Damage: 404 (1.0)^?

 Damage: 269 (0.666)^?

 Damage (3x): 606 (1.5)^?

 Damage (3x): 303 (0.75)^?

 Damage (3x): 483 (1.2)^?

₃ Protection (1s): -33% Incoming Damage

 Number of Targets (Hammer): 3

 Number of Targets (Symbol): 5

 Symbol Duration: 2 seconds

 Symbol Radius: 180

 Combo Field: Light

 Range: 180

— In-game description

Mechanics

• The hammer swing component of this skill cleaves.
• The chain hits a single target 6 times (8 with the trait Writ of Persistence): Three from the hammer swings and once for each pulse of the symbol. The symbol itself has a longer range than the hammer swing.
• When cleaving, this auto chain can hit up to 24 times (34 with Writ of Persistence): Nine from the hammer swings and five hits per pulse of the symbol.
• Upon application, the symbol centers around the target instead of the player.
• The hammer swing component of this skill also triggers the trait Symbolic Exposure but is not affected by any other symbol trait.
• The symbol component of this skill is affected by all symbol traits.

Related traits

Zeal

• Symbolic Exposure — Symbols inflict vulnerability on foes. Deal increased strike damage to vulnerable foes.
• Symbolic Power — Symbols deal increased strike damage.
• Symbolic Avenger — Your strike damage is increased whenever your Symbols hit a foe.

Valor

• Altruistic Healing — Heal yourself when you grant a boon to an ally.

Honor

• Writ of Persistence — Symbols are improved and heal allies.

Virtues

• Inspired Virtue — Virtues apply boons to allies when activated. Deal increased strike damage for each boon on you.

Version history

For a detailed skill history, see here.

Patch	Changes
April 16, 2024	Reduced the symbol damage coefficient from 0.4 to 0.25 in WvW only.
November 28, 2023	Reduced the casting time from 0.9 seconds to 0.7 seconds.
February 14, 2023	Reduced casting time from 1.33 seconds to 0.9 seconds.
August 23, 2022	The aftercast animation duration before another skill can be used has been decreased by 0.65 seconds.
February 25, 2020	Competitive content update: (Competitive split) Autoattack chain: Reduced power coefficients from 0.8/0.8/1.0 to 0.533/0.533/0.666. (Competitive split) Reduced power coefficient per strike from 0.5 to 0.4.
April 23, 2019	Adjusted attack animations and damage to get a smoother attack sequence. The full attack chain is slightly faster with less damage, resulting in a small increase in overall damage per second.
September 09, 2014	Updated the damage skill facts to display Hammer Damage and Symbol Damage separately. Added a Number of Targets: 5 skill fact. Updated Number of Target skill facts to correctly indicate the maximum number of targets.
November 26, 2013	This symbol now has the appropriate duration increase when traited with Writ of Persistence.
July 23, 2013	Increased the spell effect and AoE rings to match the actual radius of this skill for both the base and when traited with Writ of Exaltation.
March 26, 2013	Now correctly hits five maximum targets and applies boons to five allies.
August 28, 2012	Game release: Symbol of Protection has been added to the game.