Weapon swap

Weapon swap (default keybind: ~ UK: ` Nordic: §) is the mechanic of switching between the two equipped weapon sets in order to get access to a different set of weapon skills. This ability is unlocked when the character reaches level 10 for all professions. It is automatically unlocked at all levels in the Structured PvP game mode. All professions can equip two sets of weapons and swap between them, although engineers, elementalists, and bladesworns can only swap weapons when out of combat.

Mechanics

• During combat, swapping has a cooldown of 10 seconds, but one can swap repeatedly out of combat.
• Weapon swap cooldown can only be reduced by using Relic of the Warrior or the warrior's trait Fast Hands. Any other common cooldown-reducing effects like the boon Alacrity or Adrenal Mushrooms have no effect on this mechanic.
• If the same type of weapon is equipped in both sets, their weapon skills share the cooldown.
• If you choose to leave either the main hand or offhand weapon slot empty in one of the sets, the game will not swap the empty slot, and instead automatically use the weapon in that slot from the first set when you switch to the second.
• Rearranging or equipping a different set of weapons is not the same as swapping. This can be done outside of combat, but never during combat. It never triggers on-swap effects.

On-swap effects

There are several traits and sigil effects that are activated when swapping weapons; other ways to trigger these on-swap effects include:

• Several profession mechanics that replace weapon skills with other abilities can trigger on-swap effects.
  • Professions:
    • Elementalists – switching between attunements
    • Engineers – changing kits
    • Necromancers – entering or exiting Death Shroud
    • Revenants – swapping Legends ^note
  • Elite specializations:
    • Bladesworns – unsheathing or sheathing their gunsaber
    • Druids – entering or exiting Celestial Avatar
    • Firebrands – swapping in and out of tomes
    • Harbingers – entering or exiting Harbinger Shroud
    • Holosmiths – activating or deactivating Photon Forge
    • Reapers – entering or exiting Reaper's Shroud
    • Specters – entering or exiting Shadow Shroud
• Picking up or switching to a bundle.
• Entering combat by using an engage skill on a mount will also trigger weapon swapping effects, as the character "changes" into his weapons at this moment.

Related traits

Traits that improve weapon swapping

• Brutality (Devastation) — Gain quickness when you swap weapons. While you have quickness, your strikes remove stability. This removal effect can only occur once per interval on each target.
• Furious Burst (Arms) — Gain fury when you swap weapons. Fury gives an increased critical chance.
• Versatile Rage (Discipline) — Gain adrenaline on weapon swap.
• Fast Hands (Discipline) — Weapon-swapping recharges faster.
• Brawler's Recovery (Discipline) — Remove conditions when you swap weapons.
• Versatile Power (Discipline) — Gain might on weapon swap. Burst skills gain reduced recharge.
• Unseen Sword (Bladesworn) — Swapping weapons strikes all nearby foes. Will not activate out of combat unless an enemy is within range
• Tail Wind (Skirmishing) — Gain swiftness when swapping weapons in combat.
• Furious Grip (Skirmishing) — Gain fury when swapping weapons in combat.
• Quick Draw (Skirmishing) — When swapping weapons, the next ranger weapon skill you use will recharge faster.
• Quick Pockets (Trickery) — Gain initiative on swapping weapons while in combat.

Related equipment

Relics

• Relic of the Warrior — Weapon swap recharge time is reduced.

Sigils

• Superior Sigil of Battle — gain 5 stacks of might for 12 seconds
• Superior Sigil of Renewal — heals allies within 360 range
• Superior Sigil of Mischief — launches 4 blinding snowballs at foes in front of you
• Superior Sigil of Doom — next attack inflicts 3 stacks of poison for 8 seconds
• Superior Sigil of Energy — gain 50% endurance
• Superior Sigil of Geomancy — bleeds nearby foes for 8 seconds
• Superior Sigil of Hydromancy — damage and chill nearby foes for 2 seconds
• Superior Sigil of Vision — 100% critical hit chance for 3 seconds
• Superior Sigil of Leeching — next attack steals health
• Superior Sigil of Agility — gain 5 seconds of swiftness and 1 second of quickness
• Superior Sigil of Cleansing — removes 3 conditions

Gallery

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  Weapon Swap button icon

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  Super Adventure Box version

Notes

Anomaly:

Revenant legend swapping count as weapon swapping for "on weapon swap" sigils, but not for other weapon swap mechanics such as Brutality trait

Bug:

If a character below level 10 equips both weapon sets in Heart of the Mists and then returns to PvE, they will retain the ability to weapon swap for as long as they keep the second set equipped.

Trivia

• Prior to the December 3, 2019 game update, engineers and elementalists could only equip one single weapon set.