Weapon style
Weapon Styles, also known as weapon powers or simply styles, are powers with restricted usage in conjunction with a specific weapon. Weapon Styles can only be used if you are in the combat mode and have the matching weapon in use (for example, "press the foe", a sword weapon style, may only be used if the character wields a sword). Weapon styles go into effect during the next swing of one's weapon after they are cast. A weapon style will increase the user's damage for one swing, and may also hinder his target in one or more of the following ways:
- Bleeding damage over time (DoT)
- Stun
- Power Block
- Debuff
There are also some unique weapon powers available to disciplines and classes:
- A Giant Killer's Cut Down to Size will remove a target's constitution buff.
- A Wyrmslayer's Drake's Breath will ensnare and cause cold damage over time.
- A Templar's "Sword of St. Malorn" will set its target on fire, causing fire damage over time (DoT).
- A Huntress's Naargal's Bite initiates a poison DoT on the target.
Style Casting
Style casting was once a technique used by any character who used a ranged power with an attack rating-based success chance. Given the fact that most weapon styles used to grant a temporary increase to attack rating, one could use a weapon style briefly before using another power, thereby gaining the additional attack rating. Attack rating bonuses were removed to prevent style casting.