Mastering Downed State In PvP

Mastering Downed State In PvP

Introduction

A guide explaining all you need to know about downed state in PvP, from core mechanics to profession specific tips and tricks.


Basics

First let's go over some game mechanics and common tactics.

Restoring downed health counts as healing, even if you use skills like or . As such it's affected by Poison Poison and other healing reduction effects. Rez skills that claim to rally allies actually just restore a large chunk of downed health all at once, and if the poisoned target was too low then the rez skill alone won't be enough to get them back up.

Most CC skills don't work on downed enemies. Launch Launch is an exception, this makes skills like quite powerful because it allows the player to push enemies off of capture points and let them bleed out. It's quite good at disrupting revive attempts too - even if the people reviving the downed have Stability Stability this boon doesn't work on downed players, so instead of pushing the revivers away you can launch the downed far into the distance and force their team to run after them.

Stealth Stealth prevents stomp attempts but only if the target doesn't get revealed.

Downed enemies appear on your minimap in PvP, even in stealth.

Bleeding out enemies is a common PvP tactic, this refers to the act of leaving downed enemies alive after a fight to die slowly, delaying their respawn.

Sometimes getting stomped isn't a bad thing and you should let it happen. People often don't realize that leaving you to slowly bleed out would benefit them and instinctively try to finish you. If you don't see any hope for getting saved by your team and you're not laying on a capture point then don't try to interrupt the stomp, they're doing you a favor by speeding up your respawn.


Professions And Their Counters

Each profession has tools at their disposal to fight for their survival while downed. Most of them are CC skills, those are the easiest ones to counter.

In the table below you'll find what counters which profession.

Stability Stability / Blind Blind / Aegis Aegis / Invuln. Stealth Stealth Bodyblocking Anti-projectile Teleport / Reveal Double teleport
Elementalist Elementalist
Engineer Engineer
Guardian Guardian
Necromancer Necromancer
Ranger Ranger
Revenant Revenant
Warrior Warrior
Mesmer Mesmer
Thief Thief


Notes:

In a way Stealth Stealth stomping could counter everything, because you can't outplay what you can't see. In this guide we're mainly talking about scenarios where stealth lasts about 2-4 seconds and the downed player saw the other player enter stealth, which means they can anticipate the stomp and react accordingly.

Stealth, bodyblocking and anti-projectile skills only work on the Engineer's but not .

Rangers with the right pets could interrupt stealth stomps as well.

Aegis Aegis isn't the only instant block that can be used to secure a stomp, but we use this as an example because it's the most widely available non-channeled block in the game, and one that can also be shared with allies in some cases. Other blocking skills that don't have cast times such as can fill the same role.

Double teleport (potentially) counters most professions. We say "potentially" because technically every profession could sabotage this type of finisher if their timing is absolutely perfect, but that doesn't happen very often.

Double teleports are skills or skill combinations that reposition your character far from the downed enemy without breaking the channeling of the stomp, then return you to your original position at the last moment to finish off the downed.


Elementalist

Stomping an enemy Elementalist Elementalist:

  • There's not much you can do here, their allows them to go invulnerable and travel around for a few seconds. They get to avoid any stomp attempt. Best advice is to start cleaving or stomping as soon as possible to quickly force out the Vapor Form, after that they're a free kill.


Downed tips for Elementalist Elementalist players:

  • Running away with could counter every stomp and cleave attempt. You even get to pass through teleport gates like the ones in the base on Foefire where you should be safe to self-rez with . Taking portals to safety is also possible, like Mesmer's or Scourge's .
  • After building distance with Vapor Form 's immob could buy you a few extra seconds by snaring enemies who are trying to reach you.
  • If the enemy team wants to bleed you out use to move back to the capture point, forcing them to deal with you sooner. If they left you behind thinking you'll bleed out you could even neutralize or take the empty capture point by moving back onto it.


Stomping others as an Elementalist Elementalist:

  • Eles have a lot of anti-projectile skills like , and .
  • could cover the entire stomp animation, but you have to start stomping BEFORE you use this skill.
  • Plenty of Stability Stability access makes life easier for Eles.
  • Scepter builds with or any ele build with could negate downed CC.
  • is good for porting after Thieves and Mesmers.


Engineer

Stomping an enemy Engineer Engineer:

  • They are the only profession to have 2 downed CC skills. The first one which is available right away is a ranged pull called . Their character pulls their right hand back as they charge up the skill, that's your sign to dodge if you can't negate the attack.
  • , the second CC becomes available after being downed for a few seconds. This is an AoE knockback. Animation: they raise their right hand towards the sky.
  • Stability Stability counters both and so does Blind Blind (if your timing is good) but invulnerabilities like are the safest. Grappling Line could also be shut down with or any other anti-projectile skill. If you don't waste any time then they don't get to use their Booby Trap, but if they live long enough to use it then the projectile denial won't be enough.
  • Double teleports could work but is ranged so there's a chance they could snipe you and interrupt the cast.
  • Stealth Stealth might work on Grappling Line but not Booby Trap, and even with Grappling Line you should be behind the target to avoid them getting lucky with a random Grappling they throw forward.


Downed tips for Engineer Engineer players:

  • Spamming the auto works well enough when it comes to denying cleave attempts as the autos could inflict Weakness Weakness.
  • Having 2 CCs is quite strong in most cases.
  • If they're trying to leave you behind to bleed you could try pulling them back with and then hit them with a right as they're about to get up. From then on keep spamming autos hoping for Chill Chill applications to make them travel slower.


Finishing others as an Engineer Engineer:

  • Many Engi builds have access to Stealth Stealth, those with have both stealth and an invulnerability. Elixir S must be used AFTER beginning the stomp.
  • Mechanist Mechanist players could use the Mech to bodyblock Revenants, Warriors and other Engineers.
  • Scrapper Scrapper players might have against projectiles and CC and they always have for remote stomping/rezing.
  • is available to all Engineers.
  • Flamethrower builds could use for instant AoE Blind Blind.


Guardian

Stomping an enemy Guardian Guardian:

  • Downed AoE CC skill is available to them right away. Animation: they raise their right hand towards the sky.
  • Stability Stability and invulnerabilities are a safe bet.
  • Blind Blind and double teleports work with proper timing.
  • Their downed skill #3 is an AoE rez with multiple pulses. Not a major threat on its own but could make it easier for their allies to pick them up, and stomping them while they have high enough downed HP could give them enough time to self-rez.


Downed tips for Guardian Guardian players:

  • Against Blind Blind stomps you could use 's pulses to eat the blind and time to go off right after the symbol deals damage, securing the AoE interrupt. This tactic is quite useful when sitting in a for example.
  • Stealth Stealth stomps are easy enough to disrupt with your AoE CC.
  • Being an AoE CC you could interrupt teleport stomps with if your timing is good enough. For this you might need to start casting the skill a split second before they port back to you. If you're able to see the stomp in the distance or count the seconds then you might be able to anticipate it.
  • If there's any chance of allies reviving you always use the moment it becomes available.


Stomping others as a Guardian Guardian:

  • Every Guardian should have some access to Aegis Aegis and sometimes even other instant blocking skills like .
  • Most Guardians have Stability Stability from Virtue #3 or some other source.
  • Core Guardians with the Radiance Radiance specialization have an instant AoE blind on the active of .
  • Builds with could port after Thieves and Mesmers.


Mesmer

Stomping an enemy Mesmer Mesmer:

  • Mesmers have a teleport skill that gives them Stealth Stealth and summons a clone.
  • The clone appears before they leave stealth, so always stomp the Mesmer that appears second - they're the real one.
  • This one's a bit tricky but if you have an instant teleport skill that's either ground targeted or takes you right to the target like then with proper timing you could stomp them. Applying Revealed Revealed could also help because it denies their stealth access even if they teleport away.
  • To efficiently stomp a Mesmer you must begin stomping, interrupt your own cast about halfway through by sidestepping then start stomping again. With a little luck they fell for your first attempt and used their right as you begin the second stomp. Deception's stealth duration is 2 seconds, stomping takes more than 3 seconds, you'll have about 1 second to locate the downed Mesmer coming out of stealth and teleport close enough that your stomp connects. You mustn't move during the second stomp!
  • Honestly just cleave them, stomping almost certainly isn't worth it but hey, if you like a challenge you could try.
  • Be careful with their downed skill #3, hits like a truck. If you're below ~7k HP you should definitely dodge this Phantasm just to be safe.


Downed tips for Mesmer Mesmer players:

  • Try to teleport out of the range of the stomp because the stealth on is shorter than the stomp animation, if you reappear in range then you'll get stomped all the same even if you ported.
  • is ground targeted, you could get closer to allies, escape to the highground or just get out of harm's way in general.
  • does a ton of damage, it could even force enemies into downed state. Blind Blind however prevent the Phantasm from being summoned, so if you're blinded then do an autoattack first to get rid of it. While the condition UI is hidden you can spot the blind from the visuals at the edges of your screen and the smoke around the eyes of your character.
  • If you're not far from the capture point and they want to bleed you out as they cap use to teleport back onto the node. This will force them to finish you off, speeding up your respawn.


Stomping others as a Mesmer Mesmer:

  • Every Mesmer has , even just a second of it is enough to avoid CC.
  • Many Mesmer builds have access to Stealth Stealth.
  • shuts down Warrior and Engineer CC skills.
  • Mesmers with could use any shatter skill for some Stability Stability.
  • Melee clones could be used to bodyblock.
  • Mirage Mirage players can dodge CC while stomping.


Necromancer

Stomping an enemy Necromancer Necromancer:

  • Their downed CC isn't very dangerous, long cast time and obvious animation (black symbol above their head, raised right arm).
  • Easy to stomp with Stability Stability, Blind Blind, Stealth Stealth and invulnerabilities.
  • Blind Blind and double teleports work with proper timing.
  • The real danger here isn't even their CC but the damage. Skill #1 makes them quite durable as they steal health while channeling. The damage is quite good too, so stomping them on low HP may not be the best idea, even if you have Stability Stability or a single Blind Blind for their CC. It gets even more rough once they can use their #3 which is . This is a pulsing AoE that scales well with both Power and Condition damage and they get to keep channeling Life Leech on top of it. The Poison Poison even impacts your incoming healing.
  • TL;DR don't stomp a Necro on low HP unless you can avoid most of their damage, and even cleaving could be problematic. Sometimes after a 1v1 it's smarter to block line of sight so they can neither damage nor heal with until you manage to recover some health.


Downed tips for Necromancer Necromancer players:

  • With skill retargeting enabled and a little luck you could interrupt stealth stomps. Start casting without a target and hope that you're about the click on the reappearing enemy at the last moment.
  • In terms of damage Necromancers have some of the most threatening downed abilities.
  • and are amazing when it comes to downed 1v1s too. You should be able to beat anyone except maybe a downed Ranger or a Warrior who uses .
    • Against Mesmers and Thieves you might want to wait with Fetid Ground until after they teleport to a new location.
  • While makes you more durable, sometimes it's best to stop using it. As this skill heals you it effectively delays your respawn, so if a fight is lost and you can't contribute to a kill then there's no point in healing yourself.


Stomping others as a Necromancer Necromancer:

  • Reapers have Stability Stability on shroud #3.
  • The combination of and allows for teleport stomping. Make sure that you have an active Flesh Wurm somewhere far away before you start.
  • Start the stomp cast teleport back with near the very end of the stomp animation.
  • Builds with could stomp projectile users freely.
  • could be used to Blind Blind downed enemies.


Ranger

Stomping an enemy Ranger Ranger:

  • Rangers have arguably the strongest downed toolkit in the game: an AoE CC, an insanely good self-rez and even full control over their pets.
  • It's best to stomp them as soon as possible and don't even try to bleed them.
  • Stability Stability and invulnerabilities are the best bets here.
  • Blind Blind could work with proper timing but you might need more than 1, as they might use their pets for extra CC.
  • Stealth Stealth sometimes works but certain pets like Wolf Wolf with their AoE Fear Fear could interrupt you even then.
  • Double teleport can work if you can outrange and time it well.


Downed tips for Ranger Ranger players:

  • On most builds your biggest asset isn't even your downed bar but your pet. Despite the pet UI being hidden while downed you have full control over your pet, from skills to pet swapping.
  • Your goal is to survive until becomes available, which could easily rez you without any help from teammates. For this you need to pace out your pet CC skills and , interrupting stomps right at the end or disrupting hard hitting abilities when you're getting cleaved.
  • It's worth pet swapping right before using unless your pet was dead. The only way to cancel this skill is to kill your pet so you want your pet to be at max health. Starting the skill revives your pet if he was dead, but doesn't heal ones that were simply already low HP.
  • With Smokescale Smokescale you might even be able to Stealth Stealth yourself if you have the trait . All you need to do is make the Smokescale drop a then swap to your other pet which should trigger a blast finisher proc.


Stomping others as a Ranger Ranger:

  • With Smokescale Smokescale and Leap/Blast finishers you could combo Stealth Stealth to cover the stomp.
  • Some builds might have access to Stability Stability, for instance Wilderness Survival builds with .
  • You could use your pet to bodyblock Engineer, Revenant and Warrior CC skills.


Revenant

Stomping an enemy Revenant Revenant:

  • Their autoattack is mildly annoying when you're cleaving because of the Slow Slow but it doesn't affect stomping. Anti-projectile skills can negate the autos.
  • They only have a single target CC. Animation: they slowly raise their right hand to make a pushing gesture.
  • Stability Stability, Blind Blind, Stealth Stealth, bodyblocking, invulnerabilities and double port all work against them.


Downed tips for Revenant Revenant players:

  • Autoattack spam can delay cleave attempts.
  • Skill #3 is an AoE damage ring that closes in on you. If you're Blind Blinded you could time to go off a split second after Vengeful Blast so that VB eats the blind and your CC connects to the target.
  • is a decent CC, you might want to look around for an ideal target even if you can't stop the stomp. Pushing enemies off the highground or just away in general could help your teammates survive a bit longer.


Stomping others as a Revenant Revenant:

  • Herald Herald players with Glint could prevent Mesmers and Thieves from entering stealth with . While Revenants can't port after them, with this they can help allies stomp or cleave. The skill also applies Blind Blind to negate downed CC.
  • has plenty of Stability Stability.


Thief

Stomping an enemy Thief Thief:

  • Their autoattacks aren't too dangerous most of the time, but Deadly Arts Deadly Arts could buff it especially for condition thieves. Anti-projectile skills could shut down the damage.
  • Thieves get to use to teleport away and move out of stomping range.
  • Instant teleport skills and good timing is the only thing that works here. You must use something like to teleport after them while channeling the stomp, and you must port AFTER they use Shadow Escape which is instant cast. Sometimes your window here is less then 0.1 second. This is kind of easy with teleport skills that target enemies, but with ground targeted ones like there's some luck involved too.
  • If they survive long enough to use skill #3 they get to Stealth Stealth themselves, interrupting the stomp that way.
  • They're rather squishy so usually you're better off going for the cleave instead of trying to get the stomp.


Downed tips for Thief Thief players:

  • Wait until the very end of the stomp to use your teleport and aim for max range. Try not to give them any chance to port after you. Same goes for , use the stealth at the very last moment of the stomp.
  • Using first and the teleport second is great for shaking off attackers - your allies could get to you while your enemies look for you.
  • Try to find a spot with that's on a different terrain level, forcing enemies to go around or blow CDs. Alternatively teleport to the capture point to deny bleed attempts.


Stomping others as a Thief Thief:

  • Builds with Off-hand Pistol are notoriously good at securing stomps by dropping on downed enemies. This can help allies too and not just the caster. To make things even safer consider adding a Leap or Blast finisher to the mix for Stealth Stealth stacking.
  • Most builds could find a way to utilize stealth or blind.
  • works very much like but is even better, as SS destroys projectiles.
  • You get to port after Mesmers and other Thieves with .
  • is very convenient for teleport stomping. Start the stomp away near the end of the cast. This significantly reduces the chance of getting interrupted or cleaved down during the process.
  • Daredevil Daredevil players could finish off enemies with the chain, but this elite is rarely used.


Warrior

Stomping an enemy Warrior Warrior:

  • Skills 1-2 are probably the worst across all professions.
  • Their damage is low and everything works against them: Stability Stability, Blind Blind, Stealth Stealth, bodyblocking, invulnerabilities, projectile hate and even double port.


Downed tips for Warrior Warrior players:

  • Your only downed CC is , a slow moving projectile with a long cast time and terrible travel arc. You're kind of screwed unless they walk up to you and take zero precautions. This skill only ever hits in point-blank range and is easily shut down.
  • is very situational, it's not something you should always use. Fail to get a kill and you've just delayed your respawn by 15 seconds. It prevents capture point contribution too so in Conquest enemies could leave you behind and there's no way for you to contribute anything for those 15 seconds. Vengeance can be good however, for instance in downed 1v1s where you can get up and finish off the other person, or in teamfights where there's are downed enemies and your death would rally them. In that case get up, deal with them and hope for a rally.


Stomping others as a Warrior Warrior:

  • Plenty of Warrior builds have access to Stability Stability, you could even consider sacrificing a just to secure a kill this way.
  • is one of the most powerful downed control tools in the game, capable of finishing multiple enemies and reviving several allies with one cast. Note: this skill delivers a "strike", if you are Blinded Blinded or the target receives Aegis Aegis then the stomp won't work.
  • This is very niche and requires perfect timing but the utility skill could help allies finish off enemies. This CC works on downed targets and is able to interrupt their skill by sending them flying. Eventually they are going to leave the range of an allied stomp attempt, but if you time it just right near the end of the channeling then they'll be finished before they'd get launched too far. If you see a downed enemy attempting to use a CC on an ally who's near the end of their finishing move then you could try launching them towards your ally and hope they get the stomp in time.


Self-rez

On some professions it's possible to revive yourself entirely on your own without the help of allies, and we're not talking about here.

Elementalists who use on Fire will be revived if they go down within 15 seconds.

Engineers could throw at their own location just before they go down in an attempt to rez themselves.

Rangers with the Druid elite specialization can do the same with when used in .

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