Overcast

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“

Some skills cause Overcast, which temporarily lowers your maximum amount of available Energy. Each time you cast a spell that causes Overcast, you will see a gray bar appear at the end of your Energy bar. This bar shows how much your maximum Energy has decreased. Continual use of spells that cause Overcast can result in losing most, if not all, of your potential Energy pool. After a short time, you will see your Energy bar begin to recover a point of Energy at a time until it returns back to normal. There are also skills which gain bonus effects when you are Overcast. Careful management of your level of Overcast with these skills can improve your effectiveness. Be warned: some foes have skills that make all of your spells cause Overcast for a short period of time.

— Tablet of Wisdom

“

Later you will learn more powerful spells that cause Overcast. Overcast temporarily lowers your maximum amount of available Energy. Each time you cast a spell that causes Overcast, you will see a gray bar appear at the end of your Energy Bar. This bar shows how much your maximum Energy has decreased. Continual use of spells that cause Overcast can result in losing most, if not all, of your potential Energy pool. After a short time, you will see your Energy Bar begin to recover one point of Energy at a time until it returns back to normal. There are also some spells which gain bonus effects if you cast them when you are Overcast. Look out for these skills in your travels as they can be quite powerful when paired with a corresponding spell which causes Overcast.

— Nalah, Expert Elementalist

Visual effect of overcast on the energy bar: the grey area cannot be used due to overcast

Overcast is a resource cost required by some elementalist skills and by some effects (usually triggered by skill usage). It is the energy equivalent of a Deep Wound, reducing your maximum energy by a fixed amount (3, 5 or 10), and is cumulative with prior overcast. Overcast is displayed as grey on your energy bar, and dissipates over time at the rate of 1 maximum energy regained every 3 seconds.

Repeated use of skills that cause overcast can reduce your maximum energy below zero.

Prior to the September 13, 2012 update, overcast was called "exhaustion". Although most occurrences of the word have since been replaced, the word is still used in the name of one skill and two effects that cause overcast: Exhausting Assault, Aspect of Exhaustion and Sheer Exhaustion. Skill icons can also reflect this, with characters lying on the ground for skills such as Arcane Languor and Equinox.

Game mechanics

• Overcast has no effect on your available energy unless your post-overcast maximum energy is less than your current energy.
  • For example, if your base energy is 30, Shocking an opponent drops your available energy to 20, while using some other 5 energy skill would reduce it to 25.
  • In contrast, after a weapon swap, your available energy can change.
• Overcast can only be reduced by waiting it out; it persists even after death. It can be removed entirely by zoning.
  • Whether dead or alive, your maximum energy restores at the same rate of 1 energy per 3 seconds, which means it takes 30 seconds to completely eliminate the impact of 10 points of overcast.
  • Unlike Deep Wound, Overcast is not a condition; it does not trigger skills depending on conditions and cannot be removed by generic condition removal skills.

Bug. While viewing a skill that costs overcast from a Priest of Balthazar or skill trainer, the popup that appears when you position your cursor over the overcast icon will display "...".

Skills with an overcast cost

Devourer Siege and certain elementalist skills overcast the user. The effect is triggered at the start of activation, so the user is overcast even if the skill is canceled or interrupted.

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Breath of Fire	Spell. Deals 10...34...40 fire damage each second (5 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location.	10	055	02.002	01010		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Factions
	Chain Lightning	Spell. Deals 10...70...85 lightning damage. Also hits two foes near your target. 25% armor penetration.	5	1010	02.002	0066		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Prophecies
	Devourer Siege	Skill. Two projectiles: deal 150 fire damage; causes knock-down. Hits foes near target. Cannot target foes near you.	10	055	00.750.75¾	01010		a	Z	Eye of the North
	Dragon's Stomp	Spell. Deals 26...85...100 earth damage. Causes knock-down. Also hits foes near this foe.	10	2525	03.003	01515		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Factions
	Earthquake	Spell. Deals 26...85...100 earth damage. Also hits foes near target. Causes knock-down.	10	2525	03.003	01515		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Prophecies
	Ether Prodigy	Elite Enchantment Spell. (8...18...20 seconds.) You have +6 Energy regeneration. End effect: lose 2 Health for each point of Energy you have. Lose all enchantments.	10	055	01.001	0055		elementalista	Energy StorageZ	Prophecies
	Gale	Spell. Causes knock-down. 50% failure chance unless Air Magic 5 or more.	10	1010	01.001	0055		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Core
	Icy Prism	Spell. Deals 15...63...75 cold damage. Deals +[sic]15...63...75 cold damage to other nearby foes if target has a Water Magic hex.	5	1010	01.001	0055		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Factions
	Incendiary Bonds	Hex Spell. (3 seconds.) End effect: deals 20...68...80 fire damage and inflicts Burning condition (1...3...3 second[s]) to foes near your target. Also triggers if foe dies.	5	1010	01.001	0077		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Prophecies
	Invoke Lightning	Elite Spell. Deals 10...74...90 lightning damage. Hits two foes near target. 25% armor penetration.	5	1010	01.001	0066		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Nightfall
	Maelstrom	Spell. Deals 10...22...25 cold damage and interrupts spells each second (10 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location.	10	2525	02.002	03030		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Meteor	Spell. Deals 7...91...112 fire damage and causes knock-down. Also hits foes adjacent to target foe.	10	055	02.002	03030		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Core
	Meteor Shower	Spell. Deals 7...91...112 fire damage and causes knock-down every 3 seconds (9 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location.	10	2525	055	06060		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Prophecies
	Mind Burn	Elite Spell. Deals 15...51...60 fire damage. If you have more energy than target foe, deals 15...51...60 more fire damage and inflicts Burning (1...8...10 second[s]). Also hits adjacent foes.	5	055	01.001	0055		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Core
	Mind Freeze	Elite Hex Spell. Deals 10...50...60 cold damage. If you have more Energy than target foe, deals +10...50...60 cold damage and causes 90% slower movement (1...4...5 second[s]).	5	055	01.001	0055		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Mind Freeze (PvP)	Elite Hex Spell. Deals 10...34...40 cold damage. If you have more Energy than target foe, deals +10...34...40 cold damage and causes 90% slower movement (1...4...5 second[s]).	5	1010	01.001	0055		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Mind Shock	Elite Spell. Deals 10...42...50 lightning damage. If you have more Energy than target foe, deals +10...42...50 lightning damage and causes knockdown. 25% armor penetration.	5	055	01.001	0088		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Prophecies
	Mind Shock (PvP)	Elite Spell. Deals 10...42...50 lightning damage. If you have more Energy than target foe, deals +10...42...50 lightning damage and causes knockdown. 25% armor penetration.	10	055	01.001	0088		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Prophecies
	Obsidian Flame	Spell. Deals 22...94...112 damage.	5	055	01.5001.51½	0055		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Core
	Obsidian Flame (PvP)	Spell. Deals 22...78...92 damage.	5	055	01.5001.51½	0055		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Core
	Ride the Lightning	Elite Spell. Deals 10...58...70 lightning damage. 25% armor penetration. Blinds all adjacent foes (1...4...5 second[s]). You instantly move to your target. May target allies.	5	1010	01.001	0055		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Factions
	Ride the Lightning (PvP)	Elite Spell. Deals 10...58...70 lightning damage. 25% armor penetration. Blinds all adjacent foes (1...4...5 second[s]). You instantly move to your target. May target allies.	5	1515	01.001	01010		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Factions
	Second Wind	Elite Spell. You gain 1 Energy and 5 Health for each point of Overcast. You lose all enchantments.	5	055	01.001	0055		elementalista	Z	Factions
	Shock	Touch Skill. Deals 10...50...60 lightning damage. Causes knock-down. 25% armor penetration.	10	055	00.750.75¾	01010		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Prophecies
	Vapor Blade	Spell. Deals 15...111...135 cold damage. Half damage if target foe is enchanted.	5	1010	01.5001.51½	0077		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Factions

Related skills

Skills that cause or extend overcast on allies or foes

The following skills can indirectly cause overcast on allies or foes:

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Arcane Languor	Elite Hex Spell. (1...8...10 second[s].) Target foe's spells cause 10 Overcast.	0	1010	02.002	01515		mesmera	Fast CastingZ	Factions
	Crystal Haze	Hex Spell. (monster only) (30 seconds.) Also affects foes near target. Causes -1 Energy degeneration. Causes 10 Overcast whenever foes use an Energy skill.	0	055	01.001	0		monstera	Z	Prophecies
	Equinox	Elite Nature Ritual. Creates a level 1...8...10 spirit (30...126...150 second lifespan). Overcast-causing spells cast within range cause an additional 10 Overcast.	0	1010	03.003	01515		rangera	Wilderness SurvivalZ	Factions
	Exhausting Assault	Dual Attack. Interrupts an action. Inflicts 10 Overcast if the interrupted action was a spell. Must follow a lead attack.	0	055	00.500.5½	0088		assassina	Dagger MasteryZ	Factions
	Iron Mist	Enchantment Spell. (8...14...15 seconds.) Gain +15 armor. Air Magic spells that target a foe activate and recharge 25% faster, but you are Overcast by 3 points.	0	1010	01.001	02020		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Prophecies
	Over the Limit	Elite Enchantment Spell. Spells cast 15...19...20% faster and recharge 15...43...50% faster. Continuously gain Overcast while active. PvE Skill	-1	055	01.001	02020		elementalista	Energy StorageZ	Core

The following environment effects can directly or indirectly cause overcast:

• Aspect of Exhaustion inflicts 10 overcast every 30 seconds.
• Sheer Exhaustion causes all spells to inflict 10 overcast.

Overcast prevention

There is one skill that prevents Overcast entirely.

Icon	Name	Description						Attribute	Campaign
	Glyph of Energy	Elite Glyph. Your next 1...3...3 spell[s] do[es] not cause Overcast and cost[s] 10...22...25 less Energy. Gain 1...2...2 to all elemental attributes.	0	055	01.001	02525		Energy StorageZ	Prophecies

Skills that benefit from overcast

The following skills receive specific benefits when overcast is present:

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Arc Lightning	Spell. Deals 5...33...40 lightning damage. Deals 15...71...85 lightning damage to two nearby foes if you are Overcast. 25% armor penetration.	0	055	01.5001.51½	0088		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Factions
	Flare	Spell. Projectile: deals 20...56...65 fire damage. If Overcast, strikes adjacent.	0	055	01.001	0		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Core
	Ice Spear	Enchantment Spell. Projectile: deals 10...50...60 cold damage. Gain +1...3...4 Health regeneration for 5 seconds if Overcast.	0	055	01.001	0		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Lava Font	Spell. Deals 5...41...50 fire damage each second (5 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to your initial location. If Overcast, range increased to nearby.	0	1010	01.5001.51½	0044		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Prophecies
	Lightning Strike	Hex Spell. Deals 5...41...50 lightning damage. 25% armor penetration. Hex for 3 seconds if Overcast. End effect: deals 5...41...50 lightning damage.	0	055	01.001	0055		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Core
	Magnetic Aura	Enchantment Spell. (1...4...5 second[s].) Block the next attack against you and reflect 10...42...50 damage to the attacker. If you are Overcast, enchant party members in earshot.	0	1010	01.001	01212		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Prophecies
	Magnetic Surge	Enchantment Spell. Deals 15...63...75 damage. If you are Overcast, allies in earshot are enchanted for 1...4...5 [sic] and block the next attack against them.	0	1010	01.5001.51½	01515		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Eye of the North
	Phoenix	Spell. Projectile: deals 10...50...60 fire damage to target and nearby foes. Heals allies for 20...68...80 if you are Overcast.	0	1010	01.5001.51½	0077		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Prophecies
	Rust	Hex Spell. Deals 10...58...70 cold damage to target and adjacent foes. Hexes target and adjacent foes (5...17...20 seconds). Doubles signet activation time. Interrupts and disables signets for 1...8...10 second[s] if you are Overcast.	0	1010	01.001	0088		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Second Wind	Elite Spell. You gain 1 Energy and 5 Health for each point of Overcast. You lose all enchantments.	5	055	01.001	0055		elementalista	Z	Factions
	Shell Shock	Spell. Deals 10...26...30 lightning damage. Inflicts Cracked Armor condition (5...17...20 seconds). 25% armor penetration. If Overcast, strikes adjacent.	0	055	01.001	0088		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Eye of the North
	Smoldering Embers	Hex Spell. Deals 10...58...70 fire damage to target. If you are Overcast, foe is hexed for 3 seconds, taking 5...21...25 fire damage each second.	0	1010	01.5001.51½	0077		elementalista	Fire MagicZ	Factions
	Stone Daggers	Spell. Two projectiles: each deals 8...28...33 earth damage. If Overcast, cause Bleeding for 1...4...5 second[s].	0	055	01.001	0		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Core
	Swirling Aura	Enchantment Spell. (5 seconds.) Gives 1...5...6 Health regeneration and a 50% chance to block projectiles. If Overcast, also enchants party members in earshot.	0	1010	01.001	01515		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Prophecies
	Whirlwind	Spell. Hits foes adjacent to you. Deals 15...63...75 cold damage. Causes knock-down to attacking foes. Strikes nearby instead of adjacent if Overcast.	0	055	00.750.75¾	0088		elementalista	Air MagicZ	Prophecies

Trivia

• Prior to the January 5, 2012 update, overcast always affected 10 points of energy and this cost was included as part of the verbose and concise descriptions.
• Prior to the September 13, 2012 update, overcast was called "exhaustion" and had no positive skill effects associated with it.
• Several non-elementalist skills caused overcast in a previous version, for example Xinrae's Weapon.

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