Snare (tactic)

A crippled Warrior limps at 50% speed
(click for animation)

A snare is a skill or tactic that slows or restricts enemy movement. Snares are useful as a melee counter, for countering kiting, or for preventing a player from attaining an objective in a particular PvP mode. For example, one might snare the flag runner in a GvG match, a monk rushing to heal a Guild Lord, or the relic runner in a Heroes' Ascent relic run.

A snare can be thought of as the opposite of a speed boost. Snares can be stacked, but movement rate is capped at -50% slower than normal; however, a single skill that causes more than -50% slower movement can override the -50% cap, such as Winter's Embrace.

General overview of snares

• Body blocking. A team can heavily restrict or sometimes entirely stop an enemy movement by using their own characters' bodies as a living wall. Spirits, pets, minions, and other NPCs, such as Footmen, can help body block an enemy character.

• The crippled condition. Conditions are easily and cheaply removed, but they are also relatively easy and cheap to inflict. It is possible to stack conditions on top of the cripple to make it somewhat more difficult to remove; for example many Cripshot Rangers stack poison from Apply Poison on top of the cripple caused by Crippling Shot.

• Hexes that slow. The water attribute of the elementalist, the illusion attribute of the mesmer, and the deadly arts attribute of the assassin contain many useful movement speed reducing hexes. Hexes are somewhat more difficult to remove than conditions, easier to cover to prevent removal, and tend to have more dramatic effects than the cripple condition.

• Knock downs. Knock downs utterly stop an enemy target's movement and most actions for a short period of time. Knock downs last two seconds (unless otherwise noted), but the effect can be augmented by the Earthbind spirit, the Stonefist Insignia, rapid casting of knock downs with short recharges (such as Gale), or coordinated chaining of knock downs from multiple teammates.

• Stance counters and enchantment removal can end speed boosting stances and enchantments respectively.

• Incentives. A few unusual spells create incentives for a target to choose to restrict his own movement, for example the Assassin's Enduring Toxin and the Necromancer's Weaken Knees hexes. In addition, there are battlefield conditions created by various skills (such as wells, wards, nukes, traps and spirits) that can convince an enemy to avoid moving into a particular area.

Snare counters

• Because many hexes can snare, Holy Veil cast before the hexes hit in important situations allows instant removal of a snare hex.

• Condition removal is good against melee heavy teams for quickly removing cripple. Mending Touch is often used.

• Stances can be used for several different reasons such as providing speed boosts, blocking attacks in order to avoid cripple, and preventing knock downs.

• Speed boosts themselves are a counter to at least some of the effects of snares. The balance between speed loss and gain will reduce the snare's effect; however, be careful of using enchantment based speed boosts when facing snares such as Icy Shackles.

Application by game type

Guild versus Guild

• Snaring an enemy's Flag Runner can help your team to receive a Morale boost.
• Snaring a retreating enemy can quickly lead to the death of that particular opponent or slow their retreat as healers are required to stay longer to keep that foe alive.
• Mass snares such as the Ward Against Foes can be used to limit tactical movements of an entire enemy team.
• Snaring melee damage dealers on a retreat reduces the number of deaths your team will take when it is most vulnerable.
• Snaring foes on splits can slow down offensive splits and facilitate countersplitting.
• Snaring a target during a spike can ensure that melee attacks reach the target and that the target cannot dodge ranged spike damage.

Heroes' Ascent

• Snaring the Relic Runner can buy your team time to stop their Relic Runner, and also give you more time to run a Relic.
• Snaring can severely limit mobility on the capture points map and give your team the time or leverage to gain more shrines and therefore earn your team more points.
• Snaring can easily create opportunities to timekill key foes, like Ghostly Heroes or healers, on King of the Hill maps.
• Snaring enemy players in choke points combined with large amount of AoE damage, usually from the Fire Magic line.

Player versus Environment Adventuring

• In challenging elite areas, snares can be used as an important form of damage mitigation.
• Some missions/quests are much easier to complete with snares, such as snaring the Corsair Runners in the Moddok Crevice mission.

Skills that reduce movement speed

See also: Crippled#Skills that cause crippling

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Muddy Terrain	Nature Ritual. Creates a level 1...8...10 spirit (30...78...90 second lifespan). Creatures in range have 10% slower movement: also negates speed boosts. Does not affect spirits.	0	055	055	03030		rangera	Wilderness SurvivalZ	Prophecies

On self

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Armor of Earth	Enchantment Spell. (30 seconds.) You have +24...53...60 armor. You move 50...21...14% slower.	0	1010	00.750.75¾	01515		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Core
	Dolyak Signet	Signet. (8...18...20 seconds.) You have +10...34...40 armor and cannot be knocked-down. You move 75% slower.	0	0	0	02020		warriora	StrengthZ	Prophecies
	Flail	Stance. (1...12...15 second[s].) You attack 33% faster. You move 33% slower.	4	0	0	0		warriora	StrengthZ	Nightfall

On foes

Icon	Name	Description						Prof.	Attribute	Campaign
	Binding Chains	Hex Spell. Also hexes foes near your target. (3 seconds.) These foes move 90% slower and takes 1...24...30 damage each second while moving.	0	1010	01.001	01515		ritualista	CommuningZ	Factions
	Crippling Anguish	Elite Hex Spell. (5...17...20 seconds.) Target foe moves and attacks 50% slower and has -1...7...8 Health degeneration.	0	055	01.001	01212		mesmera	Illusion MagicZ	Core
	Crippling Anguish (PvP)	Elite Hex Spell. (5...17...20 seconds.) Target foe moves 50% slower and has -1...4...5 Health degeneration.	0	1515	01.001	02020		mesmera	Illusion MagicZ	Core
	Dark Prison	Hex Spell. Shadow Step to target foe. This foe moves 33% slower (1...5...6 seconds).	0	1010	00.250.25¼	03030		assassina	Deadly ArtsZ	Factions
	Deep Freeze	Hex Spell. Also hexes foes in the area of your target (10 seconds). These foes move 66% slower. Initial effect: deals 10...70...85 cold damage.	0	2525	02.002	01515		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Earthen Shackles	Hex Spell. (3 seconds.) Target and nearby foes move 90% slower. Applies Weakness for 5...17...20 seconds when it ends.	0	1010	01.001	01515		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Eye of the North
	Ethereal Burden	Hex Spell. (10 seconds.) Target foe moves 50% slower. End effect: you gain 10...16...18 Energy.	0	1515	01.5001.51½	03030		mesmera	Illusion MagicZ	Prophecies
	Freezing Gust	Hex Spell. Deals 20...68...80 cold damage if target foe is hexed with Water Magic. Otherwise, this foe moves 66% slower (1...4...5 second[s]).	0	1010	01.001	0088		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Nightfall
	Frozen Burst	Hex Spell. Hexes foes near you. These foes move 66% slower (3...7...8 seconds). Initial effect: deals 10...70...85 cold damage to foes near you.	0	1515	00.750.75¾	0088		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Prophecies
	Grasping Earth	Hex Spell. Hexes foes near you for (5...17...20 seconds). These foes move 50% slower.	0	1010	00.750.75¾	01212		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Prophecies
	Hidden Caltrops	Elite Hex Spell. (1...8...10 seconds.) Causes 50% slower movement. End effect: inflicts Crippled condition (1...12...15 seconds). Your non-Assassin skills are disabled (10 seconds.)	0	055	01.001	01212		assassina	Shadow ArtsZ	Nightfall
	Ice Prison	Hex Spell. (8...18...20 seconds.) Target foe moves 66% slower.	0	1010	02.002	03030		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Prophecies
	Ice Spikes	Hex Spell. Also hexes foes adjacent to target (2...5...6 seconds). These foes move 66% slower. Initial effect: deals 20...68...80 cold damage.	0	1515	01.5001.51½	01010		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Core
	Icicles	Hex Spell. Deals 75 cold damage to target and adjacent foes. These foes move 66% slower (5 seconds).	0	0	02.002	02525		elementalista	Z	Core
	Icy Shackles	Elite Hex Spell. (1...8...10 second[s].) Target foe moves 66% slower. This foe moves 90% slower if enchanted.	0	1010	01.001	01212		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Nightfall
	Imagined Burden	Hex Spell. (8...18...20 seconds.) Target foe moves 50% slower.	0	1515	01.001	03030		mesmera	Illusion MagicZ	Core
	Kitah's Burden	Hex Spell. (10 seconds.) Target foe moves 50% slower. End effect: you gain 10...16...18 Energy.	0	1515	01.5001.51½	03030		mesmera	Illusion MagicZ	Factions
	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
	Mirror of Ice	Elite Hex Spell. Deals 15...59...70 cold damage and slows foes by 66% (2...5...6 seconds). Hits foes near you and target ally. Recharges 50% faster if it hits a foe hexed with Water Magic.	0	1010	00.750.75¾	01515		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Factions
	Seeping Wound	Elite Half Range Hex Spell. (1...6...7 second[s].) Target foe moves 33% slower. This foe takes 5...21...25 damage each second while suffering from a condition.	0	1515	00.250.25¼	01212		assassina	Critical StrikesZ	Factions
	Shadow Prison	Elite Hex Spell. Shadow Step to target foe. This foe moves 66% slower (1...6...7 seconds).	0	1010	00.250.25¼	02525		assassina	Deadly ArtsZ	Nightfall
	Shadowy Burden	Hex Spell. (3...13...15 seconds.) Target foe moves 25% slower and has 20 less armor against your attacks. Armor reduction only affects this foe while it has no other hexes.	0	1010	00.250.25¼	01515		assassina	Shadow ArtsZ	Factions
	Shard Storm	Hex Spell. Projectile: deals 10...70...85 cold damage. Target foe moves 66% slower (2...5...6 seconds).	0	1010	01.001	01010		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Prophecies
	Shared Burden	Elite Hex Spell. Also hexes foes near your target (5...17...20 seconds). These foes attack, cast spells, and move 50% slower.	0	055	02.002	01515		mesmera	Illusion MagicZ	Factions
	Shared Burden (PvP)	Elite Hex Spell. Also hexes foes near your target (5...17...20 seconds). These foes attack, cast spells, and move 33% slower.	0	1010	02.002	02020		mesmera	Illusion MagicZ	Factions
	Siphon Speed	Half Range Hex Spell. (5...13...15 seconds.) Target foe moves 33% slower and you move 33% faster. Recharges 50% faster if cast on a moving foe.	0	055	01.001	03030		assassina	Deadly ArtsZ	Factions
	Sum of All Fears	Hex Spell. (1...8...10 second[s].) Target foe moves, attacks, and casts spells 33% slower.	0	1010	02.002	01010		mesmera	Illusion MagicZ	Eye of the North
	Teinai's Prison	Hex Spell. (1...5...6 second[s].) Target foe moves 66% slower. Foes with Cracked Armor have 5...8...9 Health degeneration.	0	1010	01.001	01515		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Factions
	Tryptophan Signet	Signet. (14...20 seconds.) Target and adjacent foes move and attack 23...40% slower.	0	0	01.001	01515		a	Ebon Vanguard rankZ	Eye of the North
	Ward Against Foes	Ward Spell. (8...18...20 seconds.) Foes in this ward move 50% slower.	0	1515	01.001	02020		elementalista	Earth MagicZ	Core
	Winter's Embrace	Hex Spell. (2...5...6 seconds.) Target foe moves 66% slower and takes 5...13...15 damage while moving.	0	1010	00.750.75¾	01515		elementalista	Water MagicZ	Eye of the North