Details on Guild Wars 2 combat and Elementalist profession

ArenaNet today released specifics on what players can expect from combat in Guild Wars 2, as well as details on the Elementalist profession.

Here are some of the features of Guild Wars 2's combat mechanics:

• Visual and dynamic combat - Maneuver around an opponent to strike for maximum damage or send them flying through the air. Create giant crushing stone hands, turn into a massive tornado, or summon a flock of vicious birds of prey to swarm your enemies.


• Cross-profession combos - Combine attacks from different professions for extra damage, like shooting arrows through a flaming wall to create a barrage of fiery projectiles, or sending pets through a cloud of poison so they spread the toxin among the enemy.


• Environmental weapons - In the hands of a skilled Elementalist, a simple boulder can be turned into a meteor storm. Or save the day by taking control of a siege weapon on the battlefield!


• A skill system that is easy to learn and rewarding to master - In Guild Wars 2, you start with a strong base set of skills, but the game allows for deep player customization. You get your base skills from the weapons you wield and then customize your skill-set with racial skills, healing skills, profession skills, and even a devastating elite skill.

In addition to combat mechanics, ArenaNet has revealed info on the first profession in Guild Wars 2, the Elementalist. Versatility seems to be the Elementalist's forte. Each element in the spellcaster's arsenal provides a separate set of options and visually-powerful attacks, like the ability to call down precision lightning strikes, trigger volcanic eruptions, or heal allies. Glyphs, Signets, Conjurations, and Attunements provide even more versatility, ranging from area-of-effect destruction to defensive snares.