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"Swiftness" redirects here. For the title, see Swiftness of the Aviansie.
Death's Swiftness
Death's Swiftness
Release date 4 March 2013 (Update)
Members Yes
Skill Ranged
Level 85
Type Ultimate
Adrenaline −100%
Equipment Any
Cooldown 60 seconds
Description
Create a shroud of death at your location for 30 seconds. While you remain within the shroud, your ranged damage will be increased by 50%. If your target stands within the shroud, they will be hit for 10% to 20% of weapon damage every 2 seconds.
Death's Swiftness
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Death's Swiftness is a ranged ultimate ability that is received as a reward for completing the quest The World Wakes.

The player creates a black dome covering a 7x7 area, which increases the user's ranged damage by 50% as long as they remain inside as well as dealing 10-20% weapon damage every 2 seconds to any enemy who enters the shroud.

Damage of range ability bleeds like Fragmentation Shot, Corruption Shot, Puncture, or Deadshot are not increased. In addition to bleeds not being boosted, Incendiary Shot and Onslaught are also unaffected.

If a player uses the ring of vigour when using Death's Swiftness and drinks an adrenaline potion afterwards, Snap Shot should be used before Rapid Fire because Snap Shot will be off cooldown a few seconds before Death's Swiftness ends.

If fighting against monsters, use Natural Instinct and quickly build back to full adrenaline and use Death's Swiftness. The effect of Natural Instinct will still be lingering, allowing the player to build up to half adrenaline quickly and use powerful thresholds abilities like Rapid Fire, Snap-Shot, or Shadow Tendrils with a 50% damage boost.

With the Planted Feet perk, Death's Swiftness will last for 37.8 seconds but the damage over time caused by the shroud is removed.

Comparison with other ultimate abilities[]

Death's Swiftness is Ranged's equivalent to Magic's Sunshine, and similar to Melee's Berserk and Magic's Metamorphosis. In the below comparison Sunshine is excluded, as it is identical to Death's Swiftness.

Ability Pros Cons
Berserk
  • Increases damage by 100%, rather than 50%
  • Allows free mobility
  • Increases damage taken by 50%
  • Lasts for 20 seconds as opposed to 30
  • Has no area-of-effect damage
Metamorphosis
  • Allows free mobility
  • Magic bleed abilities are affected, dealing 62.5% or 31.25% more damage
  • Lasts for 15 seconds as opposed to 30
  • Has no area-of-effect damage

Trivia[]

  • When originally released, the effect of Death's Swiftness lasted for only 10 seconds. This was extended to 30 seconds on 22 October 2013.
  • For a while after release, only one player could use this ability (or Sunshine) at a time. This was fixed to allow players to use it more often against bosses like Vorago. However, the first Death's Swiftness (or Sunshine) used against a boss will deal damage; others will not until the first Death's Swiftness/Sunshine expires.
  • Although the shroud appears to encompass a 5x5 area, it actually extends much farther.
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