Whirlwind

Whirlwind turns the Greatsword through a full circle, dealing slash damage to every enemy in a wide ring around you. It is the answer the Vanguard has to Ground Slam, trading a slightly tighter ring and a longer cooldown for more damage and for slash scaling of its own.

Effect

Like every area ability, Whirlwind is centered on the caster, so it rewards wading in rather than reaching out. It is at its best against a group of goblins, which one turn of the blade can clear.

Strategy

• Let a pack surround you before casting; a Whirlwind that catches a single enemy is wasted mana.
• Bladesong and Battle Trance both shorten the animation you are locked into while it spins.
• Slash is the damage type for the Vanguard, so the class's gear bonuses feed this ability directly.
• Without a shield the Vanguard takes real damage while standing in a group, so open with Battle Trance and end the fight quickly.