Skill Mastery

Skill Mastery are special abilities available only to those who have trained above 90 in a skill. Originally introduced in Publish 66 for bard skills, they were expanded to many other skills in the Ultima Online: Time of Legends expansion. Each skill has three abilities that vary in three intensity tiers. You need to obtain a Book of Masteries and the appropriate Mastery Primer for each skill. A special title is granted to each mastery which can be selected from the skills section of the Title Menu.

Book of Masteries

Mastery spellbook.gif To obtain a Book of Masteries complete the quest given by Hawkwind the Timelord near the Valley of Eodon moongate. He tasks you with defeating a certain Peerless or Champion Spawn. Bards can also obtain a book through the older spellsong quests.

Use a Contextual Menu on the Book of Masteries to open the menu to set your skill mastery. You can only set it once every 15 minutes.

Mastery Primers

In order to set a skill as your mastery your character must first read a primer for that skill. Mastery Primers can be obtained from defeating any Champion Spawn, Scalis, or Charybdis. With the primer in your backpack, double-click to "read" and consume the book. You can do this even if you have not yet obtained a Book of Masteries.

Primers have three intensity levels: Volume 1, Volume 2, and Volume 3, with three being the highest (best). The higher the level, the stronger the effect/ability your mastery will have.

Abilities

Each mastery gives you three abilities. Usually one of which is passive and two that can be activated like any spell or Special Move. Similar skills usually share the same passive ability which is in effect as long as that mastery is selected. Activated abilities that are combat moves can not be used at the same time as a special move.

Shared Passives

Icon intuition.gif Intuition While the bushido, chivalry or ninjitsu mastery are active mana is increased based on mastery level.
Icon saving throw.gif Warrior’s Gifts While the archery, fencing, mace fighting, swordsmanship, or throwing mastery is active the combatant receives based on Mastery level.
Icon enchanted summoning.gif Enchanted Summoning While the magery, necromancy, spellweaving, or mysticism mastery is active the magic user receives a buff to stamina regeneration and summoned creature's hit point based on skill and mastery level.

Animal Taming

Title: The Beastmaster

Icon boarding.gif Boarding (Passive) While the animal taming mastery is active the animal tamer receives additional stables slots.
Icon whispering.gif Whispering 40 Mana The animal tamer attempts to guide their pet on the path of skill gain, increasing the pet’s skill gains based on the tamer’s animal taming skill, animal lore skill, and mastery level. This ability functions similarly to a scroll of alacrity. Unhides the caster

Cooldown: 30 Minutes

Icon combat training.gif Combat Training 40 Mana The animal tamer readies their pet for battle allowing the tamer to add combat abilities to their pet based on animal taming skill, animal lore skill, and mastery level (unhides the caster).

Tier 1 – Empowerment

  • When hit with physical damage the pet enters an empowerment phase where it begins to charge up its damage increase and spell damage increase for 5 seconds. . During this consume period any physical damage will be stored by the pet. After the empowerment period is over the pet enters the unleash phase for 10 seconds where it will apply the damage increase and spell damage increase bonuses based on stored damage.

Tier 1 – The One

  • Allows pets to share damage while they are close to their master. Requires multiple pets to active

Tier 2 – Berserk

  • As your pet takes damage it gains rage which increase its physical damage and reduces all incoming damage for 8 seconds. While in rage your pet can not stealth and all healing effects are reduced. After the rage period there is a 60 second cooldown before your pet will gain rage again.

Tier 3 – Consume Damage

  • When hit with physical damage the pet enters a consume phase where it begins to build up its hit chance and regeneration for 5 seconds. During this consume period any physical damage will be stored by the pet. After the consume period is over the pet enters the unleash phase for 10 seconds where it will apply the hit chance and regeneration bonuses based on stored damage.

Archery

Title: The Exact

Icon flaming shot.gif Flaming Shot 30 Mana The archer fires a volley of flaming arrows at a target or location. On successful hit fire damage based on mastery level is done to a number of targets in a radius based on the archery and tactics skill.
Icon playing the odds.gif Playing the Odds 25 Mana

(Passive)

The archer’s party members rally for them with increased swing speed and hit chance as the archer’s range is decreased, has a chance to apply a lower defense debuff to targets within 5 tiles of casting. Party member buffs are based on the archery and tactics skill of the archer along with the mastery level.

Bushido

Title: The Disciplined

Icon anticipate hit.gif Anticipate Hit (Passive) While the bushido mastery is active the samurai has a chance to reduce hit point regeneration instead of completely losing it when using confidence as well as increasing the amount of health and stamina returned when successfully parrying an attack.
Icon warcry.gif Warcry 40 Mana The samurai unleashes a warcry that will reduce incoming damage from targets within a radius based on the samurai’s bushido skill, best weapon skill, and mastery level.

Chivalry

Title: The Courageous

Icon rejuvenate.gif Rejuvenate 10 Mana

100 Tithing

The paladin restores the hit points, stamina, and mana of a target based on mastery level, and with sufficient karma can remove poison and curses. The paladin may rejuvenate a target more often based on higher mastery level, higher best weapon skill and higher chivalry skill.
Icon holy fist.gif Holy Fist 50 Mana The paladin unleashes a flying fist against a target that has a chance to slow its target that can be resisted and does energy damage based on the paladin’s chivalry skill, best weapon skill, and mastery level. A bonus to damage is provided by high karma as well against undead targets.

Discordance

Title: The Desponder

Tribulation.png Tribulation 24 Mana

11 Upkeep

This is a bard spellsong which disrupts the target's ability to concentrate (5-11 rounds up to 14 at 4x Legendary barding skills), reducing their Hit Chance and Spell Damage (by 5-22% base to 32% at 4x Legendary). The spell song also has the chance (15-60% to 84% at 4x Legendary, proportional to the Musicianship skill) of causing any damage taken by the target to cause a burst of direct damage (8-32% base to 50% at 4x Legendary, proportional to the Discordance skill) to the damage taken. The damage is further increased 1.5 times by the use of Slayer instruments. This spell song is affected by the target's Magic Resistance.
Despair.png Despair 26 Mana

13 Upkeep

This is a bard spellsong which will reduce the target's strength (4-16 to 22 at 4x Legendary) and periodically (every 2 seconds, 5-11 rounds to 14 at 4x Legendary), inflict damage on the target (9-36 damage to 48 at 4x Legendary. Against a player character with 70 damage resist = 14 damage) as long as the target remains in range, and the bard has enough Mana to sustain the effect. The damage inflicted is proportional to the bards Discordance and Musicianship skills and in PvM its 1.5 times more for NPCs and 3 times more with Slayer instruments. This spell song is affected by the target's Magic Resistance. The type of damage is selectable through the context menu on your Book of Bard Masteries (cannot be changed while ability is active).

Fencing

Title: The Needle

Icon thrust.gif Thrust

30 Mana

Toggle ability that provides increased physical attack damage and decreases targets physical attack damage based on mastery level to the fencer that consumes mana while active. This ability does not stack with the special move Feint. Damage is capped in pvp at 35.
Icon pierce.gif Pierce 20 Mana The fencer executes a piercing move on their opponent causing a stamina debuff and stamina drain on the victim based on the fencer’s fencing and tactics Skill, and mastery level

Mace Fighting

Title: The Crushing

Icon stagger.gif Stagger 20 Mana The mace fighter executes a staggering move on their opponent causing a swing speed increase debuff and massive damage to the victim based on mastery level.
Icon toughness.gif Toughness 20 Mana

20 Upkeep

A toggle ability that provides the mace fighter with increased hit points based on the mace fighter’s tactics and mace fighting skill, and mastery level that consumes mana while active.

Magery

Title: The Marvelous

Icon death ray.gif Death Ray 50 Mana

Black Pearl Blood Moss Spiders' Silk

35 Upkeep

The mage focuses a death ray on their opponent which does damage based on magery skill, evaluating intelligence skill, and mastery level as long as the mage has mana and the target is in range. Death ray applies the energy damage type to the target. SDI is not considered when using death ray. Death ray damage is dramatically increased when an applicable super slayer or lesser slayer (preferred) spellbook is equipped in hand.
Icon ethereal blast.gif Ethereal Blast 0 Mana

Blood Moss Ginseng Mandrake Root

The mage restores a large amount of mana based on mastery level and can recast the ability more often based on magery skill, evaluating intelligence skill, and mastery level.

Mysticism

Title: The Enigmatic

Icon nether blast.gif Nether Blast 40 Mana

Dragon's Blood Daemon Bone

The mystic releases a wave of nether energy that pulses on attacked targets based on mastery level and does chaos damage based on mysticism skill, and focus or imbuing skill. Can apply a mana rip debuff to targets that are hit which will cause the target to lose extra mana and restores that mana to the Nether Blast caster.
Icon mystic weapon.gif Mystic Weapon 40 Mana

Fertile Dirt Bone

The mystic converts mysticism skill into an equipped weapon’s required skill for a penalty to mysticism skill based on mastery level.
  • Level 1 reduces Mysticism by -15
  • Level 2 reduces Mysticism by -10
  • Level 3 reduces Mysticism by -5

Necromancy

Title: The Undying

Icon command undead.gif Command Undead 40 Mana

Daemon Blood Pig Iron Batwing

The necromancer has a chance to command the undead to do their bidding based on necromancy skill, spirit speak skill, mastery level, and creature barding difficulty while providing life leech to the target. Requires 2 follower slots.
Icon conduit.gif Conduit 40 Mana

Nox Crystal Batwing Grave Dust

The necromancer creates a conduit field at a targeted location that causes all targeted necromancy spells to effect all valid targets within the field at reduced spell strength based on necromancy skill, spirit speak skill, and mastery level.

Ninjitsu

Title: The Unseen

Icon shadow.gif Shadow 10 Mana

4 Upkeep

Makes the ninja more difficult to become unhidden from taking damage and being revealed based on ninjitsu skill, stealth skill, and mastery level. Upkeep costs 10 mana and duration is determined by ninjitsu and stealth skill.
Icon white tiger form.gif White Tiger Form 10 Mana the ninja transforms into a white tiger, providing the ninja with a buff to defense chance increase, a chance to evade attacks based on mastery level, and an applied bleed attack on targets based on ninjitsu skill and best weapon skill.

Parrying

Title: The Deflector

Icon shield bash.gif Shield Bash 40 Mana When activated the shield user will execute a shield bash on successfully hitting or parrying their opponent causing physical damage and paralyzing their opponent, interrupts spells if players are not immune to paralyze, based on parry skill, best weapon skill, and mastery level. Damage is capped in pvp at 35.
Icon bodyguard.gif Bodyguard 40 Mana The shield user chooses a protectee to absorb a percentage of damage done to the protectee based on parry skill, best weapon skill, and mastery level.
Icon heightened senses.gif Heightened Senses 10 Mana

10 Upkeep

Toggle ability that provides the Parrying Master with increased chance to parry based on parry skill, best weapon skill and mastery level that consumes mana while active.

Peacemaking

Title: The Galvanizer

Resilience.png Resilience 16 Mana

5 Mana Upkeep

This is a song of fortitude interwoven with magical energy. It increases the natural resilience of party members giving them bonuses to regeneration and resistance to detrimental effects: Hit Point Regeneration, Stamina Regeneration and Mana Regeneration increased by 2-16 +2 per 10 points in each of the three barding skills over GM (22 at 4x Legendary), reduced duration of Curses, Bleed and Mortal Wound 10-40% up to 60% at 4x Legendary. Increased resistance to Poison.
Perseverance.png Perseverance 18 Mana

6 Mana Upkeep

This is a song of protection interwoven with magical energy. It envelopes party members in protective magical energy: Defense Chance increased by and damage taken reduced by 2-24% up to 30% at 4x Legendary, Casting Focus increased by 1-4% base to 6% at 4x Legendary.

Poisoning

Title: The Lethal

Icon potency.gif Potency (Passive) While the poisoning mastery is active, the poisoner has a chance to not consume poison charges when using infected strike based on poisoning skill, anatomy skill, and mastery level.
Icon tolerance.gif Tolerance 20 Mana Toggle ability that grants the poisoner a reduction to poison level when poisoned at a stamina cost based on mastery level.
Icon injection strike.gif Injected Strike 30 Mana When activated the poisoner will apply a poison resistance debuff to their target (30%PvM, 15% PvP - can be negated by overcapping poison resist) for a duration based on poisoning skill, anatomy skill, and mastery level. Any poisons applied to the poisoner’s weapon will also be applied to the target. Poison may be applied to any weapon using this ability, however the poison applied to non-infecting weapons may only be applied by use of this ability and will reduce the poison level by one grade, debuff will be reduced on ranged weapons.Injected Strike is cancelled by all special abilities (Death Strike, Counter Attack…) Unlike special abilities, the 30 mana cost is applied when the ability is toggled on, not at point of strike. Also unlike special abilities the prepared attack isn’t cancelled by spell casting.

Provocation

Title: The Exhilarator

Inspire.png Inspire 16 Mana

5 Upkeep

This is a battle hymn interwoven with magical energy. It increases the confidence and focus of party members giving them bonuses to their offense combat prowess. Party hit chance increased by up to 15%, melee damage increased by up to 40%, spell damage increased by up to 15%:
Invigorate.png Invigorate 22 Mana

6 Upkeep

This is an invigorating tune interwoven with magical energy. It increases the alertness of party members and makes them feel empowered, giving them bonuses to their stats: Strength, Intelligence and Dexterity increased by 8 (base) +2 for each complementary skill at 120 up to 14 at 4x Legendary. Hit Points increased by up to 20 +2 for each contemplary skill at 120 up to 26 at 4x Legendary. All party members are healed every 4 seconds by 4-16 (base) up to 22 HP at 4x Legendary.

Spellweaving

Title: The Mysterious

Spellweaving Masters will receive one bonus Arcane Focus per Spellweaving Mastery level. Arcane Focus still caps at 6 strength bonus. Spellweaving Masters are able to cast Arcane Circle alone but will not receive circle bonuses.

Icon mana shield.gif Mana Shield 40 Mana Toggle ability that results in a shield on the spellweaver that has a chance to deduct 50% incoming damage from the spellweaver’s mana pool. Chance based on spellweaving skill, arcane focus, and mastery level.
Icon summon reaper.gif Summon Reaper 50 Mana The spellweaver summons a stationary reaper for a duration based on spellweaving skill, and meditation skill. The strength of the summoned reaper is determined by the spellweaving skill, arcane focus, and mastery level.

Swordsmanship

Title: The Blade

Icon onslaught.gif Onslaught 20 Mana The swordsman executes an onslaught of attacks on their opponent reducing one of their victim’s resists based on the swordsman’s swordsmanship and tactics skill and the damage type of the weapon used for a duration based on mastery level
Icon focused eye.gif Focused Eye 20 Mana

20 Upkeep

A toggle ability that provides the swordsman with a hit chance increase buff based on the swordsman’s swordsmanship and tactics skill and mastery level that consumes mana while active.

Throwing

Title: The Precise

Icon elemental fury.gif Elemental Fury 20 Mana When activated the thrower will generate a pool of fury based on their weapons damage type. Each successful attack the thrower deals will add fury to the pool. Once the pool is full the thrower will unleash the Elemental Fury. The duration and fury pool size are based on the thrower’s mastery level, throwing, and tactics skill. Damage is capped in pvp at 35.
Icon called shot.gif Called Shot 40 Mana The thrower executes a called shot that provides a Hit Chance Increase and Damage increase based on the thrower’s throwing and tactics skill, and mastery level. Damage is capped at 100 pre-resist damage in PvP.

Wrestling

Title: The Champion

Icon knockout.gif Knockout (Passive) While the wrestling mastery is active the wrestler receives a damage bonus to each hit based on mastery level.
Icon rampage.gif Rampage 20 Mana The wrestler attempts to continually hit their opponent where with each successful hit the wrestler receives a bonus to hit point regeneration, stamina regeneration, casting focus, and swing speed increase based on wrestling skill, evaluating intelligence or anatomy skill and mastery level. The effect is lost if the wrestler misses, the wrestler’s opponent parries the attack, or fails to cast a spell.
Icon fists of fury.gif Fists of Fury 20 Mana The wrestler attempts to land three hits in rapid succession to the next target that damages you within a 2 tile radius. If successful the third hit will deal direct damage based on the wrestler’s mastery level. The duration of this ability is based on wrestling skill and anatomy skill or evaluating intelligence skill.