Guardian: Auto-attacking when using Retreat

The Guardian Retreat utility skill is triggering an auto-attack. To me, this seems to be a bug since the Retreat tooltip says it only grants swiftness and aegis, presumably to "retreat" rather than "attack". Specifically (as a DH), when a Scepter is equipped and within range of an enemy, casting "Retreat" immediately begins auto-attacks. Is this the intended behavior? If so, then I think naming this skill "retreat" is misleading since it actually engages enemies -- even ones that aren't attacking.

Intended or not, it's been the behavior for years, possibly since launch. I've just learned not to use Retreat! if I truly need to avoid being put in a combat stance.

@Donari.5237 said:Intended or not, it's been the behavior for years, possibly since launch. I've just learned not to use Retreat! if I truly need to avoid being put in a combat stance.

Ah. I just made my first Guard a couple weeks ago.

Yep, Guardian shouts cause you to target a mob, whereas Ranger shouts (other than Sic 'Em, obviously) don't. It's just one of those things. Those annoyingly inconsistent things.

I swap to a melee weapon when I'm running past mobs with Retreat. The shout only causes a single swing, and you only get into combat if you swing hits, so I'm able to avoid combat almost all the time.

I just toggle Action Camera on and look away from whatever enemy I'm near then off after passing it.

Thanks for all the helpful tips!

Yes, I have criticized this many times in the past, but it seems ANet doesn't want to change anything about it. It makes no sense to me, either. I mean, after all, a retreat means for you to stop fighting and save yourself, no? So auto-attacking and thus slowing yourself down in my eyes is completely beside the point.

@onevstheworld.2419 said:I swap to a melee weapon when I'm running past mobs with Retreat. The shout only causes a single swing, and you only get into combat if you swing hits, so I'm able to avoid combat almost all the time.

While this is an excellent workaround, it still messed up your choice of weapons. I wish they would simply adjust the skill.