Manual

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Using Spells and Abilities
Once you acquire a new spell or ability, it is added to your Spellbook or
Abilities book. You can then copy the spell or ability to your action bar for
easier use. Passive abilities, which are always on, do not need to be
attached to your action bar for use.
All spells and abilities that you use fall into several different categories.
Instant cast: Instant-cast spells or abilities can be used or cast
instantaneously. You cannot be interrupted when using the spell or
ability.
Timed cast: Timed-cast spells and abilities have a brief casting time.
When you click on the spell or ability to use it, a casting meter appears
at the bottom of your screen. When the meter fills, your spell is cast.
You can be interrupted while casting the spell if you are hit or affected
by an enemy’s special attack. Each hit from an enemy resets your
casting meter or pushes it back, delaying the time it takes you to use
the spell or ability. An attack that completely interrupts your spell or
ability, such as a stunning effect, will erase your entire casting meter.
In this case, you must recast the spell or ability.
Channeled: Channeled spells only take effect as long as you continue
casting them. When you channel a spell, a reversed casting meter
appears at the bottom of your screen. It begins full, and as you channel
the spell, the meter dwindles. When the meter is depleted, the spell
ends. While you are channeling the spell, the target suffers or benefits
from the effect, which usually occurs every few seconds. If you move
while channeling a spell or you are affected by an interrupting effect,
the channeled spell ends. If you are hit in combat, the channeling bar
will deplete further, but without an increase in the channeled spell's
effect. In other words, being hit in combat while you are casting a
channeled spell causes the casting time and effects of your spell to be
decreased.
Passive: Passive abilities are always on. They do not need to be cast
and cannot be used through the action bar. As soon as you learn them,
they are in constant effect. Some examples of passive abilities are
dodge and block.