Scourge Q: was my character also a sand shade? Was that nerfed or from an trait I'm overlooking?

Been gone for 6+ months and started playing gw2 and my scourge necro again. I vaguely remembered that when I entered desert shroud that my character would "pulse" instantly along with my sand shade, just as if my character was another sand shade. It definitely wasn't the delayed explosion from Harbinger. That instant pulse doesn't seem to happen anymore. Was that an ability that was nerfed or provided by a build trait?

Thanks

@"EmmetOtter.8542" said:Been gone for 6+ months and started playing gw2 and my scourge necro again. I vaguely remembered that when I entered desert shroud that my character would "pulse" instantly along with my sand shade, just as if my character was another sand shade. It definitely wasn't the delayed explosion from Harbinger. That instant pulse doesn't seem to happen anymore. Was that an ability that was nerfed or provided by a build trait?

Thanks

Yeah that was changed. now you have the option, put a shade on the ground and have it pulse there or don't cast one and have the effects pulse on you.

Yes, the only way to be a shade, yourself, is to not have any other shades out.

Now if you have any shade planted on the ground you no longer get aoe around the character itself. So you either spam the shade at your own feet, forget about cleave/condi cleansing from F2, barriers etc, or just dont put shades at all, become completely melee.

Oh, and also you no longer inflict cripple with any F1-5 ability. If anything wants to leave your shade area you have no way of stopping it.

I just gave up on the spec, rolled condi reaper, decided the game is in an awful state and took a break.

It's either on Shade or on yurself now.

That's why I no longer use Shades much, preferring to just wade into combat with my cancer cloud.

Harbinger Shroud is hella fun too btw, just walk into packs like a suicide bomber.

Just double-tap the key to instantly cast Sand Shade at your feet when you need a cleanse, etc. Otherwise, don't use them in a solo build. Shades are mainly intended to support allies and to control chokepoints such as doorways, in 1vX the effect on you is all you need.