Doomdesire.9365

This estimate was done using a program that simulates the DH benchmark. It predicted 36.4K for the previous patch which is only ~100DPS shy of the actual bench. The new number is 36.9K, which is just short of 2%. That is consistent with a .1 coefficient buff to GS AAs. Focus coefficient buffs are more significant but sw/fc as a set is still strictly worse than Longbow, ergo, the strongest DH build(not including virtues) will receive a buff of around 2%. source: I did one of the current DH benches and worked closely with the guy who made the prediction.

Anet: For the third time in a row we've seen that nobody is playing power guard after our previous 3 patches failed to give adequate buffs. SURELY another 500 dps will fix DH this time. Maybe after another 4 patches of .1 coefficient increases will we be able to compete 🤣

Internally, the game defaults you to core guard when you mount up which will auto apply the passive F3 aegis. It does the same thing if you enter costume brawl(and in fact, you can see your virtues change to the core guard virtues in costume brawl). This is a bug.

Because it's the ultimate PUG class for fractals. High boon independence + not as reliant on breakbar timing + risk free ashes precast + don't get cucked if your rev is slow at stripping prot. It actually gets better the worse your team is, and given the skill level of the vast majority of players, this naturally means that cFB is exceptionally strong. Still, if you have an actually decent fractal group, running cFB is a dick move(except on 100cm). Past a certain skill level cFB as a fractal DPS is objectively bad due to inherent greediness(no unique offensive support + mediocre cc without sacrificing damage) and will fall behind in encounters where enough people know how to properly burst.

Thought maybe it would take some time to get used to, but nope, its still terrible. The skill has almost zero value now outside of chaining it with f1 through some trap. DH as a whole is still a bit better than before, but it completely lost it's soul with that d shot change. And I think I can confidently say that DH longbow is now by far the clunkiest weapon in the game. This is a huge regression in design, I sincerely hope it is changed :/

According to the notes, LB3 received a cast time increase to make it feel reasonable for it's newly added effect, but ATM it doesn't feel reasonable at all. Design wise the .75s delay on Deflecting Shot makes the skill borderline unusable against moving, unpredictable targets(like a player). Don't get me wrong, I see the need for the delay, but .75seconds is longer Ranger LB4/Engi Rifle4, both of which don't have a slow projectiles and whose targets aren't set in stone before the cast. Others have suggested half a second cast time which seems not only like a good compromise, but consistent with the treatment other skills have received. But at the moment, even if DH as a whole is doing better in some game modes, Longbow just feels really bad to use due to this one change. Anyone else agree?

Its a lot harder to hit people with d shot now. Even in melee range, both of you are constantly moving around making far more difficult than pre patch. The .75s delay from when you select where to shoot and when it actually shoots is god awful for a manually aimed skill. They seriously need to lower the cast time because DH longbow just feels EXTREMELY clunky now.