Elementalist Changes for PvP & WvW- Hammer & Offhand Dagger

[Stallic.2397]

Elementalist

Catalyst is another one of the End of Dragons elite specs that has struggled to find its footing in competitive modes. Hammer's circling projectiles were difficult to chain together in more realistic combat situations, and even when able to do so, the bonuses lacked impact. Increasing the durations should give more flexibility to maintain the projectiles, which now also grant more rewarding bonuses. We've also enhanced a few other hammer skills, giving more damage potential to fire attunement and a bit more defense to earth. In addition to the hammer adjustments, we've strengthened a few of the key skills and traits as a broader power-up to the specialization as a whole.

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• Flame Wheel: Increased projectile duration from 5 seconds to 8 seconds in PvP and WvW. Increased damage bonus from 5% to 10%.
• Icy Coil: Increased projectile duration from 5 seconds to 8 seconds in PvP and WvW. Increased condition damage reduction from 5% to 10% in PvP and WvW.
• Crescent Wind: Increased projectile duration from 5 seconds to 8 seconds in PvP and WvW. Increased critical chance bonus from 7% to 12% in PvP and WvW.
• Rocky Loop: Increased projectile duration from 5 seconds to 8 seconds in PvP and WvW. Increased damage reduction from 5% to 10% in PvP and WvW.
• Immutable Stone: Increased base barrier from 1,460 to 2,919 in PvP and WvW.
• Ground Pound: Reduced cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Surging Flames: Increased power coefficient from 1.13 to 1.36 in PvP and WvW.
• Triple Sear: Reduced cooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Molten End: Reduced cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Soothing Water: Increased pulse healing from 1,340 to 1,541 in PvP and WvW.
• Invigorating Air: Reduced cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Fortified Earth: Reduced cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Elemental Celerity: Reduced cooldown from 90 seconds to 60 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Deploy Jade Sphere: Reduced cooldown from 15 seconds to 10 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Energized Elements: Increased energy gain from 2 to 3 in PvP and WvW.
• Transmute Fire, Transmute Frost, Transmute Lightning, Transmute Earth: Reduced cooldown from 10 seconds to 3 seconds in PvP and WvW.

 

Focus has long been the preferred off-hand weapon of the elementalist as dagger has generally failed to keep up with the power level of the game over the years. In this update, we've tuned up a lot of the dagger skills with the goal of making it a more viable option.

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• Ring of Fire: Increased power coefficient from 0.6 to 1.2 in PvP and WvW.
• Fire Grab: Reduced cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Frost Aura: Reduced cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Transmute Frost: Increased base heal from 480 to 1,078 in PvP and WvW. Increased heal attribute scaling from 0.5 to 0.8 in PvP and WvW.
• Cleansing Wave: Increased base heal from 1,302 to 1,822 in PvP and WvW. Increased heal attribute scaling from 0.6 to 1.0 in PvP and WvW. Increased conditions removed from 2 to 3 in PvP and WvW.
• Earthquake: Reduced cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Ride the Lightning: Reduced cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Updraft: Reduced cooldown from 40 seconds to 30 seconds in PvP and WvW.

 

 

Thank you Anet for Making Changes to Hammer in PvP as well. I still don't see it competing well with Dagger or Scepter, but time will tell.

 

More Importantly- Offhand Dagger Buffs are much appreciated! And Buffs to augments, Especially Fortified Earth and Soothing Water. Buffs to sustain in the right direction for Catalyst. Transmuting Auras should always be a low CD. Gives Spamming auras on Catalyst the right incentive.  

 

EDIT: I personally highlighted the ones I thought would have the mot impact on PvP. The others are appreciated as well though. Time will tell how they play out 

Edited March 29, 2022 by Stallic.2397

[Poelala.2830]

Love these changes. Great first step.

[gooddrakkarboi.4870]

Okay so instead of "Focus >>>>> Dagger" it's now "Focus >>> Dagger", got it...

 

And the number tweaks won't change anything about hammer when the kit itself is the problem...

[Arheundel.6451]

ele buffs.....am I dreaming?...If so...I don't want to wake up...ever

[AzuritaBlues.3206]

so hyped about these changes, I can't test them now, but really looking forward too.

So glad about Off Hand Dagger buffs, Hammer buffs are nice too, but the Energize Elements + Augment changes are the standouts in my opinion. 60sec elemental celerity? AMAZING for Water Support Staff Catalyst, make it Rain!!!

[VPK.1796]

Alleluia 🙌

[bluberblasen.9684]

Nice ty anet after that long time.. 😅

[Downstate.4697]

Plz make updraft instant again. That change alone ruined dagger potential to set up bursts as well as deny resses and using it as a defensive. The healing changes are nice. Everything else isnt what dagger needed neccessarily

[Ragnarox.9601]

Wait did they buff offhand dagger? Can some girl slap me right now, I must be dreaming. 

[BigEvs.6971]

They're not gonna stop until Fire Grab is a 10s cooldown lol.

 

That said I'm loving these changes

[Stallic.2397]

5 hours ago, Ragnarox.9601 said:

Wait did they buff offhand dagger? Can some girl slap me right now, I must be dreaming. 

 

Those are slap "yo momma good" changes! 🤣🤣

[fuzzyp.6295]

I'm not sure if these buffs go far enough to make Hammer viable in competitive gameplay, but I'm really happy about the off hand dagger buffs. Guess ANet is really sold on D/D Catalyst. 🙂

[Avatara.1042]

Yeah, Hammer is still bottom tier in WvW.  Should at least make the stupid Hammer 3 kitten orbs last 15 seconds, to match PvE.