Alac Mirage maybe solution

[Kulvar.1239]

A proposition to make Alac Mirage viable while not making Staxe powerful.

A change to all ambush skills + a change to Mirage Mantle trait so the benefit of using a staff for Alacrity conflict with using lowered cooldown Axe.
It's also an indirect nerf to Distorsion Mirage. Which hopefully could lead to Mirage finally getting its 2nd dodge back.
ANet can then play with Axe skills and Mirrored Axes trait to balance Axe itself separately.

Staff: Chaos Vortex
No longer give 1s Alacrity.
No longer give 0.5s Alacrity per clone.

Trident: Wave of Panic
Unchanged

Axe: Imaginary Axes
No longer inflict 4s Torment per clone.

Scepter: Ether Barrage
Number of orbs lowered from 5 to 3.

Sword: Mirage Thrust
No longer Daze.

Greatsword: Split Surge
No longer do secondary beams.

Spear: Ambush Assault
No longer inflict 8s Vulnerability.

Trait: Mirage Mantle
No longer give 4s Protection.
Each time you get Mirage Cloak while in combat, you get one stack of Mirage Mantle for 8s.
All Mirage Mantle stacks are lost on weapon swap.

• Staff: Chaos Vortex
  Give 1.25s Alacrity per Mirage Mantle stack.
• Trident: Wave of Panic
  Give 1.25s Alacrity per Mirage Mantle stack.
• Axe: Imaginary Axes
  Inflict 4s Torment per Mirage Mantle stack.
• Scepter: Ether Barrage
  Throw an extra orb per Mirage Mantle stack.
• Sword: Mirage Thrust
  0.25s Daze per Mirage Mantle stack.
• Greatsword: Split Surge
  Does one extra secondary beam per Mirage Mantle stack.
• Spear: Ambush Assault
  Inflict 5s Vulnerability per Mirage Mantle stack.

Edited May 10, 2023 by Kulvar.1239

[Mike.7983]

Prefer the old way before moved to clones then got gutted recently. If the staff/axe was so busted then why not boost alac for running 2 staffs for dedicated alac, seperate it for axe/staff. Add like a staff trait under mirage, when running dual staff gain alac output bonus.

Edited May 11, 2023 by Mike.7983

[Kulvar.1239]

2 hours ago, Mike.7983 said:

Prefer the old way before moved to clones then got gutted recently. If the staff/axe was so busted then why not boost alac for running 2 staffs for dedicated alac, seperate it for axe/staff. Add like a staff trait under mirage, when running dual staff gain alac output bonus.

Because the issue is staxe, not staff + other weapon. You should be able to create a build with staff + greatsword, or staff + scepter, or staff + sword (focus/torch) if you want to. Dual the same weapon should not be enforced by design with a bonus in accord with the overall game design phylosophy. It would create a build "trap".

And this suggestion is basically a return to the old way. It's separated from clones as the counter used is a new buff rather than your active clones. So we would be free to use our Shatters and not lose. Without any foe we would also be able to upkeep Alacrity (as long as we are in combat).