November 28 Skills and Balance Update Preview

[Rubi Bayer.8493]

Hi, everyone,

Welcome to the preview for the November 28 skills and balance update! As always, the goal of previewing these changes is to gather your feedback before the live release. We'll be following the conversation and making further adjustments as needed.

Thanks,

Cal "cmc" Cohen

Skills and Balance Lead

General

As part of this balance update, we're tuning up some of the less impactful relics. We're also using this update as an opportunity to update all relics with the "fact" system used for skill tooltips, meaning that relevant information such as range, radius, and other numerical values will now be shown for all relics.

• Relic of Leadership: Increased the number of conditions converted to boons from 3 to 5 in PvE and from 2 to 3 in PvP and WvW.
• Relic of the Water: Increased the number of conditions removed from 1 to 2.
• Relic of the Centaur: Increased the stability stacks granted from 1 to 2 in all game modes. Increased the stability duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds.
• Relic of Resistance: This relic now grants its effect to allies in a radius of 360.
• Relic of the Herald: This relic now also grants its bonus when applying boons to yourself. Increased the concentration per stack from 15 to 25. This relic no longer has an internal cooldown.
• Relic of the Monk: This relic no longer has an internal cooldown.
• Relic of the Zephyrite: Increased the base duration from 3 seconds to 4 seconds.
• Relic of Vass: This relic no longer has an internal cooldown when triggered by an elixir skill. Reduced the stack duration from 30 seconds to 10 seconds. Stacks are now expended when striking an enemy and when attacks are negated. Increased the poison duration from 3 seconds to 5 seconds in PvE only.
• Relic of Peitha: The dagger is now launched from the ending location and fires faster. The damage increase now remains for a duration instead of ending after the first hit. Reduced the duration of the damage increase from 10 seconds to 4 seconds. Increased the torment duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only.
• Relic of the Ice: This relic now shoots ice at the nearest 5 enemies three times. Projectiles now inflict vulnerability. Increased the chill duration from 1 second to 1.5 seconds. Increased the damage coefficient from 0.5 to 1.0 in PvE only.

Elementalist

The effectiveness of power-based catalyst builds relies on Empowered Empowerment, which either grants the user the full bonus or none at all. We think that this disparity is a bit too large, so we're updating the trait to always grant a lesser bonus, making it less punishing to drop below the maximum number of stacks. Sword skills in the third weapon-skill slot are also getting some improvements in competitive modes to make the weapon more appealing to players who aren't using the weaver elite specialization.

• Flame Wheel: Increased the damage and condition damage bonus from 10% to 15% in PvE only.
• Crescent Wind: Increased the critical strike chance bonus from 10% to 15% in PvE only.
• Ground Pound: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only. Increased the power coefficient from 1.3 to 2.0 in PvE only.
• Ring of Fire: Increased the power coefficient from 1.2 to 2.0 in PvE only.
• Tidal Surge: Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 30 seconds.
• Water Globe: Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 30 seconds.
• Cauterizing Strike: Increased the power coefficient against burning enemies from 1.6 to 1.8 in PvP and WvW.
• Aqua Siphon: Increased the base healing from 1,150 to 2,255 in PvP and WvW.
• Quantum Strike: Reduced the cooldown from 18 seconds to 16 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Glyph of Elemental Power: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Arcane Shield: Reduced the cooldown to 35 seconds in all game modes.
• Tornado: Reduced the cooldown from 150 seconds to 60 seconds in PvE only.
• Whirlpool: Reduced the cooldown from 150 seconds to 60 seconds in PvE only.

Weaver

• Aquatic Stance: This skill now also grants endurance. Increased the base healing on activation from 2,640 to 4,000. Increased the base healing when striking an enemy from 573 to 650.
• Woven Stride: This trait now additionally removes a condition when gaining superspeed or swiftness, with a 3-second internal cooldown in PvE and a 5-second internal cooldown in PvP and WvW.

Catalyst

• Hammer: Fixed an issue that caused circular projectiles to occasionally lose their ability to strike enemies when their duration was refreshed.
• Empowered Empowerment: This trait will now cause Elemental Empowerment to always be 50% more effective. Effectiveness at the maximum number of stacks is unchanged.

Engineer

Rifle and pistol are both receiving some general improvements to make them more compelling options, with pistol filling the role of a hybrid damage off-hand weapon to play alongside both sword and pistol main hands. We've also made some improvements for support-focused scrapper builds and reworked some of the passive trait triggers in alchemy for more active gameplay.

• Net Shot: Increased the casting time from 0.24 seconds to 0.62 seconds. This skill now inflicts vulnerability in addition to immobilizing enemies. Increased the power coefficient from 0.5 to 1.25 in PvE only.
• Jump Shot: This skill will now evade for 0.5 seconds at the start of the animation.
• Static Shot: Reduced the casting time from 0.4 seconds to 0.2 seconds. Reduced the cooldown from 12 seconds to 10 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Blowtorch: Increased the minimum power coefficient from 0.33 to 1.0 in PvE only. Increased the maximum power coefficient from 1.0 to 2.0 in PvE only.
• Glue Shot: Increased the missile velocity from 900 to 1,200. This skill is now a blast finisher and deals strike damage to enemies in the impact area with a power coefficient of 1.5. Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 12 seconds in PvE only.
• Bandage Blast: This skill will now directly target up to 5 allies with bandages instead of firing them in a fan-shaped area. Bandages will now only hit their intended target unless that target is at full health.
• Elixir B: Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds.
• Toss Elixir B: This skill no longer has a chance to grant swiftness.
• Toss Elixir U: Reduced the cooldown from 32 seconds to 25 seconds.
• Soothing Detonation: Increased the healing coefficient from 0.2 to 0.5 in PvP only.
• Health Insurance: Increased the outgoing healing bonus from 7% to 10% in PvP only.
• Invigorating Speed: This trait will now also activate when gaining superspeed.
• Transmute: This trait will now activate after using a healing skill instead of upon reaching a threshold of conditions.
• Emergency Elixir: This trait will now activate after using an elite skill instead of when being struck below a health threshold.
• HGH: Adjusted might from 3 stacks for 6 seconds to 2 stacks for 10 seconds in PvP and WvW.

Scrapper

• System Shocker: The barrier granted by this trait is now also applied to nearby allies.
• Mass Momentum: Increased stability stacks from 1 to 2. Increased the number of targets from 3 to 5.
• Expert Examination: This trait has been reworked. Your function gyro grants protection to allies when summoned. Using a healing skill's associated toolbelt skill grants protection to nearby allies.
• Rapid Regeneration: Increased the swiftness base healing from 88 to 101 in PvP and WvW. Increased the superspeed base healing from 176 to 214 in PvP and WvW.
• Applied Force: The condition damage penalty from this trait has been removed. Increased the bonus power per stack of might from 20 to 40 in PvE only.
• Blast Gyro: Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds in PvE only.
• Bypass Coating: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.

Holosmith

• Spectrum Shield: This skill no longer has a reduced recharge when used above a heat threshold and now grants stability when used. Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
• Flash Spark: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 25 seconds.

 

Mechanist

• When equipped, the following relics' effects will now activate when the mech's abilities fulfill their requirements but affect the mech and the engineer separately:
  • Relic of the Herald
  • Relic of the Brawler
  • Relic of the Scourge
  • Relic of the Aristocracy
• When equipped, the following relics' effects will now activate when the mech's abilities fulfill their requirements, but cooldowns are shared with the engineer:
  • Relic of the Monk
  • Relic of Antitoxin
• Mechanical Genius: For a short period of time, the effect will remain active even after the mech moves out of range of the engineer.
• Rectifier Signet: Reduced the base pulse healing from 142 to 115 in PvP only.
• Superconducting Signet: Reduced the burning duration from 3 seconds to 1 second in PvP only.

Guardian

Support-focused firebrand is receiving a few smaller improvements in PvP to make it a competitive pick. We've also tuned up a few of guardian's defensive tools alongside some improvements to the hammer, including additional burst damage potential with Banish now refreshing Mighty Blow when striking an enemy.

• Symbol of Protection: Reduced the casting time from 0.9 seconds to 0.7 seconds.
• Zealot's Embrace: Reduced the casting time from 1.2 seconds to 0.94 seconds. Increased the additional-hit barrier from 225 to 625. Increased the power coefficient from 1.5 to 2.25 in PvE only.
• Banish: This skill now recharges Mighty Blow when striking an enemy. Increased the number of targets from 1 to 3.
• Strength in Numbers: This trait has been reworked and renamed Redemption. Cast Lesser Litany of Wrath when you use virtue skill 3. Lesser Litany of Wrath lasts for 3 seconds.
• Might of the Protector: Increased the might duration from 6 seconds to 9 seconds in PvP and WvW.

Dragonhunter

• Shield of Courage: Reduced the cooldown from 50 seconds to 45 seconds.
• Piercing Light: This trait has been reworked and renamed Hunter's Premonition. Gain aegis when you use a trap skill.
• Defender's Dogma: This trait now also grants 180 vitality.
• Pure of Sight: Increased the minimum damage bonus from 5% to 10% in PvP only.

Firebrand

• Loremaster: Decreased the page generation interval from 6 seconds to 5 seconds in PvP only.
• Swift Scholar: This trait no longer has an internal cooldown. Increased the quickness duration from 1.5 seconds to 2 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Chapter 1: Searing Spell: Increased vulnerability stacks from 2 to 4 in PvP only.
• Ashes of the Just: This skill now also applies 5 stacks of might to nearby allies for 8 seconds.
• Chapter 2: Daring Challenge: Increased the cooldown from 8 seconds to 15 seconds and reduced the page cost from 2 to 1 in PvP only.

Willbender

• Conceited Curate: This trait now grants 180 vitality instead of healing power.
• Roiling Light: This skill now grants resistance instead of swiftness.

 

Mesmer

Our goal for mesmer in this update was to improve the set of tools available to support builds. We've made larger changes to the chaos and inspiration specializations to provide better access to certain boons and improve healing capabilities.

• Axe clones no longer perform an attack chain and instead will only use Lacerating Chop.
• Lacerating Chop: This skill now applies bleeding and torment for 3 seconds when used by a clone.
• Lingering Thoughts: Reduced the ammunition recharge from 8 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE and from 12 seconds to 10 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Axes of Symmetry: Reduced the cooldown from 10 seconds to 8 seconds in PvE and from 15 seconds to 12 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• The Prestige: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE.
• Phantasmal Mage: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and from 30 seconds to 25 in WvW.
• Phantasmal Warlock: The phantasm summoned by this skill now inflicts torment instead of vulnerability.
• Ether Bolt: Increased the torment duration from 2 seconds to 4 seconds in PvE only.
• Ether Blast: Increased the torment duration from 3 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only.
• Illusionary Counter: Reduced the cooldown from 8 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only.
• Counterspell: This skill now inflicts 5 stacks of confusion for 7 seconds in PvE only.
• Confusing Images: Reduced the cooldown from 12 seconds to 9 seconds in PvE only.
• Null Field: Increased the cooldown from 35 seconds to 45 seconds in WvW only.
• Phantasmal Disenchanter: Reduced the number of boons removed from 2 to 1 in WvW only.
• Metaphysical Rejuvenation: This trait has been reworked. Grant regeneration to nearby allies after using a healing skill, with a 10-second internal cooldown.
• Illusionary Defense: This trait has been reworked. Grant protection to nearby allies when you use a shatter skill. Protection duration scales based on the number of shattered clones.
• Chaotic Transference: This trait has been reworked. When you grant chaos aura to yourself, also grant it to nearby allies. When you grant chaos aura to an ally, also grant them regeneration.
• Illusionary Membrane: This trait has been reworked. Gain chaos aura when you use Shatter skill 2. Deal increased condition damage when you have chaos aura.
• Bountiful Disillusionment: The additional boon based on which Shatter skill you use is now also granted to nearby allies. Distortion now grants stability instead of regeneration.
• Sympathetic Visage: This trait now also transfers conditions from nearby allies to summoned phantasms.
• Illusionary Inspiration: This trait has been moved to the minor grandmaster slot, replacing Healing Prism. This trait now increases outgoing healing in addition to its previous effect.
• Restorative Illusions: This trait has been moved to the grandmaster tier, replacing Illusionary Inspiration. The healing and condition removal now also affect nearby allies.
• Ego Restoration: This trait fills the master tier slot previously held by Restorative Illusions. Create a clone after using a healing skill.
• Temporal Enchanter: Increased the superspeed duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds. Increased the resistance duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds in PvE and PvP. Increased the area of effect.
• Mental Defense: This trait has been reworked. Distortion grants resistance and breaks stuns for nearby allies.
• The Pledge: This trait no longer reduces the cooldown of torch skills. Increased burning stacks from 1 to 2.
• Compounding Power: This trait no longer increases the condition damage attribute and instead increases outgoing damage from conditions by 2% per stack.
• Malicious Sorcery: This trait has been reworked. Confusion you inflict has increased duration. When you evade an attack, inflict confusion on the attacker.

Mirage

• Mirrored Axes: This trait no longer reduces the cooldown of axe skills and will no longer generate phantasmal spinning axes with Mirror Strikes. Increased the torment inflicted by phantasmal seeking axes from 1 stack for 4.5 seconds to 2 stacks for 3 seconds.
• Sand through Glass: This skill now also removes the immobile condition.

Necromancer

We've focused on improving some of necromancer's less utilized skills and traits. We've also swapped the position of the Terror and Parasitic Contagion traits in the curses specialization to allow more trait selection flexibility for fear-focused condition builds.

• Well of Blood: Increased the base pulse healing from 280 to 496 in PvP and WvW.
• Life Transfer: This skill now also inflicts bleeding when striking an enemy.
• Signet of Vampirism: Increased the base active healing from 4,950 to 5,750. Increased base active life-steal healing from 470 to 600.
• Plague Signet: Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW. Reduced the number of conditions transferred from 4 to 3 in PvP and WvW.
• Well of Power: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 35 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Terror: This trait has been moved to the grandmaster tier. Increased the base damage from 444 to 555, and increased the condition damage scaling from 0.4 to 0.55.
• Parasitic Contagion: This trait has been moved to the master tier.
• Master of Corruption: This trait now applies vulnerability instead of blindness when using Consume Conditions.
• Soul Comprehension: This trait now also grants life force upon entering a shroud form based on the number of active Death's Carapace stacks.
• Deadly Strength: This trait now also grants condition damage per stack of Death's Carapace.

Reaper

• Augury of Death: Increased the base life-steal damage from 138 to 172. Increased the life-steal power coefficient from 0.01 to 0.0125.  Increased the base life-steal healing from 125 to 156. Increased the life-steal healing coefficient from 0.02 to 0.025.
• Blighter's Boon: This trait now always heals and grants life force regardless of whether the necromancer is in a shroud form. Reduced the base healing from 197 to 85.

Scourge

• Feed from Corruption: Reduced the base barrier from 1,000 to 750 and the healing coefficient from 0.5 to 0.25 in PvP only.
• Demonic Lore: Reduced the torment damage bonus from 33% to 20% in PvP only.

Harbinger

• Elixir of Bliss: Reduced the cooldown from 32 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW.

 

Ranger

Pets are the focus of this update's ranger changes. We've made changes to many underperforming pet skills to better solidify the identity of each family and increase the number of viable pet choices, such as adding a stun to the polar bear's Icy Roar and causing the bird family's Quickening Screech to remove movement-impairing conditions.

General

• All basic pet attacks are now affected by quickness.
• Pet skills that affect allies do not count the pet they originate from in their target cap.

 

Bear Family

• Members of this family now have 1,200 healing power.
• Slash: Increased the power coefficient from 0.3 to 0.51 in PvE only.
• Bite: Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 10 seconds. Increased the base healing from 417 to 1,607. Increased the healing power multiplier from 0.28 to 0.5.
• Defy Pain: Reduced the cooldown from 45 seconds to 30 seconds. The pet now uses this skill more frequently.
• Poison Cloud (Murellow): Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 25 seconds.
• Enfeebling Roar (Black Bear): Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 25 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.25 to 0.5. Reduced the weakness duration from 10 seconds to 4 seconds. Reduced the radius from 600 to 360.
• Icy Roar (Polar Bear): Reduced the cooldown from 45 seconds to 30 seconds. This skill now stuns in addition to its previous effects. Reduced the radius from 600 to 360.
• Rending Maul (Arctodus): Increased the power coefficient from 0.5 to 0.67. Increased the bleeding per hit from 1 stack to 2 stacks.
• Bite (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 0.7 to 1.0. Increased the base healing from 417 to 1,607. Increased the healing power multiplier from 0.28 to 0.5.

Bird Family

• Swoop: Increased the stacks of vulnerability from 1 to 5. Decreased the vulnerability duration from 12 seconds to 6 seconds.
• Quickening Screech: This skill now removes crippled, chilled, and immobile conditions from affected allies.
• Blinding Slash (Raven): Increased the power coefficient from 0.66 to 1.0 in PvE only.
• Chilling Slash (Owl): Increased the power coefficient from 0.66 to 1.0 in PvE only.
• Lacerating Slash (Hawk): Increased the cooldown from 6 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.33 to 1 in PvE and from 0.33 to 0.475 in WvW and PvP. Increased the bleeding stacks per hit from 1 to 3 in PvE and from 1 to 2 in WvW and PvP.
• Brash Slash (Eagle): This skill replaces Lacerating Slash. Slash at your foe, inflicting weakness.
• Swoop (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 0.86 to 1.2.
• Quickening Screech (Soulbeast): Increased the cooldown from 12 seconds to 15 seconds. This skill now removes crippled, chilled, and immobile conditions from affected allies.

Canine Family

• Juvenile Hyena: Increased power from 934 to 1,868. This pet now has a ferocious archetype.
• Juvenile Krytan Drakehound: This pet now has a versatile archetype.
• Bite: Increased the power coefficient from 0.24 to 0.335 in PvE only.
• Brutal Charge: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 18 seconds in PvE only.
• Intimidating Howl (Krytan Drakehound): Increased the power coefficient from 0.2 to 0.5.
• Chilling Howl (Alpine Wolf): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.2 to 0.5.
• Regenerate (Fern Hound): Reduced the cooldown from 25 to 20 seconds. Reduced the regeneration duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds. Increased the base healing from 1,000 to 2,600.
• Howl of the Pack (Hyena): Reduced the cooldown from 45 seconds to 30 seconds. Increased the number of summoned allies from 1 to 2. Reduced the ally duration from 40 seconds to 15 seconds. Summoned allies can no longer use Brutal Charge.
• Terrifying Howl (Wolf): Reduced the cooldown from 45 seconds to 30 seconds in PvE and from 45 seconds to 35 seconds in WvW and PvP. Increased the power coefficient from 0.2 to 0.5 in PvE only.

Devourer Family

• Twin Darts: Increased the power coefficient from 0.15 to 0.25 in PvE only. This skill no longer has a chance to poison and now bleeds enemies it strikes. Increased the velocity.
• Devourer Retreat: Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds. The activation time of this skill has been greatly reduced. This skill will no longer be used at full health.
• Poisonous Cloud (Carrion Devourer): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the poison duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds. Increased the velocity.
• Rending Barbs (Lashtail Devourer): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.2 to 0.3. Increased the bleeding duration from 5 seconds to 8 seconds. Increased the velocity.
• Poison Barbs (Whiptail Devourer): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.5 to 0.65. Increased the poison stacks from 1 to 4 and poison duration from 2 seconds to 6 seconds. This skill now pierces and can only hit a target once.

Drake Family

• Members of this family now have 600 healing power.
• Bite: Increased the power coefficient from 0.24 to 0.3425 in PvE only. This skill now causes the pet to move slightly from its initial position.
• Chomp: Increased the base healing from 965 to 1,285. Increased the healing power scaling from 0.15 to 0.5. Increased the number of targets from 3 to 5.
• Tail Swipe: Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 16 seconds in PvE only.
• Fire Breath (Salamander Drake): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in WvW and PvP. Increased the burning duration from 1 second to 3 seconds.
• Insect Swarm (Marsh Drake): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in WvW and PvP. Reduced the power coefficient from 0.25 to 0.2 in WvW and PvP. Increased the poison duration from 3 seconds to 4 seconds.
• Frost Breath (Ice Drake): Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only. Increased the chilled duration from 1 second to 1.5 seconds.
• Lightning Breath (River Drake): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in WvW and PvP. Reduced the power coefficient from 0.33 to 0.275 in WvW and PvP.
• Sonic Shriek (Reef Drake): Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only. Increased the confusion stacks per hit from 1 to 2.
• Chomp (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 0.65 to 1. Increased the base healing from 965 to 1,285. Increased the healing power scaling from 0.15 to 0.5. Increased the number of targets from 3 to 5.
• Tail Swipe (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 1.1 to 1.3.

Feline Family

• Slash: This skill no longer applies vulnerability.
• Bite: This skill now applies 5 stacks of vulnerability for 6 seconds.
• Maul: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.2 to 0.4.
• Mighty Roar (Jungle Stalker): Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the might stacks from 5 to 8 in PvE only. Reduced the radius from 600 to 360. Decreased the casting time.
• Rending Pounce (Lynx): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Reduced the bleeding duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds.
• Icy Pounce (Snow Leopard): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
• Furious Pounce (Tiger): Increased the cooldown from 10 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 1.0 to 2.0 in PvE only.
• Stalk (Jaguar): Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 20 seconds. This skill now applies stealth rather than the Stalking effect. Damage bonuses from this skill still last 6 seconds, even if the pet is revealed.
• Phase Pounce (White Tiger): Decreased the cooldown from 20 seconds to 16 seconds. Increased the bleeding stacks per hit from 1 to 2, and increased the bleeding duration from 5 seconds to 10 seconds.
• Savannah Strike (Cheetah): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.45 to 0.5. Increased the swiftness duration from 4 seconds to 5 seconds.
• Blinding Roar (Sand Lion): Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 20 seconds.

Moa Family

• Members of this family now have 1,200 healing power.
• White Moa: This pet now has a supportive archetype.
• The casting times of moa cries have been reduced.
• Peck: Increased the power coefficient from 0.28 to 0.315 in PvE only.
• Harmonic Cry: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 25 seconds. Increased the base healing from 1,340 to 1,660. Increased the healing power scaling from 0.2 to 1.0.
• Frenzied Attack: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.2 to 0.4 in PvE only.
• Protecting Screech (Blue Moa): Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 20 seconds.
• Icy Screech (White Moa): This skill has been reworked and now grants Frost Aura to nearby allies.
• Dazing Screech (Pink Moa): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds. This skill now dazes enemies in a circular area around the moa instead of a frontal cone. Increased the dazed duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds in PvE only.
• Furious Screech (Red Moa): Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds.
• Harmonic Cry (Soulbeast): Increased the base healing from 1,300 to 1,940. Increased the healing power scaling from 0.5 to 0.75. Increased the radius from 240 to 360.

Porcine Family

• Members of this family now have 600 healing power.
• Pig: This pet now has a ferocious archetype.
• Jab: Increased the power coefficient from 0.25 to 0.41 in PvE only.
• Maul: Reduced the cooldown from 12 seconds to 10 seconds.
• Brutal Charge: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 24 seconds in PvE only.
• Forage (Boar): This skill now only forages a rock. Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.
• Forage (Warthog): This skill now only forages a scale. Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds. Reduced the weakness duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds. Increased the bleeding and poison stacks from 1 to 3. Reduced the poison duration from 20 seconds to 6 seconds and the bleeding duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds.
• Forage (Siamoth): This skill now only forages feathers. Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.
• Forage (Pig): This skill now only forages a greatsword. The greatsword can be thrown at enemies. Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.

Spider Family

• Spit: Increased the power coefficient from 0.44 to 0.57 in PvE only. Increased the velocity.
• Entangling Web: Reduced the duration from 3 seconds to 2 seconds in PvP and WvW. Increased the velocity.
• Poison Gas: Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds in PvE only. Increased the poison duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only. Increased the number of targets from 3 to 5. Increased the velocity.
• Deadly Venom (Forest Spider): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the poison stacks from 1 to 2. Reduced the poison duration from 12 seconds to 6 seconds. Reduced the venom duration from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
• Weakening Venom (Cave Spider): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the vulnerability stacks from 3 to 5. Reduced the vulnerability duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds in WvW and PvP. Reduced the weakness duration from 5 seconds to 3 seconds. Reduced the venom duration from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
• Paralyzing Venom (Jungle Spider): Reduced the cooldown from 45 seconds to 25 seconds. Reduced the immobilize duration from 3 seconds to 2 seconds in WvW and PvP. Reduced the venom duration from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
• Entangling Web (Soulbeast): Reduced the immobilize duration from 3 seconds to 2 seconds in WvW and PvP. Increased the velocity.
• Poison Gas (Soulbeast): Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds in PvE only. Increased the poison duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only.

Bristleback

• Spike Shoot: Increased the power coefficient from 0.3 to 0.31 in PvE only.
• Rain of Spikes: Increased the power coefficient from 0.4 to 0.5. Increased the bleeding stacks from 1 to 2. This skill can now only hit a target once.
• Sharpen Spines: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
• Spike Barrage: Increased the cooldown from 15 seconds to 20 seconds. This skill now inflicts bleeding when striking an enemy.
• Rain of Spikes (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 0.4 to 1 in PvE and from 0.4 to 0.8 in WvW and PvP. Increased the bleeding stacks from 1 to 2. This skill can now only hit a target once.

Smokescale

• Bite: Increased the power coefficient from 0.25 to 0.56 in PvE only.
• Takedown: Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 10 seconds. This skill no longer knocks down enemies. Increased the power coefficient from 0.01 to 0.5 in WvW and PvP.
• Takedown (Soulbeast): Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 10 seconds. This skill no longer knocks down enemies. Increased the power coefficient from 0.7 to 0.1 in PvE and from 0.01 to 1.0 in WvW and PvP.

Wyvern Family

• Wing Buffet: This skill now properly indicates that it applies the launch control effect.
• Consuming Flame (Fire Wyvern): Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 25 seconds. Increased the burning duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds.
• Tail Lash (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 0.66 to 1.2.
• Wing Buffet (Soulbeast): This skill now properly indicates that it applies the launch control effect.

Fanged Iboga

• Consuming Bite: This skill now only scales with a maximum of 5 conditions on the target. Increased the base power coefficient from 0.2 to 0.45 in PvE only. Reduced the bonus power coefficient from 0.03 to 0.025 in PvE only.
• Crippling Anguish: Increased the cooldown from 5 seconds to 10 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.1 to 0.3. Increased the torment stacks from 1 to 3 in PvE and from 1 to 2 in WvW and PvP. Reduced the torment duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds in WvW and PvP only. Increased the confusion duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds in WvW and PvP. Increased the velocity.
• Narcotic Spores: This skill is now an ethereal field.
• Crippling Anguish (Soulbeast): Increased the cooldown from 5 seconds to 10 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.1 to 0.75. Increased the torment stacks from 1 to 2 and the torment duration from 3 seconds to 6 seconds. Increased the velocity.
• Narcotic Spores (Soulbeast): This skill is now an ethereal field.

Jacaranda

• Juvenile jacarandas now have 1,200 healing power.
• Fixed an issue that caused this pet to have more health than intended.
• Rock Gazelle
• Headbutt: Increased the power coefficient from 0.32 to 0.415 in PvE only.
• Charge: Increased the cooldown from 15 seconds to 20 seconds in PvP and WvW. This skill now tracks its target more accurately and stops upon reaching the target.

Phoenix

• This pet's health has been increased.
• Wicked Bite: Increased the power coefficient from 0.4 to 0.43 in PvE only. This skill now causes the pet to move slightly from its initial position.
• Gale Breath: This skill now only performs one sweep. Increased the power coefficient from 0.5 to 0.8.
• Dash (Soulbeast): This skill replaces Wicked Bite when merged.

Wallow

• This pet's health has been increased.
• Vampiric Bite: Increased the power coefficient from 0.4 to 0.42 in PvE only. Increased the attack range.
• Undead Plague: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
• Bloodthirsty Charge: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.
• Maul (Soulbeast): This skill replaces Vampiric Bite when merged.
• Undead Plague (Soulbeast): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.

Siege Turtle

• Jade Cannon: Increased the rate of fire and projectile speed. Reduced the power coefficient from 0.75 to 0.53 in PvE only.
• Heavy Shot: This skill replaces Snap. Shoot a jade missile at your target that dazes nearby enemies on impact.
• Slam (Soulbeast): This skill replaces Jade Cannon when merged.
• Heavy Shot (Soulbeast): This skill replaces Snap when merged.

Revenant

This update is focused on improving revenant's short bow, shield, and hammer weapons. We've made piercing part of the short bow's base attacks to make it more appealing to non-renegade users. The shield changes improve its usability as a support weapon, while hammer has gotten some improvements to both its damaging and defensive capabilities.

• Hammer Bolt: Increased the power coefficient from 1.15 to 1.35 in PvE only.
• Coalescence of Ruin: Adjusted the damage areas to begin at the player's location instead of being offset from it. Increased the power coefficient from 1.75 to 2.0 in PvE only. Reduced the cooldown from 10 seconds to 7 seconds in PvP only.
• Phase Smash: Increased the power coefficient from 2.0 to 2.2 in PvE only.
• Field of the Mists: This skill now grants aegis to the user on activation and will fire a projectile at up to 5 enemies around the target. The projectile destruction wall will now activate immediately.
• Drop the Hammer: Increased the power coefficient from 2.3 to 2.7 in PvE only. Increased the knockdown duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds in PvE and PvP.
• Envoy of Exuberance: This skill now grants protection to allies at its impact point instead of when the projectile passes through them. The impact now also grants aegis to allies. Increased the missile velocity from 900 to 1,200. Increased the healing coefficient from 0.5 to 1.0.
• Crystal Hibernation: This skill now also heals allies in a radius of 360 around the user.
• Shattershot: This skill now pierces.
• Bloodbane Path: This skill now pierces.
• Sevenshot: This skill now pierces.
• Inspiring Reinforcement: Increased the duration of the initial stability from 1 second to 1.5 seconds in PvP only. Increased the duration of the pulsing stability from 1 second to 1.25 seconds in PvP only.
• Spiritual Resolution: This trait now activates when invoking a legend instead of when using an elite skill.
• Set in Stone: This trait replaces Eye for an Eye. Gain protection when you use profession skill 2.
• Contained Temper: This trait has been reworked. Gain energy when you break out of stun.

Herald

• Forceful Persistence: Increased the bonus damage from 15% to 20% in PvE only. Increased the bonus damage per herald upkeep skill from 5% to 7% in PvE only.

Renegade

• Bold Reversal: This trait has been reworked. Gain resistance when you use a healing skill.
• Heartpiercer: This trait no longer causes short bow skills to pierce.

Vindicator

• Reaver's Curse: This trait has been reworked. Reduce the recharge of Energy Meld. Energy Meld enhances the effects of your next dodge.
• Angsiyan's Trust: This trait has been reworked. Energy Meld no longer has an energy cost and grants energy when used.
• Song of Arboreum: This trait has been reworked. Energy Meld grants more energy and also grants its energy and vigor to nearby allies.

 

Thief

The improvements to staff are focused on Debilitating Arc and Dust Strike to give these skills a more unique identity and application. Pistol is also being tuned up to make it a more viable option for condition-focused builds in PvE.

• Vital Shot: Increased the bleeding duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only. 
• Shadow Strike: Increased the torment stacks from 2 to 4 in PvE only. Increased the Repeater effect duration from 4 seconds to 10 seconds in PvE, and from 4 seconds to 5 seconds in PvP and WvW. Increased the Repeater effect stacks from 1 to 3 in PvE and from 1 to 2 in PvP and WvW. The effect now causes the Repeater skill to cost one less initiative, and one stack of the effect is consumed when using Repeater. 
• Unload: Reduced the initiative cost from 5 to 3 PvE only.
• Bountiful Theft: This trait now grants additional might to allies when stealing from a target with no boons.
• Haste: Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and from 35 seconds to 30 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Blinding Powder: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.

Daredevil

• Punishing Strikes: This skill no longer reflects projectiles.
• Debilitating Arc: This skill now grants access to Helmet Breaker for a duration of time.
• Helmet Breaker: Leap at your foe, dealing damage and inflicting the dazed effect.
• Dust Strike: This skill now reflects projectiles and strikes foes in a circular area instead of in a frontal cone.
• Impact Strike: This skill now evades attacks. Increased the cooldown from 25 seconds to 30 seconds in PvP and WvW.

Specter

• Well of Gloom: Increased the base pulse healing from 336 to 520 in PvP and WvW.
• Well of Silence: Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 30 PvP and WvW.

Warrior

Berserker's improvements will make it slightly easier to maintain berserk mode in PvE encounters, and a lower cooldown will make it a bit less punishing to fall out of berserk mode. We've also improved the critical-hit-focused side of the arms specialization and tuned up a handful of underperforming skills and traits.

• Crushing Blow: Increased the power coefficient from 1.5 to 2.25 in PvE and from 1.5 to 1.75 in PvP and WvW. Increased the might stacks from 3 to 5. Reduced the cooldown from 15 seconds to 12 seconds.
• Tremor: Reduced the cooldown to 18 seconds in all game modes. Increased the power coefficient from 0.8 to 1.25 in PvE only.
• Dolyak Signet: Increased the base healing from 1,640 to 2,870.
• Signet of Stamina: This skill now also grants 10 endurance per condition it removes.
• Vengeance: Increased the chance to rally from 25% to 100% in PvE only.
• Opportunist: This trait will now also trigger when disabling an enemy. Reduced the cooldown from 10 seconds to 1 second. Reduced the fury duration from 10 seconds to 3 seconds.
• Furious Burst: This trait no longer grants fury when using a burst skill and instead grants fury when swapping weapons. Reduced the cooldown from 15 seconds to 4 seconds. Reduced the fury duration from 5 seconds to 2.5 seconds.
• Deep Strikes: This trait now also grants 5% increased critical strike chance against bleeding enemies in PVE and 10% increased critical strike chance against bleeding enemies in PvP and WvW.
• Burst Precision: This trait now also grants 100% critical strike chance and 150 ferocity for 2, 3, or 4 seconds based on adrenaline level when striking with a burst skill.
• Aggressive Onslaught: This trait now also grants 2 stacks of might for 6 seconds. Increased the movement speed bonus from 25% to 33%. Increased the quickness duration from 2 to 3 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Soldier's Focus: Increased the heal attribute scaling from 0.8 to 1.0. Increased the protection duration from 2.5 seconds to 4 seconds in PvE and from 2.5 seconds to 3 seconds in PvP and WvW.
• Vengeful Return: This trait has been reworked and renamed to Stalwart Focus. Increased  the incoming healing effectiveness and outgoing healing to allies.
• Heightened Focus: This trait will now also recharge all burst skills when it activates. Reduced the cooldown from 15 seconds to 12 seconds.

Berserker

• Berserk: Increased the duration from 15 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only. Reduced the cooldown from 15 seconds to 8 seconds in PvE only.
• Smash Brawler: This trait no longer extends berserk duration by a flat amount and instead causes Primal Burst skills to extend berserk duration by 2 seconds in PvE and 1 second in PvP and WvW when striking an enemy, once per skill. Decapitate will extend berserk mode by 1 second in PvE.
• Heat the Soul: This trait no longer has an internal cooldown. Reduced the quickness duration from 4 seconds to 3 seconds in PvE only. Decapitate grants 2 seconds of quickness.

 

[GuriGashi.5617]

Love the balance update preview. One of the rare patches where every class got something to be excited about

Edited October 27, 2023 by GuriGashi.5617

[Falseprophet.1502]

Can we just stop with the guardian hammer cast time reductions and just move the symbol off the autoattack?

[cryorion.9532]

Please fix berserker mainhand dagger f1 primal burst skill animation/aftercast.

[MagicBot.1570]

The Thief Pistol changes are cool, but it's not gonna change anything if you don't buff the burst damage on Malicious Sneak Attack and Repeater

Edited October 27, 2023 by MagicBot.1570

[SleepyBat.9034]

Shield Master is making Bladesworn Unkillable in WvW, Please Fix. Ty

• Relic of the Demon Queen will totally ruin WvW.
• Sustain nerfs to Harb/Bladesworn/Salvation Revs.

Edited October 28, 2023 by SleepyBat.9034

[Campioneri.7601]

Does Heightened Focus work on Dragon Trigger? specifically for the cooldown reset.

Edited October 27, 2023 by Campioneri.7601

[XECOR.2814]

Ah you forgot to update the Relic of Necromancer.
Arguably the most meme and least useful and least accessible effect of a relic in the game.
Other changes are fine. Excited for new relics.

Edited October 27, 2023 by XECOR.2814

[shadowpass.4236]

Takedown changes are lame

[Pixel.8012]

Why does hammer get more attention than willbender does as an entire traitline? There's a plethora of issues with the build in basically every mode and Anet's approach to the build has been deeply negligent and frustrating as an enjoyer of the spec. It needs more changes than a few minor nods, this is unacceptable.

[TheBossVeigar.1306]

Can Lightning Orb please be fixed on structures and structure-like bosses? (Conjured Amalgamate, Harvest Temple, etc.)

Its been bugged since SotO release on them. It doesn't do any damage to them at all.

[Rickzter.6859]

Please fix Lightning Orb and other projectile shooting skills (like mes dagger 3) in Harvest Temple. They have been broken since SotO release and doesnt hit the dragons at all.

[stormemperor.3745]

Bring Back old Signets of Suffering trait.

[Jokuc.3478]

Really like to see the heal Mesmer changes.

I said it in chat already, but I am kind of sad that now that anet had the opportunity to buff Core Necro Shroud, they only add some bleeding to help condi builds. I think anet is completely unaware that even on power core necro, death shroud skills are a dps loss because camping greatsword is stronger. They needed to buff core necro shroud way more.

The pet changes are nice.

I'm annoyed that they still didn't nerf the free boon duration of herald, and idk if the dps herald buff is enough to make it good.

I'm worried that the scrapper changes will make scrapper a bit too good in fractals, but we'll see.

PS. As others said, please fix Lightning Orb on elementalist, it is completely broken on structure bosses.

Edited October 27, 2023 by Jokuc.3478

[ZDragon.3046]

Quote

Terror: This trait has been moved to the grandmaster tier. Increased the base damage from 444 to 555, and increased the condition damage scaling from 0.4 to 0.55.

 

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO MAKE THIS OVERPOWER THE RESISTANCE BOON!!!! IT DEALS DAMAGE IF YOU TAKE THE OPTION RESISTANCE SHOULD NOT COUNTER THIS CONDITION! 

IF WE ARE GONNA UPDATE IT GO ALL THE WAY!

Edited October 27, 2023 by ZDragon.3046

[Terrorhuz.4695]

Buff Roy please

[FalsePromises.6398]

Wonder how Relic of Vass will work for skills that are both heal skills and elixirs, if there's no longer gonna be an ICD on it for elixir archetypes. Would be pretty cool if it double-counted for elixir heal skills. I really just want any excuse to drop fractal relic on harbinger and use something that seems more meaningfully tailored to it instead of the latest one size fits all damage buff relic. 

[Lan Deathrider.5910]

Just now, Terrorhuz.4695 said:

Buff Roy please

Roy already buff.

[GuriGashi.5617]

1 minute ago, Terrorhuz.4695 said:

Buff Roy please

Realest comment

[loletco.9428]

Heal scourge really needs to be toned down a bit right now, it's actually kind of broken and ruining the fun of squad play

[WizardBro.4510]

Barebones useless changes to guardian while everything else gets meaningful changes. Yet again anet dropping the ball on the WEAKEST class in spvp

[Smoosh.2718]

👁️👄👁️
Not seeing changes for mainhand pistol on warrior here. I mean some changes are nice, but id love to play warrior a totally different way instead of playing warrior with a different coloured weapon.

 

[Mauti.3520]

I am excited for the pet changes. - Only Takedown should be renamed to Letdown. It's a bit sad.

[miiroto.3672]

"Relic of Vass: This relic no longer has an internal cooldown when triggered by an elixir skill. Reduced the stack duration from 30 seconds to 10 seconds. Stacks are now expended when striking an enemy and when attacks are negated. Increased the poison duration from 3 seconds to 5 seconds in PvE only"

Currently, this relic procs on Elixir Gun skills aswell, by  removing ICD from it, it can proc on elixir gun many times. Making it possibly exploitive in Competetive modes.

[Jijimuge.4675]

I'm a bit concerned about the reworked Illusionary Membrane

It will now apply "Gain chaos aura when you use Shatter skill 2. Deal increased condition damage when you have chaos aura. "

My concern is that, as auras don't stack, it may be very hard to make much productive use of that if one's auras can easily be overwritten by auras created by others

Edit:

Also, re revenant, with

• Song of Arboreum: This trait has been reworked. Energy Meld grants more energy and also grants its energy and vigor to nearby allies.

I assume that means "Grants endurance" rather than "Grants energy"

Edited October 27, 2023 by Jijimuge.4675