March 19 Balance Update Preview

[Geronmy.3298]

10 minutes ago, Skyroar.2974 said:

Why? You wanted it to stay useless?

It will still be useless because the entire spec does not support a good power build. It will still be a tagging spec but now will make people even madder because they will kill things faster on lab farms.

It has a good chance of being a healer but they refuse to give ti a bit of work.

[Ovalkvadratcylinder.9365]

Hpw about you give the dmg back on Engi SB pulses

[HotDelirium.7984]

Finally a mirage buff and its on power weapons xD.

Just give ALACRITY to all ambushes.

 

Edited February 16 by HotDelirium.7984

[Geronmy.3298]

7 minutes ago, Gesbo.6420 said:

I kind of don't see the point of dune cloak, it needs more to compete with infinite horizon.  Same goes for infinite Forge imho 

If rifle was usable for a real healing build on it, it might be better than IH only because the ambush sucks on rifle clones. You would shatter to get an extra ambush (rifle clones are ranged while the ambush is melee, if you use ambush while they're away from the target they will walk up to it but they won't ambush because the window would be over)

[XenesisII.1540]

Quote

• Null Field: Reduced the field duration from 5 seconds to 2 seconds in WvW only. Reduced the number of pulses from 6 to 3 in WvW only.

Just disable the skill from wvw, you obviously don't want it in wvw. Every patch is a nerf to it.

So annoyed and irritated with this spreadsheet balance team.

Oct 2022 - Increased cooldown from 25s to 35s

Jun 2023 - Reduced range from 1200 to 900

Nov 2023 - Increased cooldown from 35s to 45s

Mar 2024 - Reduced field duration to 2s and pulses to 3.

Jun 2024 - Reduced field duration to 1s, and pulses to 1, reduced targets to 2.

Nov 2024 - No longer cures conditions, reduced targets to 1, reduced chance to remove a boon to 10%.

There anet planned out your wvw mesmer nerf schedule for the rest of the year.

🤡🙄

Edited February 16 by XenesisII.1540

[Geronmy.3298]

1 minute ago, HotDelirium.7984 said:

Finally a mirage buff and its on power weapons xD

Honestly? Expected. Now they can say they buffed Mirage so they're not biased against it.

[Blackarps.1974]

WvW specific:  Boon balling/surfing needs addressing as well as all the options to play support.  There's just too much support and not enough damage to the point where everyone is running in circles and smaller groups stand absolutely zero chance even if they are more skilled at the game.  Its sad that now we might have to go another half a year before this actually gets addressed.

[Khey.4735]

• Prismatic Converter: This trait now triggers when swapping from Photon Forge to a kit.
• Solar Focusing Lens: This trait now triggers when swapping from Photon Forge to a kit.

Thank you, finally, it's going to feel a lot better swapping between multiple kits and forge, nice.

• Automated Medical Response: This trait has been reworked. Grant regeneration to nearby allies when you use your healing skill's toolbelt skill

Seems pretty weak by default but probably for healing power/support stuff, it's okay I guess? 

• Mecha Legs: This trait has been reworked. Gain resistance on dodging.

Resistance sounds good for chill/blind/slow/weakness mostly I think, those are the worst offenders that kill your damage and counter attacks, if you're immobilized well, good night I guess cause you can't dodge to negate it.

• Bunker Down: This trait now triggers when disabling an enemy instead of when critically striking. The mine now spawns at the enemy's location instead of near the player. Reduced the internal cooldown from 4 seconds to 1 second. Increased the mine power coefficient from 0.77 to 0.95. The bandage now cleanses a condition, and its base healing has been increased from 502 to 598.

Sounds better to be honest, lower cooldown again but tied to disables, forcing crowd control skills to be used to get the effect, I do be liking that especially since Inventions has been needing some love for a while now. Hopefully the damage numbers aren't totally worthless but we shall see.

 

Not gonna talk about what I don't know, those PVE buffs are for the hardcore PVE...buffs. All I know it story and open world :D

Overall I think it does hit a few nails for engi, mostly quality of life (love?), but it could definitely do more especially for utility skills themselves regardless of traits.

Until next patch, Godspeed folks.

[Plushie Knight.4209]

Given that my oldest character and elite specialization main is Daredevil, it's very interesting to see that single line change. Feels like the biggest one for them in a while.

I have always loved the extra endurance as a means to play more reactively and survive, and the Relic of Isgarren made that even more rewarding.

Any word on whether the flat bonus on the updated Havoc Specialist is going to match the old 33-66% endurance bonus (10%) or the 0-33% bonus (15%)?

[Juan.6124]

44 minutes ago, Tails.9372 said:

Good QoL changes for CS and DE but the main QoL issue for thief rifle (the forced jumping around in the rotation) still persists.

At this point just remove the leash mechanic from the Mechanical Genius trait already, it was a bandaid solution for a something pretty much nobody took issue with in the first place.

What jumping around? You don't have to play the dodge trait. Just use cantrips and stolen skills to gain stealth.

[TheDetective.8172]

3 hours ago, Butterfly Kingdom.8349 said:

• Darkrazor's Daring: Grants protection to nearby allies when summoned, then performs a skill that dazes nearby enemies. This skill also grants resistance to nearby allies when enhanced.

Please do not take away the amount of Daze that Darkrazor's Daring used to do. If this skill is being nerfed, this should not go through. Having a lot of Daze on this skill made Renegade relevant. I understand you're buffing the skills in general, but if the amount of CC is going down, please do not go through with that change. If the amount of Daze is the same, then I think this is a positive change. 

[Leaa.2943]

Are we just ignoring the fact that Anet nerfed yet another boonstrip? I mean at this point the boonballs are just a clownfiesta of boons and bubbles and obnoxious to play around. I don't even know what to say anymore. I laughed so much that i cried when i read it, but at the same time it really is so frustrating that Arena Net seem to think that is is how WvW should be, this is fun, except it is not.

[Beddo.1907]

3 hours ago, Butterfly Kingdom.8349 said:

• Wild Swing: Increased the power coefficient from 1.0 to 1.5 in PvE and from 0.8 to 1.1 in WvW and PvP.
• Overbearing Smash: Reduced the casting time of the second hit by 0.2 seconds.
• Unleashed Overbearing Smash: Reduced the casting time of the second hit by 0.2 seconds.
• Savage Shock Wave: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.2 to 0.45 in WvW and PvP.
• Thump: Increased the radius from 180 to 240.
• Unleashed Thump: Increased the radius from 180 to 240. The first enemy struck by this skill will grant a greater number of boons.

While buffing regular hammer is welcome, I doubt numbers will help in PvP/WvW and 2 buff won't change anything in PvE since normal one is completely inferior in group content.

3 hours ago, Butterfly Kingdom.8349 said:

Healing Spring: Reduced the duration from 10 seconds to 5 seconds and reduced the pulse interval from 2 seconds to 1 second. Reduced the number of conditions cleansed per pulse from 2 to 1 in WvW and PvP.

I have mixed feelings on this one. The reduction to half the cleanse really hurts, but faster procs have bigger impact. Should be better in team/squad when moving, but worse on spot camping.

3 hours ago, Butterfly Kingdom.8349 said:

• Refined Toxins: This trait has been removed and replaced with Survival Instincts. Gain increased outgoing strike damage and reduced incoming strike damage. Increased outgoing strike damage when above 50% health and increased incoming strike reduction when below 50%
• Empathic Bond: This trait has moved to the master tier, replacing Shared Anguish. This trait now cleanses conditions when swapping pets instead of when using a Beast skill.
• Carnivore: This trait has been added to the grandmaster tier slot previously held by Empathic Bond. Steal health from enemies when you or your pet disable them.

Survival Instinct is too big of downgrade over Refined toxins, in any build that isn't bulkier power build. At least add condi damage to above and condi damage reduction to below to make it more versatile. If it's to nerf Condi Druid in PvP, then do something that doesn't nerf the entire class.
I REALLY don't like the change to Empathic bond. Forcing a pet swap is way to big of a price for just 2 cleanes. Either keep it on beast skill or buff it tremendously to offset the swap loss.
Carnivore sound pretty good, as long as the healing isn't worse than regen.

3 hours ago, Butterfly Kingdom.8349 said:

• Grace of the Land: This trait now applies might instead of alacrity in WvW and PvP.
• Natural Balance: This trait no longer reduces incoming strike damage. This trait now grants boon duration.
• Glyph of the Stars: Increased the cooldown of this skill from 48 seconds to 60 seconds in WvW and PvP. Reduced the number of conditions cleansed per pulse from 2 to 1 in WvW and PvP. Reduced the revival percentage from 12% to 8% in WvW only.

Perma alac was really strong and probably needed adjustment, but changing to might is making the trait hilariously bad over Lingering light or Eclipse. Add more boons to it.
Natural Balance might be fine. Boons won't offset the loss of 10% DR, but at the very least they lessen the blow over just removing DR.
Glyph should get the revival reduced to 10% at the lowest, if you also want to nerf the cooldown as well. If you want the 8%, keep the cooldown on 48s.

3 hours ago, Butterfly Kingdom.8349 said:

• Unleashed Ambush skills will no longer be automatically used when autoattack is enabled.
• Unnatural Traversal: This skill now grants quickness instead of might. Increased the vulnerability stacks applied from 2 to 10.

Ambush change is nice QoL.
Unnatural Traversal needs some testing. Quickness should replicate the no cast version to some extent at least. The skill is still dreadful to use with how it's targeting works.

[andreiblue.8231]

Im not a big pvp player, but pls dont remove alac from scourge and tempest. You said chrono is still strong, but by removing alac from these classes will make chrono remain on top

[Gendalfs.7521]

8 minutes ago, Leaa.2943 said:

Are we just ignoring the fact that Anet nerfed yet another boonstrip? I mean at this point the boonballs are just a clownfiesta of boons and bubbles and obnoxious to play around. I don't even know what to say anymore. I laughed so much that i cried when i read it, but at the same time it really is so frustrating that Arena Net seem to think that is is how WvW should be, this is fun, except it is not.

Its called Zergsurfing.

Edited February 16 by Gendalfs.7521

[Lord Hizen.5918]

I understand the changes to Imperial Impact: This skill no longer extends boons on allies. But why removing this passive in PVE as well?
 

[arazoth.7290]

Just now, Lord Hizen.5918 said:

I understand the changes to Imperial Impact: This skill no longer extends boons on allies. But why removing this passive in PVE as well?
 

This killed some uniqueness in the dodge trait yea...

[Birdie.3869]

Signets of suffering doesn't need lifesteal on active use. Signet of locus is already a full heal on boon-ed up enemies.
Signets of suffering needs to provide signet passive effects in shroud again. That's would make it worth taking for at least a few more people than the maybe 4 or 5 that use it now.
Can the devs comment on why they're afraid of letting necro have passive bonus in shroud? Or at least what the plan with signet of undeath is? It still gains no bonuses when traited even with the coming changes.
I don't know guys, back to the drawing board with that one, I think.

[Gendalfs.7521]

1 minute ago, Birdie.3869 said:

Can the devs comment on why they're afraid of letting necro have passive bonus in shroud? Or at least what the plan with signet of undeath is? It still gains no bonuses when traited even with the coming changes.

Did you see the stream? Only entusiastic guy there was middle one. Those on both sides were like: Can we finish this faster? And he said hes necro main btw. Maybe let him be in charge? 🙂

[MuscleBobBuffPants.1406]

ArenaNet : We are listening to your feedback!

Everyone : No more boon balls, please!

ArenaNet : Got it!  Nerf boon strip!

Everyone : ???

[arazoth.7290]

REVENANT CENTAUR ELITE:

If you don't like the spaminess in WvW, fine.  But not a 15 second cd => max 5 second cd in WvW. Ontop of this the boon duration of this skill got nerfed a lot..., buff these boon durations back up while the 15 second cd gets reduced to 5 second cd.

It won't be able to get spammed in rotation and other abilties can still je used while this is on cd.

===> Centaur coming changes 😢😓=====>

• Energy Expulsion: Lowered the stability duration from 5 seconds to 3 seconds in WvW only. Increased the cooldown from 2 seconds to 15 seconds in WvW only.

[Tekk.6789]

Finally Renegade changes, but alas no trait changes to give alterative choices instead of being locked to charged mists.

[arazoth.7290]

Just now, Tekk.6789 said:

Finally Renegade changes, but alas no trait changes to give alterative choices instead of being locked to charged mists.

I think it's fine they try to work the basics of kalla elite spec first => kalla stance. They can still see from there. I think it's a big step they made this change to begin with though !

 

[Triptaminas.4789]

Now chrono useless for both strips and boons/stab, back alley secondary support. 

Across the board for wvw they again increasing dps outputs while decreasing defense options and keep fugging up with our gameplay by flip flopping it around. 

I think i had it lads, this is it, was playing gw2 only for wvw at this point but as mesmer main i cant take this abuse no mo.

Edited February 16 by Triptaminas.4789

[Lalary.3561]

Another day, Another clueless balance from ArenaNet.

3 hours ago, Butterfly Kingdom.8349 said:

Empathic Bond: This trait has moved to the master tier, replacing Shared Anguish. This trait now cleanses conditions when swapping pets instead of when using a Beast skill.

As if nerfing power damages and taking away knockdowns from smokescale wasn't enough. You guys take away yet another small buff on ranger. Guess randomly stability farting Catalyst is fine on your book huh? What is up with tying most of condition cleansing on wilderness survival traits and reducing cleansing on actual skills.

And I can't remember the last time Willbender, Harbinger, Catalyst and shortbow Renegade got nerf treatment.

Edited February 16 by Lalary.3561