[Dev Update] - 11 December 2008

i like the rits skills
wastrels is bs op imo

Ticked about Shadow Form, but it was about time.

They definately made [Hundred Blades] an Elite Skill now.

Got them on some accounts but not on the main.

My. Goodness.

I'll definitely be revisiting my neglected ranger, Whirling Axe and Hundred Blades look interesting, Aura of the Lich sounds amazing, and great to have Blinding Surge back (I do like having an elite that puts blind on all foes at once).

Nice job.

I didn't get mine.

Well, this doesn't really fix any of the current balance issues in GvG...

But new skill functionalities are always fun to play around with. Maybe a new meta build in there somewhere.
Symbols of inspiration does look fun. Working on an archane mimiced elite though has got to be a bug/oversight. That will be quickly fixed if it wasn't intended.
Arvatar of Grenth finally has a point in PvE.
And Primal Rage is now Frenzy + Sprint in one skill (for bar compression?). Too bad it will still need a cancel stance to be used properly (thus defeating the point, especially as an elite), so I doubt it will see play. Nice try though.
Reaper's sweep, eh. Not bad.
And a buff to blinding surge. Very nice. It was already overpowered in some areas of PvE. But now with the high amount of WE warriors in gvg we might have an effective shake up to the current meta (ie, blinding surge eles went out of style as soon as dervishes and their enchantments did).
Edit: How could I forget palm strike. Finally a reason for an elite skill to function better then golden pheonix strike.
Actually, sins in generally got some interesting changes. Weastrel's collapse being a viable way to shadowstep (conditionally, requiring good timing and actually skill instead of button mashing) and go straight into a falling + twisting chain is nice.

I must say, a.net is developing more "oh this will have a cool, crazy, original effect" skills as opposed to their original intention of having balance. Strike as one giving your pet a teleport? Crazy. Oh well, more crazy fun for PvE.

Uh.. so Bull's Charge isn't an elite version of Bull's Strike?

And thank you Anet for completely killing Amatz. I mean, you could have reduced the faction per refugee to.. let's say 10 faction, but no, you'd rather kill it completely, making Amatz the desert town it once was. JQ will be swamped, with the FA turtle buffs in addition to the Amatz nerf.

hundred blades + make of pain looks fun....but im going to miss the old hundred blades

Never mind, just rechecked after a couple of LB runs on my para. Picked up 80 points.

Dunno how to feel about [[Life Sheath]. I used it fairly often on my protection Monk and thought it was a pretty decent skill despite its underrated-ness and suckiness. An elite [[Reversal of Fortune] sounds interesting though. Especially with condition removal.

Glad they buffed [[Avatar of Grenth]. It was the only transformation I didn't bother using on my Dervish. Now, this extra damage, is it armour-ignoring? Will have to try it out later...

Also, good bye to the old [[Hundred Blades]. I'll never forget the time you used to be the Warrior Elite to have! (before Factions)

/win


First think I thought when I read that. Now it's an adrenal version with a damage boost. Bull's charge can be used at any time and kd's potentially multiple times in one use, enraged charge needs adrenal build up to be used.

I'd say they're about on par.

So no more instant zoning minutes, eh?

[Hundred Blades] + [Whirlwind Attack] = yellow numbers. [Ebon Battle Standard of Honor] = MORE numbers!

wow thats was a large update, some very good skill updates, since i dont really play any of the challenge missions etc i cant speak for them but over all good job.

Hehe, yeah HB's will be fun in PvE. Kinda wierd though. Blurs the difference between axe and sword.
Oh, and I just thought of another fun post update build
[palm strike] + [trampling ox] + [falling lotus] + [twisting fangs]

Double Dragon + Glyph of Elemental Power + 16 Fire Magic = 20 Fire Magic.

Hello big numbers.

I don't particularly like the complete change of some skills.

For Peace and Harmony it has been necessary for a long time, but other skills shouldn't have their functionality completely changed.

surprisingly good update
im sad quick shot didnt make the cut tho

[hundred blades]+[whirlwind attack]+[splinter weapon] + IAS of choice = win

wow...SF nerf...i didn't see that coming.

so weapon swapping + cons now? will PUGS be able to handle that? i see ecto prices going up in the future...better buy now i guess.

and cultists fervor looks interesting.

but now how will i kill the master of healing with my condition+hexes build o.O