You may be looking forward to Spears, revealed on stream by ArenaNet a few days ago, and available for testing later this week (June 27 9:00 a.m. - June 30 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time UTC-7).
We'll look closer at how these new additions settle into our arsenal, but until then—let's have a look at hot new changes in the most recent balance patch.
venoms wow! mantras, wow! power virt and tempest pve utility cooldowns
An extensive list of changes was revealed quite some time ago on the forums. As usual we're digging into the PvE-oriented changes and want to give you an idea on how they're going to actually affect your gameplay!
Now that we have Open World builds in the mix, beware that we won't only be focusing on numbers, numbers, numbers. Just a heads up.
The devs have made a great effort to go over the Cooldowns of many skills, which often date back to the balance before the competitive split (in the times of yore when PvE, PvP, and WvW all lived in harmony shared cooldowns and damage coefficients). If you ever wondered why some skills had a silly high Cooldown, well, now you know.
We've neatly kept the sections divided per profession, so that you can safely ignore all the things you don't play. Ha.
Back with a Blast
The big changes to look out for.Power Overwhelming
Elementalist changes come plentiful; the class as a whole is receiving targeted buffs to Scepter to firmly establish it as a Power-oriented playstyle.
Power Tempest is a vintage build from early raid history that has rarely seen play since, as other options typically have dominated the metagame. With this patch, deals 33% increased damage and grants Fury to allies, likely bringing the build back into the fold.
Additionally, a lot of defensive skills are having their Cooldowns reduced and weapons like Dagger and Staff are being improved in their supportive capacities.
These Scepter skills are receiving increases to strike damage:
- ,
1 - ,
1 - ,
3 - ,
1
Notably, this skill now deals more damage up-front instead of primarily favoring a long cast. - ,
1 - ,
2 - , &
3 - , &
3 - , &
3 - , &
3
Additionally, ( & 3) and are receiving reduced Cooldowns.
Do keep in mind that all of the primary damage skills on the weapon, such as , , and , remain unchanged. Due to this, it isn't quite guaranteed that Scepter will be your new favorite stick to poke raid bosses with, but the weapon will be much more favorable for range and open world gameplay.
Onto some support changes!
and will now help maintain Fury on your allies, and will also grant more stacks of Might for a longer duration.
no longer requires your health to be above 90%, and now shares its Protection with allies.
(Dagger 3) now creates an Ice Field, making it a self-contained Combo for Area Frost Aura and .
(Dagger 2) will now be a Blast Finisher as well.
(Staff 5) and (Staff 4) now deal initial Defiance Break on cast.
is being reworked to remove a condition from yourself and allies when you use a Blast Finisher in any Combo Field.
will now activate on Heal Skill, granting you Frost Aura more proactively.
now grants 300 Vitality, increasing your Health by 3000.
All in all, these are some truly wonderful changes for builds such as Heal Alacrity Tempest that should increase its ease of use and boon uptime significantly.
Lastly, some notable utility skills that are receiving new Cooldowns:
- : 25 seconds
- : 30 seconds
- : 25 seconds
- : 25 seconds
- : 20 seconds
"Bring the thunder!"
in now has an additional effect that Cleanses Conditions from nearby allies. The Boon Extension is still retained.
Renegade is receiving some small, but notable changes:
- now has a lower spread Radius for each of its missiles, from 240 to 120. In practice, this means you will almost always hit all projectiles on a typical target, increasing damage output and burst.
- will grant a
10%damage increase upon casting a skill.
This will feel similar to the current synergy with , but with a slightly longer duration. - Lastly, (no, not Vindicator) will no longer grant Might. Instead, the Renegade will heal based on outgoing damage. This is strikingly similar to the fairly new , but undoubtedly raises the innate sustain of the specialization.
So, can we reasonably expect a Power-based Renegade build to return? These changes amount to a decent increase overall, but nothing that makes the builds stand out—it still lacks the flexibility of most other support builds. However, if burst is your game, Renegade can certainly be right for you.
Overall, these changes end up doing little to shake up the specialization's ranking. When it comes to improving the output of Power-based Revenant builds it may be better to look towards the Devastation Trait Line as a whole, instead of incrementally raising each elite specialization separately.
Virtuoso is receiving some significant Buffs this time around.
's duration is increased by 2 seconds, making the timing of Bladesongs less punishing.
increases the damage of Blade attacks by 10%. This change alone is sure to bring Power Virtuoso back to the top. This build has been under the radar ever since End of Dragons, but may now finally find its place as a high burst Power build.
Mesmer also had some notable changes to slot skill Cooldowns.
- : 20 seconds.
- : 30 seconds.
- : 20 seconds.
- : 35 seconds.
- : 35 seconds.
As a final note, can no longer be retargeted, in case that's something you fancied.
The Light Grows Dim
You could say the previous changes were... overengineered.Alchemy gets a significant upgrade with the reintroduction of elixir condition removal on the minor grandmaster trait. This won't affect other allies as it did in its previous iteration, but it will give engineers some much-needed defense against conditions through elixir-skill triggers on the other minor traits and any other elixirs they bring.
We've also added a more reliable source of fury, replacing the rarely utilized Emergency Elixir trait to give damage-focused builds more consistent pressure. On the PvE side of things, we've adjusted damage numbers on Grenade Kit, Tool Kit, and some of the holosmith's exceed skills to bring them more in line with each other.
Elixir X also gets a fun addition: lich is being added to the pool of potential transformations while on land. We wanted to make the skill a more reliable offensive threat and felt that adding another offense-focused transformation was a more interesting direction than simply adjusting the individual chances of rampage and tornado.
Elixir S: Reduced the cooldown from 60 seconds to 30 seconds in PvE only.
Elixir U: Reduced the cooldown from 32 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Utility Goggles: Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Detection Pulse: This skill now also inflicts vulnerability on enemies.
Superspeed (Slick Shoes Tool Belt Skill): Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Pry Bar: Increased the power coefficient from 2.0 to 2.5 in PvE only.
Throw Wrench: Increased the cooldown from 17 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only. Increased the power coefficient per hit from 1.0 to 1.5 in PvE only.
Magnet: This skill now properly plays its visual effect during the full channel. This skill cannot be retargeted. This skill now applies bonus defiance damage to targets with defiance bars.
Freeze Grenade: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.5 to 0.75 in PvE only.
Poison Grenade: Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only. Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.5 to 0.75 in PvE only.
Supply Crate: Reduced the cooldown from 120 seconds to 75 seconds in PvE only.
Elixir X: This skill now also has a chance to transform the user into a lich.
Compounding Chemicals: This trait now also removes a condition from the user when they use an elixir skill.
Emergency Elixir: This trait has been reworked and renamed Boiling Point. Gain fury when you gain might at or above the threshold.
Holosmith
Launch Wall: Reduced the 100% heat damage bonus from 50% to 35% in PvE only.
Laser Disk: Reduced the 100% heat damage bonus from 50% to 35% in PvE only.
Particle Accelerator: Reduced the 100% heat damage bonus from 50% to 35% in PvE only.
Blade Burst: Reduced the 100% heat damage bonus from 50% to 35%.
Utilities Were Made to Share
"Where quality of life goes, so too, should you." -Ventari, probablyConevenience Composed
Mantras now automatically charge in combat in PvE only.
Mantra of Solace: Increased the arc angle from 60 degrees to 160 degrees.
Mantra of Lore: Increased the arc angle from 60 degrees to 160 degrees.
Mantra of Potence: Increased the arc angle from 60 degrees to 160 degrees.
Mantra of Liberation: Increased the arc angle from 60 degrees to 160 degrees.
Rushing Justice: Increased the Justice effect duration from 6 seconds to 8 seconds in PvE only.
Guardian wards are another set of movement-requiring crowd-control skills that we're adding an initial defiance-bar strike to in order to make them more usable against stationary bosses. We've also reduced page costs for support firebrand builds in PvE to give them more flexibility, and we added some sources of resolution to the valor specialization to make it more usable for damage-dealing builds that rely on Righteous Instincts.
Line of Warding: This skill now performs an initial strike that deals defiance-bar damage when deployed in PvE.
Ring of Warding: This skill now performs an initial strike that deals defiance-bar damage when deployed in PvE.
Hunter's Ward: The ward created by this skill now performs an initial strike that deals defiance-bar damage when used in PvE.
Contemplation of Purity: Reduced the cooldown from 32 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Judge's Intervention: Reduced the cooldown from 32 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
"Save Yourselves!": Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 25 seconds in PvE only.
Focus Mastery: This trait now also grants resolution when using a focus skill.
Monk's Focus: This trait now also grants resolution to allies when you use a meditation skill.
Dragonhunter
Fragments of Faith: Reduced the cooldown from 36 seconds to 25 seconds in PvE only.
Firebrand
Epilogue: Ashes of the Just: Increased the might stacks from 5 to 8 and increased the duration from 8 seconds to 10 seconds in PvE only.
Chapter 4: Shining River: Reduced the page cost from 2 to 1 in PvE only. Increased the healing coefficient per pulse from 0.23 to 0.35 in PvE only.
Chapter 2: Daring Challenge: Increased the taunt duration from 1 second to 2 seconds in PvE only.
Chapter 3: Valiant Bulwark: Reduced the page cost from 2 to 1 in PvE only.
Chapter 4: Stalwart Stand: Reduced the page cost from 2 to 1 in PvE only.
Loremaster: Reduced the page generation interval from 6 seconds to 5 seconds in PvE only.
Venom Enhancement
Venoms are receiving a big usability improvement in this update, with an increased maximum stack count. They'll still be limited on a per-source basis, but multiple thieves will now be able to grant venoms to the same target without issue. We've also increased the damage on a number of sword skills in PvE to make it a more potent pick, and we reduced the cooldowns on a number of defensive utility skills.
Crippling Strike: Increased the power coefficient from 1.4 to 1.55 in PvE only.
Tactical Strike and Malicious Tactical Strike: Increased the power coefficient from 1.33 to 2.0 in PvE only. Increased the daze duration while behind the enemy from 2 seconds to 3 seconds in PvE only.
Flanking Strike: Increased the power coefficient from 0.8 to 1.0 in PvE only.
Larcenous Strike: Reduced the initiative cost from 2 to 1 in PvE only. Increased the power coefficient from 1.6 to 2.17 in PvE only.
Pistol Whip: Increased the initial power coefficient from 0.37 to 0.74 in PvE only. Increased the flurry power coefficient from 0.79 to 1.0 in PvE only.
Unload: Increased the power coefficient from 0.4 to 0.45 in PvE only.
Shadow Shot: The unblockable shot from this skill will now pierce targets if the Deadly Aim trait is equipped. Increased the power coefficient from 1.3125 to 1.8 in PvE only.
Skale Venom: Increased the maximum number of charges of skale venom allies can gain from 5 to 25. Allies cannot have more than 5 charges of skale venom from the same source at any one time.
Spider Venom: Increased the maximum number of charges of spider venom allies can gain from 6 to 25. Allies cannot have more than 6 stacks of spider venom from the same source at any one time. You cannot grant yourself more than 6 stacks of spider venom at any one time unless Leeching Venoms is also equipped.
Skelk Venom: Increased the maximum number of charges of skelk venom allies can gain from 4 to 25. Allies cannot have more than 4 charges of skelk venom from the same source at any one time.
Ice Drake Venom: Increased the maximum number of charges of ice drake venom allies can gain from 4 to 25. Allies cannot have more than 4 charges of ice drake venom from the same source at any one time.
Devourer Venom: Increased the maximum number of charges of devourer venom allies can gain from 2 to 10 in PvE only. Allies cannot have more than 2 charges of devourer venom from the same source at any one time.
Hide in Shadows: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvE only.
Infiltrator's Signet: Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Roll for Initiative: Reduced the cooldown from 28 seconds to 25 seconds in PvE only.
Shadow Refuge: Reduced the cooldown from 60 seconds to 35 seconds in PvE only.
Shadow Portal: Increased the number of uses from 5 to 10 in PvE only.
Dagger Storm: Reduced the cooldown from 90 seconds to 60 seconds in PvE only.
Pumping Up: Increased the might stacks from 1 to 3 in PvE only.
Daredevil
Escapist's Fortitude: Increased the base healing from 456 to 684 in PvE only. Increased the healing coefficient from 0.08 to 0.12 in PvE only.
Unhindered Combatant: Reduced the duration of the exhaustion effect to 0.1 seconds for all conditions in PvE only.
Deadeye
Kneel: Reduced the initiative cost from 2 to 1 in PvE only.
Specter
Shadow Sap: Increased the splash effectiveness of boon duration to allies from 50% to 75% in PvE only.
Well of Silence: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvE only.
Less Exciting, but Still Good
Changes we expect to have a lower impact.Bearbow Returns
Wait, hold the phone.
Ranger updates primarily include changes to Short Bow, Longbow, and utility skill Cooldowns.
(Short Bow 4) now uses the Ranger's attributes for the inflicted Bleeding. This is a buff to all non-Soulbeast specializations.
(Short Bow 5) Cooldown reduced to 20 seconds.
(Short Bow Ambush) now has increased velocity, and a slight increase to Poison and Torment durations.
These changes seem quite targeted at Druid and Untamed, who generally find the bow to be subpar compared to other options. We're not expecting this to impact Condition Soulbeast at all.
and (Longbow 1 & 2) are receiving increases to their damage.
will now grant its boons when using (Longbow 4), giving it a more predictable synergy.
These changes won't shake up the current raid build offerings. However, if you enjoy this weapon in open world you may have a slightly better time!
Ranger's slot skill Cooldowns being touched on this patch are as follows:
- : 20 seconds
- : 30 seconds
- : 20 seconds
- : 20 seconds
- : 90 seconds
- : 25 seconds
- : 20 seconds
As a final bonus, (Jaguar F2) now grants Stealth to the Ranger too! Keep this in mind for the Spear beta this weekend.
Warir
This update includes a number of improvements for support warrior builds. We've significantly reduced the casting time of the defensive utility banners to allow them to be used more reactively while also bringing Banner of Tactics more in line with other stability options.
We've also updated Martial Cadence to refresh Soldier's Focus when swapping weapons to make it a bit more accessible when it's needed, made some minor improvements to the strength specialization for competitive modes, and tuned up a number of defensive utilities in PvE.
Inspiring Whirl: This skill now heals allies instead of granting them regeneration.
Banner of Tactics: Increased the stability stacks from 1 to 5 in PvE only. Reduced the casting time from 0.8 seconds to 0.3 seconds. Reduced the aftercast by 0.3 seconds.
Banner of Defense: Reduced the casting time from 0.8 seconds to 0.3 seconds. Reduced the aftercast by 0.3 seconds.
Endure Pain: Reduced the cooldown from 60 seconds to 30 seconds in PvE only.
Balanced Stance: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 25 seconds in PvE only.
Frenzy: Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Dolyak Signet: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 25 seconds in PvE only.
Stomp: Reduced the cooldown from 32 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Signet of Stamina: This skill now activates instantly.
Battle Standard: Reduced the cooldown from 120 seconds to 90 seconds in PvE only.
Reckless Dodge: Increased the might stacks on hit from 1 to 2 in PvE.
Restorative Strength: This trait now grants resistance in addition to might.
Shrug It Off: This trait now triggers when using a healing skill instead of when having a number of conditions on you. Increased the number of conditions removed from 1 to 3 in PvE only.
Martial Cadence: This trait now also recharges Soldier's Focus when you swap weapons and causes Soldier's Focus to remove a condition from nearby allies.
Heightened Focus: This trait now also grants the user increased outgoing healing for a duration when striking an enemy with a burst skill, based on the adrenaline spent.
Spellbreaker
Sight beyond Sight: This skill now also removes 3 nondamaging conditions from the user.
Featherfoot Grace: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Graveyard Shift
We've also improved some defensive tools for harbinger to give them some better survivability options and tuned up a number of defensive utility skills in PvE.
Path of Gluttony: This skill now corrupts a boon on targets it strikes.
Consume Conditions: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvE only.
Spectral Ring: This skill now performs an initial strike that deals defiance-bar damage when deployed in PvE.
Spectral Armor: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Spectral Walk: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Signet of the Locust: Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Well of Power: Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Harbinger
Elixir of Ignorance: This skill now grants protection in addition to its previous effects. Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Elixir of Bliss: Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
Implacable Foe: This trait now grants damage reduction for a short duration when entering Harbinger Shroud.
Blighter's Boon: Increased the base healing from 85 to 101.
summary maybe
Here are some builds to try in the new patch:
Heal Alacrity Tempest • Condition Daredevil (Raids) • Power Tempest (Open World)