November Balance Patch Notes

The November 28 balance patch brings improvements and updates to all professions.

While few are direct buffs, many improve quality of life or competitiveness of weapon options that were typically falling behind.

Notable Changes

Scrapper buffs
Guardian Hammer, Sword, and Might buffs
Mesmer healing buffs
Mesmer Condition Damage weapon buffs buffs
Mirage quality of life rework
Ranger Pet rework
Revenant gains access to Aegis
Thief Staff utility rework
Berserker Buffs

General Changes

Profession skills that are not dependent on your equipped weapon will now default to the hammer weapon's strength.

Profession skills are typically F1-F5 skills, along with transformation abilities such as Shroud.

: Increased the number of Conditions converted to Boons from 3 to 5.
: Increased the number of conditions removed from 1 to 2.
: Stability stacks increased from 1 to 2 in all game modes; duration increased from 2 seconds to 3 seconds.
: This relic now grants its effect to allies in a radius of 360.
: This relic now also grants its bonus when applying Boon to yourself. Increased the Concentration per stack from 15 to 25. This relic no longer has an internal Cooldown.
: This relic no longer has an internal Cooldown.
: Increased the base duration from 3 seconds to 4 seconds.
: 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 second.
: 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.
: Now shoots ice at the nearest 5 enemies three times. Projectiles now inflict Vulnerability. Increased the Chilled duration from 1 second to 1.5 seconds. Increased the damage coefficient from 0.5 to 1.0.

now also works on the Mech, which is a great improvement to Heal Mechanist.

has potential to be a good Relic option for some builds.

Elementalist

Hammer: Fixed an issue that caused circular projectiles to occasionally lose their ability to strike enemies when their duration was refreshed.
: Increased the damage and condition damage bonus from 10% to 15%.
: Increased the Critical Strike Chance bonus from 10% to 15%.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 1.3 to 2.0.
: Increased the power coefficient from 1.2 to 2.0.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 35 seconds to 30 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 35 seconds to 30 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown to 35 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 150 seconds to 60 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 150 seconds to 60 seconds.

Weaver

: 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.

Weaver Trait Line

: This trait now additionally removes a condition when gaining Superspeed or Swiftness, with a 3-second internal Cooldown.

Catalyst Trait Line

: This trait will now cause to always be 50% more effective. Effectiveness at the maximum number of stacks is unchanged.

The change to change makes Power Catalyst more forgiving without altering its skill ceiling.

With the introduction of Weapon Mastery, Sword & Warhorn became the dominant weapon set, however, the buffs to Hammer will make it a more competitive option once again.

Engineer

: 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.
: This skill will now Evade for 0.5 seconds at the start of the animation.
: Reduced the casting time from 0.4 seconds to 0.2 seconds.
: Increased the minimum power coefficient from 0.33 to 1.0. Increased the maximum power coefficient from 1.0 to 2.0.
: 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.
: 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.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds.
: This skill no longer has a chance to grant swiftness.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 32 seconds to 25 seconds.

Holosmith

: 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.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 40 seconds to 25 seconds.

Scrapper

: Reduced the Cooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds. Reduced the power coefficient from 3.5 to 2.75 in PvE only.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 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:

When equipped, the following relics' effects will now activate when the mech's abilities fulfill their requirements, but Cooldown are shared with the engineer:

Alchemy Trait Line

: This trait will now also activate when gaining Superspeed.
: This trait will now activate after using a Healing Skill instead of upon reaching a threshold of conditions.
: This trait will now activate after using an elite skill instead of when being struck below a health threshold.

Scrapper Trait Line

: The Barrier granted by this trait is now also applied to nearby allies.
: Increased Stability stacks from 1 to 2. Increased the number of targets from 3 to 5.
: This trait has been reworked. Your grants Protection to allies when summoned. Using a Healing Skill's associated toolbelt skill grants Protection to nearby allies.
: The Condition Damage from this trait has been removed. Increased the bonus Power per stack of Might from 20 to 35.

Mechanist Trait Line

: For a short period of time, the effect will remain active even after the Mech moves out of range of the Engineer.

Scrapper gains strength in both damage-oriented builds and supportive builds.

Power Scrapper also gains enough firepower to become a featured build once again.

Guardian

: Reduced the casting time from 0.9 seconds to 0.7 seconds.
: 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.
: This skill now recharges when striking an enemy. Increased the number of targets from 1 to 3.
: Increased the power coefficient of the initial strike from 0.75 to 1.25. Increased the angle of this skill's hit box.
: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.75 to 1.25. Increased the angle of this skill's hit box.

Dragonhunter

: Reduced the Cooldown from 50 seconds to 45 seconds.

Firebrand

Epilogue: Ashes of the Just: Now also applies 5 stacks of Might to nearby allies for 8 seconds.

Willbender

: Now grants Resistance instead of Swiftness.
: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.75 to 1.0.
: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.45 to 0.9.

Valor Trait Line

: This trait has been reworked and renamed Redemption. Cast Lesser when you use .

Dragonhunter Trait Line

: This trait has been reworked and renamed Hunter's Premonition. Gain Aegis when you use a trap skill.
: This trait now also grants 180 Vitality.

Firebrand Trait Line

: No longer has an internal Cooldown.

Willbender Trait Line

: Now grants 180 Vitality instead of Healing Power.
: This trait now grants might to nearby allies.

Hammer and off hand Sword are slightly improved, but will likely not cause any builds to change.

Might generation to allies has been improved for both Firebrand and Willbender.

Mesmer

Axe Clones no longer perform an Attack Chain and instead will only repeat .
: This skill now applies Bleeding and Torment for 3 seconds when used by a Clone.
: Reduced the Ammunition Recharge from 8 seconds to 6 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 10 seconds to 8 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
: The Phantasm summoned by this skill now inflicts Torment instead of Vulnerability.
: Increased the Torment duration from 2 seconds to 4 seconds.
: Increased the Torment duration from 3 seconds to 6 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 8 seconds to 6 seconds.
: Now inflicts 5 stacks of Confusion for 7 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 12 seconds to 9 seconds.

Chaos Trait Line

: This trait has been reworked. Grant Regeneration to nearby allies after using a Healing Skill, with a 10-second internal Cooldown.
: 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.
: 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.
: This trait has been reworked. Gain Regeneration when you use Shatter skill 2. Deal increased Condition Damage when you have Chaos Aura.
: The additional Boon based on which Shatter skill you use is now also granted to nearby allies. Distortion now grants Stability instead of Regeneration.

Inspiration Trait Line

: 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.
: This trait has been moved to the grandmaster tier, replacing Illusionary Inspiration. The Healing and condition removal now also affect nearby allies.
: This trait fills the master tier slot previously held by . Create a Clone after using a Healing Skill.
: Increased the Superspeed duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds; increased the Resistance duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds; increased the area of effect.
: This trait has been reworked. Distortion grants Resistance and Breaks Stun for nearby allies.

Illusions Trait Line

: No longer reduces the Cooldown of Torch skills. Increased Burning stacks from 1 to 2.
: No longer increases the Condition Damage attribute and instead increases outgoing damage from conditions by 2% per stack.
: This trait has been reworked. Confusion you inflict has increased duration. When you Evade an attack, inflict Confusion on the attacker.

Mirage

: No longer reduces the Cooldown of Axe skills. No longer generates phantasmal spinning axes with . Phantasmal seeking axes (generated by , , ) now apply 2 stacks of Torment for 3 seconds (up from 1 stack for 4.5 seconds).
: This skill now also removes the Immobilize condition.

Staff, Axe, Scepter, and Torch have all been buffed to varying degrees. Chronomancer may be particularly effective when pairing and .

Mesmer's defense and support traits have received a significant overhaul, with more tools to actively support allies.

This update brings some quality of life tweaks to Mirage. The Illusions Trait Line may see play again, as an alternative to generating Chaos Aura for .

Necromancer

: This skill now also inflicts Bleeding when striking an enemy.
: Increased the base active Healing from 4,950 to 5,750. Increased base active life-steal Healing from 470 to 600.

Curses Trait Line

: 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.
: This trait has been moved to the master tier.
: Now applies Vulnerability instead of Blindness when using .

Death Magic Trait Line

: Now also grants Life Force upon entering a shroud form based on the number of active Death's Carapace stacks.
: This trait now also grants Condition Damage per stack of Death's Carapace.

Reaper Trait Line

: Increased the life-steal damage's base value from from 138 to 172 and increased the Power coefficient from 0.01 to 0.0125. Increased the life-steal Healing's base value from 125 to 156 and increased the Healing Power coefficient from 0.02 to 0.025.
: This trait now always Heals and grants Life Force regardless of whether the Necromancer is in a shroud form. Reduced the base Heal from 197 to 85.

This patch introduces stronger survivability for both Power and Condition Damage builds, at the cost of more DPS-oriented trait choices. Necromancer's effectiveness is otherwise not impacted in any way.

Ranger

: This skill is no longer interrupted early by other skills.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 75 seconds to 60 seconds.
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.

A significant amount of changes have been added for Pets. The most notable changes can be found below. See Game Update Notes for all Pet changes.

Ranger Pet Skills

: Increased the Cooldown from 6 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the Power coefficient from 0.33 to 1. Increased the Bleeding stacks per hit from 1 to 3.
: 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 Daze duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 45 seconds to 30 seconds. This skill now Stun in addition to its previous effects. Reduced the Radius from 600 to 360.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the Might stacks from 5 to 8. Reduced the Radius from 600 to 360. Decreased the casting time.
: Increased the Cooldown from 10 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the Power coefficient from 1.0 to 2.0.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the Poison duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds. Increased projectile velocity.
: 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.

Soulbeast Merged Skills

: 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.
: Increased the Power coefficient from 0.7 to 1.0. Increased the base Heal from 417 to 1,607. Increased the Healing Power coefficient from 0.28 to 0.5.
: 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 projectile velocity.
: This skill is now an Ethereal Field.
: Reduced theCooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds. Increased the Poison duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds.
: Increased the Power coefficient from 0.4 to 1. Increased the Bleeding stacks from 1 to 2. This skill can now only hit a target once.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 20 seconds to 10 seconds. This skill no longer Knocks Down enemies. Increased the Power coefficient from 0.7 to 1.0 in PvE.

A comprehensive pet rework adds new and interesting choices on many builds, but does not create a significant impact on build performance.

Revenant

: Increased the Power coefficient from 1.15 to 1.35.
: 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.
: Increased the Power coefficient from 2.0 to 2.2.
: 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 Power coefficient from 0.5 to 1.0.
: This skill now also Heal allies in a Radius of 360 around the user.
: This skill now pierces.
: This skill now pierces.
: This skill now pierces.

Retribution Trait Line

: Now activates when invoking a Legend instead of when using an elite skill.
: This trait replaces Eye for an Eye. Gain Protection when you use profession skill 2.
: This trait has been reworked. Gain Energy when you Break out of Stun.

Vindicator Trait Line

: This trait has been reworked. Reduce the Cooldown of and causes it to enhance the effect of your next dodge.
: This trait has been reworked. no longer has an Energy cost and grants Energy when used.
: This trait has been reworked. grants more Endurance and also grants its Endurance and Vigor to nearby allies.

Herald Trait Line

: Increased the bonus damage from 15% to 20%. Increased the bonus damage per herald upkeep skill from 5% to 7%

Renegade Trait Line

: This trait has been reworked. Gain Resistance when you use a Healing Skill.
: This trait no longer causes Short Bow skills to pierce.

The addition of Aegis on Shield is primarily relevant for Herald, which makes it a better pick for encounters where it was previously lacking.

Vindicator should see a small rework by incorporating to increase its effectiveness.

Thief

: Increased the Bleeding duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds.
: Increased the Torment stacks from 2 to 4. Increased the effect duration from 4 seconds to 10 seconds. Increased the effect Stacks from 1 to 3. The effect now causes the skill to cost one less Initiative, and one stack of the effect is consumed when using .
: Reduced the Initiative cost from 5 to 3.
: This skill no longer reflects projectiles.
: 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.
: This skill now reflects projectiles and strikes foes in a circular area instead of in a frontal cone. Increased the total power coefficient from 0.6 to 1.8.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 24 seconds to 20 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown from 40 seconds to 20 seconds.

Daredevil

: This skill now Evade attacks.

Trickery Trait Line

: Now grants additional Might to allies when stealing from a target with no Boons.

The Staff changes shuffle around utility on this weapon set, however, Defiance Break is already available with without spending Initiative.

Warrior

: Increased the Power coefficient from 1.5 to 2.25. Increased the Might stacks from 3 to 5. Reduced the Cooldown from 15 seconds to 12 seconds.
: Reduced the Cooldown to 18 seconds. Increased the Power coefficient from 0.8 to 1.25.
: Increased the base Healing from 1,640 to 2,870.
: This skill now also grants 10 Endurance per condition it removes.
: Increased the chance to rally from 25% to 100%.

Berserker

: Increased the duration from 15 seconds to 20 seconds. Reduced the cooldown from 15 seconds to 8 seconds.

Bladesworn

Blooming Fire: Reduced the aftercast of this skill.
Artillery Slash: Reduced the aftercast of this skill.
Flicker Step: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 20 seconds.
Dragon Slash—Boost: Increased the delay before the dash from 0.25 seconds to 0.5 seconds.

Strength Trait Line

: Now also grants 2 stacks of Might for 6 seconds. Increased the movement speed bonus from 25% to 33%.

Tactics Trait Line

: Increased the Healing Power scaling from 0.8 to 1.0. Increased the Protection duration from 2.5 seconds to 4 seconds.

Arms Trait Line

: Now also triggers when disabling an enemy. Reduced the Cooldown from 10 seconds to 1 second. Reduced the Fury duration from 10 seconds to 3 seconds.
: 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.
: Now also grants 5% increased Critical Chance against Bleeding enemies.
: Now also grants 100% Critical Chance and 150 Ferocity for 2, 3, or 4 seconds based on Adrenaline level when striking with a burst skill.

Discipline Trait Line

: This trait has been reworked and renamed to Stalwart Focus. Increased the incoming Healing effectiveness and outgoing Healing to allies.
: This trait will now also Recharge all burst skills when it activates. Reduced the Cooldown from 15 seconds to 12 seconds.

Berserker Trait Line

: This trait no longer extends duration by a flat amount and instead causes Primal Burst skills to extend duration by 2 seconds when striking an enemy, once per skill. will extend mode by 1 second.
: This trait no longer has an internal Cooldown. Reduced the Quickness duration from 4 seconds to 3 seconds. grants 2 seconds of Quickness.

Berserker will now have it easier than ever to maintain permanent .

Power Quickness Berserker is poised to be the next heavily-overtuned Quickness build.