Did Merciless Charge makes Rapid Stikes Overpower？

Faint_One

As channel skills got lower cost、higher dmg per cast，and almost sharing same gcd with instant spam skills
Above that，Rapid Strikes count as multi-direct damage which got huge benefit by Merciless Charge to cause it near 30~40% stronger than normal class spams.

StaticWave

Nah, the channel time is the biggest drawback. While you're channeling Rapid Strikes, you are unable to block damage. I could simply just block cast my spammable and negate 60% of your dmg while doing 100% back to you. Worse yet, it has no snare, meaning I could run fast enough to stop you mid channel. You could make the tooltip 18k and I would still choose an instant cast spammable with a 13k tooltip.

Faint_One

StaticWave wrote: »

Nah, the channel time is the biggest drawback. While you're channeling Rapid Strikes, you are unable to block damage. I could simply just block cast my spammable and negate 60% of your dmg while doing 100% back to you. Worse yet, it has no snare, meaning I could run fast enough to stop you mid channel. You could make the tooltip 18k and I would still choose an instant cast spammable with a 13k tooltip.

I totally agree with that you mentioned，we can take more core combat abilities in real contents.
But I mean we need able to choose what skill is better to use in such instance where need to
block cast、bash weave or dodge，not like even I interrupt my channel，RS still got better result with MA 2H，that's what I say overpowered.

Just like “ever you see fatecarver works worse than rune blades on single target？”

FirmamentOfStars

In PvP you will have many drawbacks using both merciless charge 2h and a dual wield weapon on the other bar, since you give up a blocking weapon and the huge opportunity to use elemental susceptibility. Also it costs you lots of barspace for a combo, that is not great in PvP. As static said, you can not block while channeling attacks while an enemy can outrange the channel midtime. Lots of drawbacks for a little stronger spammable.

Sluggy

I ran this very setup during the holidays and Static is pretty much on point. Yes the damage is obscene. I was getting crits that were individually hitting for 3k and 4k in some cases. But most good players know how to go into survival mode as soon as they see their hp start to melt away. The attack has a very distinct sound effect as well and it becomes pretty easy to spot the person using it and either sprint out of range, stun them, or just bash and bite back.

Overall I'd say it all kinda balances out. High risk, high reward kinda deal. If you can get into the thick of a crowded fight where you aren't being focused it can *really* tear the place up. At the end of the day though I'll take templar jabs over it. It may be one less strike but not requiring a target really makes up for it in a lot of cases and the damage is actually about the same on average.

Arcanasx

For PvP as others have mentioned, having to give up a defensive weapon like an ice staff with elemental susceptibility, and being unable to block cast with flurry, especially when others can block cast their instant spammables against you, are major drawbacks that somewhat "balances" out the damage potential of the combo.