2H Cleave Skill

SuperScrubby

Does anything think this skill is pretty underwhelming? The damage shield is pretty unremarkable when morphed and the +3 ultimate per hit is fine, however as an aoe ability it doesn't really scale too well. Ironically my 2H DK does more damage due to passives and just pure skill scaling with other AOE fire attacks + DoT's than Cleave.

I feel like this skill has so much potential but it's never met due to mediocre damage and a lackluster DoT. I'd rather use my stamina on a better single target ability and my magicka on an aoe class skill.

Rothguard

@SuperScrubby‌ I can't speak to heavily on this subject as my 2h toon is only lvl 12 atm. I do agree that the damage cleave does is slightly low compared to other aoe I have used.

Dudemanchu

From what i can tell Cleave (Carve) damage is near identical to light attacks, though it is AoE, and grants substantial Ultimate generation . From what i can tell, the arc of Cleave is nearly a full 180 degree frontal cone, something that for example, Templars puncturing strike must spend an additional skill point to morph to obtain. Cleave is also one of only three options for Stamina based AoE, and of only 2 that are melee, and of those 2 options, has the highest damage, and of any of them is the only one that can be used to generate ultimate.

Stamina AoE's to me seem like they are meant to simply act as filler as every class besides the Nightblade get most of their AoE damage in their class kits which uses magika. However, Nightblades can still AoE, they are just more reliant on constant use of ultimate for AoE damage and Cleave (carve) just so happens to help fill it.

To me, it seems fine. Cleave either acts as a filler to help maintain magika durring AoE situations, or it is used primarily as a Ultimate charger.

However, the major issue seems to lie with the other morph of Cleave which includes a damage shield. This sort of problem seems to expand beyond just cleave as there is just not many applications for damage shields at the moment, but Cleave exemplifies this.

1. Damage shields require you to tank damage
2. Tanking damage requires using a shield and consumes STA
3. Cleave requires using a 2h weapon and also consumes STA

The synergy there is just broken and could use a rework.

Azarul

I personally think cleave is just fine for early on. IMO by level 15+ you should be past it on to Critical charge, Uppercut, and Reverse slice which are all much better. I don't for see cleave being in anyone's 5 skill rotation.

Gravis

If you use brawler *damage shield cleave* on more than 3 enemies and use footwork to make sure only 2 of them are able to attack at a time *due to collision* it is pretty fantastic. If you have 5+ enemies and manage to use good foot work...Lets just say as a 2handed tank, it is one of the best investments I have made, and my healers love me for it. Not to mention that damage shields from separate abilities stack, so if you use Obsidian shield after you use cleave, the cleave will go down first but your shield will remain due to obsidian shield. This allows you to refresh your cleave damage shield. I agree that on 1-2 enemies cleave is very lack luster, even in its brawler form. However, its when you start getting decent sized groups where you must be the one to take their attention, that it really shines. Think of it as a preemptive heal that scales on enemies in melee range.

Erock25

I'm loving the damage shield morph one. I know damage shields ignore mitigation, which sucks, but in an aoe situation if you hit early with cleave that is one full round of incoming attacks which does just about 0 dmg to you. My general solo vs pack of mobs is sorc crystal frag, mage guild entropy (if I need it on a secondary mob), sorc crit surge, 2h crit charge, 2h damage shield cleave, sorc boundless storm, sorc crystal frag again if instant popped, 2h execute morphed for aoe dmg. Reapply cleave dmg shield (basically a heal with a low stam cost ) and boundless storm as needed.

I come out of packs of 5+ with almost full health.

Armitas

I feel like the damage is low as well. I might be okay with it if we had another basic single target, non conditional, attack but we don't. We have a buff, a charge, a CC, and a conditional damager (reverse slash). The only regular attack we have is cleave but its damage is scaled back to balance it as an aoe.

If the damage is set like they want it as an aoe then perhaps they could tweak it to provide single target and aoe functionality. Such as...
1) Change the function so that it does a greater amount of damage to one target and the current amount to additional targets.
2) Add a buff to the next single target attack. Either more damage, crit, or greater chance to proc an elemental effect (like arcane fighter)
3) Make heavy attacks used against foes suffering from the cleave bleed reset the bleed and double the damage of the bleed.

SuperScrubby

I guess because I play DK there's just so many other options I can use to get ultimate points that are passive as well as skills that give shield. With the lackluster damage and pretty weak bleed effect it just doesn't compel me to equip it on my skill bar which is a shame because I was hoping it would be.

It doesn't shine in terms of damage or utility since at least from a DK perspective is filled by anything else.

I was just hoping for a better skill I guess.

dungya

I dont run cleave anymore. found better ability and ability combos

The_Emproer

cleave is fine, it's cheap aoe that is meant to be spammed and has two fantastic morphs that further benefit from spamming of the ability. i think people are rating the ability based on one use, where it does fall short. try using it multiple times and you'll start to see how good it really is.

SuperScrubby

I ran the skill for a while and it just seemed like a waste of Stam. It's basically and aoe light attack that either gives a shield or ult points. Pve wise ult points are super easy to get, like under a minute. Pvp they're harder, but the skill blows so hard in pvp.

Not to mention spamming it basically nullifies the bleed effect damage. I would rather have them front load it so instead of doing damage akin to a light attack it's more like a medium/heavy attack with added bonus. I guess it's wishful thinking.