Nightblade Ambush needs a rework

Eekshnerf · April 2015

Been playing since beta and I've decided that ambush needs some changes. The first is the cast time. We'll compare it to bolt escape because that's the most relatable teleporting skill. 2h charge weapon-skill is capable of keeping up with bolt escape. A question for everyone, are the shield charge and Templar charge capable of keeping up? Anyways, the cast time is "instant" for ambush, but the pre-teleport jump takes way too long and there's no way to animation cancel until after you've hit (I don't agree that anim cancel should be "a part of the game" but it isn't going anywhere so whatever.) I understand it makes it seem like there's more impact with the jump, but with every skill being canceled and all kinds of other lame stuff going on, I think that ambush should be updated to be on par. The 2nd thing I would like to see changed is for ambush to automatically place you behind the target. Personally I think the "back stab" mechanic is silly, because if I stab someone in the face or the heart when invisible, it'll be just as damaging as stabbing them in the ass. And to everyone that's gonna complain "oh but that's not fair! Then it'd be automatic!" But those are the people who dont even have to stealth to blow your socks off, and don't have to deal with silly positioning to do any damage. Comments and concerns please. If I'm misinformed on something, please tell me.

RavenSworn · April 2015

Personally i find nothing wrong with the ability or morph; however, i don't agree with the appearing behind the target. I'd like for NBs to automatically be in stealth AFTER you cast Ambush. This can only happen once in every 12 secs and will also proc the bonus damage from stealth or invisibility. It does NOT however guarantees a critical hit.

Make Lotus Fan a much more stronger attack then Ambush or make the snares last longer then the current duration. right now, Only Ambush seems to be more viable.

With this changes, Surprise Attack / Concealed Weapon will have more utility then the current Killer's Blade everything, since Mark is so much more solid and reliable.

just my two cents

Eekshnerf · April 2015

Just wondering, do you PvP? I find that the inability to chase people with ambush being too slow is really disheartening, especially when people can spam crit rush and basically teleport around, even tho ambush is supposed to literally be teleporting.

OdinForge · April 2015

Eekshnerf wrote: »

Just wondering, do you PvP? I find that the inability to chase people with ambush being too slow is really disheartening, especially when people can spam crit rush and basically teleport around, even tho ambush is supposed to literally be teleporting.

I use ambush over crit rush, because I'm not using 2H as my source of damage. Crit rush is a superior gap closer, allows you to keep more reliable aggressive damage on target. It's part of the incentive to run 2H, and i don't think that's a reflection on ambush. It does suck though when you ambush a Sorc who then stuns you and gets away. There are other benefits to ambush as is, the fact that you can move over gaps and vertically is huge even with the cast time. There are moments (like Chal mine, or keep wall fighting) where you're able to board a wall or tower using ambush, it creates this fast paced multi-layer combat similar to DK leaping up keeps.

I think even with a reduction to cast time or no cast time for ambush, crit rush would still be the better choice for people investing in 2H. So I'm not against that type of change.

deepseamk20b14_ESO · April 2015

I stopped using ambush in favor of critical rush. Critical rush has it's issues too but it costs less and hits harder and I can catch people easier. I might go back to Ambush here and there but atm the skills is "meh" to me. Like most NB skills.

danovic · April 2015

Ambush seems very bugged since the patch too I see an npc start to cast and try to hit ambush but it will do nothing until the npc completes the cast and i get hit by the spell even when there cast is taking more then a second ambush is locked out.

Joy_Division · April 2015

Ambush easily keeps up with bolt escapers provided you are not stunned. There is cast time (well there used to be one) but the actual time between pressing the button and hitting the target is roughly the same as the other charges because the other charges have to actually travel the distance (and the animation time for shield charge is kind of slow).

As far as I know the ambush skill gives more bonus damage if you actually hit them in the back, thus putting some of the onus on you the player rather than giving max damage for pressing a button, which I think is a good thing. Also considering that ambush is unique amongst the charges in that it can be done at point blank range, giving it additional benefits like automatically placing you behind the target or putting you into stealth would be way too much.

I do think that Lotus fan is a terrible morph; it is so bad magicka based nightblades will intentionally leave this skill unmorphed.