Werewolf Execute Skill

dark_hunterxmg · December 3

Werewolf needs a better execute ability. The dot from Carnage is awkward to cast, easily cleansed, and easy to heal out of.
I propose that the Carnage bleed DoT be applied on the initial hit of pounce. Making that change would enable the gap closer to be more useful by not requiring a second cast of the melee range ability. It would be similar to how Lotus Fan works. The execute scaling can be moved to Infectious Claws, scaling 200% for the initial hit.

Necrotech_Master · December 3

for pvp, yeah the execute dot is hard to land correctly needing to gap close first

for pve i never have issues with it though, actually just keep it as part of my rotation to also keep the dmg buff up

i would agree though that infectious class definitely should be stronger, as applying major defile is nowhere near as potent at it used to be, claws of life needs a buff too because the healing returned from that is so weak as to be near negligible

Tommy_The_Gun · December 3

In PvE it is also kinda unnecessary hindered as it takes like 2 GCD and you are risking getting CC-ed. I mean, you need to gap-close the target (or just jump up in point-blank range) & then use the 2nd part of the skill. You are left open for CCs for far too long than it is needed and if you do get CC-ed, there is 90% of chance that you will need to repeat the whole process again as window for execute part of the skill will expire. Mobs don't respecting CC immunity also does not help.

Erickson9610 · December 4

I agree that Werewolf could really use some direct damage execute ability. Considering the options:

Light/Heavy Attacks are most likely out of the picture, due to being cheap to use. Nothing really changes about your rotation once the enemy gets down to execute range because ideally you light attack weave anyway. At least Blood Moon light attack spam or Ferocious Roar heavy attack spam would be deadlier.
The initial hit of Pounce would be an ideal candidate for the execute. As a gap closer, you don't necessarily use it when you're already within melee range, so it would visually signal that you are changing up your rotation to focus on execute. The only reason we use Pounce at all when in melee range is to get access to Carnage, generally for keeping up Brutal Carnage stacks or dealing execute damage.
Piercing Howl would be an interesting candidate for dealing execute damage. It's direct damage and it's a projectile that can be blocked by NPC ice walls or reflected back at you with Player abilities like Defensive Stance. Given its counterplay in both PvE and PvP, I'm personally going to swap this ability out if we get a Werewolf Scribed Skill which deals damage. Piercing Howl by itself deals a lot of damage, with the only notable changes in the morphs being extra damage or a self synergy for extra buffs.
Infectious Claws has an area of effect direct damage component with the initial hit that would be ideal for execute scaling. It'd be like Whirling Blades from the Dual Wield skill line in that regard. As it stands, the execute scaling of Carnage (which is purely damage over time) is like removing the direct damage (and range) component of the Bow skill Poison Injection. Maybe Infectious Claws could work like Poison Injection and Whirling Blades, by having execute scaling on both the cleave direct damage and the damage over time on affected targets?

Alternatively, we could look to the Scribing system. If Werewolf were to get a Grimoire, then either the Grimoire by default has execute scaling, or one of the Scripts used can give it execute scaling. While just making a new Werewolf ability to deal with the problems of the original 5 abilities would work, ideally we shouldn't rely on Scribing to make the problem better, due to Scribing not being base game content.

dark_hunterxmg · December 4

Combining Carnage and Pounce together with execute scaling on the initial hit and bleed would work. The animation change would be very projected. It would also just look funny bouncing up and down in front of your target.
I would prefer to not use the Scribing system to improve the shortcomings of the original 5 skills. Spending extra money to make something more playable in game doesn't sit right with me.
I think if Werewolf got an execute change like we've discussed, and a good heal over time/cross heal ability like suggested in another thread, it would be in a good place to be more competitive in both PVE and PVP.