Oakensoul Ring Rebalance

Rogerth · July 23

Dear Team,

I am writing to you today as a passionate and long-time player of The Elder Scrolls Online. First of all, thank you for your continuous work on expanding Tamriel and evolving the game.

I want to bring to your attention a growing concern within the community regarding the current state of the Oakensoul Ring. This Mythic item was a groundbreaking addition for accessibility, allowing players who struggle with or dislike two-bar weapon swapping to still participate in endgame content.

However, with recent updates and power creep, the gap between the current Meta builds and Oakensoul builds has become unsustainable. While top-tier two-bar setups are currently pushing 200k+ DPS, a fully optimized Oakensoul build struggles to even reach half of that amount.

We completely understand and agree that one-bar builds should not achieve the absolute highest damage in the game. Risk and complexity should be rewarded. That being said, a 50% damage disparity makes the ring feel obsolete. To keep Oakensoul viable and respectable for veteran content, the damage potential should ideally sit around the 150k to 160k DPS mark.

Many players rely on this ring due to physical limitations, high latency, or simply a preference for a cleaner playstyle. Leaving Oakensoul so far behind the Meta is actively discouraging this segment of the community, and many risk losing interest in endgame progression entirely.

Please consider adjusting the buffs provided by the Oakensoul Ring in an upcoming patch to bring it back to a respectable balance. Keeping one-bar playstyles viable is crucial for keeping our diverse player base engaged and subscribed.

Thank you very much for your time, your dedication to accessibility, and for listening to community feedback.

Best regards!

Mogli · July 23

100% agree. As a player with Disabilities, Oakensoul has been one of the few items that makes this game significantly more playable for myself and others who struggle to play the game with bar-swapping.

I think the developers are scared of touching Oakensoul due to all the drama surrounded the Mythic when it was insanely strong on release, but it is drastically needed some improvements. One suggestion I've seen is somehow making it possible to obtain the 2 set of monster sets without wearing both, so you could theoretically have Oaken, two 5 sets, and a full monster set.

Just a thought.

valenwood_vegan · July 23

One quick and easy thing they could do for oakensoul heavy attack builds is bring back the nerfed tri-focus lightning staff cleave damage from the first two ticks. I mean maybe it was once overperforming, but I don't see how it would be now if I can just stand there with beam or breath doing the same thing.

Radiate77 · July 23

On top of current standing, as Skills begin to provide more value, it will be felt worse when using the mythic.

I always enjoyed the concept of less but more meaningful decision-making… that was my favorite part of New World.

When you’re not stuck watching cooldowns you’re more present in the game and enjoying the experience.

LunaFlora · July 23

yes.
it would be nice if it had the Major versions of Beserk, Courage, and Force again.

valenwood_vegan wrote: »

One quick and easy thing they could do for oakensoul heavy attack builds is bring back the nerfed tri-focus lightning staff cleave damage from the first two ticks. I mean maybe it was once overperforming, but I don't see how it would be now if I can just stand there with beam or breath doing the same thing.

that would be very helpful too yes.

tsaescishoeshiner · July 23

For PvE, Oakensoul doesn't always need to be close to the highest performing builds, as long as it can do the content. The DPS gap is a concern for content, and the higher end could be cut back.

The damage math change was a nerf for many builds, but subclassing and Class Masteries also added to overall (not relative) power. There are also high-performing one-bar builds with Rakkhat's Voidmantle. Hopefully the class refreshes add even more accessible channeled abilities.

CptTekashi · July 23

160k ? Yall lost your damn minds 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ravenshadow6513 · July 24

The current high meta numbers come from class mastery, which one-bar builds can use. And while seeing someone one-shot a tougher mob is cool and all, there's no content in the game that requires that high of dps. And why would you want to so trivialize content in that way? What challenge is there in that? What I would argue, is not buffing one mythic item, but looking at the overall power creep that's happened over the past year or so.

Rogerth · July 24

You’re right; reviewing and readjusting the current excessive damage output would also help. The key point is that, by comparison, Oakensoul is currently little more than trash. And—whether people like it or not—there are plenty of us who dislike the complexity of two-bar setups, and the rest of the community ought to respect that. Personally, if things stay this way and Oakensoul (or the option to play a one-bar build) becomes completely unviable for endgame content, I’ll quit the game—and I have no doubt many others would too. The devs would do well to improve it; as I said, I’m not asking for Oakensoul to match the damage of a two-bar build, just for them not to leave it in the state of garbage it’s currently in.

Necrotech_Master · July 24

i do like using it on my 1 bar tank i use for infinite archive, and my WW (it does help cover some extra buffs WWs do not get, and the minor heroism helps maintain WW form really easy)

Luneca · July 24

Sorry, but why exactly should 1-bar be so powerful? I cannot follwo or understand the logic.

You're doing less actions in a given time period and therefore less damage, seems balanced to me.

BretonMage · July 24

I mean, it's a game, so unless they're actually impacting other players (eg. in PVP, or with obtrusive cosmetics), then why should one care how other people have their fun?

In any case, I personally don't think it's necessary for Oakensoul builds to reach the full DPS potential of meta builds, but I agree with OP that it's falling too far behind. A bit of a boost would be nice.

And please give the lightning staff its AOE back.

Renato90085 · July 24

150-160k dps is 2 bar build med player cap,most player can't hit 170+
now oaken parse cap is 110,so maybe can buff to 130-140...?
but I think oaken would have to delete all it defensive buffs and add more good med armor ha build set for this to happen.

BretonMage · July 24

I use it to solo stuff with lots of mechanics, so here I was about to suggest it add Major Protection 😆

mocap · July 24

It depends on what kind of endgame content you mean. No raid leader will likely take a heavy attacker into trifecta trials. Everything else is not as significant, especially if PUG.

Oakensoul is pretty well-balanced right now, since it gives ton of both offensive and defensive buffs in a single item.

Ardriel · July 24

The Oakensoul ring is fine as it is. But the nerf to Trifocus could be reversed.

It's true that the overall damage in the game should be reduced. But if everything gets nerfed, the HA builds will end up dealing less damage again.

AlienatedGoat · July 24

It should give the Major buffs like it used to, except in PvP - it can swap to the Minor buffs vs players.

Soarora · July 24

I disagree with the concept of buffing oakensoul. It’s trying to do too much whilst also being a trap— it doesn’t matter if oakensoul is given major courage or major heroism or what have you, that will not make it any stronger in group content because an organized group (and likely an unorganized one too) has those buffs already. What I do agree with is returning the lightning aoe on every ha tick, adding more “when slotted on either bar” abilities, and Rakkhat. Honestly, throwing the concept out there that perhaps Oakensoul should just be completely reworked as a 1-bar non-HA mythic. No more buff list but instead a raw damage boost. That would make it better in groups and bring the defensive/healing capabilities more in-line with a regular DPS. And then you have:
Little/no weaving? Velothi + channeled build
HA, 1-bar or otherwise? Rakkhat
1-bar? Oakensoul

Usureki · July 24

I mean.. for what do you need any more buff than you already have? Most guilds have veteran trial dps requirement that is easily reached by current one bar builds. I do however endorse any attempts at modernising old content, including older sets, mythics etc. but maybe finishing class reworks should still be a higher prio as of now.

OsUfi · July 24

Ravenshadow6513 wrote: »

What I would argue, is not buffing one mythic item, but looking at the overall power creep that's happened over the past year or so.

From someone who left around Galen/West Wield time, and recently came back, this is how I feel also.

There's nothing in the game that cannot be completed when we all had a DPS ceiling of 100k-120k. The current 200k DPS ceiling has made the game honestly horrible. From PvP where being off meta or slow to react was still doable, now I feel like I have to optimise to all heckery just to survive. Then in PvE somehow, lord I don't know how, but the RND experience has become even worse, usually with someone blasting through things at an excessive speed.

You all got to use to slapping everything down to quickly. Slow the heck down.

As for Oakensoul, I am an oaken-main. I never take the thing off. PvE, PvP, healing, DPS, tanking, and it does exactly what it's meant to do. Let's me complete all content adequately, but I'll always be behind the two-bar crowd and that's fine.

Udrath · July 24

100k dps isn’t enough? How much do you need to do 1 million?

mocap · July 24

OsUfi wrote: »

As for Oakensoul, I am an oaken-main. I never take the thing off. PvE, PvP, healing, DPS, tanking, and it does exactly what it's meant to do.

Got kicked a few times for Oaken tanking (vet dlc dungeons). And healers sometimes completely lose their minds and chat fills up with their hot garbage opinion.

Angnos · July 24

People really need to learn how to properly use the Oakensoul build first. I’ve seen way too many people using it completely wrong.

Thoriorz · July 24

+1 on this

AcadianPaladin · July 24

When the dumpster fire of Update 35 struck, I was absolutely ready to rage quit the game. In desperation I tried an Oakensoul build. It wasn't the damage but the freedom to not micromanage buffs and be able to pay more attention to mechanics and what the mobs were doing. Anyway, I fell in love with it and would never go back to two bars.

I believe the idea of addressing overall damage creep would not help Oakensoul since the associated nerfs would affect Oakensoul builds as well.

I agree with OP that Oakensoul could use some love. Restoring lightning staff AoE would be helpful. Even though I'm not a pure HA attack build Oakensoul limits your skills available so everything you have has to really count - including having HA as a viable 'skill'. Other 'boosts' for Oakensoul might be to consider having passive buffs from any inaccessable skills on the second bar that provide passives to provide their passive buffs? Alternatively, remove the passive bonus for 2 bar builds unless you are on the relevant bar - the would reduce 2 bar power a bit while not hurting Oakensoul.

Heronisan · July 24

I dont think OP truly understand just how difficult it is to parse higher then 170k on classes other then WW, comparing dps with the truly best of the best, is beyond disingenous, and once again, an oakensoul enjoyer completely ignores the fact that these builds only have a fraction of the survivability u have on oakensoul builds, and the fact that you dont have to worry about sustain at all. You are a ranged tank.

Im sorry but no, even high skilled players wont be doing 150k+ dps in their dungeon setups, maybe in their dummy parse setup.

But these setups does not work the same in content.

Oakensoul is also incredibly powerful on WW as is. Its not just a HA mythic.

Wanting to parse 160k holding HA on a 1 bar is honestly mindblowing, you would even be crushing high skilled 2 bars in actual dungeon content.

BXR_Lonestar · July 24

valenwood_vegan wrote: »

One quick and easy thing they could do for oakensoul heavy attack builds is bring back the nerfed tri-focus lightning staff cleave damage from the first two ticks. I mean maybe it was once overperforming, but I don't see how it would be now if I can just stand there with beam or breath doing the same thing.

Yes! This!

And they can put Oakensoul back to its pre-nerf status. For those who aren't aware, Oakensoul did get a nerf when people complained that HA builds were performing too well compared to their 2 bar counterparts so they adjusted some of the buffs it provides to be minor to reduce its power. But if the original version of the Oakensoul was released now in this environment, it wouldn't even approach the top tier DPS.

Gabriel_H · July 24

Rogerth wrote: »

However, with recent updates and power creep, the gap between the current Meta builds and Oakensoul builds has become unsustainable. While top-tier two-bar setups are currently pushing 200k+ DPS, a fully optimized Oakensoul build struggles to even reach half of that amount.

On a parse dummy, not in content. In content Oakensoul is near pointless as the group gives the same buffs. There are one bar builds that work great in content without Oakensoul.

Orbital78 · July 24

Udrath wrote: »

100k dps isn’t enough? How much do you need to do 1 million?

Most newer trials leads want 120-130k. Even at that DPS, it still lacks burst that some encounters need.

Leivendil · July 24

As an Oakensoul only player I'm down to any buffs. I basically play the game thanks to Oakensoul. Not heavy attack btw.

Rogerth · July 24

Orbital78 wrote: »

Udrath wrote: »

100k dps isn’t enough? How much do you need to do 1 million?

Most newer trials leads want 120-130k. Even at that DPS, it still lacks burst that some encounters need.

Exactly; I don't know why some people find that part so hard to grasp. The ring has really fallen behind its former state; all that's being asked is for it to be adjusted slightly to align with current damage standards, which are quite high. Many players average around 170k, and the most hardcore ones are already exceeding 200k, so it’s not unreasonable to ask for Oakensoul—when played well—to yield results in the 130k to 150k range; that would be great.