Calling magSorc everywhere: Is Crystal Shard becoming unworthy to even slot?

Pr0Skygon

I'm gonna be honest, Crystal Shard ability (both morphs) makes no sense, at all, because they do the opposite of their design philosophy.
Let's talk about Crystal Fragments first, since it's a lot more popular. The core design philosophy of this skill is too eliminate the cast time, and make it become a proc, which to me sounds a lot like something for PvP players. But then you realized aside from the bonus 10% damage and 50%, this skill give 0 utility. It does not CC, snare, off balance, or have any combo skill after it (as of for now, it was a perfect setup with Endless Fury + Curse before), heck even Crushing Shock interrupts casters, and it's spammable. In PvE however, it might get some use for Minor Prophecy buff for group play (which is hard to come by). But then again, the skill only perform slightly better than other skills, such as Destructive Touch, but then you realize you'll have to struggle with RNG god for this, on a DPS rotation. I've seen so many time, when I get the proc at the end of my rotation, when I have to switch bar, or I don't even have the proc at all, there's even time when I kill a boss without ever using this skill. For a skill that require your luck, your skill and your absolute attention to it, it is simply unworthy at this state.

Next is Crystal Blast. Well let's cut to the chase: This morph sucks on every front. It's useless in PvE for the long cast time, but poor damage, the AOE is fine addition but stunning is really unnecessary in PvE. It''s even worse in PvP, for now ZOS new changes to punish casting abilities (which all suck in my opinion). I don't even think buffing it might change anything, but what needed is a total rework for this monstrosity.

Now, let's the voting begin. I'd love to hear what you guys have to say about this

jaws343

Other (leave your comment below).

I think fragments in PVE is still useful. The stun wasn't really needed for boss fights. And as for the procs right before bar swapping, you can usually get through a back bar rotation and to the front bar before the proc goes away. And in PVP, the sudden burst this provides is deadly. The lack of stun is unfortunate, but you can deal the damage of the fragment without having to give your opponent CC immunity. Which also means that, when you aren't lining up a burst, you can spam this ability on proc.

Crystal Blast is currently not useful in PVP or PVE outside of a very few niche applications (Overload Gank builds are a great showcase of its use.) But, I think the interrupt immunity coming in the next patch may make this an interesting ability to use.

Didgerion

What are you talking about, it's fine.

Frags is fine, and still does tons of damage.

But you need to combo it with Meteor and Rune Cage.

This is one of the most powerful combo in the game:
Meteor + Rune Cage + Frag + Execute. Basically with no counter if landed right. As people are still trying to block meteor and fail due to the Rune Cage.

The Sorc problem is his Shields - they just don't do the job against High DPS high resistance builds anymore.
Ans shieldbreaker is still there too.

You are still tanky as hell when shielding up - but you don't do damage while casting it - while other classes can put constant pressure and heal at the same time.

I loose almost all my 1v1 encounters when playing against good players with stamina builds.
While at the same time a have no troubles 1vX -ing lots of PUG groups.

Which later come on the forum and cries for shield nerfs.

Minalan

Yep, it's just a shell of its former self now.

Didgerion wrote: »

Frags is fine, and still does tons of damage.

But you need to combo it with Meteor and Rune Cage.

This is one of the most powerful combo in the game:
Meteor + Rune Cage + Frag + Execute. Basically with no counter if landed right. As people are still trying to block meteor and fail due to the Rune Cage.

The Sorc problem is his Shields - they just don't do the job against High DPS high resistance builds anymore.
Ans shieldbreaker is still there too.

You are still tanky as hell when shielding up - but you don't do damage while casting it - while other classes can put constant pressure and heal at the same time.

I loose almost all my 1v1 encounters when playing against good players with stamina builds.
While at the same time a have no troubles 1vX -ing lots of PUG groups.

Which later come on the forum and cries for shield nerfs.

Frags does tons of damage... to potatoes. Sorry.

Against a mag warden it does nothing.
Against a DK with scales, it’s coming back at you.
Against a regular HA build it does 5-6K and probably triggers a heal on them and it’s gone.

It needs the damage bonus back, I don’t care about the stun as much but It would be nice.

Feanor

To me it's not about frags. The whole class kit needs an overhaul.

Pr0Skygon

Yep, it's just a shell of its former self now.

Didgerion wrote: »

Frags is fine, and still does tons of damage.

But you need to combo it with Meteor and Rune Cage.

This is one of the most powerful combo in the game:
Meteor + Rune Cage + Frag + Execute. Basically with no counter if landed right. As people are still trying to block meteor and fail due to the Rune Cage.

The Sorc problem is his Shields - they just don't do the job against High DPS high resistance builds anymore.
Ans shieldbreaker is still there too.

You are still tanky as hell when shielding up - but you don't do damage while casting it - while other classes can put constant pressure and heal at the same time.

I loose almost all my 1v1 encounters when playing against good players with stamina builds.
While at the same time a have no troubles 1vX -ing lots of PUG groups.

Which later come on the forum and cries for shield nerfs.

hey, you've just copied magDK homework, haven't you? Shame on you sir

Rainraven

I haven't even touched that skill for long now. It is that bad.

I wasn't using it in Cyrodiil anyway, in a small scale fight it's hard (for me) to land it reliably. When they took the stun off, I dropped it in PVE too. It's not completely useless, I just feel there are better options for my precious few skill slots.

Still miss it.

Adernath

I haven't even touched that skill for long now. It is that bad.

In my opinion the skill is ripe for a complete overwork. I would like to see a classical fireball skill instead with a cast time, but also with enough damage to make up for this longer cast time.

PhoenixGrey

Feanor wrote: »

To me it's not about frags. The whole class kit needs an overhaul.

We can have a simple fix. Just add streak, fury and hardened ward to the mag warden and rename class to sorc (i assume rest of the sorc skills are trash anyway). I can guarantee that it will perform better than the current sorc

Morgul667

Other (leave your comment below).

It's an ill advised morph. Cant be good, right

Seriously though, it is okayish, i still slot it from time to time

Pr0Skygon

Yep, it's just a shell of its former self now.

Morgul667 wrote: »

It's an ill advised morph. Cant be good, right

Seriously though, it is okayish, i still slot it from time to time

Well my friend, to see a signature skill to become an okayish skill is just sad to me

Pr0Skygon

Yep, it's just a shell of its former self now.

Rainraven wrote: »

I wasn't using it in Cyrodiil anyway, in a small scale fight it's hard (for me) to land it reliably. When they took the stun off, I dropped it in PVE too. It's not completely useless, I just feel there are better options for my precious few skill slots.

Still miss it.

Yeah I'd rather bring destructive touch to PvP and PvE at this point