(PVE) Countering High Burst Damage Post Shield Nerf

BlessingsofAkatosh

I'm honestly peeved about this to the point where I might try and make a post in the proper thread to highlight all of my problems with this new change. Please bear in mind that I've just now returned to the game after a long break, so this is an issue that many people have already gotten over. I, on the other hand, am just now running into the problem and am trying to figure out how to deal with it.

So, shields. I can't remember the exact changes made, whether it was decreasing how much the damage shield blocked or if they could no longer stack, but there's been a considerable nerf to them. I think the reasoning was to discourage spamming shield in PVP. Unfortunately, this has had terrible repercussions for PVE, because in certain dungeons and trials, some mobs and bosses have such high burst damage that you can't escape and your healer can't do their job in time, and the only way to keep yourself alive is to preemptively buff yourself to mitigate some of the damage. This is no longer an option.

Case in point, BCI. Rilis' 20k ranged instakilled me despite my shield each time. I was keeping my distance (on my petsorc), but despite how safe I was playing and how carefully positioned I was, you can't outsmart an instantly cast direct damage spell. My healer couldn't do anything, and I certainly couldn't do anything. I just had to take it and wait for rez. It happened so many times that my fully repaired armor broke. And bear in mind, I'm approximately CP 500 and decently experienced with pledges. But that didn't seem to matter any. At the end of the day, what did matter is the results:

Dungeons like BC1 are now a game of Russian roulette where you have to hope you don't fight a version of Rilis with the instakill. Otherwise the survivor achievement is impossible.

Glass cannon builds are no longer viable in dungeons with mobs/bosses with high burst damage.

If you want to attempt these, you will be A: throwing gold down the drain due to broken armor B: costing your team time and DPS from constantly dying and having to let your magicka regen after rezzing since you respawn with around 35% of your pool C:forfeiting opportunities to get survivor and even assassin achievements. I'm not sure why petsorc is on ZOS' hit list but I think you can balance out builds without killing them.

So that being said, I clearly need to find some way to deal with this better. What are some techniques a petsorc can pull to avoid an instakill? I don't plan to respec or alter my build, and yes, I do eat food that buffs my max hp before a pledge.

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO

Block?

Glass cannon builds are no longer viable in dungeons with mobs/bosses with high burst damage.

This is just false, none of my mag too so ever used wards and I got all those no death stuff you are talking about. Pay attention, block/dodge when you need to and you will be fine.

That rilis fight you are talking about, just hold block when the boss puts fire down.

It also helps if the tank is actually using minor maim and a weakening glyph. This lowers the damage from the boss tons. Would help too if the healer had on healing mage.

UntilValhalla13

I guess just try and familiarize yourself with the timing of the one shots. Watch his attacks and preemptively block when you think it's about to go out. His fast projectile is around every 20 seconds (?) or so. He hits the tank a few times, does his heavy attack, holds his sword up to spawn fire aoes, and throws this fast fireball thingie. You probably wouldn't have time to actually shield, but I would always block or dodge roll if he quick-turns to look at me. Block-cast for a few seconds if you have to.

It's one of only a handful of truly random potential one shots if people aren't careful. It's literally up to the player's own awareness, because as you said, the healer nor tank can do anything about it, unfortunately. It just becomes a second instinct after doing it enough times.

SaintSubwayy

you should definetly check your CP, and how you spend them...

I myself dont even get 1 shot in BC1 HM, when Im not blocking...so there must be something youre missing out on, or CPs spent in the wrong perk.

Checkmath

Mostly people do not get oneshotted anymore by those mechanics of the base game dungeons. DLC dungeons are another story tough.
Your example of Rilis in BC1 could be resolved very easely by paying attention to the boss. Normally the boss is facing the tank and has to turn around, when using that hard hitting single target spell. Just pay attention and you will have enough time to evade it. Just blocking will do the job fine.
Yes shields got changed, but not only negatively. Your resistance now applies to the shields, making them more valuable then before. This change was not only for PvP, also for PvE, where magicka toons had strong survivability thanks to their shields, meanwhile stamina toons did not have that. Your shields now are smaller, but have more value.

zvavi

also tanks can affect it, with minor maim, heroic slash op.

DarkPicture

U are just non experienced, shields now can absorb 50% of your hp. And u can outsmart many things, use shield faster if u know at which % what boss will doing. Idk why u created this useless thread rather than play more time and try to get some experience.
And stop spreading false informations what is viable and what is not.

ATreeGnome

If you're unwilling to alter your build at all, your best bet for mechanics like you described would be to either block + shield or dodge roll the attacks. Otherwise you'll need to consider some gear/ability/CP changes.

It's hard to make suggestions without seeing your setup but here are a few that might help.

1. Run blue food for max health/magicka. It will give significantly more health than purple health/magicka/regen food. This will also help increase your shield strength.
2. Use a skill that gives you major resolve and ward. Shields take your resistances in to account now so having these buffs will really help cut down the amount of damage you and your shield take.
3. Put more red CP in to elemental defender and spell shield. Typically, DPS players will take more magic damage than physical damage so it's usually worth it to invest a bit more in magic damage reduction.
4. If you have Valkyn Skoria, consider running it. It does great damage but stiil boosts max health.