Just like the title says, I feel like this nerf is nonsense.
Solar Flare:
Reduced the cast time from this ability and the Dark Flare morph to 1 second from 1.1 seconds.
Increased the travel speed to match other projectiles.
Reduced the damage by approximately 37% to make up for the fact that it can be cast more frequently.
Reduced base cost from to 2970 Magicka from 3240.
So not only will the damage get nerfed by a metric ton, but you also decided to increase the cost too?(edit misread, cheaper but really not enough) And all under the guise of "now you can cast it more!". Just another terrible change that further homogenizes the Templar class. Now I do not test on PTS because I play console, but unless that flare is like javelin travel speed it will be relocated to our our broken down "House" down by the river. So just for argument sake lets break down dark flare for those who never use it.
Dark Flare
Pros: Hits hard, applies major defile...... yea thats about it after the empowerment changes
Cons: Sloooooow travel time, 1.1 second channel time, dodge-able, interrupt-able,and has an audio que to warn target
Now lets list the current uses for this skill in PvP/PvE enviroments:
PvE: Ranged DPS- currently no competitive PvE DPS will use dark flare for the many cons above. Mainly it's just too slow and the dmg is too low to justify the ability slot
PvP: Ranged DPS or Gank build- In PvP this ability does have niches, but still the ability is almost a liability in combat when not just spamming from the safety of a wall or large group. You will get interrupted, you will miss alot, and if not careful when casting you will run out of magicka quickly.
Now I understand more then most that Dark Flares can hit hard, but to do so you have to build in such a way that you sacrifice resource regeneration and survive-ability to extreme levels. Even without the upcoming nerf, most common magicka templar builds will struggle to land dark flares larger then 5-7k in PvP and 10-15 in PvE. Now take off 37%.... you now have a 1 second channeled ability that will hit for 3150-4410 in PvP and 6300- 9450 in PvE... light attacks hit harder...
Who was huffing paint when this was thought up ZoS?????
At least make it undogeable, uninterruptable, instant cast, something...
P.S: I don't expect any change to be made because this is one of the least used abilities in the game and ZoS's track record with "Thinking it Through" is less then terrible.
Edited by UppGRAYxDD on April 30, 2019 6:35PM "Stendarr's mercy be upon you, for the vigil has none to spare."