Dark Exchange animation

jecks33

Animation of this skill (and morphs) is so loooooong and we should be able to cancel it like all other skills in the game

MincVinyl

@jecks33
It is a cast time ability, that is why it cannot be canceled and feels like it takes so long. Suggesting any changes to this mechanic will prompt people to compare it to wardens netch ability which is a close rival. Each has their perks

If you would like to compare a morph of Dark exchange to a similar warden ability:
here is the comparison for a stamsorc dark deal vs a stamwarden bull netch as isolated as possible from their classes.
TLDR at bottom

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Dark Deal
+3600 stam instantly
+2400 stam over 20 sec = 120 stam/sec (when combined with instant stam = 300 stam/sec
+8090 health(can be modified by % and crit off wd ~9000 if modified properly)
-2284 mag cost
1sec Cast time = 1 gcd(global cooldown) (bashable leads to paying ~ 4374 stam to break free enemy pays ~ 1759 stam to bash)

(through passives)
Grants minor prophecy to group for 20 sec (nolonger affects stamsorc in anyway)

other Sorc passives
20% hp/stam regen off of having a pet tree ability slotted (not always slotted or used on builds)
10% mag recov
+2% wd + sd (doesn't affect much on most backbar setups)

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Bull Netch
4416 stam over 25 sec = 176.64 stam/sec (when combined with passive =~284 stam/sec
5 purges over 25 sec = 1 purge/sec
instant cast = 1 gcd
free cost

(through passives)
restores health when unsummoned
grants 4 ult per 8 sec= 0.5 ult/sec
grants 12% mag/stam rec = roughly 216 stam rec (based on an average 1800 stam rec build while slotted)
+2% damage done (doesn't affect much on most backbar setups)

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So if you want to compare the two, DD gives slightly more resources, but will usually be used inefficiently with waste upon recast, where netch would be free to cast. Both would suffer a loss of a gcd. Dark deal offers upfront stam, but must pay the cost of mag.

The burst heal would most likely compare to the 5 purges, but the purge can be spammed while blocking for free in heavily defensive situations granting the passive heal. Where going into a dark deal cast in heavily defensive situations leaves you open for executions or any incoming damage, and on top of that you can be bashed out of it resulting in a loss of stam and time equivalent to a usual dark deal cast(1 gcd+15s of stam). This loss would leave you to have to recast again, costing another gcd.

Passive wise dark deal really only gives a bonus to allies since spell crit does not really affect stam sorc. Netch grants the user 0.5 ult/second(slightly under a usable minor heroism buff at 0.67ult/sec). Both classes get similar mag recov from passives. Both classes get damage buffs that will have little effect on usual backbar setups, but there can be cases where either could be placed on a damage bar to utilize these passives.

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TLDR: Comparing both dark deal and netch leads to dark deal having critical failure in high pressure situations (due to bash and cast preventing ability to block) which can defeat the purpose of a burst heal if you die because you had to completely open yourself up to get it. Netch would provide a purge and slight heal after any quick recast while able to block, which isn't as potent but allows the ability to avoid critical failure.

MashmalloMan

Don't touch my dark deal, the cast time is there for a reason. Upfront stamina and health for only 2k magicka is awesome. It's something you just need to learn how to use properly.

juhislihis19

It's extremely powerful. Downside is the chance to interrupt it in PVP. Interrupt means almost insta-death. Cast at your own peril. High risk, high reward.

Let's not get silly now, and leave it as it is.