So... Anyone still actually using Oakensoul?

merpins

thoughts on the Oakensoul nerf in pve?

TaSheen

I'm still using it on my two accounts with CP160 characters. It's still very helpful for me, even after the nerfs.

Baconlad

I will be. Xbox here.

My DPS is 69k on magplar on live, not sure what it will dip to, but I dispise two bar gameplay. Even if they remove oakensoul I will still play one bar lol.

I think it's better now, giving minor force and minor courage should stack up to a better damage output than on live in trials, but dungeons my damage will go down slightly compared to live version.

Iselin

Yup. The nerf wasn't that drastic especially if you use a heavy attack build.

My pet sorc with a lightning staff feels actually stronger thanks to the buff to Daedric Prey and the fact that channeled heavy attacks get the +80% buff for medium attacks also.

The Atronach isn't ready quite as often with its duration nerf and minor instead of major heroism but that build at least feels about the same or perhaps even better.

Melivar

Haven't done dungeons with my Oakensoul using character yet but with my daily list of activities so far I only really noticed a difference on the couple world bosses I fought but they were still manageable.

Ratzkifal

Iselin wrote: »

Yup. The nerf wasn't that drastic especially if you use a heavy attack build.

My pet sorc with a lightning staff feels actually stronger thanks to the buff to Daedric Prey and the fact that channeled heavy attacks get the +80% buff for medium attacks also.

The Atronach isn't ready quite as often with its duration nerf and minor instead of major heroism but that build at least feels about the same or perhaps even better.

I mean... it was drastic, but then ZOS listened to feedback and gave it back some power. Now it's not that bad anymore.

merpins

Iselin wrote: »

Yup. The nerf wasn't that drastic especially if you use a heavy attack build.

My pet sorc with a lightning staff feels actually stronger thanks to the buff to Daedric Prey and the fact that channeled heavy attacks get the +80% buff for medium attacks also.

The Atronach isn't ready quite as often with its duration nerf and minor instead of major heroism but that build at least feels about the same or perhaps even better.

Daedric Prey + nerfs to pets actually results in less damage than before the update. It just means you have to use it if you use pets.
33% nerf means the damage is 67% of what it used to be. If you add 45% to the new value, it equals 97%, which is 3% less than before the update with no buffs at all. I saw a 30% damage drop on my oaken sorc build on the 3m dummy, at least 15% of that, if not more, comes from the nerf to oakensoul. I have no dots on my bar other than atro.

But I'll give you that. Oakensoul is a good item... For heavy attack builds only.

jaws343

merpins wrote: »

Iselin wrote: »

Yup. The nerf wasn't that drastic especially if you use a heavy attack build.

My pet sorc with a lightning staff feels actually stronger thanks to the buff to Daedric Prey and the fact that channeled heavy attacks get the +80% buff for medium attacks also.

The Atronach isn't ready quite as often with its duration nerf and minor instead of major heroism but that build at least feels about the same or perhaps even better.

Daedric Prey + nerfs to pets actually results in less damage than before the update. It just means you have to use it if you use pets.
33% nerf means the damage is 67% of what it used to be. If you add 45% to the new value, it equals 97%, which is 3% less than before the update with no buffs at all. I saw a 30% damage drop on my oaken sorc build on the 3m dummy, at least 15% of that, if not more, comes from the nerf to oakensoul. I have no dots on my bar other than atro.

But I'll give you that. Oakensoul is a good item... For heavy attack builds only.

Which, kind of the point though right? The ring is meant to be the ultimate accessibility option, and heavy attack spam builds are literally the best accessibility option there is. No worry about weaving, or resource sustain, or spammables. Just lay down your 20 second dots and hold one button.

I am not currently using Oakensoul in PVE on live (mostly because I was waiting to see how it would shake out during the patch before I spent resources building around it), but I will be 100% switching to an Oakensoul build in both PVE and PVP next patch.

ellmarie

I'm on console so still waiting to see how it does. But I have it currently on 3 builds. I hope it's not affected too much. I really love it.

Toxic_Hemlock

Still good for overland and solo normal easier dungeons if you don't mind losing the speed of wild hunt, but then again you may want to avoid the bosses unless you switch to a pale rider. If you are going to do arena content though you are better off with pale rider to keep your health up. For trials and vet content although I don't do them, a two bar build will be your best bet according to the number crunchers.

All in all it has entered into the realm of MEH, as it has lost its original purpose, that being making players such as myself confident enough to try tougher content IMO.

Alienoutlaw

on my full pet build (both sorc pets and Maw) and 2 DoTs the damage is actually still nice with heavy attacks, im also trying out plague break instead of dark convergance and it seems to be out performing DC in trash mob encounters everything is blowing up nicely, the nerf to Oakensoul wasnt as bad as it was going to be, but that said a 2 bar build for PVP is still very much needed as we have lost empower

merpins

jaws343 wrote: »

merpins wrote: »

Iselin wrote: »

Yup. The nerf wasn't that drastic especially if you use a heavy attack build.

My pet sorc with a lightning staff feels actually stronger thanks to the buff to Daedric Prey and the fact that channeled heavy attacks get the +80% buff for medium attacks also.

The Atronach isn't ready quite as often with its duration nerf and minor instead of major heroism but that build at least feels about the same or perhaps even better.

Daedric Prey + nerfs to pets actually results in less damage than before the update. It just means you have to use it if you use pets.
33% nerf means the damage is 67% of what it used to be. If you add 45% to the new value, it equals 97%, which is 3% less than before the update with no buffs at all. I saw a 30% damage drop on my oaken sorc build on the 3m dummy, at least 15% of that, if not more, comes from the nerf to oakensoul. I have no dots on my bar other than atro.

But I'll give you that. Oakensoul is a good item... For heavy attack builds only.

Which, kind of the point though right? The ring is meant to be the ultimate accessibility option, and heavy attack spam builds are literally the best accessibility option there is. No worry about weaving, or resource sustain, or spammables. Just lay down your 20 second dots and hold one button.

I am not currently using Oakensoul in PVE on live (mostly because I was waiting to see how it would shake out during the patch before I spent resources building around it), but I will be 100% switching to an Oakensoul build in both PVE and PVP next patch.

Empower no longer works in PVP. And people that need accessibility options don't want to only use heavy attack builds. Let's say you had arthritis in your hands and couldn't play to the best of your ability, and ZoS said "here's an item that will let you play the game how you want!" only to later say "if how you want is specifically heavy attack builds." not great.

jaws343

merpins wrote: »

jaws343 wrote: »

merpins wrote: »

Iselin wrote: »

Yup. The nerf wasn't that drastic especially if you use a heavy attack build.

My pet sorc with a lightning staff feels actually stronger thanks to the buff to Daedric Prey and the fact that channeled heavy attacks get the +80% buff for medium attacks also.

The Atronach isn't ready quite as often with its duration nerf and minor instead of major heroism but that build at least feels about the same or perhaps even better.

Daedric Prey + nerfs to pets actually results in less damage than before the update. It just means you have to use it if you use pets.
33% nerf means the damage is 67% of what it used to be. If you add 45% to the new value, it equals 97%, which is 3% less than before the update with no buffs at all. I saw a 30% damage drop on my oaken sorc build on the 3m dummy, at least 15% of that, if not more, comes from the nerf to oakensoul. I have no dots on my bar other than atro.

But I'll give you that. Oakensoul is a good item... For heavy attack builds only.

Which, kind of the point though right? The ring is meant to be the ultimate accessibility option, and heavy attack spam builds are literally the best accessibility option there is. No worry about weaving, or resource sustain, or spammables. Just lay down your 20 second dots and hold one button.

I am not currently using Oakensoul in PVE on live (mostly because I was waiting to see how it would shake out during the patch before I spent resources building around it), but I will be 100% switching to an Oakensoul build in both PVE and PVP next patch.

Empower no longer works in PVP. And people that need accessibility options don't want to only use heavy attack builds. Let's say you had arthritis in your hands and couldn't play to the best of your ability, and ZoS said "here's an item that will let you play the game how you want!" only to later say "if how you want is specifically heavy attack builds." not great.

So, having to repeatedly hit the same button every second, with light attack weaving, is somehow better for arthritis. Rather than just holding one button.

And yeah, Empower doesn't work in PVP. So what. Very few builds can really build around empower in PVP anyways. Not much of a loss.

ssewallb14_ESO

Until they fix the maelstrom staff it's the strongest set for sorc heavy attack builds without raid buffs.

jaws343

ssewallb14_ESO wrote: »

Until they fix the maelstrom staff it's the strongest set for sorc heavy attack builds without raid buffs.

I'm planning on running it with the Maelstrom staff and Maw. Not sure on the body set yet. But without having to bar swap, the maelstrom staff will work really well with Oaken, and and provide a nice amount of damage per tick to all enemies on top of the Oaken buffs.

Rust_in_Peace

It's still doing what it did before it's just not as busted in pvp; but will still be a strong option for some builds. It's all the other changes that are being felt right now that hurt.

Necrotech_Master

im considering putting it on my WW toon, but dont really have any builds for it yet

in all honesty it was not hardly nerfed that much

a few buffs were changed from major to minor versions (the difference between them is small) and then they added minor slayer and empower to it

i think its actually accomplishing its goals now more than it was previously

Iselin

merpins wrote: »

Iselin wrote: »

Yup. The nerf wasn't that drastic especially if you use a heavy attack build.

My pet sorc with a lightning staff feels actually stronger thanks to the buff to Daedric Prey and the fact that channeled heavy attacks get the +80% buff for medium attacks also.

The Atronach isn't ready quite as often with its duration nerf and minor instead of major heroism but that build at least feels about the same or perhaps even better.

Daedric Prey + nerfs to pets actually results in less damage than before the update. It just means you have to use it if you use pets.
33% nerf means the damage is 67% of what it used to be. If you add 45% to the new value, it equals 97%, which is 3% less than before the update with no buffs at all. I saw a 30% damage drop on my oaken sorc build on the 3m dummy, at least 15% of that, if not more, comes from the nerf to oakensoul. I have no dots on my bar other than atro.

But I'll give you that. Oakensoul is a good item... For heavy attack builds only.

Well first of all. I've been critical of this blanket nerf since it was announced and have made quite a few posts about it. It also pissed me off that they tried to characterize it as bringing up the bottom when it does nothing of the sort.

So now that I got that out of the way, since update 35 dropped yesterday I'm just trying to make the best out of a bad situation. I don't do dummies and parses which is why I talked about how it feels to me. I don't raid but do vet dungeons and solo most overland bosses when I have to. I'm not at the bottom with my 1600 CP but definitely not at the top.

I take your parses as being accurate but one thing that you didn't mention and hardly anyone ever does mention is that the nerfed DOTs with their longer duration free up at least one (some two) GCD in a rotation if the rotation is long enough to matter. That extra LA+skill adds DPS that should be considered if you're going to look at the percentages of subtraction and additions of damage. Dummy parses would of course tell a more accurate story unless you're using the "new and improved" raid buff dummy that conveniently (for ZOS) muddles up the before and after comparisons.

Anyway... I stand by what I said about the feel after running 3 random PUG normal dungeons with my Oakensoul, HA, pet sorc build: It feels the same or better to me.

MageCatF4F

I'm solo and duo PVE.

U35 nerfed my dps by at least 15% as tested on PTS with a 3 million dummy.

To answer your question I just started using it. With U35 I had to buy oaken to stay even with the dps I did before U35. So I coined a new term - P2S - Pay To Survive.

Of course I also get Ember (meh) and TOT *which I will never play and a pretty Ren Faire island that in my grumpier moods I'd like to drop an A-Bomb on.

Vahndamme

Not using it anymore. Don't care about HA builds and the other buffs are not worth it anymore to lose backbar over.

haelgaan

i've got a handful of random normal tanks that use it. i liked it because it was an easy roll for simple content - just what i wanted at the end of a long day when i only have a bit of time to unwind.

i'm more than tired of constantly regearing my toons. if the gameplay is trashed by the change, i just won't play those. there are other games, other ways to spend my time.

barney2525

Im planning on using it. Been too lazy to get the rest of the leads.

jtm1018

me, because I am a 1 bar nut job.

Holycannoli

jtm1018 wrote: »

me, because I am a 1 bar nut job.

Same. I preferred 1 bar gameplay even before Oakensoul existed so I'm still using it.

TaSheen

Holycannoli wrote: »

jtm1018 wrote: »

me, because I am a 1 bar nut job.

Same. I preferred 1 bar gameplay even before Oakensoul existed so I'm still using it.

I never could bar swap on crap connection, so makes three of us.

tohopka_eso

I always hated bar swapping so still using on main warden and Necro. Am working on getting a third one though

phileunderx2

It is still worth using.
I have it on my stam warden. Did dailies in The Reach.
Soloed the dwemer world boss only died once because I ran out of stam. Changed vigor to polar winds and no more stam issues.
Harrowstoms were slow to clear as not many were running but was able to clear even with lots of the big trash mobs running around.

Necrotech_Master

tohopka_eso wrote: »

I always hated bar swapping so still using on main warden and Necro. Am working on getting a third one though

if you already gotten 1, couldnt you just recreate more of them? or just filling in the codex entries? lol

tohopka_eso

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

tohopka_eso wrote: »

I always hated bar swapping so still using on main warden and Necro. Am working on getting a third one though

if you already gotten 1, couldnt you just recreate more of them? or just filling in the codex entries? lol

Doing the codex entry 😊

Freelancer_ESO

Yeah.

I don't really like bar swapping and on several of my builds it's honestly more effective than not.

SilverBride

I only used it on my Magicka Sorcerer and will continue to do so.