Greetings to everyone who decided to look up this thread. There will be 4 following sections in here:
1. Ranking: Here I will state how good or bad NB is a in various types of content, both PvE and PvP. There will be 7 grades: 1 - Horrible; 2 - Weak 3 - Decent, but can't stand the competition; 4 - Decent; 5 - Good; 6 - Excellent; 7 - Overperforming.
2. Explanation: Here I will explain why exactly NB belongs to the grades I mentioned.
3. Suggestions: Here will be a list of the changes that will make NB good both in PvP and PvE.
4. Introduction: I'll quickly introduce myself just so you know what kind of player made this thread. It may sound silly but you will get the point of why I decided to write it down.
Since I've wrote an entire essay here you can skip it straight to the third section if you don't want to read all of this, it is the most important one.
And here we go.
1. Rankings:
PvE rankings:
Trials:
Trial DD/DPS: 1(Horrible)
Trial Healer: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)
Trial Tank: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)
Dungeons(and 4 people arenes):
Dungeon DD/DPS: 6(Excellent)
Dungeon Healer: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)
Dungeon Tank: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)
Solo Arenas: 6(Excellent)
PvP rankings:
Battlegrounds:
Solo battlegrounds: 2(Weak)
Group battlegrounds: 2(Weak)
Solo Battlegrounds healer: 4(Decent)
Group Battlegrounds healer: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)
Imperial City:
Solo regular builds gameplay: 2(Weak)
Unorginized group: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)
Orginized small group(Small scale): 4(Decent)
Orginized big group(Ball group): 4(Decent)
Any unorginized group healer: 6(Excellent)
Orginized small group(Small scalle) healer: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)
Orginized big group healer(Ball group): 6(Excellent)
1vX Builds: 5(Good)
Cyrodiil:
Solo regular builds gameplay: 1(Horrible) (That's the only difference from the Imperial City list so you can skip it)
Unorginized group: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)
Orginized small group(Small scale): 4(Decent)
Orginized big group(Ball group): 4(Decent)
Any unorginized group healer: 6(Excellent)
Orginized small group(Small scalle) healer: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)
Orginized big group(Ball group): 6(Excellent)
1vX or Kite Builds: 5(Good)
Duels: 1(Horrible)
2. Now onto the explanations, this is a long one.
Trials:
Trial DD/DPS: 1(Horrible) - There is a lot to say and it's not as obvious as you may think. NB DD has 3 core problems: First - it's designed to be single target damage class, while the vast majority of trial bosses are all about AoE and there is no way to make single target designed class to be a good sheer damage dealer(parser) without changing the game's balance entirely. Second - even the single target damage is just too low. NB is lacking good class source of major savagery(cloak is NOT a good source. Examples of a good sources - flames of oblivion and vampire's bane) so there is no way to get minor heroism and skills damage is mostly just lower than it should be. Third - NB is just overall useless. NB grants no damage increase to the group whatsoever, the only unique buff NB can give is minor savagery which is not needed because minor prohpecy is basically the same thing now, but unlike NB sorcerers are useful and can give major berserk to the whole group(and they also have more DPS, both aoe and ST).
Trial Healer: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition) - Since the only thing that is actually important for PvE supports is how they can buff their group - let's see what NB can do... Oh well, NB can't do anything. As I mentioned above minor savagery is not needed, so the only thing that healer or tank can do is to uptime major cowardice on the enemy(can uptime minor cowardice but warden can do this as well). Major cowardice is a solid debuff but it only decreases NPC's damage, which is not exactly valuable for PvE. It is comfortable and can even be good sometimes, but in the most scenarios it's absolutely rudimental.
Trial Tank: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)(SAME THING AS A HEALER, you can skip that part) - Since the only thing that is actually important for PvE supports is how they can buff their group - let's see what NB can do... Oh well, NB can't do anything. As I mentioned above minor savagery is not needed, so the only thing that healer or tank can do is to uptime major cowardice on the enemy(can uptime minor cowardice but warden can do this as well). Major cowardice is a solid debuff but it only decreases NPC's damage, which is not exactly valuable for PvE. It is comfortable and can even be good sometimes, but in the most scenarios it's absolutely rudimental.
Dungeons(and 4 people arenas):
Dungeon DD/DPS: 6(Excellent) - This is one of the few things in which NB is actually good at. NB has excellent sustain(which is needed for dungeons unlike trials), great survivability/passive self healing(which is also needed for dungeons unlike trials) and a master assassins passive(which grants you 2974 penetration). These 3 things combined allows NB to use medium armor in dungeons without forcing support or another DD to wear a penetration set or changing your mundus to lover etc while any other class besides arcanist can't do that, which may not sounds too outstanding but it is actually a very good advantage. Major berserk actually makes sence in dungeons since there will be no sorcerer to give it to you, AoE damage is mostly not really needed in dungeons. Besides that NB's ulti is just good for most of the dungeons because it's cheap and very stable. Most of the other skills are stable as well, you don't have to slot more than 2 AoE ground dots which makes NB quite versatile.
Dungeon Healer: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)(SAME THING AS TRIAL) - Since the only thing that is actually important for PvE supports is how they can buff their group - let's see what NB can do... Oh well, NB can't do anything. As I mentioned above minor savagery is not needed, so the only thing that healer or tank can do is to uptime major cowardice on the enemy(can uptime minor cowardice but warden can do this as well). Major cowardice is a solid debuff but it only decreases NPC's damage, which is not exactly valuable for PvE. It is comfortable and can even be good sometimes, but in the most scenarios it's absolutely rudimental.
Dungeon Tank: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition)(SAME THING AS TRIAL) - Since the only thing that is actually important for PvE supports is how they can buff their group - let's see what NB can do... Oh well, NB can't do anything. As I mentioned above minor savagery is not needed, so the only thing that healer or tank can do is to uptime major cowardice on the enemy(can uptime minor cowardice but warden can do this as well). Major cowardice is a solid debuff but it only decreases NPC's damage, which is not exactly valuable for PvE. It is comfortable and can even be good sometimes, but in the most scenarios it's absolutely rudimental.
Solo Arenas: 6(Excellent) - Basically same thing as dungeons but healing, versatility and sustain are even more important here and NB is the most versatile class with best self healing and second best sustain among all PvE DD classes.
PvP rankings:
Imperial City:
Solo regular builds gameplay: 2(Weak) - NB lacks damage to shine in "regular" pvp with average builds. NB's core problem is that NB doesn't have any burst whatsoever. I'll give you a 2 examples of what burst combo is: Warden - Warden's shalks are the best burst ability in the entire game, it has a delay and deals massive damage, not to mention that it applies minor and major breach, but DELAY is what makes it this good. You can combine it with your ultimate(DB) and after that you can still make a guaranteed executioner hit. If you timed 1 skill well than other 2 are guaranteed and they both deal massive damage. That is incredible burst. One more example - Templar. Templar's burst skill is purifying light or POTL(Power of the light). It's damage is way lower compared to warden's shalks, but it also has a delay. What can templar do? Use purifying light and pressure you while it holds with crescent sweep and biting jabs. If everything is done right you will be at low health to the moment when purifying light procs, when you are at low health and purifying light is about to proc templar uses binding javelin, purifying light damages you and than templar uses radiant opression. If you get that UNBLOCKABLE stun while at low health you are dead, and javelin guarantees radiant opression(while purifying lights guarantees itself unless purged). These are 2 examples of what good burst should be. Sorcerers, necromancers and DKs have their burst abilities as well, but there is no point explaining how their burst works, you should have get my point here already. What combines EVERY burst combo is that they have delayed skill in them and are guaranteed if you managed to land one skill. Now what does NB have? Is there a damaging skill with delay? No, there is none. Is there any guaranteed damage after your ultimate like warden, DK or necro can do? No. The best thing NB can do is using incap or soul tether and landing guaratneed spammable after. That's it. Basically 12 ulti combined with 8k spammable. After which your enemy will simply break free, hold block and outheal your damage in 2 seconds. That is not a burst, especially compared to warden's 30k damage combo. It would be very good burst if you could land merciless resolve after incap, but the thing is... You can't. It's not guaranteed. It's predictable, can and WILL be dodged by players that are at least above average level, which doesn't even fit criterion of a burst. It's not a burst, you just use your ultimate and then use your skill, the significant difference is that it's not guaranteed and everyone will dodge it unllike other classes' combos. Besides damage problem NB has good buffs and debuffs, bad defence(there is no defence buffs whatsoever), OK healing(the only 2 healing skills you can slot are vigor and offering, but with NB's high stats they heal fairly good. Don't even mention that siphoning attacks/leeching strikes is a healing ability too, it's healing is mediocare and will not even consistently heal you when you need it the most because NB doesn't have passive damage in PTS contidition or can't use light attacks while blocking on LIVE condition) and best mobility among all classes due to shadow image and shadow disguise, + minor expedition from concealed is also good but not as close as important as shadow image and shadow disguise.
Unorginized group: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition) - All problems of "Solo regular builds gameplay" are applied here as well. NB doesn't have a burst damage, as well as any pressure, but can provide plenty of decent buffs to the group and soul shred synergy, which makes the situation slighty better. Choosing a warden(or any other more useful class) over NB would still be much more reasonable becase they would provide both more damage and more survivability.
Orginized small group(Small scale): 4(Decent) - Here is another thing. It is preferable *** have one nightblade in smallscale because of buffs it provides and because mass hysteria is the best aoe crowd control. But not more than one and it's basically a support, not a DD. Also group doesn't loose to much if there will be a warden controlling with turn evil instead of NB, and sometimes this is even better than having a NB.
Orginized big group(Ball group): 5(Good) - It is also preferable *** have one nightblade in a ballgroup because mass hysteria is the best aoe crowd control. But not more than one and it's basically a support, not a DD. Just as in smallscale. The grading is higher because range of AoE Crown Control for ballgroups is more important, so any group would like to have one nightblade to use it. It's not 6(Excellent) because it's overall replacable and not mandatory.
Any unorginized group healer: 6(Excellent) - Now here is where NB truly shines. As a pure healer(healbot) NB is currently the best class among all. NB's healer sustain is just the best, NB has class access to major evaison so you don't have to use dual wield to get it, just a regular healing output is highest because of the healing done and other stats NB has, magicka pool, WPD etc. On top of that there is the best healing ultimate, Soul Siphon. NB healer doesn't provide anything useful to the group like sorc or templar does but sheer healing output and major vitality is enough for NB to get it's 6 grade.
Orginized small group(Small scalle) healer: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition) - But it's another thing in a small groups. It's important to have a healer in a smallscale and NB still has the best healing output, but that's basically it.If you only have 6 people to play with healer templar or/and sorcerer are way more impactful due to they overpowered ultimates(Negare and nova), and of course you will not fill your group with healers only, so can't stand the competition here.
Orginized big group healer(Ball group): 6(Excellent) - Overall same thing as unorginized group because NB doesn't have anything that would make difference between them unlike other healers. Still insane healbot though, which makes NB useful and needed here.
1vX/Kite Builds: 5(Good) - Now here is the thing: There are no builds or classes that will that will let you fight multiple people that are same skill level as you are alone and win. It doesn't work like that. But you can make a build with high sustain and mobility to fight multiple players that are WAY below your skill level, and that's how "1vXers" play. Such builds requier you to use sustain set and get very high mobility, because it's 2 most important things for kitings. Sure, defence is important, but it will not make much difference while there are 10 players trying to kill you. The only thing you can do is run and kite, you need sustain and mobilty for that. NB has good sustain and best mobility among all classes due to shadow image and shadow disguise, and it's core problem(Very low damage) isn't as noticible here because such build are only oriented for very experienced player to fight very unexperienced one, mostly just PvErs who decided to get tier ones in Cyro or something like that. To kill such players you don't really need any damage, while NB can't kill an actuall PvPrs everyone can kill PvErs that are way below your skill level, any class and to be honest you don't even need any class passives or abilities to kill such players. So damage is not very important here, sustain and mobility are kings, NB has it both, which makes NB good for such builds, currently it's second best class to fight players that are below your skill level, even though you can't kill decent players - all the point of such builds is avoiding decent players and fighting only against below average ones.
Cyrodiil:
Solo regular builds gameplay: 1(Horrible) (That's the only difference from the Imperial City list so you can skip it) - Mostly same thing as IC "Solo regular builds gamelay" but the damage problem is even more noticable here because everyone is more tanky.
Unorginized group: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition) - All problems of "Solo regular builds gameplay" are applied here as well. NB doesn't have a burst damage, as well as any pressure, but can provide plenty of decent buffs to the group and soul shred synergy, which makes the situation slighty better. Choosing a warden(or any other more useful class) over NB would still be much more reasonable becase they would provide both more damage and more survivability.
Orginized small group(Small scale): 4(Decent) - Here is another thing. It is preferable *** have one nightblade in smallscale because of buffs it provides and because mass hysteria is the best aoe crowd control. But not more than one and it's basically a support, not a DD. Also group doesn't loose to much if there will be a warden controlling with turn evil instead of NB, and sometimes this is even better than having a NB.
Orginized big group(Ball group): 5(Good) - It is also preferable *** have one nightblade in a ballgroup because mass hysteria is the best aoe crowd control. But not more than one and it's basically a support, not a DD. Just as in smallscale. The grading is higher because range of AoE Crown Control for ballgroups is more important, so any group would like to have one nightblade to use it. It's not 6(Excellent) because it's overall replacable and not mandatory.
Any unorginized group healer: 6(Excellent) - Now here is where NB truly shines. As a pure healer(healbot) NB is currently the best class among all. NB's healer sustain is just the best, NB has class access to major evaison so you don't have to use dual wield to get it, just a regular healing output is highest because of the healing done and other stats NB has, magicka pool, WPD etc. On top of that there is the best healing ultimate, Soul Siphon. NB healer doesn't provide anything useful to the group like sorc or templar does but sheer healing output and major vitality is enough for NB to get it's 6 grade.
Orginized small group(Small scalle) healer: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition) - But it's another thing in a small groups. It's important to have a healer in a smallscale and NB still has the best healing output, but that's basically it.If you only have 6 people to play with healer templar or/and sorcerer are way more impactful due to they overpowered ultimates(Negare and nova), and of course you will not fill your group with healers only, so can't stand the competition here.
Orginized big group(Ball group): 6(Excellent) - Overall same thing as unorginized group because NB doesn't have anything that would make difference between them unlike other healers. Still insane healbot though, which makes NB useful and needed here.
1vX or Kite Builds: 5(Good) - Now here is the thing: There are no builds or classes that will that will let you fight multiple people that are same skill level as you are alone and win. It doesn't work like that. But you can make a build with high sustain and mobility to fight multiple players that are WAY below your skill level, and that's how "1vXers" play. Such builds requier you to use sustain set and get very high mobility, because it's 2 most important things for kitings. Sure, defence is important, but it will not make much difference while there are 10 players trying to kill you. The only thing you can do is run and kite, you need sustain and mobilty for that. NB has good sustain and best mobility among all classes due to shadow image and shadow disguise, and it's core problem(Very low damage) isn't as noticible here because such build are only oriented for very experienced player to fight very unexperienced one, mostly just PvErs who decided to get tier ones in Cyro or something like that. To kill such players you don't really need any damage, while NB can't kill an actuall PvPrs everyone can kill PvErs that are way below your skill level, any class and to be honest you don't even need any class passives or abilities to kill such players. So damage is not very important here, sustain and mobility are kings, NB has it both, which makes NB good for such builds, even though you can't kill decent players - all the point of such builds is avoiding decent players and fighting only against below average ones.
Battlegrounds:
Solo Battlegrounds: 2(Weak) - All problems of "Solo regular builds gameplay" are applied here as well. NB's lack of damage and defence is noticable in here.
Group Battlegrounds: 2(Weak) - All problems of "Solo regular builds gameplay" are applied here as well. Despite NB being somewhat useful to the group it would be much more reasonable to get a better classes for a Group Battleground because NB's control isn't mandatory here and it's the most important thing NB has.
Solo Battlegrounds healer: 4(Decent) - Unlike Group Battlegrounds you have no communication with your team and it makes other healers less useful, NB doesn't have any huge dependency on communication so it makes NB's healing output more valuable.
Group Battlegrounds healer: 3(Decent, but can't stand the competition) - NB has insane healing but it's overkill for a Battlegrounds, getting more useful healer that will tremendously increase group's damage(sorcerer or templar) if far more reasonable.
Duels: 1(Horrible) - All problems of "Solo regular builds gameplay" are applied here as well and are FAR more noticable. The only thing that is actually important in duels is damage, because you can easily boost your sustain, defence or healing in PvP, but you can't boost damage enough on certain classes to the point where you will be able to kill decent players, which are NB and necro(but necro is another story). NB doesn't have a burst combo, doesn't have any pressure of any kind - the only way to deal at least some damage is to use full proc build, but anyone can do this and anyone will be better in duels than NB because it doesn't help NB too much, core problems are the same, NB doesn't have any damage. No burst, no pressure.
So let's sum up what we have: NB is literally the worst PvE class that has no value to the team, deals no damage and is only viable in 4 people content as DD. NB is a good healer class in PvP, somewhat OK support for orginized groups and is one of the worst classes for a "regular" PvP, which is the only way 95% of the PvPers play. I think it's quite obivious that NB needs adjustment to make it better and I'm glad that ZOS are aware of this.
3. Here comes the most important part of the whole thread - changes that would make NB actually good.
I will divide this one to 2 parts: First is the 2 changes that alone would make this class useful and good for every type of content but will not even affect places where NB is already good(PvP Healer) and second is just some tweaks that are not necessary but it still would be nice to have them. Also it's worth noticing that I've seen necromancer's changes, the idea of reworking morphs if the only significant difference between them is their resourse cost and type of damage into a completely new ability is an amazing idea and I asbolutely like it, I hope ZOS will keep such amazing work with other abilities. It was a bold and good idea, so if ZOS are willing to make such changes then there are 2 NB's abilities that needs that treatment. Let's proceed:
Death Stroke
Soul Harvest (morph): This morph no longer increases your damage done against your target by 20% for 8 seconds and no longer applies Major Defile, instead it now applies unique debuff that increases target's damage taken from all sources by 10% for 8 seconds. - This will solve one of the NB's PvE core problems: value to the group(it's absence).
Incapacitating Strike (morph): Current PTS version with enchanced version of ultimate dealing 10% increased damage and debuff lasting 12 seconds is an awesome idea, this morph would better just stay like this.
Grim Focus
Relentless Focus (morph): This morph now requires 4 stacks instead of 5 and is no longer and instant projectile. It now has a delay between cast and dealing damage(3.5 seconds). Each stack increases you weapon damage by 125 instead of 80. Reduced the damage done by this morph by 30%. This change will solve NB's PvP core problem: Lack of damage and burst, while at the same time not affecting 1vX builds.
Merciless Resolve (morph): Should remain the same as it is on LIVE.
Now let's talk about less important changes, but the ones that would still be welcome.
Path of Darkness
Twisting Path: Damage of this ability is increased by 15%.
Cripple
Debilitate (morph): revert overcharged's application nerf, increase the cost of this ability from 2970 to 3500. - At first sight this change makes sence but we should just not forget that NB is worst DD in PvE so nerfing it's damage is not good. Cost increase would make sence because overcharged now restores your magicka.
Summon Shade
Dark Shade (morph): Damage of this morph is increased by 10%
Teleport Stike: Increase the duration of Minor Vulnerability to 20 seconds to this ability and both morphs.
Abmush: Increase the duration of Minor Berserk to 20 seconds. Replace empower with minor force.
Shadow Cloak
Dark Cloak: Morph: Increase healing of this ability by 150%. Remove effect of increasing healing while not moving. Let it grant Major Savagery and Prophecy like Shadow Disguise does. - This ability have suffered a lot of undeserved nerfs to the point it became absolutely useless in PvP... The only question is why?
Blur
Mirage (morph): Replace Minor Resolve with unique 5% damage reduction. - Minor Resolve is the buff you will have in absolutely any build in PvP so it would make sence to replace it with something else. NB lacks defence quite a lot so unique 5% damage reduction would make sence.
Magicka Flood(Passive): This ability now grants you 8% magicka and stamina, rather than only magika. Would also make sence to change it's name to something more fittng.
Master Assassin(Passive): This ability now grants you 258 weapon and spell damage for 5 seconds after dealing critical damage from an enemy's flank, rathen than 2974 penetration against enemy you are flanking.
4. Onto the point of why I think introducing myself makes sense in this thread: I'm
@Prionyx, PC EU player. NB mainer. I have 12+ thousands of playtime and most most of them are NB playtime in both PvE and PvP. Onto the PvP: Around 70% of my playtime in PvP is NB playtime which was spent in every possible way to effectively play this class. Many people consider me to be one of the EU's best NBs to touch PvP. I'm also a member of the current strongest PvP group(Kirua). Onto the PvE: I barely play NB in PvE because nobody will take NB to the group anymore xD Outside of this I've cleared most of the trial trifectas(I'm missing one but it's in progress), some on NB, later on other classes because NB is now too weak in PvE for someone to take NB to the group. The point of this paragraph is not to brag about anything, it's to say that I'm far from being a new player and I know exactly what I'm talking about.