Nightblade Summon Shade Worth It?

Arcaver · October 2015

I have yet to find anyone who is using this, but most of the people I've asked didn't even know it existed. So my question is, is this skill worth getting for PvE? I've been working to get this skill, and it seems pretty cool, but is it worth the point and time?

CP5 · October 2015

The basic skill and the dark shades morph (summons 2 instead of one) are an alternate damage debuff and since they can't be killed are generally just a debuff that deals damage. Shadow Image however has the debuff with ranged attacks so it is more reliable in closer ranges with fewer obstructions but you can also teleport to it, which even in PvE could be useful depending on playstyle and situation.

Darkeus · October 2015

i think its a crap skill cause shade dmg is based on your max magik... so if you are stamina based its useless!

PBpsy · October 2015

Since the game throws points at you like candy everything is worth the points. (300+ total and increasing with each DLC )

The skill is kind of lackluster lately both in pvp and pve though.

dreamfarer · October 2015

It's nice to have as an option, especially for the morphs, but I've only occasionally been able to fit it into my build.

My advice is to wait till Vet levels once you've got all of your core skills worked up to {favorite morph}Rank 4 and can afford to slot in skills just for training purposes.

Marrtha · October 2015

As a magicka nb I use them. I think they are great. In PvE at least.

Dymence · October 2015

As far as I'm aware:

- Shades are their own 'entity'. I believe they can get buffed by sets such as spell power cure, and group buffs like the sorcerer passive spell crit buff, nightblade passive weapon crit buff, etc.
- Due to this they might become a hindrance in some places, such as hard mode AA where the chain lightning from the mage can travel over your shades and kill other people in the group.
- They also cannot crit unless provided with their own crit buff, as they do not take over your crit.
- Their damage scales of your max magicka.

All in all, they're not really worth taking over another skill if you want to dps in PVE. The shadow image with the port can be cool in PVP though.

CP5 · October 2015

Just looked up the abilities with the 15% damage debuff (no skill has the 30% iirc). Dizzying Swing, Low Slash and Mass Hysteria are all more melee ranged so they could be helpful in keeping the damage of select targets lowered.

Shunravi · October 2015

With their limited active time compared to the sorc's summons, I thought they would do more damage... But they have other uses and the shadow image morph can be awesome to play with.

code65536 · October 2015

I use this a lot on my magicka nightblade tank.

It's a very cheap skill to cost, so this is the skill that I turn to when I need to refresh the Shadow Barrier passive.
15% damage debuff is great.
I don't care that much about the damage that it does. The damage is just an added bonus. The main reason to do it is for triggering Shadow Barrier cheaply and to debuff the target's damage.

Tankqull · October 2015

Darkeus wrote: »

i think its a crap skill cause shade dmg is based on your max magik... so if you are stamina based its useless!

its an awesome tool 15% dmg reduction of your opponent + ability to port to it are two awesome utility adds that are definitly worth the slot on your bar regardless of pve or pvp.

dreamfarer · October 2015

Tankqull wrote: »

Darkeus wrote: »

i think its a crap skill cause shade dmg is based on your max magik... so if you are stamina based its useless!

its an awesome tool 15% dmg reduction of your opponent + ability to port to it are two awesome utility adds that are definitly worth the slot on your bar regardless of pve or pvp.

The thing to remember with the 15% dmg reduction is that it's from the "Minor Maim" debuff, which is the same debuff that Low/Heroic/Deep Slash (2nd 1hS skill) puts on the target, so they don't stack.

If you're not using Low Slash or one of its morphs, then the Shadows will work fine though.

CP5 · October 2015

dreamfarer wrote: »

Tankqull wrote: »

Darkeus wrote: »

i think its a crap skill cause shade dmg is based on your max magik... so if you are stamina based its useless!

its an awesome tool 15% dmg reduction of your opponent + ability to port to it are two awesome utility adds that are definitly worth the slot on your bar regardless of pve or pvp.

The thing to remember with the 15% dmg reduction is that it's from the "Minor Maim" debuff, which is the same debuff that Low/Heroic/Deep Slash (2nd 1hS skill) puts on the target, so they don't stack.

If you're not using Low Slash or one of its morphs, then the Shadows will work fine though.

Seeing as the shades can't die and they follow the target well enough it is the only ranged form of that debuff, saving you the trouble of hugging an ash titan.

Darkeus · October 2015

Tankqull wrote: »

Darkeus wrote: »

i think its a crap skill cause shade dmg is based on your max magik... so if you are stamina based its useless!

its an awesome tool 15% dmg reduction of your opponent + ability to port to it are two awesome utility adds that are definitly worth the slot on your bar regardless of pve or pvp.

doesnt worth at all the slot of anybody skill bar.

Stannum · October 2015

It's mostly PvP skill. Shades are good for enemy stamina eating (if she blocks) and they are also useful for detection as they also have short detect radius and you can reveal enemies in stealth if they are close to your shades (so if you see lonely warrior you can send shades for scouting mission

)

Jumper45 · October 2015

The teleport Morph is great in PVP. You can teleport and cloak and be out of harms away quite easly or just to use as confusion in a big grp of pvpers. Once you poof away the person coming after you might just switch targets. Takes up a skill slot but this could mean you pretty much always have a escape in pvp. Not to mention what else it offers. this can help in pve as well to get out of a red spot. Assuming its not standing in 1.

If someone says its useless and has no place they probably dont use alot of "tactical" moves in pvp. If were going to talk about holding onto your precious shards etc in pvp combat. Lets be real. Escapes are just as important as killing. If you can get away and go into sneak and hold onto those shards. More power to you.

In the long run you'll have to think about the time you spent getting shards then losing them all. If you had to run around with that skill slotted to prevent you losing 800 shards. Its a no brainer. That being said. It might not always save you if there are so many people that once u teleport youre just next to another person.

This brings to mind the mesmer from GW2 pvp. They had a similar move ( just not quite as effective as those were clones and looked just like you and were many). But it is very confusing when someone is zipping around you and you have no idea how or why. Since its not used much it gives the skill more power towards this.

If you can lose the skill slot ( maybe for inner light) I Highly suggest for a NB Healer/ Magicka DPS.

TheNephilimCrow · October 2015

Darkeus wrote: »

i think its a crap skill cause shade dmg is based on your max magik... so if you are stamina based its useless!

Huh, you obviously never used the Ranged one. It gives you the chance to teleport to its location. Really handy when getting swarmed in PvP and cloak is not working. You just instant transmission out of there. LOL. I got a message from someone saying I hacking, because he wasn't aware NB's had that morph.

Shunravi · October 2015

TheNephilimCrow wrote: »

Darkeus wrote: »

i think its a crap skill cause shade dmg is based on your max magik... so if you are stamina based its useless!

Huh, you obviously never used the Ranged one. It gives you the chance to teleport to its location. Really handy when getting swarmed in PvP and cloak is not working. You just instant transmission out of there. LOL. I got a message from someone saying I hacking, because he wasn't aware NB's had that morph.

It's so funny what people will call out simply because they don't know what it is... But yea, shadow image is a blast to use.

GreenSoup2HoT · October 2015

I like both morph's. They both are very good.

-Twin Shade's : Great for perma blocker's. They hit rather quickly compared to the other morph. So your consistently getting a damage debuff on your enemy and they cannot be removed using "line of sight" since they follow you. They are not meant for damage but to just be an annoyance. I see player's running away from them yet they do no damage if your a stamina build. Not sure how hard they hit when your max magicka.

-Shadow Image : Proc's the debuff, which is great. Pretty sure it stay's on target, however can be avoided if line of sight is broken. This is where summon shade is god if you know what your doing. Teleport back to shade and you get a distance of 38 meter's to work with. You can divert people one way and teleport in the opposite direction.

It's so sweet for keep defense. Pop it on the wall and jump in the action, once your in trouble teleport back. Repeat. It's probably what make's nightblade's overpowered when used correctly.

They should rename this morph to "juke city".

I'm not sure if the shade will attack your enemy if your in stealth and you use it. I haven't done enough testing with it myself. (If someone know's tell me)