What determines if Showdy Disguise is successful?

basketcaseNZ · May 2017

Hi everyone,

So I've been playing as a nightblade, shadow specialisation for a while and I've noticed Shadowy Disguise isn't always successful. Sometimes in battle when I use it I instantly come out of stealth. I depend on it, and Veiled Strike to stun enemies (NPCs) so if it doesn't work I'm often in trouble.

I was wondering what determines if it works or not. What are the factors? Is it determined by my build or just certain enemies can see through it?

Thanks everyone.

Tigeracer · May 2017

If you have a dot on you, or you have placed a dot on someone else, you can't stealth.
In pve, if a mob has a blue circle around it, you can't stealth around it.
If an aoe is used in your vicinity, you will also be pulled out of stealth.
Finally, if a player has mage light or uses a detection pot, you can't stealth.

Jitterbug · May 2017

as @Tigeracer is indicating there are quite a few things that can break cloak.
Sometimes, as a nightblade at least, it feels like it would be quicker to list the things that do not break cloak in stead.
You sort of get a feel for it as you play.

DocFrost72 · May 2017

Dealing any damage at all will pull you out of cloak, so make sure you didn't hit enemies with any abilities that do damage over time!

As a workaround, you can try using ambush (morph of teleport strike) as a stamina character, or agony as a magicka character, to stun and lock down enemies during a fight. Keep in mind that using agony means you should not damage that enemy until last, and that ambush empowers your next move.

basketcaseNZ · May 2017

Thanks everyone, that explains a lot.

leepalmer95 · May 2017

I heard wrobel has a 'Wheel of working' for cloak and every patch he spins it and whatever it lands on is how cloak is going to be.

It goes from completely broke, some single targets ability all the way up too almost working.

The only time it landed on almost working was 1.6.

Seems a bit bias and leans towards the 'barely works' side every patch.