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Thoughts on the Agony Ability Change?

Plaff_
Plaff_
Soul Shriven
Does anybody use this? I used to use the old version of it as part of a stamina nightblade build for a long range CC, which was useful for guaranteeing lethal arrows in PVP. Changing this ability to a heal leaves stam nightblades with no reliable long range CC. Please Zos revert this ability or at least make one of the morphs a CC like it used to be.
  • Lynx7386
    Lynx7386
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    Hate it. Agony was useless but this is only marginally more useful in very specific circumstances.

    TBH at the very least it should smart-target low health allies in your party or nearby. It should not be a manually targeted heal, that was the worst decision they could've made for ANY healing ability in this game. If it was a smart target like breath of life or ward ally then I might actually use it here and there, but as is I'll never even bother slotting it.

    I really wish it would have been a burst heal instead, without costing health. The nightblade is supposed to siphon others' health, not use his own. Really it should've been something like vampiric drain but sending the healing to a low health ally (or yourself if you're solo or lowest-health).

    Imagine that, you cast the ability and a stream of blood leaps from the enemy target to one of your low health allies, quickly restoring their health (a 1-2 second ability that restores a good measure of health, along the lines of breath of life but for one target). The limitation being that it requires an enemy target, obviously, keeping with the offensive theme of nightblade healers.
    PS4 / NA
    M'asad - Khajiit Nightblade - Healer
    Pakhet - Khajiit Dragonknight - Tank
    Raksha - Khajiit Sorcerer - Stamina DPS
    Bastet - Khajiit Templar - Healer
    Leonin - Khajiit Warden - Tank
  • ascan7
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    I don't understand why in WOW Sap exists without problem, yet ESO had so many problems making this skin useful.
    RIght now it has potential but also many flaws.
    1) it costs health and quite a bit, making it way riskier to use than other abilities
    2) you have to manually aim it and it's a pain
    3) nightblades already has lot of hots
  • fred4
    fred4
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    For my purposes, as a 20K-ish health NB in PvP, it is useless. I evaluated it when it first came out, mainly for self use. It was risky as it took about half the running time, in PvP, to make up for it's cost. It performed quite well under moderate pressure, when it was not really needed, but it was far too risky under high pressure, where you would typically kill yourself with it. I know the cost has come down a bit, but I still have no idea what ZOS were smoking when they came up with this. It might be useful for high-health builds, but how many high health (tank) NBs do you see in PvP or PvE? The original NB tanking paradigm, sap tanking, has been thoroughly dismantled. I don't think this skill has brought it back.

    The original Agony skill was actually useful for anyone without a destro staff. Coming from DK, I much preferred the skill over Fear, because it had range, could be used as a gap closer, and would stop riders. I think it was somewhat unfairly derided for being Fossilize's poor cousin. Had ZOS wished to make it more popular they might have taken some inspiration from DK, rather than completely ditching the skill.
  • Lynx7386
    Lynx7386
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    I don't understand why in WOW Sap exists without problem, yet ESO had so many problems making this skin useful.
    Because in eso, there aren't any enemies strong enough to need long term cc, except for maybe bosses which can't be ccd anyways.

    In wow, every enemy in a pull could easily stomp a dps or healer, and most of the time tanks couldn't survive fighting 6 enemies at once, so you used skills like polymorph and sap to knock out a couple and the tank handled the rest.

    Eso is all about aoe burning groups of enemies and not ever using cc.
    PS4 / NA
    M'asad - Khajiit Nightblade - Healer
    Pakhet - Khajiit Dragonknight - Tank
    Raksha - Khajiit Sorcerer - Stamina DPS
    Bastet - Khajiit Templar - Healer
    Leonin - Khajiit Warden - Tank
  • RavenSworn
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    Lynx7386 wrote: »
    Hate it. Agony was useless but this is only marginally more useful in very specific circumstances.

    TBH at the very least it should smart-target low health allies in your party or nearby. It should not be a manually targeted heal, that was the worst decision they could've made for ANY healing ability in this game. If it was a smart target like breath of life or ward ally then I might actually use it here and there, but as is I'll never even bother slotting it.

    I really wish it would have been a burst heal instead, without costing health. The nightblade is supposed to siphon others' health, not use his own. Really it should've been something like vampiric drain but sending the healing to a low health ally (or yourself if you're solo or lowest-health).

    Imagine that, you cast the ability and a stream of blood leaps from the enemy target to one of your low health allies, quickly restoring their health (a 1-2 second ability that restores a good measure of health, along the lines of breath of life but for one target). The limitation being that it requires an enemy target, obviously, keeping with the offensive theme of nightblade healers.

    I didn't think about that, it would definitely make that ability a much better way to use it. It is a nightblade somewhat... Emergency heal and having more hots shouldn't be a problem imo. Stacking hots with spc? Bring it on.
    Ingame: RavenSworn, Pc / NA.


    Of Wolf and Raven
    Solo / Casual guild for beginners and new players wanting to join the game. Pst me for invite!
  • Datthaw
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    Yeah its a stupid skill. I've tried in pvp to use it but it's just meh. Too risky to cast when you really need a heal, you're better off slotting rapid or mutagen.
  • ofSunhold
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    Allow it to cleanse a DOT or two and it might be worth using.
    Classes that don't need any class ability nerfs: Nightblades, Dragonknights, Sorcs, Templars, Wardens.
  • Ectheliontnacil
    Ectheliontnacil
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    The skill is beyond useless. In pvp the skill barely recovers it's cost and even when morphed there are simply better options for healing out there. Also the high health cost makes it very dangerous to use, since can easily place yourself within execute range, if you aren't running a max hp build.

    I would love it, if this skill were transformed into some sort of snare removal/minor expedition ability which would provide magicka nightblades with some sorely needed mobility in pvp.
  • exeeter702
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    Strongest single target hot in the game that gives NB healers 100 percent minor mending uptime on top of the siphoner passive. For pve, it is a strong tank cushion heal while netting you the highest hps of any healer, which when your primary source of healing is hots, hps becomes much more valuable than on a templar or warden.

    In pvp, it has very limited use. Pretty much only strong on an argonian 5h magblade healer/brawler esque setups in CP enabled environments.

    Useless, it is not, however.
  • Nox_Noir
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    Most useless skill in the game, and the targeting mechanic is an absolute nightmare to use.

    This needs to be changed into a proper support skill to help NB healers and tanks be more viable. (minor Stamina steal?)
  • Lynx7386
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    exeeter702 wrote: »
    Strongest single target hot in the game that gives NB healers 100 percent minor mending uptime on top of the siphoner passive. For pve, it is a strong tank cushion heal while netting you the highest hps of any healer, which when your primary source of healing is hots, hps becomes much more valuable than on a templar or warden.

    In pvp, it has very limited use. Pretty much only strong on an argonian 5h magblade healer/brawler esque setups in CP enabled environments.

    Useless, it is not, however.

    I don't disagree that its a strong heal, my main issue with it is the targeting. If it was a frontal smart target heal, it would be usable. As is, you can't rely on it to hit the target you need it on.
    PS4 / NA
    M'asad - Khajiit Nightblade - Healer
    Pakhet - Khajiit Dragonknight - Tank
    Raksha - Khajiit Sorcerer - Stamina DPS
    Bastet - Khajiit Templar - Healer
    Leonin - Khajiit Warden - Tank
  • exeeter702
    exeeter702
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    Lynx7386 wrote: »
    exeeter702 wrote: »
    Strongest single target hot in the game that gives NB healers 100 percent minor mending uptime on top of the siphoner passive. For pve, it is a strong tank cushion heal while netting you the highest hps of any healer, which when your primary source of healing is hots, hps becomes much more valuable than on a templar or warden.

    In pvp, it has very limited use. Pretty much only strong on an argonian 5h magblade healer/brawler esque setups in CP enabled environments.

    Useless, it is not, however.

    I don't disagree that its a strong heal, my main issue with it is the targeting. If it was a frontal smart target heal, it would be usable. As is, you can't rely on it to hit the target you need it on.

    True, but in pve, if it were a smart heal you would be able to apply it every other second (since you are healed for its health cost practically instantly) and have it up on multiple targets at a time which would make it incredibly strong. Again in pvp its easy to self cast, and in pve you really wouldnt want it on a random dps since proper nb hot application easily has them covered without it. Its hard to aim when in a crowded environment for sure, but the alternative would make me drop the skill as i would not be able to specify key high hp targets with it while resuming standard healing on the entire trial.

    The skill is rough for sure, im just correcting those that believe it is completely 100 percent useless, which is hyperbolic nonsense.
    Edited by exeeter702 on March 3, 2018 9:34PM
  • Finedaible
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    It's an awful ability that only scales with magicka. They removed a utility skill (Agony) that could be used by anyone for another HoT that can't be used by stamblades (unless they are trying to die).
  • ascan7
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    Lynx7386 wrote: »
    Because in eso, there aren't any enemies strong enough to need long term cc, except for maybe bosses which can't be ccd anyways.

    In wow, every enemy in a pull could easily stomp a dps or healer, and most of the time tanks couldn't survive fighting 6 enemies at once, so you used skills like polymorph and sap to knock out a couple and the tank handled the rest.

    Eso is all about aoe burning groups of enemies and not ever using cc.

    I was thinking from a PvP point of view, mostlyBut you are quite right
  • Marabornwingrion
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    I didn't even want to waste skill point on this
  • dodgehopper_ESO
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    I'm not sure why they took this cc away from nightblade.
    US/AD - Dodge Hopper - Vet Imperial Templar | US/AD - Goj-ei-Raj - Vet Argonian Nightblade
    US/AD - Arondonimo - Vet Altmer Sorcerer | US/AD - Azumarax - Vet Dunmer Dragon Knight
    US/AD - Barkan al-Sheharesh - Vet Redguard Dragon Knight | US/AD - Aelus Vortavoriil - Vet Altmer Templar
    US/AD - Shirari Qa'Dar - Vet Khajiit Nightblade | US/AD - Ndvari Mzunchvolenthumz - Vet Bosmer Nightblade
    US/EP - Yngmar - Vet Nord Dragon Knight | US/EP - Reloth Ur Fyr - Vet Dunmer Sorcerer
    US/DC - Muiredeach - Vet Breton Sorcerer | US/DC - Nachtrabe - Vet Orc Nightblade
    EU/DC - Dragol gro-Unglak - Vet Orc Dragon Knight | EU/DC - Targan al-Barkan - Vet Redguard Templar
    EU/DC - Wuthmir - Vet Nord Sorcerer | EU/DC - Kosh Ragotoro - Vet Khajiit Nightblade
    <And plenty more>
  • Kihamai
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    Only ever used this skill to heal and grind up my friend's new characters in skyreach when it was just one other person and I. It's a very nice HoT, but that health cost is lame.

    When I did use it, it wasn't even necessary - just had it on my bar to level.
    Edited by Kihamai on March 4, 2018 7:51AM
    pc na | trash tier
  • dodgehopper_ESO
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    Great way to blood port yourself in Cyrodiil I bet.
    US/AD - Dodge Hopper - Vet Imperial Templar | US/AD - Goj-ei-Raj - Vet Argonian Nightblade
    US/AD - Arondonimo - Vet Altmer Sorcerer | US/AD - Azumarax - Vet Dunmer Dragon Knight
    US/AD - Barkan al-Sheharesh - Vet Redguard Dragon Knight | US/AD - Aelus Vortavoriil - Vet Altmer Templar
    US/AD - Shirari Qa'Dar - Vet Khajiit Nightblade | US/AD - Ndvari Mzunchvolenthumz - Vet Bosmer Nightblade
    US/EP - Yngmar - Vet Nord Dragon Knight | US/EP - Reloth Ur Fyr - Vet Dunmer Sorcerer
    US/DC - Muiredeach - Vet Breton Sorcerer | US/DC - Nachtrabe - Vet Orc Nightblade
    EU/DC - Dragol gro-Unglak - Vet Orc Dragon Knight | EU/DC - Targan al-Barkan - Vet Redguard Templar
    EU/DC - Wuthmir - Vet Nord Sorcerer | EU/DC - Kosh Ragotoro - Vet Khajiit Nightblade
    <And plenty more>
  • exeeter702
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    ascan7 wrote: »
    Lynx7386 wrote: »
    Because in eso, there aren't any enemies strong enough to need long term cc, except for maybe bosses which can't be ccd anyways.

    In wow, every enemy in a pull could easily stomp a dps or healer, and most of the time tanks couldn't survive fighting 6 enemies at once, so you used skills like polymorph and sap to knock out a couple and the tank handled the rest.

    Eso is all about aoe burning groups of enemies and not ever using cc.

    I was thinking from a PvP point of view, mostlyBut you are quite right

    Regarding pvp, it doesnt work here because of crowd control immunity and how its uptime is tied directly to stamina as opposed to measurable CD availability (ie trinket). It works in games like wow and swotr because of diminishing returns and the player having to make educated decisions on what to cc break and what to sit in. In eso if you have the stam for break free, rarely are there scenarios where you are better off sitting in the CC. And if you dont have the stam, your dead either way.

    This why sap and such in wow work. The entire strategy revolves around what to cc break and when vs eso where its far more brain dead and long CCs that break from damage like agony were a detriment because you only served to grant them immunity and if they didnt have stam for break free, kill combos rarely worked because they are free the second a weed tickles their ankle.
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