First, I understand the intent. There are a few builds using 1h/s that are brilliant in PvP. When these builds kill someone who doesn't understand how to counter it (dev as well as player), they go to the forums and ask for nerfs. I get it.

Here is the problem though, as implemented: it isn't going to work, and the changes illustrate a lack of understanding of how and why these builds exist.

Let's take it on a class by class basis. It is safe to assume that the largest users of 1h/s PvP builds are DKs, followed by Sorcs. I have seen other classes on the rare occasion, but those are the main two.

Let's step a second. Those are the two classes that have a dire lack of Stam based attacks. So they are pushed to using weapon lines. That leaves Snipe, Dizzying, Flurry, and Heroic Slash.

Of those, Snipe and Dizzying Swing are used the most, by far, as a "spammable" attack. Very few builds I know of use heroic slash as a MAIN spammable. I happen to be one of them, but I have only met a handful of others.

So Heroic Slash is what's known as a utility skill. And these current latch notes even designate it as such, which is fine. This allows the devs to break their own "standards" and nerf it.

Which begs the question, why bother nerfing a utility skill if it is utilized at a far lesser rate than other skills that also provide great utility, such as stuns and other status effects? Theogic starts to fall apart.

So with DKs and Sorcs, 1h/s is t being used because it is over performing, it is used because the tools available are UNDER performing.

So DKs are still going to front bar a 2H and utilize the newly buffed Dizzying. And they are STILL going to have 1h/s on the back bar for utility. The nerf to that damage is going to be inconsequential. The same people that died to these builds are still going to die to these builds, possibly even faster, as the buff to 2h might actually more than make up for the nerf to 1h/s.

All this is doing is further forcing a meta.

What SHOULD be done, is looking at the options available, and fixing/creating something that is more attractive than a weapon meta.

The 1h/s change isn't going to affect stamplars, as a stamplar that uses it isn't spamming heroic or piercings, they are jabbing.

The 1h/s changes isn't going to affect wardens, necromancers, or nightblades, as NOT running 1h/s is by far more beneficial to those classes in most cases.

That leaves DKs and Sorcs. Who of course, are simply going to utilize a buffed attack (Snipe and Dizzying) while still using 1h/s utility.

TL;DR - nerfs aren't the answer, buff sDK/sSorc class skills to provide an actual alternative to running 1h/s.