Class Mastery Passives - Arcanist Healers

whteva4eva · April 13

With the current class mastery passives, Arcanist healers appear to be lacking meaningful support-oriented passives, especially compared to other classes which got unique weapon and spell damage buffs, resource generation, or major buff applications for the group.

The only healer-oriented passive the Arcanist healer received was the Ink Scribe’s Verve (This passive enables you to generate a Crux when you heal or overheal a total of 750,000 Health while in combat). 750,000 health seems like a LOT to heal/overheal, so it might be a typo? But, I feel like there's a bigger issue:

1. No meaningful way to spend Crux as a healer

One of the core mechanics of Arcanist is Crux generation and spending, but healers currently have very limited ways to meaningfully spend Crux to increase group utility.

Many healing-focused builds generate Crux passively using Chakram of Destiny shields, but there is little incentive or benefit for healer builds to actively consume Crux. This makes the mechanic feel less relevant for Arcanist healers.

It would be great to see a group support effect tied to Crux, either built into the class mastery system or class itself.

2. Arcanist healing heavily relies on shielding.

As of right now, the Ink Scribe's Verve class mastery passive only generates Crux through healing and overheal, but Arcanist healers primary way of healing is normally through shielding, so I feel like that needs to be added to this passive. In addition, as I've stated adding something like:

Increased shield strength
OR Group buffs when applying shields
OR Crux interactions with shields

would really help to reinforce the Arcanist healer identity and make it more engaging to play.

3. Lack of group utility compared to other classes

Many other classes received clear group utility from Class Mastery passives:

Templar: Group Weapon/Spell Damage
Warden: Major Brittle / Heroism
Dragonknight: Major Berserk / Protection
Sorcerer: Group shields and unique damage buffs
Nightblade: Group resources and ultimate generation

Currently, Arcanist does not provide any meaningful group buff from Class Mastery passives.

This makes it harder for Arcanist healers to justify a support slot in group content, especially when other classes now bring strong group utility.

TL:DR

Arcanist healers currently:

Have no strong method of Crux consumption
Provide no meaningful group utility with class mastery passives
Ink Scribe's Verve should also include shielding

Adding Crux support mechanics or group buffs would help Arcanist healers feel more competitive and aligned with their identity.

Elendildur · April 13

whteva4eva wrote: »

No meaningful way to spend Crux as a healer

I've noticed that, too. The only skills in Curative that consume Crux are Remedy Cascade and Tidal Chakram. I feel like they should make Tentacular Dread make the enemy take more damage from all sources, so supports can use it, and maybe something on Arcanist's Domain

YandereGirlfriend · April 13

Arcanist healing has always felt like an afterthought for the class.

From the dire lack of actual... healing... skills in the line to the generally nerfed target caps of the skills that do exist to the lack of compelling Crux spender options for a healer to use to the lack of synergy with the Runeforms class set, the whole archetype is a mess.

guarstompemoji · April 14

The "heal beam" does not synergize with how healing is done ingame. It's generally only used in two fights, in two separate trials, because of that. It locks healers out of doing mechs, it requires dps be stacked tightly, and it prevents the proccing of other buffs. It also assumes the role of the healer is only: shield, shield, shield, heal. Shield, shield, shie... Which is not the case. It does not feel built for healing in ESO.

As-is, it isn't generally used on dps-stacks, but as a single or perhaps double-target skill, where it is directed at most 2 players.