WAR/Defiance & PvP

Hey guys,

I'm quite big on PvP when it comes to MMOs and I am having a ton of fun with the recent PvP additions to the game - Good job SE! The only thing that is bothering me at the moment is the use or shall I say, non-use of Defiance in PvP.

Due to the 25% damage reduction given by Defiance, it is not a particularly good idea to have it active during PvP. The problem with not having Defiance up is that without it you will be unable to use any of the abilities gained from unlocking WAR. This is one of the main reasons you will see WARs playing as MRD instead, as well as the extra cross-class skills of course. This is upsetting as Inner Beast, our strongest single-target ability and Steel Cyclone, our strongest AoE ability both require us to equip the WAR soul and have Defiance active to use.

While I have had some success using Defiance to unleash a double Inner Beast combo for burst (Inner Beast > Infuriate > Inner Beast), the build-up is simply too long to justify the loss in damage in-between as you build up Wrath stacks. I have also tried turning Defiance on only when Infuriate or Unchained are ready but it feels incredibly clunky to juggle buffs while you are trying to keep pressure on a kiting enemy, not to mention Defiance has a cooldown once turned on so you have to wait a bit before removing it again.

Sure I could just play MRD like everyone else but the rotation is just so basic and lacklustre in both flare and strategy without the extra abilities we unlocked by becoming a WAR.

Since SE have begun adding tooltip changes that take affect in PvP only, I see no reason why they could not do something similar to Defiance. By removing the 25% reduction in damage dealt, WARs will be able to enjoy the full range of their abilities like every other class in the game. This could be done via the tooltip or perhaps they could make Unchained last longer/have a lower CD/no longer require Wrath so we are able to keep it up for long periods of time.

PLDs get away with such an issue as they can simply swap to Sword Oath for a damage buff as none of their abilities are tied to the use of Shield Oath, however the proposed fix would be appreciated for PLD as well I imagine, should they wish to 'turtle' while still being able to provide pressure.

That being said, WAR is already strong in PvP. However it is the "pop all cross-class buffs" MRD that is considered somewhat overpowered rather than WAR. Implementing this change would surely pull people away from the one-trick pony MRD play style.

TL;DR - Please remove the 25% reduction in damage dealt from Defiance during PvP so WAR can utilise all of their abilities.

Thanks!

WAR = point defense/delay with a healer
MRD = holmgang + murder a target every few minutes

Both have their place in frontlines, I dont see any reason to change Defiance

For a long time I used WAR in Arena. Both WAR and MRD are powerful and fun. I play with a control and I tend to go as MRD now so I can place Enliven over Defiance and Invigorate over Inner Beast on my primary crossbars. To use WAR as effectively, and I would gladly trade the cross skills for WAR ones, I would need to place Enliven and Eagle or Regain Feathers in an accessible place on my hotbars. It would not be impossible, and I plan on experimenting in the future, but for now my muscle memory is set this way, and it is going well.

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Originally Posted by Destroyer

For a long time I used WAR in Arena. Both WAR and MRD are powerful and fun. I play with a control and I tend to go as MRD now so I can place Enliven over Defiance and Invigorate over Inner Beast on my primary crossbars. To use WAR as effectively, and I would gladly trade the cross skills for WAR ones, I would need to place Enliven and Eagle or Regain Feathers in an accessible place on my hotbars. It would not be impossible, and I plan on experimenting in the future, but for now my muscle memory is set this way, and it is going well.

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knigggggggggggghhhhhhhht wraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaathhhhh! one of the best MRD/WAR on our DC, take his advice to heart!

Hi, Thanks! See you in the Frontlines.. even though... You're Adder !!! Arrrrrr !!!!

you shouldn't worry about gridanians. they lose 80% of the time either way :D

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Originally Posted by HitoYuudai

you shouldn't worry about gridanians. they lose 80% of the time either way :D

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They won 80% of the time during first couple of days on Primal data centre lol

I was curious about this as well.. granted the first few days for front-lines there were so many tanks I'd switch to SCH or DRG anyway. I saw my first MRD today to be honest and I was like what in the world.. (didn't pvp before this last patch). Good food for thought though If I plan to continue que'ing pvp as WAR or I guess MRD even.

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Originally Posted by HitoYuudai

you shouldn't worry about gridanians. they lose 80% of the time either way :D

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32-9-6 right now 68 % 1st place but I only run with a specific premade so that might be why haha. Although I do envy maelstroms random/pugs on primal dc..