Steel Cyclone.....underwhelming?

[Kitru]

Why shouldn't it do 300 potency?

It should do a lot more than 300 potency to make it worthwhile. Remember, to use it, you're dropping your survivability for the next 20 seconds or so. Honestly, in most cases, WARs still wouldn't want to use it even with massively high potency because we're not here for high potency attacks; we're here to tank. To really make it worthwhile, it needs to provide a survivability benefit. You could make it the AoE version of Inner Beast by having it provide 150% of damage dealt as heal (or, better yet, absorb shield) so that it's as efficient as IB on 2 targets but more efficient on anything more than 2 (it would still be better than IB on anything except for a single target because of the increased damage, though).

[dimsumdarren]

they should just get rid of overpower, put that functinoality into steel cyclone, and take steel cyclone off wrath system entirely and make it a TP move...DING! awesomeness is back!

[nijian]

I don't have math to back it up, but yes, I definately feel as though Steel Cyclone is pretty underwhelming, and better off keeping Wrath stacks up. better to user Overpower, and Flash for AoE enmity.

Thoughts on improving it:

1) Remove it off Wrath-stacks. Or make it cost 1 or something.
2) Make it only TP driven.
3) Make it generate enmity better, or at all...
4) Provide a debuff of sorts... reduce def, inc dmg type, potent dot... etc...

Some ideas. Not everything, if you slapped everything, it'd be insanely OP. I get that AoE groups are supposed to be risky, but, SC isn't worth using at all....

[Sybreed]

Maybe it could apply a 12 second Slow to everything it hits, and also produce increased enmity. That way, you'd use it to get a pack of mobs on you decidedly, and since in most cases AoE tanking involves tanking mobs that are weak individually, hitting them all with Slow could perhaps considerably reduce their collective damage on the Warrior.

For those that think that doesn't make sense or go with the moves flavor, imagine that the enemies are disoriented and off balance after being slammed into by not only the axe blade, but the vortex of air produced by such a rapid, powerful spin. Or whatever other RP rationalization you require. =P

Though I admit, I don't really know how powerful Slow as a status effect is considered to be from a defensive standpoint in this game.

[armandojc3]

it seems a DPS move meant to be used with bloodbath i guess? then take it off the damn GCD, give it a long CD and remove the wrath requirement, this way we can add it to our burst dmg/leech rotation or add it in a macro to use whenever its avaliable like mercy stroke.

[Spongebob]

I usually like to use it together with bloodbath and internal release (maybe berserk depending on the situation) on large mob groups (4+), then quickly pop infuriate for unchained and if not used yet, berserk.

This is really one of those skills that makes warrior unique and a little more complicated for approaching situations, try and maximize your dps ability while keeping your tanking ability functional, this is just a small thing that can separate a good Warrior from a great Warrior.

[Jattou]

I was thinking they should remove it from Wrath requirement and let us combo it off Skull Sunder as an alternative to Butcher's Block. Keep the damage the same, give it a threat bonus so we can switch between the two combos depending on the pull and that way Steel won't surpass Butcher's in terms of threat utility on single target.

[Amyas]

Why are so many folks calling it bad? Sure its only really used on trash mobs, but I find it fun and useful. Say you face pull a group, and have maybe 6 secs on a full stack of wrath from a previous encounter, use SC instead of flash and boom: damage and they're all on you. Do basic hate stuff (overpower overpower overpower) then vengeance, SE combo, SC again, then infuriate, berserk, SC, rinse repeat till mobs are melted (while using cross class stuff too). Does fairly good damage for aoe imo.

[Sybreed]

Why are so many folks calling it bad? Sure its only really used on trash mobs, but I find it fun and useful. Say you face pull a group, and have maybe 6 secs on a full stack of wrath from a previous encounter, use SC instead of flash and boom: damage and they're all on you. Do basic hate stuff (overpower overpower overpower) then vengeance, SE combo, SC again, then infuriate, berserk, SC, rinse repeat till mobs are melted (while using cross class stuff too). Does fairly good damage for aoe imo.

The problem is largely due to its connection to Wrath. Given that fact, its opportunity cost is too high for what it does. I mean, not every skill a Warrior, or any class has for that matter, needs to be something that you use in a standard rotation at all times. Things like Holmgang for example, have niche, situational uses, but at least it is a unique effect. Steel Cyclones situational use would be for adding extra damage at times where burning down trash packs is called for, as you stated. The problem is however that as a tank, we should not be forced with the choice between providing mediocre at best extra damage to trash mobs while sacrificing survivability. If it's going to be situational AND require so much build up, and a loss of defensive integrity, it needs to be better than it is. So they can either add something else to it, or remove it's reliance on wrath, and I think everyone would be happy with it.

[Amyas]

The problem is largely due to its connection to Wrath. Given that fact, its opportunity cost is too high for what it does.

Honestly, if your party is going all out to aoe mobs down (healers included), it shouldn't really be sacrificing that much survivability so as to make you not use it, especially if your healer is a whm spamming holy, because of its stun. As long as you combine it with other stuff, like strategically using featherfoot and foresight right when you'd be your most vulnerable when you've blown up all your wrath, anyroad. That and wrath is fairly easy to gain back without using off gcd stuff.