Quote Originally Posted by dragonflyseksparade View Post
If an instant cast ability goes on cooldown, and you don't gain the effect, it is a latency issue.
It is intentional, they just have the effects happen after the animation when we want them to happen instantly (since they are emergency abilities). The cooldown starts when the animation starts and not when the actual effect happens is the issue.

From what I understand they moved Hallowed Ground's effect sooner in the animation (when the barrier appears around you - which makes more sense than when the whole animation finishes) and they moved Spirits Within's effect sooner (when the sword is thrust into the enemy instead of after it's been pulled out).