Guild Wars 2

The problem I see with this skill is that the bleeding and burning are made for condi builds, and the vuln enhances direct damage. Because of the random nature of the skill sometimes you get really lucky and get a handful of bleeds/burns, other times you get unlucky and get a handful of vulns. My suggestion is to lower the duration of the burning and bleeding slightly and remove the vulns. Since the burning is only one second long, maybe leave that one the way it is and lower the bleeding to 4-5 seconds. I do not want to increase the overall power of the skill, I want to reduce the uncertainty involved when using condi builds.

Staff can be used for power builds as well (phantasm deals it’s share of dmg) and chaos storm is one our best defensive/offensice skill…
I don’t want to lose the vulnerability.

Cover conditions are pretty important in condition builds.

That and I’m not sure Prismatic Understanding needs anymore buffing. This would be a buff even with lowered bleed duration.

Vulnerability is also useful in a group scenario since all your allies will do extra damage. So in some cases, it can actually be superior to get the vulnerability as opposed to the other two.

I think the vulnerability application keeps condi builds in check whilst also adding utility for power builds. It would probably make staff clones too strong in condi builds if they were always able to apply bleed or burning.

I think it works well. Either build has the other ones for secondary use / cover conditions.

Simonoly.4352:

I think the vulnerability application keeps condi builds in check whilst also adding utility for power builds. It would probably make staff clones too strong in condi builds if they were always able to apply bleed or burning.

And believe it or not, it adds a deceptive amount of power damage for condition builds that go 20 into domination. It’s really not difficult at all to rack up a quick 20-25 stacks of vuln in a chaos storm. That 20% to 25% increase in damage output is significant.

I see the OP’s point, but also agree that the lesser loved vuln condition balances WoC out adequately.

I see you guys are pretty unanimous in saying that the vulns are helpful in certain situations, and they balance the power of the skill. Full disclosure I have been messing around with a PU condi mesmer in WvW and this is what gave me the idea. If you guys think it’ll be too strong I respect that, sounds good.

I’d like the clones Winds of Chaos to benefit from that additional bounce trait. Would be a nice buff to staff and increase its support abilities.