Guild Wars 2

I really like this ultimate skill but it feels weak in comparison to the human racial ultimate Hounds of Balthazar despite both having a similar idea behind them. The hounds of Balthazar are perfect for a condition Mesmer build because they cause burning with every attack, they have a big attack that is a leap finisher, their attacks do a solid amount of damage and apply burning, they are durable, oh and there are two of them. Really the only advantage summon fern mastiff has over hounds of Balthazar is the 60 sec lower CD time, which doesn’t seem to matter much since it is very rare to cast it twice in one battle.

I like the poison and bleeding angle of the fern mastiff ultimate and I don’t wish it to become a copy of the hounds of Balthazar but I do wish it would be more up to the same level.

I don’t know if Anet cares much about balancing racial skills just thought I’d share some feedback from someone who wants a sylvari condition mesmer and doesnt want to go human.

Every racial Elite sucks except Hounds of Balthazar, really.

I’m a Sylvari cond-mesmer. Nothing says you have to use race elites. Hell, as a Mesmer, you have some of the most pimpin’ elites in game. With that said, it does seem that Human and Asura have the most stylish racials.

The main problem I have with the Fern Mastiff is that it dies way too easily. Maybe they thought the fact that its immune to conditions would help its durability a lot (and I suppose in very specific situations where an enemy deals most of its damage through conditions it might), but really, it goes down like nothing to most enemies. The only time it ever survives a fight is if I manage to keep aggro the whole time, pretty much.

Give it a health boost and I think it’d probably be pretty decent. For a racial elite, anyway.

A unique skin would be nice as well. Right now its a carbon copy of the normal Fern Hound, which I suppose makes sense, but for an elite skill I’d expect something a little more interesting than something any Ranger could just have under normal circumstances. Even something as simple as making the animal a bit larger, making some of the vines and leaves bigger and stick out a bit more, and maybe some color differences (darker green and more pronounced red, maybe?).

I like the one that summons all the turrets and makes you invincible for 3 seconds. You can’t go wrong with that.