Guild Wars 2

Cries Of Sorrow.5864:

Shorter cast time on flamewall, fire aura reworked, freezing gust a slight cd reduction; gale imo is fine. Comet is fine aswell in my opinion, swirling winds cast time should be reduced and have the ability to break your current channel. Any major changes are highly unlikely. This would help smoothen out the gameplay.

why would you say major changes for focus are highly unlikely? im just wanting to hear your opinion on why is all.

My real beef with focus is the aura CD in fire, flamewall could be soooo much better than what it is now, the CD with Gale, and freezing gusts potential to be much better as well.

I think the cooldowns on Focus are overzealous, but I like it as a whole. D/F is a joy to run when I’m paying attention to what I’m doing.

The Game Slayer.7632:

Cries Of Sorrow.5864:

Shorter cast time on flamewall, fire aura reworked, freezing gust a slight cd reduction; gale imo is fine. Comet is fine aswell in my opinion, swirling winds cast time should be reduced and have the ability to break your current channel. Any major changes are highly unlikely. This would help smoothen out the gameplay.

why would you say major changes for focus are highly unlikely? im just wanting to hear your opinion on why is all.

Mainly because i don’t think Anet has the desire to do so, look at how long it took before rangers were able to block with greatsword on the move, they simply haven’t got the manpower to overhaul skills and if they did the elementalist wouldn’t be their priority because in their opinion it’s “fine”, no matter how many sorrowful cries denie; i’m not one of those… Though… I rather hold faith in things i control. I see an obsidian flesh nerf before a Flamewall fix. And i hope to be proven wrong.

Cries Of Sorrow.5864:

The Game Slayer.7632:

Cries Of Sorrow.5864:

Shorter cast time on flamewall, fire aura reworked, freezing gust a slight cd reduction; gale imo is fine. Comet is fine aswell in my opinion, swirling winds cast time should be reduced and have the ability to break your current channel. Any major changes are highly unlikely. This would help smoothen out the gameplay.

why would you say major changes for focus are highly unlikely? im just wanting to hear your opinion on why is all.

Mainly because i don’t think Anet has the desire to do so, look at how long it took before rangers were able to block with greatsword on the move, they simply haven’t got the manpower to overhaul skills and if they did the elementalist wouldn’t be their priority because in their opinion it’s “fine”, no matter how many sorrowful cries denie; i’m not one of those… Though… I rather hold faith in things i control. I see an obsidian flesh nerf before a Flamewall fix. And i hope to be proven wrong.

nerfing obsidian flesh would seriously destroy focus. its the single most reason focus is worth using, sometimes. it doesnt break stun, it doesnt remove condis through traits, it cant give you around 1k health(from regen) and vigor, i see no reason what so ever at ALL to nerf obsidian flesh. the only reason obsid flesh is better than mist form is because you can use skills while in it, shorter CD and a mere 1 second longer. a 1 second which can be negated through still being stunned while activating it. or 4 seconds negated.

The Game Slayer.7632:

Cries Of Sorrow.5864:

The Game Slayer.7632:

Cries Of Sorrow.5864:

Shorter cast time on flamewall, fire aura reworked, freezing gust a slight cd reduction; gale imo is fine. Comet is fine aswell in my opinion, swirling winds cast time should be reduced and have the ability to break your current channel. Any major changes are highly unlikely. This would help smoothen out the gameplay.

why would you say major changes for focus are highly unlikely? im just wanting to hear your opinion on why is all.

Mainly because i don’t think Anet has the desire to do so, look at how long it took before rangers were able to block with greatsword on the move, they simply haven’t got the manpower to overhaul skills and if they did the elementalist wouldn’t be their priority because in their opinion it’s “fine”, no matter how many sorrowful cries denie; i’m not one of those… Though… I rather hold faith in things i control. I see an obsidian flesh nerf before a Flamewall fix. And i hope to be proven wrong.

nerfing obsidian flesh would seriously destroy focus. its the single most reason focus is worth using, sometimes. it doesnt break stun, it doesnt remove condis through traits, it cant give you around 1k health(from regen) and vigor, i see no reason what so ever at ALL to nerf obsidian flesh. the only reason obsid flesh is better than mist form is because you can use skills while in it, shorter CD and a mere 1 second longer. a 1 second which can be negated through still being stunned while activating it. or 4 seconds negated.

Right you tell anet, hasn’t stopped them in the past from nerfing things without a decent reason: Anti-projectile is what makes focus strong not only obsidian flesh.

Magnetic wave is so fun when ranged cast their unload.

MyPuppy.8970:

Magnetic wave is so fun when ranged cast their unload.

It’s a great way to teach bearbow baddies how to dodge.

Fire Shield: In addition to the aura, make the user a mobile DoT field equivalent to a Lava Font minus the combo field. Becomes defensive by dissuading enemies from staying in melee range, and an offensive tool vs ranged enemies if used after forcing them into melee range.

Firewall: Significantly increase the damage/burning dealt so that enemies won’t want to cross it casually. Make it undodgeable like static field (damage taken even if a player dodges through it). Becomes area denial via severe punishment to enemies that cross.

Well I think originally Fire Wall was designed to be a combo field, thus purely a support skill. But I agree it would be nice to give it a more offensive/defensive utility when you play solo. Maybe make a fire elemental pop everytime an ennemy crosses it. So we could also mess with pets.

MyPuppy.8970:

Well I think originally Fire Wall was designed to be a combo field, thus purely a support skill.

Yes!

It just goes to show how much of a dinosaur eles are. Projectile finishers used to all be 100%.

Some still are since ANet failed to alter traited skill versions like Warrior’s Stronger Bow Strings and Mesmer’s Duelist’s Discipline.

I THINK shots fired through fire fields also added 10% more damage but I can’t remember for sure.

AFAIK shots fired through fire fields just get a 1sec burning effect.

Navzar.2938:

AFAIK shots fired through fire fields just get a 1sec burning effect.

Oh I was merely reminiscing the good ol’ days. I seemed to forget to meantion beta in there.

Earth is great! Along with swirling winds.

Anyway I have completely random/awful suggestions:

Water
Freezing Gust: Chill target foe and nearby foes. If target foe is vulnerable, that target is frozen (i.e. frost bow #5 skill).
Comet: Maybe just up the damage slightly. If target foe is frozen, that foe takes an additional x damage.

I guess the idea would be to improve the cc of the focus, and allow for a spike with comet depending on the additional damage. I think it’d make using the weapon a bit more ‘fun’ with a justifiable reward if you can satisfy the conditions on the skills. Otherwise, I’d like water to have some form of healing skill.

Fire
Flame wall: Maybe just give it a secondary activated ability that causes damage and blow out on a critical hit or something. Or allow it to inflict torment? Cleanse conditions? Anything to make the skill more interesting or at the very least, make it a bad idea to run through the giant flaming wall lol.
Fire Shield: Errm… condition cleanse? Immunity to burning? Damage reduction….
I dunno. Just anything.

Finally Gale: Could add a secondary activated ability that allows you to leap to target knocked down foe or something and grants swiftness?

These are really awful suggestions, but yeah. I reckon fire, water and gale need adjusting or complete reworking.

Aiglos.2907:

Fire
Flame wall: Maybe just give it a secondary activated ability that causes damage and blow out on a critical hit or something. Or allow it to inflict torment? Cleanse conditions? Anything to make the skill more interesting or at the very least, make it a bad idea to run through the giant flaming wall lol.

Torment would be a nice addition. Flamewall definitely needs some kind of a boost, as many in this thread have stated. It would be nice if Fire Shield had a little more kick, too, like a +5% damage boost for the duration.

In my opinion, air is the least problematic attunement for focus, but I’d love to see Swirling Winds grant out-of-combat swiftness. I’ve never understood why the damage-focused offhand dagger has a mobility skill, but focus—which is supposed to be utility- and CC-focused—does not.

Imagi.4561:

Aiglos.2907:

Fire
Flame wall: Maybe just give it a secondary activated ability that causes damage and blow out on a critical hit or something. Or allow it to inflict torment? Cleanse conditions? Anything to make the skill more interesting or at the very least, make it a bad idea to run through the giant flaming wall lol.

Torment would be a nice addition. Flamewall definitely needs some kind of a boost, as many in this thread have stated. It would be nice if Fire Shield had a little more kick, too, like a +5% damage boost for the duration.

In my opinion, air is the least problematic attunement for focus, but I’d love to see Swirling Winds grant out-of-combat swiftness. I’ve never understood why the damage-focused offhand dagger has a mobility skill, but focus—which is supposed to be utility- and CC-focused—does not.

i agree, as good as swirling winds is, gale can use a large CD reduction and something could most definately be added to swirling winds. make it ground targeted!!!!! or you could make it a lightning field. anything, please. however, fire and water are the most attention-needed attunements at the moment for focus.

Count leap as a human projectile, and see them crashing into the swirling wind.

Also, I can remind Fairy Tail manga, with that bad guy who did a swirling wind around the train station: no one could exit the area without being shred to pieces.

Boonburn on flamewall, lower fireshield cd cuz auras r kewl guise, add torment to water 4, lower gale cd, why mess with swirlwinds though?

Twink focus user one hour ago

Truebanana.5936:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCa0mQhfrQg

Twink focus user one hour ago

good god. sudden zerg shows up outta nowhere!

funnest thing id do with flamewall in pvp is in d/f, drop earth sig immobilize, burning speed and drop flamewall while charging and if i did it right they were stuck burning in the middle of a flaming cross. looked cool but thats about it.

Tellah.8073:

funnest thing id do with flamewall in pvp is in d/f, drop earth sig immobilize, burning speed and drop flamewall while charging and if i did it right they were stuck burning in the middle of a flaming cross. looked cool but thats about it.

Yeah I do that too. Not for the poor damage, but for the sake of aesthetics. I just want my combats to be beautiful and artistic somehow.

I still think they should add a blind component to the fire aura, similar to the mean little embers in the fire elemental fight.

auramancer d/f ele group ftw!!! nonstop auras!

Bump for focus love.

Comet instacast, no delay.
Firewall extreme buff in dmg, duration, and burn.
Fireshield – do something with it…please…even cut cooldown in half.
Swirling Winds: Great, but add swiftness.

fire 4: no idea that couldn’t be found on other skills/weapons ele already got, seems like a pointless left-over from attempted cond ele. Maybe burn boons as others recommended.
fire 5: reduce cd to 25/30s
water 4: aoe
water 5: increase radius
air 4: fine
air 5: reduce kd duration + aoe or add swiftness (10+s)
earth 4/5: fine

fire #4 and water #4 are definitly most lacking and should be looked into by ANet.

I started using focus today and I’m loving it even though many skills are lackluster.

I don’t want a redesign on fire 4. I like having a fire field. Reduce cast time to 1/4 second.
I don’t want a redesign on Water 5. Comet is pretty rad. Maybe a CD reduction.

besides the fantastic skills (air 4, both earth ones) Everything else I’d be happy with a complete redesign.

Comet is fine I’m surprised people still see it in a poor light.
Gale is also fine, and it be clearer if fire flame wall, freezing gust and fire shield were up to par.

Focus fire seems to need more of “you come near me you will get hurt” type thing, maybe Fire shield explodes, or just a rework of both spells.
Combine comet and freezing gust to add … a water field or an ice wall?
Earth is fine as is.
Air is ok, would like a cd reduction on gale and a blinding field at the center of swirling winds.

Tellah.8073:

funnest thing id do with flamewall in pvp is in d/f, drop earth sig immobilize, burning speed and drop flamewall while charging and if i did it right they were stuck burning in the middle of a flaming cross. looked cool but thats about it.

Now that got me thinking, perhaps we could have flamewall and dagger 4 synergise with dagger 3. Like when you cast burning speed through a fire field, it’ll cause an additional explosion at the intersection. Not necessarily make d/d stronger because dagger 4 is often used after dagger 3, but it’d make d/f more interesting.

As for fire aura, maybe make it a mini arcane shield? Perhaps not blocking attacks, but explode when it ends.

And my biggest irks of all is not focus, but water scepter skill 2…

Grove.2835:

Focus fire seems to need more of “you come near me you will get hurt” type thing, maybe Fire shield explodes, or just a rework of both spells.
Combine comet and freezing gust to add … a water field or an ice wall?
Earth is fine as is.
Air is ok, would like a cd reduction on gale and a blinding field at the center of swirling winds.

Glad some people understand that Fire skills are supposed to do damage.

While I worry it might make Swirling Winds OP, from a conceptual standpoint I love your suggestion for it.

How about if they make Swirling Winds a lightning field no other effects just the field. That shouldn’t too op right?

histerico.6153:

How about if they make Swirling Winds a lightning field no other effects just the field. That shouldn’t too op right?

Its anti-projectile function is one of the only things holding /focus up right now.

Leuca.5732:

Air 4 is absolutely amazing. 6 seconds of huge aoe projectile nullification is just really good for its recharge. Honestly Air 5 is in a worse state just because of recharge.

I don’t think focus needs mobility if it actually gets to a point where it can area control efficiently like it should. However, it needs a lot of work to get there.

Air #4 is totally redundant as Earth #4 already reflects projectiles. Air #4 should be a blind (pulses every 3sec) + swiftness and/or lightning field.

IMO focus is totally useless in PVP (read: WVW) until it gets mobility and/or heals enough to make it comparable in effectiveness to /D. /D and /F are nowhere near comparably effective ATM, even with focus’ overpowered earth skills.

mjharrison.3209:

Leuca.5732:

Air 4 is absolutely amazing. 6 seconds of huge aoe projectile nullification is just really good for its recharge. Honestly Air 5 is in a worse state just because of recharge.

I don’t think focus needs mobility if it actually gets to a point where it can area control efficiently like it should. However, it needs a lot of work to get there.

Air #4 is totally redundant as Earth #4 already reflects projectiles. Air #4 should be a blind (pulses every 3sec) + swiftness and/or lightning field.

IMO focus is totally useless in PVP (read: WVW) until it gets mobility and/or heals enough to make it comparable in effectiveness to /D. /D and /F are nowhere near comparably effective ATM, even with focus’ overpowered earth skills.

I run D/F, and I don’t find earth and air #4 redundant at all. Earth #4 requires impeccable timing to reflect and has a very small area of reflection, so it only works against single-target projectiles. Air doesn’t have those limitations.

Imagi.4561:

I run D/F, and I don’t find earth and air #4 redundant at all. Earth #4 requires impeccable timing to reflect and has a very small area of reflection, so it only works against single-target projectiles. Air doesn’t have those limitations.

They’re both pretty redundant when fighting a melee warrior…

I think it’s poor design to double up on anti-projectile when focus completely lacks heals and mobility.

mjharrison.3209:

Leuca.5732:

Air 4 is absolutely amazing. 6 seconds of huge aoe projectile nullification is just really good for its recharge. Honestly Air 5 is in a worse state just because of recharge.

I don’t think focus needs mobility if it actually gets to a point where it can area control efficiently like it should. However, it needs a lot of work to get there.

Air #4 is totally redundant as Earth #4 already reflects projectiles. Air #4 should be a blind (pulses every 3sec) + swiftness and/or lightning field.

IMO focus is totally useless in PVP (read: WVW) until it gets mobility and/or heals enough to make it comparable in effectiveness to /D. /D and /F are nowhere near comparably effective ATM, even with focus’ overpowered earth skills.

Air 4 is significant area defense as it has twice the duration of Earth 4 and affects what is pretty much the entirety of a cap point. Earth 4 has a totally different function in that regard, with its ability to turn defense into significant offense while being focused on only yourself. Ever downed a warrior with a reflected Kill Shot after baiting it out with Swirling Winds?

histerico.6153:

How about if they make Swirling Winds a lightning field no other effects just the field. That shouldn’t too op right?

It would work well with earth 4 and comet as they are blast finishers.

The Game Slayer.7632:

histerico.6153:

How about if they make Swirling Winds a lightning field no other effects just the field. That shouldn’t too op right?

It would work well with earth 4 and comet as they are blast finishers.

For unnecessary swiftness?

Leuca.5732:

The Game Slayer.7632:

histerico.6153:

How about if they make Swirling Winds a lightning field no other effects just the field. That shouldn’t too op right?

It would work well with earth 4 and comet as they are blast finishers.

For unnecessary swiftness?

Well it would serve as vulnerability for projectile finishers too. not only that, but it could open up some serious needed group play features.

ensoriki.5789:

Comet is fine I’m surprised people still see it in a poor light.
Gale is also fine, and it be clearer if fire flame wall, freezing gust and fire shield were up to par.

People here dont understand the difference on reach of every spell and their range
A ranged knockdown that lasts so much is a pretty good skill.If half of people here tried an actual competitive game lika a moba in their life they would understand things better.
Personally im trying to get the max out of the kit.Flame wall is at least a very long fire field,comet is great on stoping rezzers or stompers and fire shield really really works great when you are getting damage from many smaller sources of damage like pets ,clones,minions etc

The Game Slayer.7632:

Leuca.5732:

The Game Slayer.7632:

histerico.6153:

How about if they make Swirling Winds a lightning field no other effects just the field. That shouldn’t too op right?

It would work well with earth 4 and comet as they are blast finishers.

For unnecessary swiftness?

Well it would serve as vulnerability for projectile finishers too. not only that, but it could open up some serious needed group play features.

Which the ele only has in earth on S/F and D/F unless running arcane blast.

Lightning fields are great if your allies have leaps

histerico.6153:

How about if they make Swirling Winds a lightning field no other effects just the field. That shouldn’t too op right?

You are aware combo finisher leap is daze right?

ensoriki.5789:

histerico.6153:

How about if they make Swirling Winds a lightning field no other effects just the field. That shouldn’t too op right?

You are aware combo finisher leap is daze right?

I am aware of this. I just thought that since there are only three ways to create lightning fields it would be nice to have another way to make one

Avead.5760:

ensoriki.5789:

Comet is fine I’m surprised people still see it in a poor light.
Gale is also fine, and it be clearer if fire flame wall, freezing gust and fire shield were up to par.

People here dont understand the difference on reach of every spell and their range
A ranged knockdown that lasts so much is a pretty good skill.If half of people here tried an actual competitive game lika a moba in their life they would understand things better.
Personally im trying to get the max out of the kit.Flame wall is at least a very long fire field,comet is great on stoping rezzers or stompers and fire shield really really works great when you are getting damage from many smaller sources of damage like pets ,clones,minions etc

Im not saying focus is bad. I’m just saying, compare it to dagger. why would you ever say water for focus is better than water for dagger. same with air. updraft is a million times better than gale anyday. RTL and winds have their places. Ring of fire is also a million times better than flamewall and fire grab a million times better than fire shield. dont assume stuff, please.

The focus didn’t get any much-needed attention in this latest patch. I can’t say I’m surprised, but it is disheartening.

Some simple cooldown reductions would go a long way in making it more competitive, and making focus users happier.

I’d like to see some interesting utility added to the Focus rather than damage.

The Game Slayer.7632:

Avead.5760:

ensoriki.5789:

Comet is fine I’m surprised people still see it in a poor light.
Gale is also fine, and it be clearer if fire flame wall, freezing gust and fire shield were up to par.

People here dont understand the difference on reach of every spell and their range
A ranged knockdown that lasts so much is a pretty good skill.If half of people here tried an actual competitive game lika a moba in their life they would understand things better.
Personally im trying to get the max out of the kit.Flame wall is at least a very long fire field,comet is great on stoping rezzers or stompers and fire shield really really works great when you are getting damage from many smaller sources of damage like pets ,clones,minions etc

Im not saying focus is bad. I’m just saying, compare it to dagger. why would you ever say water for focus is better than water for dagger. same with air. updraft is a million times better than gale anyday. RTL and winds have their places. Ring of fire is also a million times better than flamewall and fire grab a million times better than fire shield. dont assume stuff, please.

It’s not better, it’s a different gameplay.

With a dagger your mostly rely on your dps with a bit of very close range control, while with focus you rely on interupt to win.

In a 1vs1 situation, you have 0% chance to win as a d/d against a d/f at equal skill, because the d/f can cover his heal and interupt your 2 times, 3 (without any cast at 1200 range) if he’s an asura.

Truebanana.5936:

The Game Slayer.7632:

Avead.5760:

ensoriki.5789:

Comet is fine I’m surprised people still see it in a poor light.
Gale is also fine, and it be clearer if fire flame wall, freezing gust and fire shield were up to par.

People here dont understand the difference on reach of every spell and their range
A ranged knockdown that lasts so much is a pretty good skill.If half of people here tried an actual competitive game lika a moba in their life they would understand things better.
Personally im trying to get the max out of the kit.Flame wall is at least a very long fire field,comet is great on stoping rezzers or stompers and fire shield really really works great when you are getting damage from many smaller sources of damage like pets ,clones,minions etc

Im not saying focus is bad. I’m just saying, compare it to dagger. why would you ever say water for focus is better than water for dagger. same with air. updraft is a million times better than gale anyday. RTL and winds have their places. Ring of fire is also a million times better than flamewall and fire grab a million times better than fire shield. dont assume stuff, please.

It’s not better, it’s a different gameplay.

With a dagger your mostly rely on your dps with a bit of very close range control, while with focus you rely on interupt to win.

In a 1vs1 situation, you have 0% chance to win as a d/d against a d/f at equal skill, because the d/f can cover his heal and interupt your 2 times, 3 (without any cast at 1200 range) if he’s an asura.

Scrap that asura crap, that has nothing to do with focus and dagger. Gale and comet are very unreliable to be used as an interrupt on an ele who is healing unless its ER. they are both a 3/4s cast. one heal you cant even interrupt since its a signet. you seem to forget dagger has two interrupts as well, and while they may be melee distance, since the only heal that you can rupt is ER you will have time to run up to that other ele and do said rupt.
Not to mention the massive damage and much better mobility dagger has to focus. Fire grab? CE? quake? frost aura? cleanse and heal? If youre saying two ranged interrupts trump two melee interrupts, cleanse+heal, mobility, massive damage, (highest for ele in one shot) and a much larger fire field, then sure thats on you. you can say that. but you look just silly when you do. Dagger is so much more versatile than focus. and yes, its a play style. but when given to players of equal skill the dagger will win every day.