Guild Wars 2

Speed of Shadows – Increases movement speed by 25% while in deathshroud.

Let’s all be real here, this trait is extremely underwhelming and is only used in those few niche builds. Why take this trait over Vital Persistence, Spectral Mastery or even Path of Midnight?

With that being said, this trait could use a nice change to make it a viable trait necromancers can make use of in any build. Changing this trait may help necros with the much needed “mobility” issue, and could even help us stand true to our design philosophy; masters of chasing down our targets.

My proposed change is this:

Speed of Shadows – Move 50% faster for 2(3?) seconds upon entering deathshroud.

With this change, they would have to move this to the master tier line, as 10 point dumping is bad enough in this game. They can bring Reaper’s Mark or Soul marks down to adept. Boon duration obviously cannot increase its duration, and it encourages smart play by making a choice to use it offensively or defensively.

It is not too overpowered, but has a place in every single build and prevents the infamous 30/20/0/0/20 build from taking both Master of Terror and Speed of Shadows. It also prevents people from taking this trait with Near to Death without dumping 30 points into Soul Reaping and giving up Deathly Perception or Foot in the Grave.

This trait can be used to gain ground, reposition yourself, or get just in range for that dark path to hit your fleeing target. I think this change could see some interesting power builds come into pvp play.

Of course, as with any suggestions they are open to balancing changes. I would like everyone’s feedback on this change to a rather boring and niche trait. Discuss!

What if instead it gave us a Locust Swarm (say 3-5 seconds) on entering Death Shroud?

I’m presuming you mean to exclude the swiftness part, but keep the 2 second(without condition duration) cripple and 2% life force per target hit? This could indeed help sustain yourself for a few more moments when under focus fire. I say under focus fire, because naturally you don’t want to be in melee range while in deathshroud unless your shutting down your target with cc.

Definitely a possibility tho, but this idea would need siphons to work while in ds (actually healing your health) to show its true potential.

OreoWolf.9564:

Speed of Shadows – Move 50% faster for 2(3?) seconds upon entering deathshroud.

100% maybe?

edit

also this

OreoWolf.9564:

I’m presuming you mean to exclude the swiftness part, but keep the 2 second(without condition duration) cripple and 2% life force per target hit? This could indeed help sustain yourself for a few more moments when under focus fire. I say under focus fire, because naturally you don’t want to be in melee range while in deathshroud unless your shutting down your target with cc.

Definitely a possibility tho, but this idea would need siphons to work while in ds (actually healing your health) to show its true potential.

No, Swiftness included. You can flash it briefly out of combat for a speed boost (you should be able to avoid mobs within 5 seconds if you want to) In combat gives you a little bit of chase or gap-making, or even just a bit of life force sustain.

Wow these are actually really interesting ideas. I’m really liking the super speed upon entering death shroud, as well as deathly swarm ideas.

The superspeed actually got me thinking about new builds xD
And the locust swarm seems like it could be pretty powerful.

If it were to give swiftness as well, it would have to be at a decreased rate (4-5 seconds?) to prevent 100% swiftness just from popping in and out of ds every 9 seconds. This also can double down with Near to Death to give perma swiftness with an extra 10 point dump. Not optimal do take it over Deathly Perception or Foot in Grave, but a possibility nonetheless!

Keep the ideas rolling guys!

Having runes of traveling, makes this trait obsolete. The runes apply even in DS, which also makes signet of the locust obsolete, imo. So this trait should definately do something else, than 25% move speed.

OreoWolf.9564:

If it were to give swiftness as well, it would have to be at a decreased rate (4-5 seconds?) to prevent 100% swiftness just from popping in and out of ds every 9 seconds. This also can double down with Near to Death to give perma swiftness with an extra 10 point dump. Not optimal do take it over Deathly Perception or Foot in Grave, but a possibility nonetheless!

Keep the ideas rolling guys!

Actually when skills are duplicated into a trait mechanic, they are usually placed on the same cooldown as the original skill. Our “Enfeebling Blood” was a rare exception that is now being put on the original skill cooldown in the Dec 10th update. This means that if they were to have Locust Swarm cast on DS, it would likely be on a 30s cooldown – and personally I would take it even with that CD.

As you said, Speed of Shadows is pretty underwhelming. I have never taken and never will take the trait as I can get the same bonus permanently with a signet, or beat it with swiftness. If it were 50% it would become worth it. Or if they made it special and had it stack with other forms of swiftness (be it signet, dagger, or actual swiftness) it would be worth it. Or just complete changes like LS or other suggestions.

If it were to share the same cool down as LS on warhorn, then it should definitely give the full 10 second swiftness on use.

I agree fully on taking this skill even on a 30 second cool down if it were implemented. Most people pop locust swarm before going into deathshroud anyways, so the synergy would be great (even more so if you run warhorn as well).

I would prefer the overall short duration speed increase, but at times like these I’ll take anything better than a situational 25% speed boost that can be replaced with locust signet, traveler/speed runes, or perma swiftness through spectral walk and warhorn.

The trait as it is encourages bad play, as it pushes you to stay in deathshroud as long as possible just for a measly 25% movement speed.

So far we’ve brought up some pretty interesting suggestions. Don’t shy away from contributing to the discussion, all feedback/ideas are welcomed!