Guild Wars 2

This trait sounded really interesting but it got changed before being officially implemented.

What was initially proposed was

Hidden Barbs

• Bleeding you cause deals 33% more damage

and it’s currently standing in the Skirmishing Category.
It’s in the master line, competing with Spotter and Strider’s Defense, 2 very interesting and powerful traits.

What we got is a change from 33% bleed damage to 20%, which is underwhelming;
Bringing the damage modifier back to 33% could be very interesting, but another thread mentionned the absence of the old trait Keen Edge, now removed.

My suggestion would be to change the trait to

Hidden Barbs

• Bleeding you cause deal 20% more damage
• Cast ‘Sharpening Stone’ when your target reaches 75% health (45s CD, traitable with Wilderness Knowledge)

Basically a mix of current Hidden Barbs and old Keen Edge, The trait has synergy with itself, and has synergy with bleeds in general. And it’d also be traitable with Wilderness Knowledge, gaining a lower CD time and condition cleanse + fury on trigger.

With such changes, it’d be a very strong contender for Skirmishing line’s Master Traits.

They didnt officially reduced it from 33% to 20% dude, it is written 33% everywhere in release except ingame trait decription ! It is a bug !

Nah. Its not a bug. I’m pretty sure it was a nerf. 33% was a bit too much.

Yes, Keen Edge needs to come back for non precision condi builds and trappers.

+1 this idea.

Yeah, Keen Edge is a loss for sure – I mentioned it here as well:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/ranger/Previous-Condi-Build-neutered-slightly/first#post5201187

…however your adjustment to Hidden Barbs would make me a happy bunny.

Keen edge would have been too strong tied to another trait.

5 bleeds on a kitten CD is not too strong, but traited it can be viable. I mean it’s a master line afterall

No idea why " forty five seconds " is censored AHHAAH