Guild Wars 2

Just my take on a more useful version of this skill.

Changes:
Blocks(actually blocks instead of the current reflection)
Allows movement
Channel time: 3s
Cool down: 20s
Grants 5s of Retaliation
Damage: 800

Any feedback? I know we won’t be able to reflect a warriors kill shot back at him anymore, but I feel that this will be more useful overall and give the axe more usage.

i’m ok with it staying reflect, we already have block stance on GS. but we have to be able to move. even the situations where the skill is effective leave you like a sitting duck, very high risk, low reward.

i like the retal idea too though.

faeral.7120:

i’m ok with it staying reflect, we already have block stance on GS. but we have to be able to move. even the situations where the skill is effective leave you like a sitting duck, very high risk, low reward.

i like the retal idea too though.

Yeah this, although honestly I have more issues with path of scars than whirling defense. The only reason I don’t run offhand axe is that I get zero utility out of axe 4, I actually really wish I could run it more often for the projectile reflection.

PS: According to the wiki Whirling Defense is actually supposed to block projectiles, rather than reflect them.

Axe 4 is 100% combo finisher and its a long duration reflect with a whirl finisher. Am I the only one who uses offhand axe? I use every weapon and offhand axe definately gets pulled out from time to time.

Chopps.5047:

Axe 4 is 100% combo finisher and its a long duration reflect with a whirl finisher. Am I the only one who uses offhand axe? I use every weapon and offhand axe definately gets pulled out from time to time.

I love Offhand Axe for vul stacking when my pet knocked my target down.
But I would REALLY love to be able to move with it!

They would have to do something to the animation for whirl though, I have quite a humorous image in my head of my ranger running around flailing her arms like a spaz.

Chopps.5047:

Axe 4 is 100% combo finisher and its a long duration reflect with a whirl finisher. Am I the only one who uses offhand axe? I use every weapon and offhand axe definately gets pulled out from time to time.

Yeah but there are plenty of other combo finishers to play with, axe4 would have to have better utility or hit like a truck to make me really want to use it. I do realize I should use offhand axe more often just because there are some scenarios where reflecting projectiles is great, to be honest I often don’t even think of pulling it out. I haven’t started on the new southsun content yet, I’ll probably whip out axe offhand there for reflecting the karka spit or whatever it is that they fling at you.

Make it mobile.

Zelulose.8695:

Make it mobile.

Give us a Whirling Defense app. :p

How about we make it a passive effect that gives a 75% chance to block all attacks, damaging nearby foes whenever it blocks a projectile? I would like that. A lot.

lurel.6250:

They would have to do something to the animation for whirl though, I have quite a humorous image in my head of my ranger running around flailing her arms like a spaz.

This is basically you when you use that skill. Just one of the many reasons why I don’t use it.

I’ve always thought the Ranger looked like some Star Wars Jedi deflecting Blaster shots.

I personally love the reflect aspect of whirling defense.. Absorbing projectiles is nice, but reflects can cause way more havoc overall. Path of scars is also extremely handy because of the 100% projectile finisher aspect, plus it can hit an enemy twice, with seperate crit chance countes, so if you can path it right that’s a lot of free damage right there.

How about instead of changing it, improve it?

Makes it worth to be stuck in a place for 3 seconds.
Add axes that are thrown out and bounces between enemies
Boost the reflection damage
Boost the whirl damage

solrik.6028:

How about instead of changing it, improve it?

Makes it worth to be stuck in a place for 3 seconds.
Add axes that are thrown out and bounces between enemies
Boost the reflection damage
Boost the whirl damage

An increase to its reflection radius would be nice as well.

Its damage has a 150 radius, but its reflection is closer to 75. This is okay if someone is targeting you, but makes it difficult to reflect anything but what is headed directly at your character.

lurel.6250:

They would have to do something to the animation for whirl though, I have quite a humorous image in my head of my ranger running around flailing her arms like a spaz.

Roll an Asura Warrior and use Triple Chop while moving past your target.

For PvP.

I like the lack of movement, it makes the skill unique.
It just needs just compensation for the handicap.

Double~ the dmg radius, periodic movement impairment or interrupting, and good dps would be enough.
(like periodically crip/chill/imob or daze and deals 25~% more overall dmg in 1/2 the time)

Agree with garethh above. As much as I would want movement for this skill I doubt Anet will give it to us. Adding cripple or bleeds (or both :P) would be good; higher damage too please – it is a pretty weak skill.

I would not trade projectile reflect for movement. Projectile reflection is awesome, and (aside from the Reef Drake F2 underwater) Whirling Defense is the only thing Rangers have that has a projectile reflect on it.

My only complaint is that in dungeon play it isn’t competitive with Guardian Wall or Mesmer Feedback. Granted it does other things besides reflect, but the reflection radius just isn’t big enough to protect a team in a meaningful way.

I try using this in TA, the attacks to the right/left of me that I did not reflect have big enough AOE radius to still deal damage. If I try this in harpy fractal, the harpy just shoots my pet instead, killing both of us.

ChillyChinaman.6057:

Just my take on a more useful version of this skill.

Changes:
Blocks(actually blocks instead of the current reflection)
Allows movement
Channel time: 3s
Cool down: 20s
Grants 5s of Retaliation
Damage: 800

Any feedback? I know we won’t be able to reflect a warriors kill shot back at him anymore, but I feel that this will be more useful overall and give the axe more usage.

I like the reflect so would have to say no thank you to the blocking portion. Nothing like reflecting kill shot back or karka ranged attacks. Although it does need to allow movement.