Guild Wars 2

Hey,

A quick video, going over my initial impressions after spending an evening+some morning hours testing new Revenant’s weapon coming with Renegade- Shortbow. Comes with a review of the skills and few suggestions on how to make them better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwO8KqtPzQk

Tl;dr:

Shortbow is 900 range, contrary to most good ranged weapons, which sit at 1200. Shorter range puts you in more dangerous position than 1200 one would do, yet the weapon provides no extra defense. Even worse, neither new Kalla Legend nor Renegade traits bring that extra defense. As a result, you are left out relying on Core Legends, traits and weapons to survive a dive.

1. Autoattack is decent, great potential with piercing in WvW. Blood Fury (Renegade’s trait) could be bugged, as it doesn’t seem to increase Bleed durations.

2. Second skill on shortbow has nice synergy with traits that require you to strike at the back/from the side. Doesn’t require facing the enemy, which is a welcome and helpful feature.

3. Third skill is buggy on uneven terrain, causing lower number of shots to spawn if some collide with a wall/stairs etc.
It brings no bonus reward for hitting someone with all seven arrows (the centre). I think it’s a missed potential, as some bonus damage could be reward for landing a perfect skillshot.
The crossing point, “centre” is set at max range of shortbow – 900. In regular fight, you very rarely sit at max range, most of the time in PvP you will find yourself somewhere in mid-range while wielding Shortbow. This guts the damage of Sevenshot, as only 2 or 3 arrows will be striking your targets.
Sevenshot is quite hard to land, having not just the requirement of aiming (hitting moving target with the skill’s centre is takes some skill), but also a bit too long cast time.
The skill’s skillshot pattern reminds me of “Arcane Missiles”, Li Ming’s skill from Heroes of the Storm. I think, similary to Arcane Missiles, Sevenshot’s center (the arrow crossing point) should be adjustable so you can fire it closer or further.

4. Fourth skill lacks impact on Revenant. Medium energy cost, about 1s+ total cast time skill applies average damage, both condition & power, as well as Slow. Revenant doesn’t have enough reliable interrupts like Thief or Spellbreaker, no good interrupt traits either, to get a major value out of Slow condition. As a result, Slow is a throwaway bonus.I’d prefer Spiritcrush to be a solid defensive skill, spawning area of denial for Melee attackers, similar to Ward spells from GW1. It also can’t be cast behind character.

5. Fifth skill is very powerful due to shot cooldown, but it could benefit from using a skillshot targeting.

I’ve been pretty disappointed by the shortbow. I think the potential is there but the overall dmg and utility from it is totally lacking. There is no burst and no defense you get out of it. Just a slow kit sustain which just isnt that useful in this game. I like the renegade profession but not the shortbow skills. I was pretty excited to use it but not sure if in reality I would for any part of the game.

-Skills one and two, I’m fine with.

-Skill 3….that needs some kind of change. there’s no way this is practical to acquire max damage on the regular beyond the most static of targets. I’d recommend making it similar to Ranger’s SB3 where you gain evade frames while shooting.

Something like “Deploy an arrow while retreating that explodes shortly after, crippling and tormenting foes hit by the blast” w/ 3/4 iframes.

Skill 4: Reduce pulses to 3,but deal more damage/burning or cripple/slow enemies who move in/out of the ring, akin to Test of Faith.

Skill 5: Pretty decent. Might just be me, but it seems to “fade” before reaching max range sometimes, though

I dont have an issue with too many of the traits, though there are some changes I’d like.

Righteous Rebel should shed (or convert) conditions. Something like:
“Using a Legendary skill removes conditions depending on the amount of Kalla’s Fervor active. Using a Legendary Renegade skill cleanses more conditions. Conditions cured per 5 stacks: 2 (Legendary Stance)/Conditions cured per 5 stacks (3 Legendary Renegade). ICD 8s”

All For One
Its kinda lame that all it does is Protection stacking.
If each were able to apply a specific boon at a threshold of Kalla’s Fervor, the Warband members might be able to support a bit better. That might even make it GM worthy depending on which.
Imagine if Icerazor could act like a short term/lesser Frost Spirit lel

Function skills
Citadel Bombard should be reduced to 30.

Orders from Above feels fine, but I wouldnt mind a drop to 25

The Utilities are mostly okay, though I feel like Icerazor having Chill instead of Cripple would synergize better with Mallyx’s abyssal chill trait.

Beyond the obvious issue with spirits being murdered/CC’d easily, its not too bad.