I’m D/D and I can’t remember the last time I’ve used death blossom. If there is a large group I’ll throw a dagger. If I need to evade I’ll evade. The cost of initiative is worthless when compared to the other skills you are using more often. HS, C&D. Also there is a delay when actually executing the animation, at least a second after you press the button will it even execute the animation; which means just evading is better than using DB as an evade
I’m using it to put damage + bleeding on groups and find it quite useful. But I must admitt that the evading with this skill doesn’t work very well. I sometimes get even hit while jumping.
my problem with it is it splits D/D builds into 2 seperate builds, death blossom condition builds, and backstab/heartseeker power builds.
its not really worth it to the power build as its 6 freaking intitative just for a evasion and weakkitten bleed. while i love playing the death blossom thief, in order for D/D to be a whole weapon set it needs adjustment.
I’m glad to see people are using it, that makes me think that I’m just ignoring it for the wrong reasons. But does anyone else notice the delay? I mean, to use it as an evasive skill it becomes completely unreliable simply because of the delay. There has to be a good second delay after pressing it; and the delay on the dodge mechanic is near instant if not.
Using it as an evasive technique would require prediction and not reaction, which I disagree with.
The trick is to DB before the attack hits. You’re right that as a “wait for it. . . wait for it. . . dodge!” move it blows. Do not use it like that. There is a dodge for that. Rather, you stay constantly in motion, Dodge, Dodge (to build Might stacks and drop caltrops), DB, DB, DB, 1, 1, 1, DB, Dodge, DB, etc. You aren’t dodging any specific attack, but you spend so much time in “evade” mode and/or behind the target that most attacks won’t hit you anyways.
“If you spent as much time working on [some task] as
you spend complaining about it on the forums, you’d be
done by now.”
Pray tell, how you expect to dodge instantaneous skills across a server with latency with “reaction”?
If something is instantaneous than you’re not dodging it anyways..
I mean when a projectile is launched towards you, by the time you see it in mid flight it’s impossible to evade it with DB because of the delay. Why is there a delay anyways, just so it’s not another dodge roll?
The trick is to DB before the attack hits. You’re right that as a “wait for it. . . wait for it. . . dodge!” move it blows. Do not use it like that. There is a dodge for that. Rather, you stay constantly in motion, Dodge, Dodge (to build Might stacks and drop caltrops), DB, DB, DB, 1, 1, 1, DB, Dodge, DB, etc. You aren’t dodging any specific attack, but you spend so much time in “evade” mode and/or behind the target that most attacks won’t hit you anyways.
This post makes the most sense when explaining the dodge mechanic of DB and it’s practical usage
it is actually excellent near the start of my rotation.
Chained with cloak and dagger and backstab, it gets your target to 50% health easily. Then processed with heartseeker.
It’s called Leaping Death Blossom because you will constantly Leap to your own death -_-
While I do think it could be a little cheaper (say 4 Initiative) it’s pretty good for AoE dotting groups of mobs. It’s in fact the main damage source for condition damage thieves.
I do indeed see and feel the delay, and it sucks. It reminds me of the many anti-melee dynamics present in the first Guild Wars, designed to make melee’s life miserable subtly. I hope they do something about it as it is definitely not related to latency.
Edit: My only other qualm, arguably more major than the delay, is the Initiative cost. I’d say 4 works tons better.
Death Blossom is awesome… my condition/bleed thief’s main ability.
Mine bleeds people for ~21 seconds per stack (originally 10 sec)…. each DB gives 3 stacks. Can easily do 3 DB in a row, without using initiative regen skills. (Total of 9, 21 second bleeds)
The bleeds add up and can be reapplied quickly (if removed).
i’m lvl 55 and use dual daggers, to be honest i never used to use death blossom and was always getting killed easily, i was so frustrated with thief class that i was planning to roll a warrior, then a guy from my guild explained to me that thief is all about doing damage while avoiding incoming attacks and told me to use death blossom.. and suddenly it all changed. before i used to struggle with a single mob but now i can take down 2-3 of them.. i use death blossom till they bleed to below 50% and use heart seeker to finish it. while mixing dodge n death blossom i can even take down a veteran enemy easily..
…lol im new to mmo thingy n i know i still suck but jus regarding this topic i thing it is a very important skill for thief d/d build
Its a situational ability. Best used to apply DoTs to targets that have high Melee Defense. Even if your not stacking Condition dmg, not using this ability if you have it is silly. In PvP its invaluable. Where seconds matter and you cant always be in melee range to strike DoTs allow you to keep on Damaging your target. Plus is a free evade. Even works on treb shots.
not sure if this post is serious or trolling. surely everyone recognizes that Death Blossom is easily the most powerful ability on the Dagger+Dagger skillbar, and arguable the most powerful Thief weapon ability period.
edit:
to clarify why i’m confused as to why people wouldn’t understand its power, consider it from this perspective: you open up a fight by Death Blossoming a couple of times. this stacks bleeds that will continue to drain them out for the rest of the fight even while you use your regular attacks. It also gives you a period at the opening of the fight where you basically cannot be hit because you are dancing around with your Death Blossoms. by the time you even get to the part of the fight were the enemy is capable of damaging you they are already at half health and bleeding out.
It’s still good as a non-condition thief. I don’t have condition damage, but if I see a warrior bull rushing me, I’ll use it to evade him and hit him with a bunch of bleeds and damage. Timing is key, and although it won’t dodge the instant stuff – what does. You have to think before you leap, that’s all.
