Guild Wars 2

I have always disliked Counterblow(mace #2) and riposte(OH Sword #5). It feels like these skills have relatively low reward for using them effectively, considering they take up a whole skill slot.

While they can provide a small amount of defense and decent damage, I feel that the defense is not enough and the offensive output is lackluster. So I came up with a change that addresses both areas that these skills lack.

The Improvement:
Counterblow and Riposte recharge instantly if the attack is successfully landed.

If this were implemented, using these skills true to their nature would give an increase in survivability while ‘clinched’ with an enemy, while making it harder for them to stay in that range. Very much true to the way I believe the warrior is meant to be played. If the skill is whiffed or if it is used in an entirely defensive manner, it maintains its current function.

Another additional improvement:
Utilizing the ‘Missile Deflection’ trait would essentially allow the warrior to bat projectiles back at people and recharge the skill if that reflected projectile landed successfully.

The warrior currently exists as a relatively risk free engagement from a distance, and this would be a small discouragement to engage the warrior at range. Not to mention it would also be very fun.

I think that these changes would make for interesting builds and interesting plays, while making otherwise lackluster skills into a welcome addition to a warriors arsenal. It also relieves some pressure from the utility slots for defensive utilities.

Instead of the counter automatically activating, it should be manual (gain the ability to counter once you’ve blocked an attack). So many times I’ve successfully blocked an opponent’s attack, only to have my counter attack miss because the opponent just dodge rolls right after.

I honestly don’t think that recharging instantly would be a good idea.

But maybe, like, reduce the cooldown?

Olba.5376:

I honestly don’t think that recharging instantly would be a good idea.

But maybe, like, reduce the cooldown?

Yeah I was thinking about that. Maybe a short cooldown(maybe 1 second) so you cant just spam it. I still like the idea of being able to actually punish people for not avoiding or dealing with counterblow/riposte cause right now they’re not great for defense or offense.

Other classes have similar abilities that either have secondary doubletap functions(magnetic shield) or defensive utility(protector’s strike). Warriors just get adrenaline gain -_-

In order to get the double tap they’d likely increase the cooldown.

While an instant skill recharge seems far too drastic, these could be interesting changes.

The counter-attack on Riposte should be like the thieves deathblossom attack, with a build in evade.

roamzero.9486:

The counter-attack on Riposte should be like the thieves deathblossom attack, with a build in evade.

I actually really like that idea, it would certainly make OH Sword pretty neat.

And now that I think about it all of the thieves weapon skills are instant recharge(including the evades).

Would a defensive skill that requires a hit to recharge really be that unbalanced?