Guild Wars 2

I feel that it’s safe to say we are generally underwhelmed by Torch.

Blaze Breaker

This skill is just really unimpressive. Same animation for the arm as Tremor but with a skill that is way less impactful. Reusing animations is fine on a different class, but Tremor is a Warrior skill.

As for the actual skill, it’s also not that great. What would be much more useful is a skill like Scrappers Shock Shield which gives a bit of sustain but with a offensive aspect. Maybe something like a 1 second block to the front but it shoots out longer ranged flames than the Lightning from Shock Shield?

Flames of War

This isn’t a bad skill, but it’s missing something. It would be a great bit of sustain for it to destroy projectiles for the duration.

Maybe that’s too much, but atm I would still use a shield on a condi build for the sustain. These suggestions would make torch have a little sustain while still being focused on burn.

Totally agree. I was trying to craft some builds I might use, and the Torch didn’t make the cut on any of them because it (combined with the traits you have to give up to even get Berserker) wasn’t enough to be viable.

Much more damage output or much better defensive options are in order.

That being said, I don’t have the answers.

For Blaze Breaker, maybe replacing the cripple with a knockdown? It’s consistent with the animation, the skill description, can set up for a burst or just provide sustain by interrupting attacks from opponents for 2s.

For Flames of War, destruction of projectiles is one option. A blind field due to “smoke” might be another. I know people hate the proliferation of blind fields, and with good reason, but other new specializations of crazy long evades, blocks, etc. with significant offensive components along with them. So the torch needs something good.

Blaze Breaker really leaves a lot to be desired. That skill for me has no personality or application whatsoever.

Flames of War is a decent skill. Instead of adding new things to it, I would probably rather see its cooldown reduced 5 seconds…

Blaze Breaker would be good if it had some boon hate, either removing boons or extending the duration of the conditions per boon on the enemy.

Flames of War would be cool if it granted immunity to blind for its duration.

Projectile blocking is so boring and the Shield already fits that bill. Another potential effect could be the ability to block and clear traps and ground targeted aoe.

Over all, I think Berserker is underwhelming, but for reasons other than the torch. I think Flames of War is great as is – including the CD. Good damage, removes 2 condis, and is a roaming fire field. What’s not to like?! Blaze Breaker, on the other hand, needs an interrupt of some sort. I like Choppy’s idea of a short knockdown instead of a cripple, but maybe a daze would do, too.

Torch #4 is nice with proper traits.

Cripple<=>Immobilize<=>Fury<=>150 condition damage

Torch #5 is mobile fire field with double leap trait and sword in mainhand provides 10s fire shield.

Unfortunately it’s more entertaining to use Berserker than useful.

Torch#5 should reveal stealth, you use a torch to see in the dark right? So it make senses and would be really good in pvp

Aoe reveal on Torch 5 would be very good, and thematically sensible. I really think thieves should get major buffs to their non-stealth builds before or when something like that got implemented though.

As it is, the stealth-based dagger burster is (appropriately) fragile, but it’s largely their only viable build outside of Daredevil. More reveal in the game would make the class even less viable.

That aside, reveal wouldn’t be enough to make me take the torch. Maybe if it was accompanied by a large increase in damage, improved condi removal, and/or cooldown reduction?

I’m not sure how to feel about Blaze Breaker yet. It does decent damage as power or malice and has 5 projectiles for procs. For malice builds the CD is too long since sword 2 and 3 are useless for DPS making for a super boring rotation.

Flames of War does a ton of damage for a malice builds, includes a mobile fire field, and a condition cleanse but pays for it with a huge CD. I guess you could use it for an easy fire field out of combat, but its quite poor for a power build so I don’t see it ever replacing sword/shield.

torch 5 should give stupid speed / quickness just like rev has