Stalker Dual Blades

[Xalic95]

Currently it seems there is no way to start the empower/sweep combos and the damage seems to be slightly lower as far as sets go for stalkers (could be wrong on dmg)

[Jaguaratron]

Empower AND Sweep combos are supposed to both be started by Build Up on stalkers, which pretty much sucks as it is, have you confirmed this doesnt work?

[Xalic95]

There was no text indicating that the build up started the combos i didnt take it because i thought i could use empower to skip needing a build up. Thank your for correcting me but the text should still be adjusted :)

[Jaguaratron]

https://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Dual_Blades

 

Given that with 3 recharge SOs build up is only useable every 45 seconds this is a terrible set up for TWO combos for stalker DB. Placate is the finisher for empower too which is a 30s cd, terrible, just terrible.

 

I would recommend putting in suggestions as to give this set a balance pass as BU and Placate shouldnt have anything to do with the combo system IMO.

[SometangClan]

I can confirm that both combos do work, although with how DB plays Empower is never worth using and Sweep is more of a nice bonus. The set is actually very strong for damage, it just interacts poorly with the combo system.

[Erydanus]

One of the stalker ATOs has the power to reset build up. If you're using that ATO, you're going to be able to use the Empower combo more frequently. Since Assassin always gets a build up power in its powersets to supercharge assassin's strike, having it get that on top of the Empower combo seems like double-dipping. Dual blades is highly rated for Stalker DPS, so having Empower combo linked to Build Up (and Placate) was probably a design choice creating a gate to prevent too much double dipping. Likewise with the Sweep combo.

 

Every primary set that is used by stalkers has to have buildup, placate, and assassin's strike. That means that some of the sets are going to be adjusted around those powers replacing other powers. You also should not expect those sets to play the same for stalker as they do for other ATVs because stalkers play differently than other ATs. (Related example: staff stalkers lose the ability to change forms; they're in the attack up form at all times.) I personally think that the implementation wa pretty good for the launch of the set. Because stalkers now do play differently, maybe it could stand to be looked at or the times adjusted, but I'm kind of skeptical.

 

If you think about the usual play of a Stalker, especially when the set was created, it was: Build Up, Assassin's Strike; if they lived, Placate and run away. If they didn't, then the friends may be coming for you (as Assassin's Strike didn't used to do an AoE fear to provide mitigation). So the way the Empower and Sweep combo are linked and branched makes sense: you start either of them and if the hit fails you use Placate to power up more and if it lands you switch to the AoE attack and nail anyone now coming after you.

 

Weaken (debuff) and Attack Vitals (DoT) remain more frequently useable for a stalker who's going into more extended melee combat as they sometimes do now. So that preserves the identity of the set and the stalker gets the rapid attack feel of dual blades.