Bioware is planning a number of changes to various classes and their utilities in the upcoming Game Update 5.9 to Star Wars: The Old Republic. Sentinels/Marauders and Tanks get some special attention!
Because the so called “skank tanks” are too powerful, this is one of the major focuses for the developers in this patch when it comes to Utilities. Below is the full list of all changes made to Assassin/Shadow, Powertech/Vanguard and Juggernaut/Guardian.
Assassin
Darkness
- Dark Charge’s threat generation bonus has been increased from 100% to 150%
- Dark Charge’s internal damage has been reduced by 50%
- The damage bonus given to Shock from Electrify has been reduced from 25% to 20%
- The damage bonus given to Depredating Volts from Harnessed Darkness per stack has been reduced from 25% to 15%
- The Wither and Discharge damage bonus given from Mounting Darkness has been reduced from 30% to 20%
Powertech Shield Tech
- Ion Gas Cylinder’s threat generation bonus has been increased from 100% to 150%
- Fixed a bug in Power Armor that wasn’t calculating damage correctly
- Power Armor now gives a 5% damage bonus to Ion Gas Cylinder (down from 10%)
- Reduced the base damage of Heat Blast by 18.75%
- The damage bonus given to Firestorm and Searing Wave by Flame Engine has been reduced from 100% to 40%
- Reduced Ion Overload’s damage by 50%
- Reduced Ion Gas Cylinder’s damage by 20%
Juggernaut Immortal
- Soresu Form’s threat generation bonus has been increased from 100% to 150%
- The damage bonus given by Pillar of Strength to Crushing Blow, Ravage, and Backhand has been reduced from 30% to 15%
Shadow Kinetic Combat
- Combat Technique’s threat generation bonus has been increased from 100% to 150%
- Combat Technique’s internal damage has been reduced by 50%
- The damage bonus given to Project from Bombardment has been reduced from 25% to 20%
- The damage bonus given to Cascading Debris from Harnessed Shadows per stack has been reduced from 25% to 15%
- The Slow Time and Force Breach damage bonus given from Pulsating Force has been reduced from 30% to 20%
Vanguard Shield Specialist
- Ion Cell’s threat generation bonus has been increased from 100% to 150%
- Fixed a bug in Power Armor that wasn’t calculating damage correctly
- Power Armor now gives a 5% damage bonus to Ion Gas Cell (down from 10%)
- Reduced the base damage of Energy Blast by 18.75%
- The damage bonus given to Ion Storm and Ion Squall from Pulse Engine has been reduced from 100% to 40%
- Reduced Ion Overload’s damage by 50%
- Reduced Ion Cell’s damage by 20%
Guardian Defense
- Soresu Form’s threat generation bonus has been increased from 100% to 150%
- The damage bonus given by Beacon of Might to Guardian Slash, Blade Barrage, and Hilt Bash has been reduced from 30% to 15%
First, “skank tanks” are greatly overperforming in PvP. This is a player who is using a Tank Discipline but equipping DPS gear. Second, when comparing all tanks (regardless of gear) against the DPS targets we outlined last year, tanks are doing more damage than intended.
The summary of what we are changing in 5.9 is that tanks across the board will be doing less damage. To ensure that this doesn’t have a negative impact on their ability to tank/hold threat, we are greatly increasing their overall threat generation. This will mean that although they will commit less damage to an encounter, holding threat will not be any more difficult than it is today.
Special attention is given to the Sentinel and Marauder class in 5.9. The utility changes here target the survivability concerns players have expressed.
Maurader
General Changes
- The Ruthless Aggressor utility has been changed so that activating Obfuscate temporarily yields a 75% increase in damage reduction for Force and tech attacks instead of a 75% chance to resist all Force and tech attacks.
Fury
- Reduced the damage done by Bloody Slashes by 18.5%
Sentinel
General Changes
- The Zealous Judgment utility has been changed so that activating Pacify temporarily yields a 75% increase in damage reduction for Force and tech attacks instead of a 75% chance to resist all Force and tech attacks.
Concentration
- Reduced the damage done by Burning Slices by 18.5%
We are making two changes. First, following last year’s balance pass, these Classes are still slightly overperforming. The change to Bloody Slashes / Burning Slices is looking to address this.
The second change is more of a functionality change. Ruthless Aggressor / Zealous Judgment would create a situation where there was very little counterplay against a Marauder / Sentinel during the effect of Obfuscate / Pacify. Since it created a chance to resist effects, it meant damage and crowd control were inconsistent against them. The change we are making is that instead of a 75% chance to miss, it adds 75% damage reduction. Now, a Marauder or Sentinel can be crowd controlled during the effect, but it will still allow them to take greatly reduced damage.
There are a ton of other classes that receive small(er) Utilities changes, all of them are listed below:
Imperial Agent
Sniper
Virulence
- In addition to its other effects, Toxic Regulators now increases your damage reduction by 15% for 6 seconds after your Shield Probe collapses or expires
Operative
Lethality
- In addition to its other effects, Toxic Regulators now increases your damage reduction by 15% for 6 seconds after your Shield Probe collapses or expires
Smuggler
Gunslinger
Dirty Fighting
- In addition to its other effects, Concussion now increases your damage reduction by 15% for 6 seconds after your Defense Screen collapses or expires
Scoundrel
Ruffian
- In addition to its other effects, Concussion now increases your damage reduction by 15% for 6 seconds after your Defense Screen collapses or expires
Sith Inquisitor
Sorcerer
Lightning
- Convection now gives 10% damage reduction while Deionized (up from 5%)
- Fulgurous Fortification now grants 5% damage reduction per stack (up from 3%)
Jedi Consular
Sage
Telekinetics
- Clamoring Force now gives 10% damage reduction while Force-imbalanced (up from 5%)
- Telekinetic Refuge now grants 5% damage reduction per stack (up from 3%)
Bounty Hunter
Mercenary
Innovative Ordnance
- • Degauss now also grants interrupt immunity (Unshakable) for its duration
Powertech
Pyrotech
- • Flame Suit provides 30% periodic damage reduction (up from 15%)
Trooper
Commando
Assault Specialist
- Degauss now also grants interrupt immunity (Unshakable) for its duration
Vanguard
Plasmatech
- Assault Frame provides 30% periodic damage reduction (up from 15%)
Sith Warrior
Juggernaut
- Enraged Defense healing now scales better and heals for more at level 70
Rage
- Enveloping Rage now grants 10% damage reduction (up from 5%)
Jedi Knight
Guardian
- Focused Defense healing now scales better and heals for more at level 70
Focus
- Protective Focus now grants 10% damage reduction (up from 5%)
You can view the full video archive of the live event where Eric Musco and Charles Boyd discussed these changes
