I’ve been playing Shai since she launched back in the summer of 2019. Playing Shai was like playing BDO lite. Since she lacks a lot of the fundamentals BDO characters typically have. She has a very tiny move list, she doesn’t really have combos, she has no down attacks, no grab, no block, and her main attack skill is completely unprotected leaving her unplayable from a pvp standpoint. And if that wasn’t enough the developers took it a step further and made her damage modifiers against all classes 49%.

So, lets talk a bit about her skills and whats wrong. But first I’d like to say that the recent balance patch put Shai in a competitive position pve wise. Over the years PA totally forgot about Shai and omitted her from many changes that happened with other characters. For example, she doesn’t have t3 skill add ons, while everyone else does. But on to her skills. I’ll start with the skills that might as well be deleted because they are useless and do nothing for the character nor allies:

Useless skills:

Sprinkle Sparkle: It targets only one ally or enemy. For allies it restores 20% of their resource meter for enemies it decreases their resource meter by -10% each time it hits. It's useless. Every player is using mana pots in pvp so it really doesn’t affect them. In addition, it has no use in pve at all.

Play dead: It has a 5 min cool down and it gives Shai a whopping 2 sec invincibility frame and 15 health every few seconds. Wow! How is a 5 min cd justified?  For what it does at the very minimum this skill should have a 30 second CD.

Tuning: Recovers 150 hp every 3 seconds and 5% resource every 3 secs for yourself and allies. The problem with this skill is that there is no place or reason to ever use it. If tuning were to become a buff with let’s say a 30 second duration, then maybe it would be a bit better.

Now! : The pinnacle of PA poor skill design, it's absolutely garbage. You know what it does? It decreases movement speed by 20% and reveals the names of players who are wearing camo. All camo player names are shown as unknown adventurer now so its even more useless.  The skill needs to be different. If they replace the name reveal with a attack speed and cast speed debuff then it would be all right.

Joy of alchemy, joy of gathering, gathering wiz and alchemy wiz: Are the worst passives in the game. Please redesign them into something useful that benefits both pve and pvp for Shai.

Skills that need work and other things that need to be improved:

Twirl -Three: The issue with this skill is the trajectory of the florang. When you use it against a target it simply goes through them, so most of the damage never lands. On top of that it doesn’t do much damage. Its only “ok” against large targets like garmoth. Since he is so large Twirl- Three will land all its hits. My suggestion is to increase its damage and radius of attack and give it a 50-100% crit rate in pve.

One two three: Should have super armor for its entire animation. For players who play Shai, they will understand exactly why.

Yippee! : Florang surfboard was a fantastic addition to Shai. But its startup time is awfully slow. Please make it faster. Currently the startup time feels like it's around half a second.

Sharing is caring: Change it so the orb follows the Shai and make the orb indestructible. Currently in pvp the orbs die instantly.

Over there! : Same suggestion as Sharing is caring, change it so it follows the Shai and make the orb indestructible.

Careful: Make it so the heal also affects Shai. Currently it does not.

Do it better: Shai should be able to move while playing this song instead of being locked in place.

• Sun, moon, stars, Shout to the sky, Summer Rain and Time to Shine should all be allowed to be maxed at once. It makes no sense why this isn’t allowed since most of her talent skill list is barren. If not, the max level of each one of these skills should do something extra like the recent change to shout to the sky.

• Shai should have T3 skill add ons like everyone else. She had the same skill add ons as everyone else before the skill add on revamp. But PA just decided not to give her a single T3 skill. Why? Makes no sense.

• Shai Talent weapon should be able to convert to a different weapon for tagged characters. Do you know how annoying and badly designed it is to have to buy an awakened weapon for your tag just because you play Shai. I know its not hard for them to code it so the Shai sol copies and converts to a tagged character weapon type. PA is just too lazy and stubborn.

• Shai sol should be able to be upgraded to a blackstar weapon or simply give Shai a passive that gives them the additional monster and all species damage they are missing from the weapon.

• Please make shai damage modifiers like every other class. Currently PA has them shackled for no reason. They only deal 49% of their actual damage in pvp on top of the pvp damage reduction on skills. This design makes no sense at all. Why lock a class out a entire aspect of the game?

dancing and the right to use my boomerang like a mount

I agree on most of your suggestions, especially the Sol issue, why should one class miss out on extra monster damage (especially since it's more or less a PvE class, atm)

How about fixing something they included in the patch notes, yet never delivered on.
As per the 2021.12.22 patch notes.
Upon asking support, GM's ingame etc. Nobody knows or cares what happened to this change.

As a side note, it's cool that GM's log from time to time to show they actually exist. But doing a better job would be much more appreciated.
Like fixing the damn "report spam" function in chat. Rather than leaving people to block idiots, because then they don't have to deal with it.
Or like, idk, having more function to the forums than placebo. Where people discuss their sorrow. Strictly because it is more convenient to PA to have the players resolve their problems with eachother, than having human resource (GM's) gettting involved. It's a sad state, kinda reminds me of how Gameforge didn't care. It turned out well for them.

I remember that Gathering Around change. You mean to tell me that it actually doesn't work? Wow! Totally incompetent developers.

"How to make Shai a complete class"

We become twice as tall?

*rimshot*

Unfortunately they have no plan to use Shai outside of weebo website banner ads

Hi,

Interesting post! I will try to reply to some statements that are not true (anymore) and or arguably maybe not so well understood.
Would like to start of that Shai having both Main and Talent Weapon is the huge benefit compared to all other classes, that have to choose between main or awakening. These benefits come at a cost and therefore Shai is considered to be a jack of all trades, rather than a master of one. While I believe she is a master at Teamplay, PVE and Lifeskilling and only good in PvP if you are really skilled and know your oppenents class, she definitley cannot win all but I have witnessed enough Shai dominate some players in PvP.
But then again my point would be that the game is not designed for PvP at all, but offered as unbalanced side activity. Its more Tailored towards PVE and Lifeskilling from the beginning, also the reason Shai is the mascot character of the inital game launch - and especially since the latest changes in game, against open world PvP (that was for the better but thats another topic).
The funny thing is most people do not appreciate Shai, maybe because it is gender locked (while others don`t want it otherwise, it also keeps the chosen classes balance in check) But mostly because people want combat head first and neck deep. Sure, however the game will then slowly fatigues you in those combat grinds (by design) and dedicated players soon started to realise that the ultimate leanback comfortable gaming experience is Lifeskilling to diversify there gameplay.
Shai was created to shine for exactly that and gets Lifeskill boost from the start and also is the class that got the only lifeskill/gathering clothes, able to carry most weight, has donkey and free permanent calling horn for it ect ect. Though everyone needs to do combat grinds first to obtain some game knowledge and silver, that being said Shai maybe best as your second class (easy to get level 60 if you know how to timepiece with Fughar) Then if you are wise enough to not spend it all on getting better combat gear only and just combat alts, but also slowly invest and dable towards all the other broad aspects the game has to offer which are Lifeskills - then you play how it is meant by design. And yes Shai is still the true shining star in catering just that. But no game without beginners up to dedicated endgame combat focussed gamers (Good they exist giving meaning towards Shai out there, but remember that is also vise versa balanced) Combat gamers do need there buffs, meals, elixers ect to do well and someone needs to gather and craft them. So Shai is not made for everyone but still my most favorite class of them all for many reasons, besides that she also brings joy and music as bonus.. It takes a certain person to truly appreciate Shai and is mostly not so much for the PvP and combat only min maxing most silver/hour tunnel vision peeps out there, that should be obvious by now. 

Now for the reply

Sprinkle Sparkle: Most of the time when running between mob packs, you let mobs come to you (collecting) while doing so throwing a couple of sprinkle sparkle on the way, you are then able to recharge 1 of your Florin Leafs, which is the the core mechanic that is build into Shai and the true power while using her skills.. The rest of the movement shenanigans are just merely a small bonus. So yes it does have pve value, bigtime. Just reconsider and learn how to put this in practice while rotating your skillset.

One, two, three: Yeah super armor could be fun (for all skills right?!), though the black spirit form of that skill offers that already. For me corresponding 'Go!' skill that feeds of this, is more lacking I see no real value there to use. It would be fun if the Go! skill for example lets the boomerang spin around for longer on three, while walking/dodging and or for changing into Talent when it is time to buff up again. (to cover up that animation time) Is another way to creativly extend the super armor duration 'letting the florang shield you for a bit'.

Tuning: Is more like a roleplaying skill, idle animation. This let Shai play some soothing music passivly. Not so much a real skill to be considered indeed lol.. It is more about the Shai philosophy, about the fact that music could be healing. Nice to use for storage keeper!

Now!: Actually the most wanted skill design!.. Just like with sprinkle sparkle it seems like you are missing the point (for players who play Shai they should understand exactly why) It has sweet animated super armored quick casting speed at long range! is why the enemy movement speed decrease is worthy in this case. But the true power of this skill is once again that it recharges 3 Florin Leafs!.. instead of 1 leaf with sprinkle sparkle. These are very neccesary Shai mechanic skills to get more pace in obtaining Florin Leafs, I would choose this skill over 'carefull' anytime.. Just learn how to use it in rotations, I would say buff up when on range, jump to use the Florin Leafs when full (otherwise spinkle sparkle some more), then engage with Now! Gather/collect the enemies that are running towards you, consume dark spirit and hit some drums or throw florang to see some good PVE Shai damage, she is well respected for tough grinds - go figure =)

Passives: Yes Shai has many and like said earlier, it is obvious why this is the class that is just most tailored towards Lifeskilling and PVE. It should stay far away from PVP unless it is buffing/healing teamplay, then she would also be most wanted for just that. And be aware even though she is not made for PVP the combat players out there must feel extra miserable if a Shai would dominate. So be extra carefull for the underestimated ones =P Anyway 'Skilled Hunter V' is added to benefit some more in PVE besides all the Lifeskill benefits the Shai class gets on top, fits your concerns regarding these passives. Also Unyielding Might and Infinite Master benefit pve/pvp.

Playdead: Somewhat harder to explain even harder to master, but basically its for Group PvP/teamplay. It is a skill that other players need to forget you have in your arsenal, hence why cooldown is long and it can not be spammed. It only fits in more uncommon situations, it could make the difference in a battle, if played correctly. But is not there to base your gameplay around. It is like the ultimate 360 spin no scope skillshot. Just a joker card that is build in the gameplay, it could give you every now and then (once per match) another chance in supporting your team in the heat of the moment. 

Sharing Is Caring or Over there!: In both cases the light is following you, allies or enemies. Depending on the range it does not need to always move and follow, since the range is still enough.

Carefull: Is also fixed it does heal self. But again this skill can be considered redundant on Shai I would choose Now!

Anyway Not Useless!

Note: I do Agree on some of the Sol weapon changes that could be made, but it does not effect gameplay too much at all - no worries.
Also hopefully this reply could shine some light, that in order to balance this class why the pvp damage modifier is in place. If not she would be the best class! and mess with the overall chosen classes balance for example. Though she can still be usefull in teamplay (like no other) that is another jack within her trades, being usefully designed to be supportive, in buffing and healing teamplay. So I have no problem they shy Shai away from PvP (dps), Its fully understandable. (I do like to see more 'teamplay' content in BDO)

*Shai could be your alt, but she has proven to be worthy for being the main since day one..







  

I agree with the OP and disagree with some of the replies.  You can't cry for Shai to be like every other class yet also cry for these shai-exclusive perks.  Take your pick.  You want Shai to be a normal class?  Get rid of the following, then follow up on OP's request:

-Dancing

-Alpaca

-Donkey

-Alchemy/Gathering buffs (even if they don't even work right)

-Shai-exclusive outfits

-Music