Awakened Ninja: An Excruciating Rundown of All the Issues - A Last-Ditch Effort for Meaningful Changes

Hello, my name is Endza, and I’ve been playing Awakened Ninja for nearly eight years. This post represents a last-ditch effort to push for significant changes to the class—so at the very least, we can say we tried. I understand that it's unlikely this will gain the attention of developers, but I genuinely love this class and wanted to give it one final shot.

I'll walk through the kit thoroughly and share my feedback on all the major issues I’ve encountered. My hope is to make the class enjoyable once again—to make it feel worthwhile to learn and master.

Please take a moment to read through this post and react however you see fit—upvote, downvote, or comment. If there’s anything I missed or if you have different approaches to certain issues, feel free to share them.

I've also created a video where I break down each section with time stamps for visual reference, in case any part of the feedback is unclear.

Full Video: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=00axMZHd-iydOKBE

Current State of Awakened Ninja

The Awakened Ninja class is in a terrible state. The current kit feels convoluted and disconnected from the original playstyle and gameplay fantasy. Recent changes seem random and have harmed the class more than helped. His abilities suffer from inconsistencies, leading to clunky gameplay, further compounded by bugs that make him unreliable in fast-paced situations. Additionally, he has some of the lowest base stats in the game, lacks free bonus stats, and suffers from poor damage scaling, impacting both PvP and PvE content. This post will focus primarily on base gameplay improvements, addressing painful inconsistencies, highlighting bugs, and offering suggestions to bring the class up to modern standards.

PvE

Awakened Ninja falls woefully short in PvE content. He is one of the lowest-performing classes, particularly in endgame PvE and boss rush content. The primary issue stems from his reliance on small AoE skills, which lack the raw damage necessary to compensate for their size. Moreover, his PvE iFrame, Ninja Evasion, is unreliable and awkward to use, leaving him vulnerable to AoE CCs from bosses. Combined with his low overall DPS and lack of burst damage, clearing bosses becomes incredibly frustrating.

PvP

In PvP, Awakened Ninja has experienced many highs and lows, but this is one of his lowest points. His damage output in uncapped settings is unreliable due to poor scaling and low base stats. Even with a glass cannon build, his damage falls short, especially in endgame PvP such as guild league. In capped node wars, he struggles to one-combo opponents, often leaving them at 20-30% HP after a full knockdown combo. His overall kit lacks identity and feels clunky, with low DPS and an over-reliance on too many skills to secure kills. All his damage skills are small AoEs and stationary, forcing him to stand still to deal any meaningful damage. This, combined with his low DPS, leaves him vulnerable and ineffective. His burst potential also suffers heavily due to the delayed damage on many skills.

Approach to Resolving the Issues

Core Issues:

• Lack of identity—what role does he fill? Why choose him over others?
• Clunky, inconsistent gameplay.
• Low DPS and high time-to-kill, with heavily back-loaded and delayed damage.
• Low damage scaling in both PvP and PvE.

Awakened Ninja currently has no clear reason to be chosen over other classes. He requires a high level of effort to master but offers very low rewards, particularly when compared to other difficult classes like Awakened Nova, Hashashin, or Berserker. Originally, Ninja was an assassin fighter who excelled in small-scale skirmishes and duels. He wasn’t meant for large-scale battles due to his lack of protected CC and small AoEs. This is the identity we want to recapture through this feedback post.

Quality of Life Focused Changes

PVE iFrame: Ninja Evasion

Problem: Ninja Evasion is unreliable, awkward, and difficult to use.

Description: Ninja Evasion has two versions: a mainhand version and an awakening version. In the mainhand version, when using SHIFT + A/D or SHIFT + S, there is a noticeable gap in the evasion. This gap can be reduced by using the evasion SS/AA/DD keybindings to move or by rapidly tapping the directional keys. However, even with rapid tapping, a small gap remains, particularly noticeable when fighting bosses with large AoE attacks that have ticking crowd control (CC) and damage effects. In the awakening version (SHIFT + A/D), the character performs a side slide, but the evasion AA/DD keybindings do not work. While you can still tap the keys rapidly to spam the skill, the awakening version has a slightly larger gap compared to the mainhand version. Both versions are awkward to use and lead to animation lock, making it difficult to efficiently deal damage (DPS), especially during boss fights in Boss Blitz.

Feedback: Consider replacing Ninja Evasion with the pre-awakened Shadow Slash as the PVE iFrame. Shadow Slash is much easier to use, can be held down, and doesn’t cause animation lock.

Option 2: Another solution could be recoding Ninja Evasion to be spammable when held down, similar to how the evasion AA/DD/SS keybindings work. While it would still be awkward to use, this would be a significant improvement over the current version.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=68SpC4cG2bf37GdW&t=41

Add-ons: Awakened Shadow Slash (Q)

Problem: Awakened Shadow Slash (Q) does not have the option for add-ons.

Description: Awakened Shadow Slash, the awakened version of Shadow Stomp, does not allow for add-ons. This skill is heavily relied upon, and the ability to apply add-ons would be a significant quality-of-life improvement.

Feedback: Consider allowing add-ons for Shadow Slash, ideally enabling the add-ons for Shadow Stomp to also apply to Shadow Slash.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=xkS3d9J_O7WvU7FU&t=102

Add-ons: Flow: Execution

Problem: Flow: Execution does not have the option for add-ons.

Description: One of Awakened Ninja's most relied-upon secondary crowd control (CC) abilities, Flow: Execution, does not offer the option for add-ons. This skill is a flow from Sudden Decapitation.

Suggestion: Consider allowing add-ons for Flow: Execution, ideally applying the add-ons of Sudden Decapitation to Flow: Execution as well.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=gdojwLyOi3ZVIxGT&t=122

Self Buffs: Floorsweeping

Problem: Floorsweeping +10% down attack damage is difficult to consistently utilize.

Description: Floorsweeping is a mainhand skill, an unprotected bound kick that provides a 10% down attack buff. However, it’s rarely used due to the difficulty in accessing and incorporating it into normal combos.

Suggestion: Move the 10% down attack buff to Shadow Stomp and Awakened Shadow Slash . The only scenario where Floorsweeping is typically used is to cancel into Shadow Stomp. Relocating the buff would allow it to be used more consistently.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=k9MguCHmHZwrpssZ&t=138

Self Buffs: Sky Stepping

Problem: Sky Stepping (double jump) 10% movement speed buff is difficult to consistently utilize.

Description: Ninja’s double jump provides a 10% movement speed buff, but while in awakening stance, Ninja cannot double jump, making it hard to refresh the movement speed buff in combat.

Suggestion: Move the 10% movement speed buff to Ghost Step . Most other classes have their movement speed buffs tied to their base dashes, making them easier to use and maintain during combat. Examples include Dark Knight’s Smokey Haze and Striker’s Flash Step and Silent Step.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=kgTv_s5IPblu6J7r&t=158

Self Buffs: Silent Charge

Problem: Silent Charge's 6% evasion buff lasts only 5 seconds.

Description: Awakened Ninja’s evasion self-buff has a short 5-second duration, making it hard to maintain in fights due to the number of skills rotated during combat. Awakened Ninja currently has the lowest percentage self-buff and the shortest duration. For comparison, Hashashin’s Sandwarp provides a 9% evasion buff for 10 seconds, Awakened Striker’s Spiral Cannon gives a 9% buff for 10 seconds, and Awakened Maegu’s Hazy Path offers a 9% buff for 10 seconds.

Suggestion: Extend the evasion buff duration from 5 seconds to 10 seconds. Most classes with an evasion self-buff enjoy a 10-second duration.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=TQh1r0-ONItWt-_s&t=171

Stance Swap (C Swap) Inconsistency

Problem: The A+C stance swap animation is too long and locks the character.

Description: Swapping from awakening to pre-awakened stance with D+C results in a quick side dash, but the A+C swap triggers a long, animation-locked spin that feels inconsistent and unreliable.

Feedback: Standardize the C swap animations. Make the A+C animation the same as the D+C dash, as the current difference provides no added value to the class.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=6YrUXM_CkhsZRYF3&t=184

Transition Stance Animation Lock

Problem: Transition Stance animation locks the character.

Description: The animation for Transition Stance can only be canceled by Ghost Step and Shadow Slash, which can be frustrating when trying to quickly chain other abilities during combat. Since Transition Stance is mostly used as a Frontal Guard in neutral play, its animation should not restrict access to other skills.

Feedback: Allow the Transition Stance animation to be canceled by any awakened skill for smoother skill chaining.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=ecPTCuXaVSCpqngJ&t=198

Flash Bondage Animation Lock

Problem: Flash Bondage (awakened grab) is locked in the direction it’s cast.

Description: The awakened grab, Flash Bondage, locks the character in the direction it’s cast, but it can be mouse-moved. This directional lock feels clunky compared to other grabs, especially since it is a standard melee grab with a slow wind-up animation and a bound CC.

Feedback: Allow Flash Bondage to be camera-turned for smoother execution and better usability in fast-paced fights.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=DvmSk354voiRNAqC&t=212

Vacuum Slash Input

Problem: Vacuum Slash input conflicts with other F key skills in awakening.

Description: Vacuum Slash uses the F key input in awakening, and many other key combinations in the awakened ninja's skill set also rely on the F key. This overlap causes unintended casting of Vacuum Slash, especially when using Serpent Ascension (S+F) or Ghost Step (W+F). In some cases, Vacuum Slash goes on cooldown without ever being cast, likely canceled automatically by Ghost Step.

Feedback: Make Vacuum Slash a pure flow skill, meaning it will only cast after certain skills (e.g., holding F after Serpent Ascension).

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=Fd9Re4iGdRIXyH48&t=228

Katana Shower Key Input

Problem: Bloodthirst: Katana Shower cannot be cast via key inputs in the mainhand.

Description: Katana Shower (SHIFT + F) can already be cast from the mainhand using the hotbar. However, using SHIFT + F in the mainhand currently triggers the skill Boss Slaughter, which is often locked and used via hotbar due to its W input (SHIFT + F + W). When Boss Slaughter is locked, allowing Katana Shower to be cast via key input would provide more flexibility for players. Currently, awakened Ninja has a heavy reliance on the hotbar, and this change would reduce the need to hotbar so many skills.

Feedback: Consider allowing Katana Shower (SHIFT + F) to be cast via key input in the mainhand when the Boss Slaughter skill (SHIFT + F) is locked .

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=DLLMVmS4CqziPbX0&t=263

Chaos Spree Cancels

Problem: Chaos Spree cancel does not work with other cancels.

Description: Chaos Spree can be pocketed and cast after Shadow Slash (S+E > E hold > Q). However, if Chaos Spree is cast after Katana Shower , Vacuum Slash , or Flashing Light , its initial charge-up speed is slightly increased, but it cannot be pocketed with Shadow Slash. Allowing Chaos Spree to be pocketed after these cancels would enhance Ninja's combo potential.

Feedback: Allow Chaos Spree to be pocketed even after being combined with its cancels.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=PIEHdqopbYPQGVhX&t=304

Drastic Measure Cancels

Problem: Drastic Measure has redundant cancels.

Description: Drastic Measure was recently changed so that its key inputs can be tapped to instantly cast the skill rather than charging it. This change allows for fast casting after any skill. However, before this update, three skills—Murderous Intent , Flashing Light , and Vacuum Slash —allowed for fast casting of Drastic Measure. These cancels are now redundant and interfere with potential combos. For instance, after a second CC, if you want to cast Vacuum Slash and charge Drastic Measure, the cancel prevents this.

Feedback: Remove Drastic Measure animation cancels from Murderous Intent, Flashing Light, and Vacuum Slash since they are now redundant and interfere with combo execution.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=rb2yLaIZq45D_JMB&t=354

100% BSR Drastic Measure

Problem: Drastic Measure's 100% BSR version applies a bound even with CORE Drastic.

Description: The CORE version of Drastic Measure provides a knockdown CC, but when using the 100% BSR version, the skill results in a bound CC instead.

Feedback: Change the 100% BSR version of Drastic Measure to apply a knockdown by default, ensuring consistency with the base skill's CC.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=IUpxkl8fbBBE3kbD&t=398

25% Katana Shower and 50% BSR Chaos Spree

Problem: Chaos Spree -20DP debuff is redundant, the buffs and debuffs of these BSR skills could be more optimal.

Description: Currently, Chaos Spree BSR applies a -20 DP debuff to the target, but this debuff does not stack with other base skill debuffs like Katana Shower's -20 DP, making it redundant. Meanwhile, the 25% BSR for Katana Shower provides a +10 AP buff, which stacks with base AP buffs on skills like Seamless and add-on human damage buffs. Switching these bonuses between the two skills would make more sense. Giving Katana Shower a stronger debuff and Chaos Spree the AP buff would improve their utility.

Feedback: Transfer the -20 DP debuff from Chaos Spree BSR to Katana Shower BSR and increase it to -30 DP, as it would be more appropriate for a BSR skill to have a stronger DP shred. Move the +10 AP buff from Katana Shower BSR to the 50% Chaos Spree BSR, balancing out the utility between both skills.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=BEP78DGY_bA8Kvyf&t=416

10% BSR Sudden Decapitation

Problem: Sudden Decapitation's 10% BSR version is the same as the base version.

Description: The 10% BSR version of Sudden Decapitation offers no additional damage, CC, or new protection compared to the base version, making it redundant.

Feedback: Enhance the 10% BSR version with additional damage, a new CC, or some other distinguishing feature to give it a reason to be used.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=d4evgsOS2QQeyfFN&t=450

Balance Feedback

*** Murderous Intent ***

Description: Murderous Intent is a short dash skill that provides 1 second of Super Armor (SA), with the CORE option granting a stiffness (CC) at the end of the dash. Some time ago, the cooldown of this skill was increased from 3 seconds to 5 seconds, without considering the heavy dependency awakened ninjas have on it. This small adjustment drastically disrupted the class's flow and its ability to move fluidly. The fact that a 2-second increase could break the class’s rotation highlights just how tightly the cooldowns were structured around its movement skills.

The Reason for the Change: The stated rationale for this change was that a 3-second cooldown on a dash and slash skill with a stiffness CC and the option for Super Armor Core was too powerful. While Murderous Intent was indeed effective in duels, it served a broader purpose as one of the awakened ninja’s core movement skills, often used in combos to re CC with the stiffness or quickly apply a -20 DP debuff. In large-scale PvP or group combat, CORE Murderous Intent provided little value since the awakened ninja has only one protected CC (in Smokescreen), making other CORE skills, such as CORE Katana Shower or CORE Serpent Ascension, more viable.

Skill Comparison: Prior to the cooldown change, Murderous Intent was comparable to similar skills from other classes:

• Awakened Warrior’s CORE Balance Strike: SA dash with stiffness at the end, 3-second cooldown.
• Awakened Dark Knight’s CORE Spirit Hunt: SA dash with stiffness at the end, 3-second cooldown.

After the cooldown increase, Murderous Intent (5 seconds) is now on par with other classes' skills, but its strength is significantly weaker in comparison:

• Awakened Hashashin CORE Sin Splitter: SA with a ticking bound that penetrates Frontal Guard, 6-second cooldown.
• Awakened Maegu CORE Twirling Rhapsody: SA with a ticking float that penetrates Frontal Guard, 6-second cooldown.
• Awakened Striker CORE Spiral Cannon: SA knockdown that penetrates Frontal Guard, 6-second cooldown.
• Awakened Mystic CORE Spiral Torpedo: SA knockdown that penetrates Frontal Guard, 5-second cooldown.
• Awakened Nova CORE Comet: SA knockdown dash, 5-second cooldown.

In comparison, Murderous Intent does not match the strength of these skills despite its similar cooldown. It was a niche skill that mainly empowered awakened ninja’s dueling strength and had little use in larger-scale fights.

Feedback and Suggestions:

1. Option 1: Revert the cooldown to 3 seconds. Make the base skill an unprotected dash with a stiffness CC, while the CORE provides Super Armor.
2. Option 2: If the 3-second CORE SA + stiffness is deemed too strong, remove the CORE option entirely. Revert the cooldown to 3 seconds, making it either:
• An unprotected dash with stiffness, or
• A protected dash with no stiffness.
3. Option 3: Change the protection of the base skill from Super Armor to a Frontal Guard with a lingering effect. Additionally, revert the cooldown to 3 seconds.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=MtHpZHZyrRogeqnb&t=475

Vacuum Slash Float

Description: Vacuum Slash was changed from a Frontal Guard filler damage skill to an unprotected float while maintaining its role as a filler skill. The float CC is rarely used because Vacuum Slash is often used as a flow after Serpent Ascension and shares the same cooldown.

Feedback: Revert Vacuum Slash to its original state with a Frontal Guard instead of the float CC, as it is redundant. The skill’s primary function is as a filler for damage.

Chaos Spree Damage Delay

Description: Chaos Spree is a two-part Super Armor (SA) skill with a charge-up followed by a high-damage "pop" attack. Although this skill deals decent damage compared to the rest of the ninja’s kit, its long casting time results in low overall DPS. In the time it takes to fully cast Chaos Spree, you could execute three other skills. Increasing the skill’s base attack speed, and boosting its animation-canceled version, would significantly increase its value and allow for smoother combo potential with other skills.

Feedback: Increase the attack speed of the base Chaos Spree skill. If Chaos Spree is animation-canceled after its combo skills, remove the charge-up phase, leaving only the damage pop for faster execution.

Timestamp:

Mach Explosion Damage Delay

Description: Mach Explosion is a two-part Super Armor damage skill often used as a flow for filler damage. However, all of its damage is back-end loaded on the second pop, resulting in players being able to get up and avoid it.

Feedback: Change Mach Explosion to be a one-part skill, with the pop damage serving as the primary source of damage. Part One ((1952x4) -75.6% PVP damage) + Part Two ((7525x2) - 66.6% PVP damage) change to One Part ((7525x2) - 66.6% PVP damage).

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=PhjkuIHrJlXCYWBA&t=547

Flashing Light Damage Delay

Description: Flashing Light is an important skill for the Awakened Ninja, often used as filler damage after significant crowd control (CC) effects and as a movement skill to maneuver in fights. However, it has a small animation lock paired with delayed damage. Changing the skill so that the dash and damage occur simultaneously would significantly improve the quality of the class's combos by reducing the damage delay.

Feedback: Make the dash and damage of Flashing Light activate at the same time. Reducing the damage delay will enhance the quality of DPS in combos, especially in fast-paced situation.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=CGlGX_yV5gFaTrla&t=569

Katana Shower

Description: Katana Shower’s damage is too back-loaded, with most of its damage concentrated towards the end of the skill. When using the CORE version, the air attack modifier only applies to the initial, low-value hit. Additionally, in the base skill, the final hit takes too long to execute, allowing most players to evade it. Switching the first hit multiplier with the last hit multiplier would greatly improve the skill's power and utility.

Feedback: Switch the first hit and last hit multiplier of Katana Shower, changing it from (2102x1 + 4730x4 + 5120x1) with -74.8% PvP damage on the first hit and -60% PvP damage on the last hit to (5120x1 + 4730x4 + 2102x1) with -60% PvP damage on the first hit and -74.8% PvP damage on the last hit. This adjustment would give the skill better burst potential, making it a reliable threat and enhancing the class's large-scale viability.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=hqSxwGjd4ivBNkMg&t=581

Serpent Ascension

Feedback on Serpent Ascension

Description: Consider increasing the damage of Serpent Ascension by 15%, as it currently deals less damage than almost all other damage skills in the kit during PvP, including Corrupt Sword Dance, which is a PvE auto-attack style skill. This ability has always been Awakened Ninja's major damage nuke and one of the most important damage-dealing skills in the class. In its current state, the damage is underwhelming, and a 15% increase would greatly improve its viability.

Feedback: Increase Serpent Ascension's damage by around 15%, adjusting it from (6391x2 + 6165x2) with -76.7% PvP damage to (7349x2 + 7089x2) with the same -76.7% PvP damage reduction. This increase in the damage multiplier will improve its effectiveness in PvE and PvP.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=h970n6PUTFx1m3S7&t=610

CORE Shadow Slash

Description: Shadow Slash is a strong skill for fast engages and quick re-CCs. Allowing it to have a full Super Armor CORE would provide more situational variety and improve its viability in large-scale encounters. This change should not make it stronger than Katana Shower BSR; rather, it would offer a trade-off of smaller AoE in exchange for a faster float with similar damage output.

Feedback: Remove the CORE option for Sudden Decapitation and replace it with CORE Shadow Slash, giving it full Super Armor on cast to enhance variety and options for large-scale play.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=KLL5V0CZzFX_j_kp&t=637

Shuriken: Moon Dive Cast Time

Description: This skill is primarily used for PvE. To enhance its usability, increase its damage, remove its cast time, and eliminate its PvP iFrame. This adjustment will make it a smoother skill to use in PvE while preventing its use in PvP, which I assume is the developers' intention.

Feedback: Remove the cast time on Shuriken: Moon Dive, eliminate the PvP iFrame, and increase its damage against monsters.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=EfGMx2XaPowxe5Aa&t=661

Ninjutsu: Decapitation Cast Time

Description: This skill is a wind-up AoE dive that is solely used for PvE. To improve its fluidity in PvE and prevent it from being abused in PvP, remove its PvP protection, eliminate the wind-up, increase its AoE, and boost its damage.

Feedback: Remove the PvP protection and wind-up on Ninjutsu: Decapitation, increase its AoE, and enhance its damage to make it more effective in PvE.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=BvNR0QzqhhvBe2-o&t=678

100% Crit Standard

Description: Awakened Ninja lacks raw damage, and a straightforward way to address this issue is by increasing the crit rate of key skills to 100%.

Feedback:

• Shadow Stomp and Shadow Slash : Make both skills have a 100% crit rate and standardize them with the rest of the kit. Remove the redundant 18% crit chance buff from Shadow Slash.
• Blade Spin : Make both the Absolute and Prime versions of Blade Spin have a 100% crit rate in both PvP and PvE. This is our most relied-on main-hand skill, and increasing its crit rate would enhance its significance in combos.
• Murderous Intent : Increase the crit rate from 50% to 100%.
• Seamless : Increase the crit rate from 35% to 100% in both PvP and PvE.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=X-hu3xf_KPt3Wop5&t=689

Bug Fixes for Awakened Ninja

There are three frustrating bugs with the Awakened Ninja class that create significant inconsistencies, making the class very unreliable. Fixing these issues would greatly enhance the quality of gameplay for Awakened Ninja.

BUG #1 – Awakening Shadow Slash Bug: Does not deal damage or apply crowd control

When the character model is lingering while facing a different direction from the target, using the Shadow Slash skill while facing the target will neither apply crowd control (CC) nor deal damage to the target.

How to reproduce the bug:

1. While in Awakening, shift + LMB parallel to the target or face away. Linger the skill until the last second, then Q at the target.
• Result: The skill will not CC or deal damage.
• Skill names: Murderous Intent (away from or parallel to target) > Shadow Slash (at target).
2. While in Awakening, stand parallel to the target or face away. RMB > Space > LMB (hold until the end of the animation) > Q at the target (while in Frontal Guard linger).
• Result: The skill will not CC or deal damage.
• Skill names: Seamless > Corrupt Sword Dance (away from or parallel to target) > Shadow Slash (at target).

Video: https://youtu.be/S6e6qzCe3qw?si=1cLbFVj8hZUMvNgK

BUG #2 – Awakening to Main-Hand Stance Swap Bug: C-Swap cooldown conflicts with Murderous Intent key input

When switching stances from Awakening to Main-Hand (C-Swap), the Stance Swap cooldown prevents Awakening skills—normally cast via key inputs—from being used until the C-Swap cooldown ends. However, if these skills are cast from the quick slot, the Stance Swap cooldown is bypassed. The affected Awakening skills include Murderous Intent and Sudden Decapitation.

How to reproduce the bug:

1. Ensure the Ankle Cutter skill is LOCKED. While in Awakening, press D+C > Shift + LMB (Hold).
• Result: Murderous Intent will not activate until the C-Swap cooldown is finished.
2. While in Awakening, press D+C > S+RMB.
• Result: Sudden Decapitation will not activate until the C-Swap cooldown is finished.

Video: https://youtu.be/Tnu64M1NjAI?si=41rn8Ct3H-ve5t1X

BUG #3 – Covert Cutthroat Targeting Bug: Skill misses target

If the Ninja's model is facing away from the target, but the crosshair is on the target when Cutthroat is used, the skill will miss.

How to reproduce the bug:
Face the character model away from the target, turn the camera toward the target while the model is facing away, and use Cutthroat. The skill will miss.

Timestamp: https://youtu.be/x3yZ6l3z0i0?si=1G5p1jWwJeLQUgV1&t=759

Thank you for taking the time to read through this. I understand it's unlikely that the developers will see or respond to this, but if it's not too much trouble, I ask that you engage with this post—whether by upvoting, downvoting, or leaving a comment. Whether you agree, disagree, or have alternative ideas, all feedback is welcome. The ultimate goal here is to fight for the class we love and make it better for everyone who plays it.

At least someone still cares. But I think you're the last one left. Last time I checked, even Mayzap quit, and he was always the most optimistic among us. Also, if you want anything to be done, you're gonna have to translate this whole thing into korean and post it on the kr feedback board, then somehow get 100 upvotes.

I have to come to agree this time, that Ninja Awakening after so many buffs to others have become bad, and needs plenty of adjustments buffs.

But i absolutely doesn't want Ninja Awakening to be made braindead easy and spammable. Some stuffs require Timing, and are made that way, which may seems complicated, but are player skill by itself.

Also there is a reason why some skills are not available to be cast in Mainhand/Awa. So i don't see why Katana Shower should be available in Main, via Key Input.
Vacuum Slash is fine the way it is, and a change to it's key will piss a lot of people. The only time i accidentaly cast it, is if i misstype, which is a player error, and i'm getting punish for it.

I don't have the problem you are describing and heavily disagree with the input being changed or being done as a flow.

Chaos Spree is fine the way it is. But that skill should have Forward Guard as it's used to have, not SA. 
Awa Ninja has almost none FG in it's kit. And if you don't want the Ninja to have that, fine, but you have to give it something else, as it's lacking big time now.

I think movemet of the Ninja should be improved, as you have to use 45298438724872940 skills, and it's nothing to talk about really, and there is other classes, that are way better, yet they have 2 or 3 movement skills, that are just miles supperior.

As far as Stance Swap, it's fine the way it is. Again this is due to player skills knowing to which side to swap, which will do the job faster.

As far as Murderous Intent i doubt they will bring the 3 seconds CD, as people were losing their mind over this, but maybe a middle ground, like 4 seconds will do the trick ? And/Or lower Awakened Shadow Slash CD to be equal as MI ?

And yeah the damage or the AOE of some skills needs some love for sure.

100% real It doesn't make sense that the ability with the most damage is unprotected and most of the ccs are vulnerable when damn, there are classes that fly invincible, fall on your head invincible and do huge areas of damage and cc at the same time, they have abandoned the ninja and as you say, it has lost all the essence of yesteryear

What an amazing and insightful post about the challenges with Awakening Ninja! I started playing Awakening Ninja around 2½ years ago. Before that, I couldn’t due to hand/finger injuries, and the high APM was a bit much for me. Now, it’s easily one of the best classes I’ve ever played, and the APM feels much more manageable after recovering from my injuries 😄

I really appreciate how you laid out all the different issues with Awakening. I completely agree with your points! Even after 2½ years of playing, I’m still learning new things, but I’ve gained a solid understanding of the class. Unfortunately, after the recent "buffs," it feels clunkier and buggier—especially during boss fights. The lack of burst damage is really noticeable compared to most other classes. While lucky combos can pull off decent damage, it’s just not where it needs to be.

Thank you for shedding light on these issues. I truly hope PA considers your feedback. Let’s keep believing in Ninja—it’s an amazing class, and I’m rooting for its improvements too! ❤️

-Medriloth

Honestly, don't need the rest. Just buff Serpent damage to csd levels and Ninja will literally be top tier.