Hello, I have been playing this class for about a month by now, and from my long pvp experience, I've noticed a few issues within the class that makes it just under the "viable" limit. Viable in the sense where the class performs poorly in any pvp content the game provides. This is due to a couple reasons that I'll highlight throughout this post.
I will also kindly ask everyone to take my take & logic very lightly as it stands as a suggestion afterall.
I am also not talking about past changes because Pearl abyss has been quite clear about that - so only from now and moving forward. I am also aware of the fact that this post isn't coming in the greatest timings due to the near future of resistance removal.
Firstly, I have noticed that this spec is mainly played in 2 very different playstyles. The Peek-a-boo and the all-in. Peek-a-boo style is harass based and focuses on pushes the ennemy to the mistake. The all-in happens when a trade deepen or lenghten and there is more than 1 ennemy pushing on yourself. Maewha's kit could handle that much better if certain changes sees the day.
Secondly, I have noticed a few issues that the class is currently facing that could be turned into what the class was intended for in my beliefs. Without further a doe, let's get started in !
Let's talk about Petal drill. Issues I've faced with this skill are the following :
* The gap closing effect of the skill is not enough in comparison to what the maewha faces.
* The skill hardly rotates with camera(retaining 2018 technology)
* The skill has rather long pause between Attack1 and extra attack
In other words, the skill retains its primary use but quite obsolete in couple ways. Gap closing effect is nullified because the skill lacks speed animation and distance of travel. On top of that the skill can only turn in a 2motion instead of simply being more in coordination with the camera.(I know it can be mouse moved, it doesn't erase what i'm higlighting).
The newly changed Ice Fang. I've face 2 types of issues with this skill. 1 The area of effect is rather thin and its length is rather short. Its animation is quick enough to surprise ennemies but the gap closing effect is barely justified by the protection and the cc that comes with it.
Our beloved Petal Swirl(Sticky Snowflake for old timers). I have faced issues with this skill due to its CD. 10seconds does not justify its buff (+6% accuracy) and its damage potential. I believe its purpose is for both trading ability and combo ability hence the high flow-ability of the skill. Still the "high flow-ability" of the skill is not enough and the damage is quite cheap.
Tip of the Iceberg. From 1motion to 2motion skill, the skill is currently facing new issues such as the double motion itself being very slow and long locked in each animation which makes it hard to use, especially the 2nd motion of it.
I've faced only one type of issue with Moonrise. Its area of Effect, wether it is PvE or PvP based, still remains too short. By 2meters but still too short, and its damage is far from great.
Cloud Stab is one of those skill that I had to lock in PvP due to couple things. Its damage potential, its aoe, its animation does not justify the use of this ability.
Frostflower lacks flowing cancels. its aoe, moderate damage and AP buffs makes it a very good tool to keep under the belt. Nonetheless, the 1st motion can only be cancelled with ice fang and the 2nd motion of Tip of the iceberg, which makes the class riskier to use and staminavore. The only way to feel quicker using this skill is by using Petal swirl in before. Which is highly unlikely to happen, especially in most pvp content provided by PA.
I have faced similar issues with Petal bloom than with Tip of the iceberg. The staticness of the class makes it too vulnerable to everything that surrounds you. Despite its huge area of effect and damaging capacity, Petal bloom remains a 50/50 risk reward type of skill. Also is animation locked which enhances the vulnerability of the class.
Frostfeint(Stigma) is this type of skill that is supposed to flow without gaps into many skills and yet, the gap in protection is forced. Even cancelling the skill into a Standard dash can get you cc'd while trying to get out of a dodgy situation.
The last issue I've faced is with Red moon. Red moon's animation is supposedly being greatly enhanced by the change done onto Maewha : Ascension to Heaven. Though it works in main hand, but does not in awakening. its damage and aoe can be assessed when this fix sees the day.
In order to not make this post any longer, let's proceed in the suggestions that could help the class being above the "viable" threshold.
From top to bottom :
Petal drill -> Longer distance of travel(I.e : Equivalent of 2 awakening dashes), Faster animation during the leap, Slight pause between motion 1 and 2 should be removed and skill has to rotate where camera faces at all times.
Ice Fang -> Improving AOE and distance of travel of the skill(I.e : equivalent to 1 awakening dash).
Petal Swirl -> Adding Super Armor and reducing the Cooldown of the skill from 10 to 8seconds
Tip of the Iceberg -> Removing the "pause" between motion 1 and 2. Faster animation.
Moonrise -> Remove Core: Moonrise and keep the skill protected at all times Super Armor(nullified during CD), Greater Area of effect.
Flow: Cloud-Stab -> Add Super armor, removing Floating CC, changing multi stabbing motion to 1 vertical slash.
FrostFlower -> Adding more flows to cancel 1st Attack. Examples : Cloud-Stab -> Frostflower // Petal Bloom -> Frostflower. Petal Drill -> Frostflower.
Petal Bloom -> Remove casting when used after certain skills such as : Moonrise, Cloud-Stab, FrostFlower.
Frostfeint : Lengthen Super Armor protection duration to to prevent gaps from happening.
Red Moon : Fixing the flow ascension to Heaven, Add more flows such as : Frostfeint -> Red Moon, Petal swirl -> Red Moon.
I haven't talked about Sleet Steps because everyone is on the same page about it :
Sleet Steps : Change to Invulnerability Off Cooldown and Super armor On Cooldown.
I would have loved sharing some more issues with the main hand kit of the class, but this post is already very long so I'll keep that part to myself for a while.
I cannot thank you enough for reading this post. This post is not made to complain by any means about this class. I've only made this post because I frankly think that I have fresh eyes on the class.
FoxxCrown,
The random AoS Player.