I’ve been playing a Berzerker recently after playing the new Valkyrie. This is a Zerker that’s been sitting for a year or more at about level 40, and I’ve played it recently for about 10 levels, so the equipment it currently has is based on the recent changes that reward tokens for Vanguard Requests.
My issue is that after all this time, the older classes, like the Berzerker, have not been updated to the new standard of DPS shown by the other classes.
Starting with Reaper of course, the recent classes have all been overpowered, but Blue Hole studios has never gone back to update the previous classes to the same DPS standard that these new classes enjoy.
Having recently played 3 Valkyries – on three servers – up to 65, as well as all the previous overpowered classes, I’m very familiar with the DPS done by the newer classes, and the recent upgrades to the classes that the Battle Solutions and Token gear provides as one levels a character. As I play this Berzerker it is readily apparent that this class is lagging both in DPS done and in survivability because of vulnerability during skill wind up times. In spite of the fact that the Berzerker is wearing plate armor, compared with the Valkyrie Leather armor, the Valkyrie is more survivable – takes less damage – because it’s attacks occur much more quickly and often cause stuns.
Here’s the Token Gear and Potions that the Berzerker is using at the time of the comparison:
The Valkyrie, while leveling through this same area, was using the same level gear for it’s class, and the same potions, except for the Lamb Bulgogi, which was not available to the Valkyrie. But the Berzerker did significantly less damage – requiring a longer time to kill the mobs – and took more damage – up to about 1/3 of it’s Max HP, compared with the Valkyrie. The Valkyrie against these same mobs took about half as long to kill each mob group and took essentially no damage.
This is the quest chain where three groups of mobs are killed outside of Dragonfall. Each group is essentially the same with a primary mob and about a dozen adds.
As you can see from these pictures, the Berzerker takes damage while killing these groups since the groups cannot be killed quickly enough to avoid them being able to attack. The Valkyrie simply stuns and wipes out the groups so fast that it takes no damage.
Isn’t it time to upgrade the rest of the classes: Berzerker, Archer, Sorcerer, Warrior to reach the same DPS standard as the newer classes? Wow updates their classes all the time to re-balance them for the changing game. Why doesn’t Blue Hole do this? I have not played the Sorcerer since it’s minor rework, but unless it has been given a tank so that it can play more like the Mystic, then it will come no where near to the survivability of that class. The Mystic, which I have played recently, appears to need no re-balancing. While its damage output is not as high on its own as the newer classes, it’s pet[s] make up for that and it solos and plays in parties very well. The Priest class, which I played a year or so ago, also was quite survivable and could solo quite well due to powerful self healing and adequate DPS in a solo role.
The Windup
Here’s a technique that works for all the newer classes, but none of the older ones. I call it “The Windup”. You run around, probably on a mount, gathering a large number of mobs and then stop and kill them all with a chain of skills. Here’s the Valkyrie at level 36 doing this for some level 36 wolves.
Notice that during the attack, the Valkyrie is taking no damage because the skill chain attacks so fast that the mobs get no chance to attack. For Valkyrie, Bloodflower, Windslash, and Dark Hearld work well with a Rune Burst finisher. At higher levels Malestrom followed by Rune Burst is the skill chain of choice. For all the new classes, it appears that skill chains have been designed to work this way.
The Berzerker and older classes cannot hunt in this way. Their skills take too long to attack so that they will be overwhelmed by the oncoming mobs. Notice that the Valkyrie took no damage during this encounter. This hunting technique is something to consider when upgrading the older classes. A tank pet for Sorcerer and Archer would be necessary for their skills to be used this way. The tank might hold the mobs for killing.
I would suggest that Berzerker, Archer and Warrior are in need of significant DPS upgrade, which might come in the form of reducing skill cool-downs and charge up times rather than inventing new skills or changing skills. I suggest just adjust the timers on the skills so that the DPS output and stun times match those of the newer classes.
:ww
Windy Weather 