|
Tazilon
(Shade Guru)
Posts : 2437
|
The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air? |
04/10/04 11:40 AM |
Derided by many Nightshades as being underpowered and useless, the Nightshade’s Shout is actually a versatile tool to have in your arsenal of weapons. While it is true the Shout does minimal damage, one should not let its low damage output obscure its utility. Here, then, is an objective look at the Nightshade Shout, complete with tips on how to use it most efficiently.
Specs:
Type of Attack: Cold
Time to cast: Instant, usable during combat.
Re-cast timer: 20 seconds.
Average damage (Level 48 Shout): Stated: 62 Actual: 40-70, depending on class and resists.
End Cost: 5%
Range: 700
NOTE: Damage from the Shout should increase slightly after the next patch.
In melee, the Shout can be both a blessing and a curse. One error many Shades make is to begin using their Shout early in a fight, thinking misguidedly that using it right away will allow them to recast it multiple times during the battle, thus helping maximize their overall damage to the enemy.
In theory, this appears sound. Upon closer inspection, however, using your Shout in such a manner is a flawed technique. Your Shout does approximately the same damage as an un-styled swing – yet it uses 5% of your End. Excluding a few specific situations, using Shout while you still have End is a bad move. You can get double to triple your Shout’s damage by saving your End for styled swings. However, once your End is gone, you should Shout as often as possible.
As stated, some exceptions to the rule exist. If you are going for a hit and run kill, cast your Shout with your PA and CD. The extra damage it does may get you the kill – or allow you begin to evade sooner. If you find yourself racing your opponent to the fatal blow and neither of you have much health left, SHOUT! If the race to the kill is close, don’t die with ANY offensive firepower left on the table.
Overall, however, you are best served by saving your Shout either until:
a) Your End is gone, so you can cast it without impacting your styled swings.
b) You need it to impact another player.
“a” is self-explanatory, so let’s look at “b”.
There will be many times having a Shout ready will save your butt. Imagine being in melee and seeing a stealther moving in trying to line up a Perf on you. If you react quickly, you can target the enemy stealther and Shout him out of Stealth. Doing so greatly reduces the damage he can do to you. Similarly, you might find yourself being tag-teamed by a Caster. You can use your Shout to interrupt him.
In fact, using your Shout as a tool to interrupt other players is one of its strongest uses. Unlike your DD castable, you can use your Shout while you move. That makes it a perfect weapon to use against Kiters and Archers. Often, the extra time you gain by interrupting one spell or shot is just what you need to close the ground and force them into melee. The key is to wait until they are actually casting or lining up a shot. If you Shout before they are in the process of casting or shooting, it will have negligible effect.
It is also useful when someone tries to run – especially if they are near death. Use your Shout first, then switch and immediately begin casting your DD. Doing your spells in that order will let you get both off unless you enemy has extra speed up.
In the same vein, it can often get an enemy to stop and come back to you and fight if they initially run by too far away to engage in melee.
In PvE, your Shout is GREAT for taking aggro from incoming mobs. As a light tank, you are often assigned with picking up Adds as they rush in. Your Shout is a perfect weapon for doing so.
Your Shout will never be regarded as a feared offensive weapon. Remember to save it until your End is gone in normal melee or until you need it to impact another player or mob. Despite its poor reputation in some Shade circles, if used properly, the Nightshade Shout becomes a valuable asset to have. Tazilon Midbane, 50 NS RR10 ML10, PNG [Lions of Lamfhota] CANCELLED ACCOUNT due to Mythic's NERFING of Shades in 1.82 |
|
JaimsBond
(Registered)
Posts : 192
|
RE: The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air? |
04/11/04 10:43 PM |
It's also good for clearing up lowbies and still having end to sprint away (when fights dont require you to style).
Fun times, fun times..
"You all knew the [TL] reports were being skimmed at best, and not a high priority before he [Mackey] came on board." -- Sanya [ Zerg This Alliance | Hibernia | Lancelot ] |
|
elrondas
(Registered)
Posts : 294
|
RE: The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air? |
04/12/04 11:47 AM |
Is it also not good for avoiding DF? I heard that if u pop it right after an inf evade it will screw up their reactionary. Not sure if that's true or not. Elrondas 51 Enchanter 7L2 ML10 Merlin |
|
Tazilon
(Shade Guru)
Posts : 2437
|
RE: The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air? |
04/12/04 6:34 PM |
Don't know Elrondas - I've never heard it or tried it. Would be sweet if it did, but I'm guessing it won't. Tazilon Midbane, 50 NS RR10 ML10, PNG [Lions of Lamfhota] CANCELLED ACCOUNT due to Mythic's NERFING of Shades in 1.82 |
|
Tashalan
(Registered)
Posts : 209
|
RE: The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air? |
04/12/04 10:47 PM |
It doesn't. =( I heard it did too, so I tried it on my NS while dueling another NS. (Trying to break DB). I couldn't ever manage to break his reactionary. Tashalan- Master Ranger-Thunderer-Legendary Fletcher Silvanius- Master Songster-Raven Ardent -- Nimue |
|
Seekn
(Registered)
Posts : 123
|
RE: The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air? |
04/13/04 3:07 AM |
Aye from what Iv'e read on here because its magic not melee it doesnt count. Seekn Destroy 50 5LX ML 1 Shade/Lance Fase 50 7LX ML 10 Minst/Guin Midious 50 5lX ML 10 Reaver/Guin |
|
Irendo
(Registered)
Posts : 145
|
RE: The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air? |
04/15/04 2:24 AM |
"The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air?"
actually it's technically Just a Bunch of Cold Air :D [VNmod]: What would you do with a five-to-six foot asshole anyways? [Coin]: Give them VN mod access and tell them to ban people. - Coin |
|
Sheridan
(Stealthy Intellect)
Posts : 1033
|
RE: The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air? |
04/15/04 10:20 AM |
Since the patch came out, My shout on Yellow con Senatals(sp?) has increased 30-50pts more damage. On average the shout is doing 110 damage, lowest I've seen so far is 95, the highest was 131. Since we have no power relics on our server currently, that is a significant jump from the average 74 damage. RvR will be a truer test. Coyle Sheridan - Warden Cotten Saurer - Nightshade Munnie Comyna - Enchantress The Wild Hunt |
|
Tazilon
(Shade Guru)
Posts : 2437
|
RE: The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air? |
04/15/04 7:00 PM |
Everything I have read suugests it will show a decent increase in PvE but only a small increase in RvR. Tazilon Midbane, 50 NS RR10 ML10, PNG [Lions of Lamfhota] CANCELLED ACCOUNT due to Mythic's NERFING of Shades in 1.82 |
|
Taq Rogh
(Registered)
Posts : 91
|
RE: The Nightshade Shout: Just a Bunch of Hot Air? |
04/20/04 6:08 PM |
The increase at level 50 is about 28 damage against maxxed resists. (100-62)-(100-62)*.26 = 38 * .74 = 28 (rounded down) Taq Rogh - 50 Nightshade ML6 RR4 ~Phuri Dae~ Nimue Dalniir - 50 Celt Animist ML10 RR3 ~Phuri Dae~ Nimue Nual - 47 Celt Bard ML3 ~Phuri Dae~ Nimue Khedyl Twinblades - 44 Firbolg Blademaster - Legendary Weaponsmith ~Phuri Dae~ Nimue |
