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== [Dev Update] PvP/PvE Skill Balancing – 21 May 2008 ==

With this week’s update we will introduce a new system to split certain skills into separate PvE and PvP versions. With this system we can update skills for one game type without affecting the other. To prepare players for the changes, we have decided to post this Dev Update as a preview. The skill changes will go live on May 22.

With the new system, we can restore skills to their original forms, so they are no longer impacted by PvP balance changes.
For example:

* {{skill icon|"Incoming!"}}: increased duration to 1..5 seconds; added PvP version with previous stats.

Where balance changes were required for PvP, but not PvE, the skill has been split and the changes will apply to the PvP version. 
For example:

* {{skill icon|Assassin's Remedy}} (PvP): increased Energy cost to 10.

We will be reintroducing the PvP balance changes that we tested from April 17 – May 1, but now these balance changes will apply only to PvP. 

Skills that differ in PvP play will have (PvP) listed at the end of their names when viewed in PvP outposts and matches. These skills will automatically be adjusted within PvP outposts and matches. Players can equip their skills as normal, and the game will use the PvP version where appropriate.

We recognize that this is a new system, with different stats possible for the same skill in PvE and PvP. We intend to use this system to the benefit of all players, and maintain our dedication to careful evaluation of each skill that we balance. Since this is the initial roll-out for the new system, we altered more skills than we would expect to in future updates.

=== List of Skills Affected ===

==== Restoration of Skill Effectiveness in PvE ====

In this update, we will be restoring a number of skills so that they work similar to how they used to before various PvP-related game balances. Each of the following skills restored in this way will also have a PvP version:

===== Assassin =====
* {{skill icon|Shadow Form}}: increased duration to 5..30 seconds.  

===== Mesmer =====
* {{skill icon|Energy Drain}}: decreased recharge to 20 seconds.
* {{skill icon|Energy Tap}}: decreased recharge to 20 seconds; decreased casting time to 2 seconds.

===== Necromancer =====
* {{skill icon|Discord}}: decreased casting time to 1 second.

===== Elementalist =====
* {{skill icon|Ether Renewal}}: increased duration to 5..20 seconds; increased Energy gain to 1..4.

===== Monk =====
* {{skill icon|Light of Deliverance}}: decreased recharge to 6 seconds.

===== Warrior =====
* {{skill icon|"Watch Yourself!"}}: increased number of attacks before "Watch Yourself!" ends to 10.

===== Ritualist =====
* {{skill icon|Ritual Lord}}: increased Spirit recharge reduction to 15..75%.

===== Ranger =====
* {{skill icon|Penetrating Attack}}: increased damage to 5..25.
* {{skill icon|Sundering Attack}}: increased damage to 5..25.

===== Paragon =====
* {{skill icon|"Incoming!"}}: increased duration to 1..5 seconds.
* {{skill icon|Defensive Anthem}}: decreased activation time to 1 second.

==== Restoration of April Balance Changes (PvP) ====
We will also reintroduce the PvP balance changes that we tested from April 17 – May 1, along with a few other tweaks to skills. These balance changes will apply only to PvP. 

===== Assassin =====
* {{skill icon|Assassin's Remedy}} (PvP): increased Energy cost to 10.
* {{skill icon|Shadow Form}} (PvP): decreased duration to 5..15 seconds.  

===== Necromancer =====
* {{skill icon|Enfeeble}} (PvP): increased recharge to 10 seconds.  

===== Elementalist =====
* {{skill icon|Blinding Surge}} (PvP): decreased recharge to 3 seconds; decreased Blind duration to 1..5 seconds.  
* {{skill icon|Ward Against Melee}} (PvP): decreased duration to 1..18 seconds. 
* {{skill icon|Lightning Orb}} (PvP): this skill no longer causes Cracked Armor.  

===== Monk =====
* {{skill icon|Aegis}} (PvP): increased Energy cost to 15. 

===== Ritualist =====
* {{skill icon|Ancestors' Rage}} (PvP): increased casting time to 1 second.  
* {{skill icon|Splinter Weapon}} (PvP): increased recharge to 8 seconds. 
* {{skill icon|Death Pact Signet}} (PvP): increased casting time to 4 seconds. 
* {{skill icon|Flesh of My Flesh}} (PvP): increased recharge to 10 seconds.  

===== Dervish =====
* {{skill icon|Mystic Sweep}} (PvP): increased activation time to 1 second. 
* {{skill icon|Eremite's Attack}} (PvP): increased activation time to 1 second.

===== Paragon =====
* {{skill icon|"Never Surrender!"}} (PvP): decreased duration to 10 seconds.  
* {{skill icon|Ballad of Restoration}} (PvP): increased recharge time to 30 seconds.   
* {{skill icon|Harrier's Toss}} (PvP): increased activation time to 1 second.
* {{skill icon|Song of Restoration}} (PvP): increased recharge time to 30 seconds.

==== Restoration of April Balance Changes (PvE and PvP) ====
These skills were part of the the April Balance change and needed to be restored for PvP balance but didn't warrant splitting the skills into separate PvE and PvP versions. Some are skill improvements we wanted to apply to both PvE and PvP; others are power reductions we felt would have minimal impact on PvE balance. The one exception is Steelfang Slash, which was not a part of the April Balance update. It was added to this list to deal with particular multi-weapon skill combinations that allowed a player to repeatedly chain knockdowns on an opponent.

===== Mesmer =====
* {{skill icon|Hex Breaker}}: this skill now counts as a Stance. 
* {{skill icon|Fragility}}: decreased Energy cost to 5.  
* {{skill icon|Fevered Dreams}}: decreased recharge to 8. 
* {{skill icon|Chaos Storm}}: decreased Energy cost to 5. 
* {{skill icon|Energy Surge}}: increased Energy lost to 1..10; decreased damage done per Energy to 9.  
* {{skill icon|Energy Burn}}: increased Energy lost to 1..10; decreased damage done per Energy to 9.  

===== Elementalist =====
* {{skill icon|Glyph of Concentration}}: decreased number of spells that cannot be interrupted to 1. 
* {{skill icon|Shockwave}}: increased casting time to 1 second.

===== Warrior =====
* {{skill icon|Disarm}}: decreased skill disable time to 0..3 seconds; increased recharge to 20 seconds.  
* {{skill icon|Steelfang Slash}}: increased recharge to 1 second.

<noinclude>[[Category:Developer Updates|20080521]][[Category:News|20080521]]</noinclude>