I used hero editor to create this character:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1ZJFDrFCDgflpg-CT3LrxePz23bWZssot
You can download the character and paste the .d2s file into the following folder:
C:\Users\ (current user) \Saved Games\Diablo II Resurrected (PTR)
She is a lvl 90 “ladder” character, but for single player. So all runewords are available, comes with a Fire, Cold, Light and Physical Sunder Charms, maxed out gear (2x Mosaic, enigma, griffons/nightwing/flickering flame, etc), a merc with infinity/reapers toll/insight, and a ton of reset tokens.
After trying the item out I’ve actually come to like it with certain skills, it’s not as bad as I thought. It definitely messes with the charge and release rhythm, but it’s manageable for the most part.
Phoenix Strike:
This item is not the best with this skill imo. It messes with the charge and release rhythm way to much, and NHD gets in the way too. I’d avoid using this runeword with this skill, it’s not worth it imo, stick with Plague
Fist of Fire:
It helps with the dps a fair bit, especially with the extra stacks of burning pyres and prevent monster heal, but the skill is still extremely hard to use because of the 100% fire conversion of physical damage. You can not steal any life or mana back in its current form, they should change the max conversion to be somewhere between 50→90% physical converted to fire.
Blades of Ice:
it helps up the dps a bit, but it’s not nearly as impactful as it is to FoF or Claws of Thunder. I think BoI still needs a massive DPS buff to the base skill. Especially since it freezes mobs, shattering corpses and removing Death Sentry from being useful
Claws of Thunder:
As much as NHD gets in the way a ton with this skill, it does spawn a lot of extra charged bolts leading to a decent dps increase. Pretty much everything is guaranteed to be hit by a Nova and Charged Bolt, and those CBs can go way off screen. Out of all 4 elemental skills, it definitely felt the best imo
Tiger Tail:
It’s a massive DPS increase for Tiger Strike + Dragon Tail, and fortunately it doesn’t affect the rhythm of gameplay all that much. I find this item works extremely well with this skill combo. Cobra Strike also benefits from this item a lot when combo with Tiger Tail, you get a fair bit of Life/Mana steal and the chance to not consume CS charges is noticeable in regards to survivability
Overall I do like the weapon’s new mechanic, but I do think it’s lacking some power for it’s cost in regards to base attributes. I’d like to see them add and tweak the following:
Change the IAS to either 30% or 40%
Switching the IAS to +30%→40% allows more claw bases to easily hit 4+ aps, making it so Runic Talons aren’t the “best” option all the time. At the moment only Greater/Runic Talons can reasonably attain 4+ aps, everything else requires extreme focus on IAS
Switch Thul→Eth, and add in an variable roll of -25 → -75% to Monster Defense
Doing this will provide -50% → -100% monster defense, which will help with charging up skills a ton. It’d be a useful mod with a good roll, but not mandatory to be a high roll
Boost up the skills to either +3 MA or +2 Sin skills
+2 Martial Arts skills just seems weird, +2 assassin would much more helpful, and +3 Martial Arts would be great for DPS. I’d be fine with both, but +2 MA isn’t enough imo.
Add in a variable: "-35% enemy (Cold, Light, or Fire) resist"
Adding in a varying element makes the chase a little more interesting. It might make you experiment with a different skill for a bit, if you get the wrong element, but the item is still useful. Chasing a matching set of elemental claws can be good for end game grinding too.
In regards to the rhythm mechanics being destroyed, I have noticed one small perk. When going between packs of mobs, you typically have at least 1-2 charges still saved up, which really helps get the ball rolling at the beginning of combat. With that said, I’d really like to see them add in a charge counter to each skill, much like how bow/throw skills have an ammo counter. This would help smooth things out a fair bit, instead of having to rely solely on the visual swirls going around you.