Full Disclosure: I do not run a Crackshot build. I have not run a Crackshot build at the start of TWW. This post is not requesting a damage buff or something major, only an adjustment so non-Crackshot builds are not punished as harshly as they are currently.
Outlaw’s Sinister Strike is in dire need of a rework:
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At the cost of 45 Energy, it gives you a single combo point, base.
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It has a special effect that, on proc, will swing a second time, granting you another combo point (35% chance)
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There are no spec talents that increase the number of combo points Sinister Strike generates.
Compare it to Ambush:
- At the cost of 50 Energy, Ambush gives you two combo points, base.
- You can talent into Hidden Opportunity, which gives Ambush Sinister Strike’s Opportunity proc, netting you another combo point.
- You can talent improved Ambush in the class tree for another combo point.
So at the most basic level (Outside of Roll the Bones), Sinister Strike can give you a potential two Combo points with every key press. Ambush can give you four with every key press.
That is absurd.
It is incredibly punishing to rely on Sinister Strike that has a nasty habit (even with Skull and Crossbones) to get a flat (consecutive uses that give one combo point), and draining all of your energy with four/five attacks for a single spender.
Here’s what I propose the new Sinister Strike should operate:
- At 45 Energy, Sinister Strike gives you two combo points base.
- Replace Sinister Strike’s Opportunity with Triple Threat, keeping the same percentage rate and generating one combo point.
So now, you have two points guaranteed, with a stronger proc in Triple Threat giving you a third.
Meanwhile, Ambush still retains its power without needing to change it directly.
This way, Outlaw Rogues who do not spec into Crackshot/Vanish are not completely hampered by the lack of combo point generation.
5 Likes
You realize that our top build quite literally does not press Ambush ever right? Non Crackshot builds will never be viable until they decide to revert the energy nerfs + ADR changes or if they completely rework the entire spec which will never happen.
2 Likes
What?, what does it press.
Sinister Strike. Ambush is dropped entirely.
1 Like
Not even in Subterfuge windows if Ace doesn’t proc? Why? You bank fan the hammer every time?
You mean to tell me the only reason you take Subterfuge and two charges Vanish is just for Crackshot?
Because… man that makes Crackshot even less respectable.
2 Likes
why is this the case, doesn’t ambush generate more combo points than SS, while also dealing the same procs?
1 Like
Mainly due to the fact that ambush no longer procs CtO. It’s also not as heavily reliant on opportunity procs as HO.
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Huh? Is the talent description wrong? Or are we not talking about Count the Odds?
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Two reasons, the first because Ambush without HO is less energy efficient and second without HO Ambush cannot proc Fan the Hammer. If you’re playing KIR you want to take Ambush off your stealth bars completely and drop the Ambush talents + swap the choice node in the general tree from + 1 Ambush CP to 6% Energy cost reduction on finishers.
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Either I’m completely misremembering something or they changed this back after DF. I definitely remember it had something to do with fishing for CtO procs.
You still don’t want to use ambush though.
I feel like I’m going nuts trying to find where I originally read that now…
Edit: They added sinister strike to CtO procs later, which made ambush redundant from that point on. So, yeah. 100% remembered that wrong.
1 Like
So can we agree that Crackshot is the most degenerate thing in the Rogue class at this point?
Taking two charges of Vanish and Subterfuge just to ignore stealth abilities completely just to spam Between the Eyes has got to be the most uni-brow design I’ve ever seen.
But I’m definitely going to argue that Ambush is less energy efficient just on combo points given alone.
2 Likes
Alright thank you for the clarification as the posts so far have been very vague and generally unhelpful to the rogue community.
For PVP you are better off using Ambush over Sinister Strike but Sub and Outlaw are going to be dwarfed by Assassination in PVP at the moment.
The best way to buff Sinister Strike as it was posted above was to revert the energy nerfs to the spec.
I’m not even giving Outlaw the time of day until Blizzard fixes that Between the Eyes nonsense.
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I don’t know. I’ve honor capped 6 times since the early access. I am loving outlaw. some tweaks for sure. overall, I don’t see assassination outshine, granted I am only doing bg’s and blitz.
1 Like