Current state of shadowblades - Phoenix Freeshard

@Dev, @GM, etc...
It seems like currently LA is extremely bugged and can sometimes reduce a PA to under 400 dmg on main hand. I have heard zerkers got a fix in alpha, but it did not affect LA for sb's. On top of that, there is a problem with SB damage period., for example 2h PA hitting for 450 on some targets (I don't PA tanks). I have experienced these problems, and heard other sb's talking about it but not any infs or nightshades, which leads me to believe this is a SB-specific issue that needs to be addressed and not just a CS/LA fix.

Am I just wrong? Are you happy with how Shadowblades fare at the moment?

Sat 15 Sep 2018 2:57 AM by relvinian

I was hopping along a trail earlier on my lvl 50 caster with max slash resist and I was one shotted by a rr 9 sb. Dead. Not the poison, not the debuff, nada, just the pa, not even the follow up stun. The initial pa attack. Granted, it critted for 200, but from where I was standing-- alive then dead-- dmg seems fine.

Sat 15 Sep 2018 6:03 AM by Isavyr

For what it's worth, Relv, I've had a nightshade 1-shot my templated caster with a PA crit (I assume 1300 damage was due to crit anyway--it didn't display).

Remember in classic when 1-shots were supposed to keep assassin in stealth? You could only hope for one-shots with a good crit against a sitting target, or a green con player. Here, you don't even need those special conditions.

I think overall the melee damage is a little funny--it feels quite high, both in PvE and RvR. I think this is probably because armor isn't quite 100% of what it ought to be, but that's just my guess.

Sat 15 Sep 2018 5:51 PM by Thinal

I understand these to be the formulas for CS stealth openers:

Perforate Artery damage = 75 + Critical Strike Spec * 9 + Base Damage
(*12 instead of *9 for 2H PAs)

Backstab II damage = 45 + Critical Strike Spec * 6 + Base Damage

Backstab I damage = ~5 + Critical Strike Spec * 14 / 3 + Base Damage

These shouldn't be reduced by LA mechanics. The "Base Damage" portion of the formula should be the portion reduced by LA. If LA is indeed reducing the PA bonus damage, then that would be a bug (or yet another example of bs "custom" behavior) and needs to be addressed.

With that said though, I think it's expected that SBs are going to use 2H PAs for the bonus multiplier and higher base for an appreciable frontloaded damage. While LA PA needs to work as designed, it might not be the best option for you to actually use.