Over the years, all classes have seen many changes and adjustments some good some bad. However, I do feel that Nightblades with their changes have lost their identities and what makes them Nightblades. Now before I address my issues with the class, I must say I am happy that NB's have some good Tank options and some fairly decent healer options too with many changes (Dark Cloak is great for an NB tank).
My issues lie with the damage side of things. NB's are supposed to be the assassin class and yet really do not feel like as such anymore. To be fair I have always felt that they needed a bit of a push into the assassin identity more from a damage perspective, but the many changes seem to have moved away from it rather than toward it. Now I understand the complaints about their bursty nature in the past, no assassin should be able to burst a tank to 0 in seconds. However, NB's have a real hard time to burst other damage builds too and don't get me started on healers or 'cough cough' Templars. This is not only a PvP issue either, in PvE they do not feel like assassin's either, being just another sustained DPS. I have some changes that may seem sweeping and yet I think they would help NB's get back a little of that 'assassin' feel.
Assassin Line:
1. Death Stroke and Morphs: I believe this should be the 'execute' of the NB. But rather than a flat buff after a certain health threshold simply have it work more like Reverse Slash and Whirling Blades where it deals more damage the lower the health of the target.
2. Assassin's Blade and Morphs: With Death Stroke and Morphs now being an execute, this skill instead should apply a 10 second DoT after its initial damage. To make this unique, I propose the base ability and Impale to apply Oblivion Damage DoT (not too high since it is unresisted perhaps 1% max health every second). With Killer's Blade doing Disease Damage for a longer duration say 15 seconds.
3. Teleport Strike and Morphs: The abilities are fine but I do not get the 'Ambush Feel' at all. I propose adding a 2 second Stun to Ambush and Lotus Fan and get rid of Minor Vulnerability. I think Empower is fine on Ambush but Lotus Fan needs a small buff to its DoT, nothing too much maybe 10% or something.
4. Blur and Morphs: Why is this even on the Assassin line at all? It's a defensive skill and should be on the tanking Shadow line. Swap it with Veiled Strike. Furthermore, I would combine both morphs into one, the talent is rarely taken and combining it would make it more attractive and would not be overpowered in my opinion, increase cost if necessary. For the seconds morph, I propose having it deal Disease Damage every second to nearby targets for its duration. There are no real Disease builds in ESO and the damage type needs more options. Call it Foul Aura or something.
5. Mark Target and Morphs: Get rid of Major Breach and Fracture, instead have it simply mark the target and cause it to take 8% more damage from 'YOUR SKILLS ONLY'. This would out of all the above changes really give that assassin feel. In a lot of ways it is like Minor Vulnerability, but just for you and would stack with allied sources of Vulnerability really giving that 'assassin feel' that capitalises on allied debuffs. Piercing Mark should also feel like a 'Piercing Mark', the reveal does not fit the nature of the skill, there are plenty of other sources of reveal (Flare, Light and Hunter). Instead, have it cause your attacks to deal a further 8% damage vs Damage Shields, really giving it a 'Piercing Feel'. Reaper's Mark should have its Major Berserk removed and instead causes the initial buff to increase by 2% for every 10% health missing from the target. (at 40% missing health it would cause target to take 16% more damage as opposed to 8% "remember from YOUR SKILLS ONLY").
6. Grim Focus and Morphs: To be honest, I do not know what is going on with this ability anymore, it needs a complete rework in my opinion and has always felt a little clunky. Perhaps, have it increase your Light Attack damage instead for the duration say by 15% and change the Spectral Bow component to 'Assassinate' making it a melee ability that becomes available when your Death Stroke ultimate deals damage while your buff is active.
Shadow Line:
Consuming Darkness and Morphs: No Change.
Veiled Strike and Morphs: Move to Assassin Line and Swap with Blur. Have Surprise Attacks apply Major Fracture like it used to and give Concealed Weapon Major Breach.
Shadow Cloak and Morphs: Dark Cloak should stay as is, Shadowy Disguise however, I would have it now be permanent until stealth is broken and have an unrevealable 2 seconds when activated. However, to offset this I would make it so the ability cannot be used again for 4 - 5 seconds once stealth is broken, either through action, damage or reveal. (Direct DoT damage would not break stealth but ground and AoE DoT's would). In essence, making it more of a situational get out tool, instead of something you have to spam to keep up. This would promote more use of reveal skills in PvP instead of just spamming an AoE ability.
Path of Darkness Morphs: Combine Twisting Path and Refreshing Path, they are kind of lackluster as they are. The second morph should be a Stamina Morph that deals increased Disease Damage. (another Disease option for build variety).
Rest of skills are great as they are, although I think many players miss having two shades and would recommend bringing it back.
Siphoning Line:
The only morph in this line I would change is Power Extraction. The buffs are great but the Weapon and Spell damage reduction does very little. I propose either buffing the debuff or getting rid of it completely and giving the skill Minor Defile instead. Healing is way too strong in PvP and Minor Defile is useful for countering this a little.
* I would take another look at the Executioner Passive too, it is useless in boss fights. Maybe, buff it by having its resource return also apply when you deal damage with an execute ability.
** This is a long post, but Zenimax said they are looking at all classes to give them a sense of identity and I feel talking about this stuff now is better than not being happy with changes after they have been implemented.
Check out my other Class Identity posts below:
Templar:
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/523007/templar-class-identity/p1?new=1
