The Value of sharp teeth

[Orontes]

To the Powers,

A couple patches earlier the mSH tactic Sharp Toofs was changed. Previously the tactic read:

"Get Em's damage is increased to 419 on your pets first attack and the cost reduced by 15 Action Points"

This tactic changed. The increased damage was removed and the pet's first attack was made into an AOE of 20' with the same AP reduction. The tactic was also moved to the Path of Big Bouncin 3 point tactic option.


Post patch, I have done extensive testing and experimenting trying to find value in this new mode. My conclusion is it doesn't work. Prior to this change Sharp Toofs was a fundamental part of any mSH single target tactic set up. It was necessary for the added spike damage when out and about with an active pet. It therefore served as a distinct and attractive counter playstyle to the petless AOE model. This has been lost in large measure. With this change Sharp Toofs has no value. It has moved from a core and essential tool to being unable to justify slotting it at all. The reason is any AOE focused mSH is not going to use their pet. They will opt for the tactic 'All by Myself' that gives 25% damage boost to their AOE with no worry of a weak pet dying from large scale WB actions. A 20' AOE off of a single non-boosted pet attack with a 10 second cool down is meaningless.

This change has also impacted the appeal of using a pet at all. Previously, the decision was to either opt for single target burst, or no burst, but AOE with mobility. A mSH is now less inclined to use their pet as the single target rotation core ability Get Em, that Sharp Toofs was intended to augment, is a less than. With the spike damage much reduced, it is harder to justify opting for the pet.

I have seen comments from the Powers that the Path of Big Bouncin is intended as the AOE option for Squigery. Even so, there are several single target damaging abilities in the Big Bouncin Mastery. I think using a pet should be attractive, even for mSH. I suggest the tactic Sharp Toofs be restored to it's prior form. It can still be kept in the Big Bouncin Mastery, but needs the old spike damage.

Think of the children gentlemen