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Shadow Creatures: New Mechanics

How do they Work?

In the test realm a quiet change has come to the Shadow Creatures…a quiet change that could make them viable in PvP! For a rundown on how Shadow Creatures used to work: see our previous guide.

Shadow Creatures: New Mechanics

They Resolve in Less Time

Previously Shadow Creatures took 3 rounds to fully resolved. Now Shadow Creatures resolve themselves in only 2 rounds making you much less vulnerable in max level PvP and giving your opponent less time to react.

They Start at their Maximum Damage

Previously Shadow Spells started at 1/3 their damage and slowly built up damage as you increased likes. Now Shadow Spells start out at their max potential damage with the likes adding the buffs. This means that even with no buffs the current shadow spell’s base damage is equal to the base damage of an old creature’s base damage at maximum likes.

They Start with 20 Backlash(In 2/3 cases)

Dark Nova and Dark Fiend start at a mere 20 backlash meaning that at max likes you will take no backlash damage from these spells. Unfortunately Dark Shepard’s backlash has remained the same at 30 meaning that at max likes you will take at least 10% backlash.

They all “Like” Blades, Traps and Shadow Spells and Start at their First “Like” as soon as they are Cast

Now all the Shadow Creatures like attempts to buff including Dark Shepard and Dark Fiend which previously did not like buffing attempts at all. Whether they still retain their old likes in addition to these new ones has not yet been tested. In addition to this as soon as the Shadow Spell is cast it will automatically grow to it’s first stage and gain the 40% blade. Couple this with the fact that the spells are at max damage from the get go and you are posing a solid offensive threat as soon as these are cast. 

What does this Mean for PvP?

These changes (together with the critical system update) make shadow creatures much less dangerous to use in PvP. Previously making a 3 round commitment in this meta was ill-advised: leaving your opponent a huge amount of time to counter your strategy or offensively exert pressure. Now the shadow creature spells resolve in 2 rounds: increasing survivability and limiting your opponent’s counter options. In the prior meta with criticals able to shut you down in one hit and Shadow Enhanced Spells always presenting a OHKO threat it made no sense to use these spells. Now with a reduced critical impact and the possibility of mastery amulet use for heals it is entirely possible to run a slower tempo strategy. Of course the meta is still a lot faster than it used to be but this change moves Shadow Creatures out of the useless pile and into the realm of viability.

 

What do you think of these changes to Shadow Creatures? Let us know in the comments below!

 

 

 

 

 

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