Fixing The Game - Icefall Mantle

[PaladinRave]

I'm starting an ongoing discussion about under performing items, perks, and abilities in D2. First up, the Icefall Mantle.

What's wrong with it?

For starters, there’s plenty of other ways to gain a good overshield, or other life preserving abilities, in the game right now. The void subclass is a great example. Sure, the overshield is fairly strong, perhaps even stronger than any other overshield - excluding some supers. Still, it’s not that great.

The other issue is the trade off to get the above mentioned overshield is simply not worth it. You lose a lot of maneuverability, such as double jump. Being this immobile, I would argue, reduces your survivability instead of increasing it. This problem is increased exponentially in the Crucible.

What's good about it?

The animation and sound effects are pretty cool. In low level content the effects are cool enough (no pun intended) to warrant trying this exotic out. I’ll admit I’ve had some fun with them in lower level content.

The chill effect is ok. Well, let’s be frank, it’s a neat concept that falls just short of being actually useful.

What’s the soul of it?

To me, the Icefall is all about becoming a moving wall of stasis. It’s about being a tank and controlling enemies with ice. I suppose it’s important mechanically that this exotic utilizes the class ability. So, that’s what we're gonna keep in mind while rebuilding the Icefall Mantle.

What can we do to fix it?

Let's rework the Glacial Guard perk.

New Glacial Guard, short: You become a moving barricade of ice.

New Glacial Guard, long: Replaces your Barricade ability with stasis armor. When you activate your Barricade ability, you are surrounded by damage absorbing stasis crystal armor. While the armor is active, you count as a stasis crystal, Barricade does not recharge, and you lose the ability to slide or shoulder charge.

New Glacial Guard, balance & hidden stats: The health of the Glacial Guard armor equals that of a normal Barricade, ##% less (50%?) against incoming damage from guardians. For balance, Glacial Guard has an internal cooldown of ## seconds (60 secs?), allowing you to use a regular Barricade between Glacial Guard uses. When Glacial Guard armor has been depleted, it shatters as a normal allied stasis crystal would. Your allies can take cover behind you as they could behind a stasis crystal while Glacial Guard is active.

New Glacial Guard, if we wanted to make it even stronger: Additionally, while Glacial Guard is active, enemies within melee range of you are slowed. Slowed targets will freeze after a short duration.

[Akeelagi]

no

[Monster]

Originally posted by Akeelagi:

no

10/10

[GK | Leviathan]

Well made post I’ll give you that.

But I think there’s more pressing matters at hand

[Nero]

Let them rework apotheosis veil fist.
That thing has been useless since its introduction.

[PaladinRave]

Originally posted by Nero:

Let them rework apotheosis veil fist.
That thing has been useless since its introduction.

Perhaps I'll do that one next.

[PaladinRave]

Originally posted by GK ｜ Leviathan:

Well made post I’ll give you that.

But I think there’s more pressing matters at hand

I'm going to slowly talk about anything and everything I've personally noticed as an issue. Just started somewhere.

[PaladinRave]

Originally posted by Akeelagi:

no

Even though you made a really in depth response, I was wondering if you might expound a little bit more on why no?

[Akeelagi]

Originally posted by PaladinRave:

Originally posted by Akeelagi:

no

Even though you made a really in depth response, I was wondering if you might expound a little bit more on why no?

didnt even read it lol tbh i dont play pve at all, only here for the pvp and get mad at how ♥♥♥♥ the pvp is.