Primal Strike build any good now?

[Division By Zero]

1.2 greatly increases its scaling.

260% weapon damage -> 315% at normal max rank.
320% -> 395% at absolute max rank.

The modifier that removes cooldown decreases its weapon damage by 100%, which means the flat percent increases have a much higher effect on builds that use it.

Regular max rank: 160% -> 215% = 1/3 extra weapon damage.
Absolute max rank: 220% -> 295% = 1/3 extra weapon damage.

They just buffed the weapon damage component of builds that use primal strike as their regular attack by a third.

[gNuff!~©~gNom3™]

Primal Strike feedback during playtest led request about buffing primal strike, one of the issues among others was sustain/lifesteal being impacted additionally by the new lifesteal resist increases, and so Primal Strike got buffed
whether it got buffed too much will have to see, unsure if ex Slev (primal strike builder) thinks it in "OP" state now or "just right"

[Matthew]

I don't know what the story is with that skill on the whole. It seems like every other patch it gets nerfed. Then buffed. Then nerfed. Then buffed.

Thing is, I don't think the skill was ever "terrible", just that it is trying to find some perfect sweet spot in super late game min/maxing.

I can't recall other similar skills, like tremor, going through so many updates and tweaks.

[Safarel]

Originally posted by Matthew:

I don't know what the story is with that skill on the whole. It seems like every other patch it gets nerfed. Then buffed. Then nerfed. Then buffed.

Story? Story is very simple
From pretty much every patch Z buffed cd version of PS, but nobody in existing universe are playing it, everybody play on spam version
And this conflict will continues until both sides will not find compromise

[Matthew]

The cooldown version is so awkward though. A lot of skill points to only hit once very 3 seconds. Even if it one shots an entire pack of enemies, the flexibility of being able to have it hit whenever you want/need it is just smoother gameplay.

[Vin]

Originally posted by Matthew:

The cooldown version is so awkward though. A lot of skill points to only hit once very 3 seconds. Even if it one shots an entire pack of enemies, the flexibility of being able to have it hit whenever you want/need it is just smoother gameplay.

its a matter of build. Primal Strike without the cooldown cannot be used with any weapons passive procs like feral hunger etc.

i prefer the cooldown because of being able to treat it like yet another weapon proc off the basic attack.

[Gilver Redgrave]

Originally posted by Vin:

i prefer the cooldown because of being able to treat it like yet another weapon proc off the basic attack.

I use it as my default attack for my Ranged build.

It depends on what your build is really. Having an AoE basic attack can be pretty broken.

[Tsel13]

I am also using it on my ranged rifle build.
I have not invested in the cool down modifier.
I find, that if one is used to rotating skills in other games, it synergises well with electric / lightning / storm skills and devotions.

[Lark]

I've been trying the CD version with a ranged Shaman+Inquisitor (since Crate broke all the mods).
Essentially, you have a high-damage attack for your first attack and every sixth thereafter, but it can't use use on-attack procs, while the intervening five weapon attacks do.

I found it a bit slow to start with, but it's steadily getting better. I'd say it's worth trying. I don't do enough min-maxing to answer your question beyond that.