Spikes

[ChiliConCarnage]

Spikes are too OP and too easy to get. Yes, I know there are ways to negate it, but that forces you into a pidgeonhole build every time, or be destroyed by spikes. I think there needs to be many more ways to remove or ignore spikes.

[RustyTheRed]

It's anecdotal evidence, but I've never had a problem with spikes and rarely see spike builds in action. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like an underwhelming buff to me.

[ocefur]

it might be underwhelming but with bloodthorne iit can be an effective counter. especiialy against the dagger build. I really don't see it as a issue since it really is just a stong counter than more than a build in itself.

[Demonking]

I'll be honest, spikes are kind of a gamble much like most other things in this game. They get defanged by vampire builds fairly easily (pun intended) and crit builds like the one I just ran can absolute decimate them. If you're losing to spikes often it probably just means you rarely build for high damage and focus more on tanking what they can dish out. Which, when you take into consideration most spike builds include generating armor and possibly poison, isn't gong to work out for you.

[ChiliConCarnage]

Just ran a game at platinum where more than half the builds I fought was spikes.
Okay, so building for damage helps, but it eliminates so many other types of build to constantly having to counter spikes. If you're doing a dagger build, for example, means you take an equal amount of damage just by attacking, and then comes the opponent's attacks on top. It's 100% nonviable.

I'm not suggesting directly nerfing spikes, but give us more ways to remove or negate them. Maybe add a Dodge mechanic that works on spikes. That would give us a way to defend against attacks that ignore armour as well. Maybe give luck a chance to ignore spikes as well? Also, I don't know if spikes damage can crit, but if it can, then it shouldn't.

[Demonking]

Originally posted by ChiliConCarnage:

Just ran a game at platinum where more than half the builds I fought was spikes.
Okay, so building for damage helps, but it eliminates so many other types of build to constantly having to counter spikes. If you're doing a dagger build, for example, means you take an equal amount of damage just by attacking, and then comes the opponent's attacks on top. It's 100% nonviable.

I'm not suggesting directly nerfing spikes, but give us more ways to remove or negate them. Maybe add a Dodge mechanic that works on spikes. That would give us a way to defend against attacks that ignore armour as well. Maybe give luck a chance to ignore spikes as well? Also, I don't know if spikes damage can crit, but if it can, then it shouldn't.

I hate to tell you this dude but spikes are MEANT to counter builds like daggers in which you spam attacks. The more times you hit the target the more times you're going to take damage. At that point you're asking for a way to have rock beat paper, if you want to win against spikes with daggers, get a hero sword and look for vampire pendants. That's the best advice I can give you because spikes are MEANT to kill spam attack builds, they're just doing their job.

That said, I believe it's... Purple gems? Grab yourself a jewelery box and begin acquiring gems. If you throw something to remove your opponent's buffs on every single dagger you have 20% or higher chance to remove one of their buffs, and spikes can be removed that way. Obviously though, that's lightly less reliable than just stacking vampire knives to reduce the damage you're taking from the spikes.

[thebadman]

Did not see any common spike OP builds myself, if anything they were easy wins unless someone finished 1k+ armor build and they could outsustain me which is about as rare as blitzkrieg lightsabers.

Spikes are damage capped in a way they can't reflect more damage than they take so with poison, vampirism or high enough burst you can bruteforce average spike build should they lack armor generation to withstand your onslaught.

[Furio]

Funny.. I just had a game where I used Ripsaw blade and didn't see a single spike build :/

Meta builds is a thing. You do see the same types of builds. Blame the streamers. As of right now the meta is certainly not spikes (in Diamond).

[Demonking]

Originally posted by thebadman:

Did not see any common spike OP builds myself, if anything they were easy wins unless someone finished 1k+ armor build and they could outsustain me which is about as rare as blitzkrieg lightsabers.

Spikes are damage capped in a way they can't reflect more damage than they take so with poison, vampirism or high enough burst you can bruteforce average spike build should they lack armor generation to withstand your onslaught.

This, this is the reason I always get a jewelry box if it appears. Like, I don't bother with ranked too much just because I've never enjoyed that type of thing, but being able to supplement your build is an absolute blessing.

[Duelviper25]

spikes are only really viable in a vampire armor witch fatigue build otherwise you get totally overhwelmed by anyone with a ripsword

[kyotaro]

I think Spikes is good gear, but only if we know what's in the enemy's bag, like Auto Chess.

[DontCryJustDie]

Spikes are to easy to counter, everytime I play them I only face ppl with Ripsaw Blade[backpack-battles.fandom.com]. That weapon is too OP.

[Nogan]

Purely anecdotal evidence, but I clear most runs when I focus on or splash in some spikes. I think spikes just has a lot more flexible support than other archetypes atm, could maybe use a soft counter like garlic provides for vampirism.

[Trelyrien]

Originally posted by Demonking:

I'll be honest, spikes are kind of a gamble much like most other things in this game.

Especially with ripsaw blade being so freaking powerful right now. And not only against spikes! People who play spikes are asking to get crushed.

[Tristin]

Nature (and/or poison combo) build and Ripsaw Blade is pretty nice counter to spike build. Actually pretty strong.

[Cacomistle]

I think heavy spike builds are pretty bad. They're an auto loss vs many builds (ripsaw blade, unhealing though that kind of beats everything, ranged weapons, ILG, poison, fatigue, and probably a few others). And even on the builds they beat, the spike builds can still lose if its a mediocre spike build vs a good lets say hammer dagger build.

Bloodthorne isn't bad, but I don't really consider bloodthorne spikes. Most of the damage comes from the bloodthorne itself, and its generally a lot stronger if you get crit and/or vamp than lots of armor and spikes.