Your numbers don't seem take into account the wind up time though (or I am missing something). Also by listing only DPS values you're forgetting some actual practical uses of the moves. And you don't seem to include force damage on unprotected targets for smash as well as the potential bonus damage it can get from setting up tech bursts / biotic explosions.
Let's try to make a fair comparison between the slashes and smashes in themselves.
- As for pure damage : it's about the same between all skills. Slashes can get a bit of more damage if done close range because they hit during the wind up, but smash can get huge force damage on unprotected targets and with the right evo a huge damage bonus to barrier and armor (IE it can be great against bosses). It can also have potential DOT damage.
Advantage smash.- For cooldown : it's obvious that here the slashes have the advantage since the last smash cooldown debuff.
Advantage slashes.- Wind up time and related maniability : Smash has the advantage here IMO. It's roll cancellable very early in the startup of the move, its real startup for the shockwave to come out being actually very short. Slashes can hit during the wind up at very close range and have a low profile animation at some point that can dodge some bullets, but the window for roll cancelling is far smaller and can only be done very late. Slashes have nice advantages too but IMO Smash takes the lead here.
Advantage smash.- Range and AOE : no discussion here, slashes have a potential 30m range, 20 with the base evolution and can hit 3 targets. Smash has 8 meters and can hit 2 targets, 3 with the radius evo.
Advantage slashes.- Shockwave direction : interesting point that very few people seem to pay attention to. Smash can easily be oriented to whatever direction to hit upwards and downwards targets. Slashes apparently only have a limited ability to direct their shockwaves vertically and only under some particular circumstances. 90% of the time the shockwave will only travel in a perfectly horizontal way though, no matter how hard you try.
Advantage smash.- Combo compatibility : Smash can prime either BEs or tech bursts depending on the evolution. But slashes are way better detonators and cover more ground. I'm mixed here as to which as the advantage. To me it seems fairly even here. Tied.
Electric slash remains the unknown in the equation though, as it can potentially benefit from Tactical cloack bonuses. But other powers on other infi become monstruous thanks to this skill (like arc grenades). IMO it's more of an infiltrator problem rather than a slash problem. Oh and it also has an ability to knock down than biotic slash doesn't seem to have.
Overall it seems to me that the skills are pretty equal. Smash seems to have more advantages, but the advantages it has over the slashes are often not as big as the advantages the slashes have over it (for example slashes are like a million years better than smash in the general range and AOE department). If tweaks need to be made, I would suggest nothing more than a cooldown increase to put it on par with smash. And also stop screen shaking for every power like that.
Modifié par Dream-Maker, 11 août 2012 - 01:06 .
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