2.02.78778 - Steadfast Steward's Update - Coming_in_hot

✦AI summary1mo

Major overhaul of the Occultist's Paths (Wanderer, Ritualist, Warlock, Aspirant) focusing on Unchecked Power generation and normalization, alongside several monster debuff nerfs.

▲Buffs42

Occultist (Wanderer)
- Updated rank flexibility for better positioning options.+Back Rank→+Flexible Rank
- Abyssal Artillery:Increased critical hit chance for better damage and power generation.5%→10% %
- Abyssal Artillery:Now grants Unchecked Power per target that is CRIT, reducing reliance on high mastery.→66% %
- Sacrificial Stab:Now grants Unchecked Power when killing a target, making early-game power generation easier.→Added
- Wyrd Reconstruction:No longer consumes a CRIT token if a CRIT is already guaranteed via Unchecked Power.Consumes→Does not consume
- Anamnesis:Slightly increased base damage.2-4→3-5
- Anamnesis:Now applies Shuffle, bringing it closer to the mastered version's utility.→Added
- Malediction:Now applies Combo to the target and causes them to gain Combo every time they are hit.→Added
- Malediction:Increased duration of the debuff.2 rounds→3 rounds rounds
- Malediction:Reduced the cost to activate the skill.3→2
- Malediction+:Now ignores Blind in addition to Dodge.Dodge only→Dodge & Blind
- Malediction+:Refunds Unchecked Power cost at the end of the round if the debuff is resisted.→Added
Occultist (Ritualist)
- Binding Shadows:Now grants Stealth, matching the Wanderer version.→Added
- Binding Shadows:Reduces target's Debuff RES by 10% for 3 rounds if the Ritualist has Stealth.→10% %
- Sacrificial Stab:No longer a Path-specific skill, allowing Ritualists to use it for power generation.Path Skill→General Skill
- Wyrd Reconstruction:No longer consumes a CRIT token if a CRIT is already guaranteed via Unchecked Power.Consumes→Does not consume
- Malediction+:Removed chance to grant basic Block/Dodge; increased chances for the upgraded versions.Basic→Block+/Dodge+
- Malediction+:Now removes all Riposte from the target.→Added
Occultist (Warlock)
- Chaotic Offering:Now can be activated as a Free Action if the hero has at least 15% HP.Passive→Free Action
- Chaotic Offering:Grants 1 Unchecked Power upon activation, but disables passive generation for 2 turns.→1 Unchecked Power
- Sacrificial Stab:No longer a Path-specific skill.Path Skill→General Skill
- Wyrd Reconstruction:No longer consumes a CRIT token if a CRIT is already guaranteed via Unchecked Power.Consumes→Does not consume
- Anamnesis:Significantly increased damage scaling from positive tokens.1→3
- Malediction:Increased duration of the debuff.2 rounds→3 rounds rounds
- Malediction:Heal now triggers on Combat Damage (including DOTs) rather than just On Hit.On Hit→Combat Damage
- Malediction:Reduced the cost to activate the skill.3→2
- Malediction+:Now ignores Blind.Dodge only→Dodge & Blind
Occultist (Aspirant)
- Removed the risk of applying Immobilize to self when using Unchecked Power.Possible→Removed
- Increased base generation rate when moving, but now decreases by 20% per existing token.66%→70% %
- Sacrificial Stab:Now gains Unchecked Power on kill.→Added
- Sacrificial Stab:Now gains Block (or Block+ for mastered) when hitting a target with Combo.→Added
- Wyrd Reconstruction:No longer consumes a CRIT token if a CRIT is already guaranteed via Unchecked Power.Consumes→Does not consume
- Malediction:Reduced the cost to activate the skill.3→2
- Malediction+:Now ignores Blind.Dodge only→Dodge & Blind
- The Burning Stars:Increased Burn damage.4→5
- The Burning Stars+:Increased Burn damage on the mastered version.4→6
Beastmen (Huntsman)
- Splitting Edge:Reduced chance to apply Weak token.100%→50% %
- Stalker's Reach:Reduced chance to apply Weak token.100%→50% %
Carrion DevourerPulverize:Reduced number of Weak tokens applied.2→1
CherubEnfeebling Miasma:Reduced Weak tokens applied.2→1
SpearmanSpear Toss:Reduced Weak tokens applied.2→1
General GameplayHemic Rot:Reduced chance of applying Weak tokens.15%→10% %

▼Nerfs17

Occultist (Wanderer)
- Binding Shadows:Reduced damage to balance the skill's high utility.4-6→3-5
- Binding Shadows:Reduced critical hit chance to balance utility.10%→5% %
- Binding Shadows+:Reduced damage on the mastered version to balance utility.5-8→4-7
- Binding Shadows+:Reduced critical hit chance on the mastered version to balance utility.15%→10% %
- Anamnesis:Reduced bleed damage for the unmastered version.4→3
- Malediction:Removed inherent resistance piercing; now requires external help to guarantee landing.Inherent→Removed
Occultist (Ritualist)
- Abyssal Artillery:Reduced chance to apply a second Blind when consuming Unchecked Power to prevent over-potency.100%→50% %
- Abyssal Artillery+:Reduced chance to apply a second Blind on the mastered version.100%→66% %
- Binding Shadows:Reduced damage to align with Wanderer balance.4-6→3-5
- Binding Shadows:Reduced critical hit chance to align with Wanderer balance.10%→5% %
- Binding Shadows+:Reduced damage on the mastered version.5-8→4-7
- Binding Shadows+:Reduced critical hit chance on the mastered version.15%→10% %
Occultist (Warlock)
- The Burning Stars:Slightly reduced maximum damage.10-18→10-16
- The Burning Stars+:Reduced critical hit chance on the mastered version.15%→10% %
Occultist (Aspirant)
- Unchecked Power no longer increases maximum health.Max HP increase→Removed
- Malediction:Removed inherent resistance piercing.Inherent→Removed
- The Burning Stars+:Reduced base damage on the mastered version.7-13→6-11

◆Other changes8

Occultist (Warlock)
- Penalty shifted from reducing max health to increasing damage received per token.Max HP decrease→DMG received +10% %
- Chaotic Offering:Activating the Free Action deals 15% of max HP as damage.→15% HP DMG %
- Chaotic Offering:Added a cooldown to the base skill.→3 turns
- Chaotic Offering+:Added a shorter cooldown to the mastered skill.→2 turns
- Malediction:Changed healing from 10% to a flat value of 4 for both heroes and monsters.10%→4
Occultist (Aspirant)Binding Shadows:Updated to match Wanderer's rules for Combo consumption.Unique→Wanderer rules
Fish MongerDebone:Tilted distribution to favor Vulnerable tokens over Weak tokens.Balanced→Vulnerable favored
General GameplayEntropic Enemies:Stealth is no longer a possible token for this modifier to fix removal timing bugs.Possible→Removed