After playing the merc for quite awhile in both ranked and regs this season and last, I have come to some idea about some solid changes that I feel would make the merc class not only more fun, but would also keep from breaking the class. What I don't want to see are changes such as "grants super immunity for 6 seconds" or "increased endurance by 30%" or any other "tank " like abilities. The changes that effect mercs should of course help, but should also require some skill to make them useful. 1. The instant tracer missile from priming shot needs to happen on activation of the ability, not based on in hitting its target 2. Hydraulic override should read something like this: (Hydraulic Override launches you back 15m, upon landing, you gain 3 seconds of 30% increased movement speed and immunity to movement impairing effects.) 3. While in Arsenal Spec, High Velocity Gas Cylinder decreases the cost of missile blast by 10 heat and slows the target it hits by 15%. (Missile Blast is a great kiting DPS ability when all your instant cast are on cooldown. However, the heat cost is to high to allow it to be used multiple times while kiting effectively, with a reduced heat cost, it would allow us another instant cast ability to use while kiting) 4. While in Innovative Ordnance, power shot can be cast while moving (this would allow the spec to be truly mobile, similar to how hunters play in WoW) OR 4a. Thrill of the hunt allows tracer missile, power shot and progressive scan to be cast while moving. (This makes much more sense to the rotations of the classes. Why would unload/blazing bolts even be used while moving? Your unloading everything you got, wouldn't you want to stand still to make sure you hit everything? LOL And I mean come on, ITS CALLED TRACER MISSILE, makes sense that you should be able to use it while moving, because it can TRACE to your target. The animations for blazing bolts / unload also looks wonky while moving) 5. Chaff Flare absorbs the next 5 incoming force or tech attacks (an OCRAP button) 6. The cooldown on Healing Scan has been removed Most of these changes would allow a skilled player to really take advantage of it's increased mobility, without actually increased damaging numbers or giving them to strong of a DCD. Thoughts?

This 100%

Speak the truth Insomniaq! PREACH IT BROTHA! But in all seriousness, everything he is saying is spot on. Not one person on the Bioware dev team can come close to competing with the top players in the game. Hell, I don't think Bioware even has an employee that can do marginally well in PvP if we look at the past dev streams. Bring in some real players, with real skill. Not these casuals who have fans on the forums.

Coming from a 4s player, the sad fact is that rage nor veng can compare to what sins, sorcs and PTs can bring to the table damage wise. Hell, even right now jugg tanks are the lowest DPS wise. Until the FoTM classes get nerfed, jugg dps just isn't desirable over others in 4s ranked.

First off, I am curious to know if any of you have ever reached tier 1 in ranked PVP, which I doubt. Second, you don't want to run strength augments. You will get enough crit from your gear, and although strength increases crit by a small amount, crit runs into heavy diminishing returns, so essentially you will be getting less crit from your strength augments then intended. And with the "taunts missing," I still come out of almost every solo ranked match with at least 20k protection, which is more than enough. But if you are just playing the game for fun and doing regular warzones, then it really doesn't matter what you run.

Bioware read this thread you f#*&@(* shi&$

A vast majority of us left POT5 to go to harbinger last season. However, almost all of us have come back, and the ranked que pops on POT5 are the best around right now. Hopefully this carries over into the regular season, we shall to wait and see. Right now, Harbinger ranked is slowly dying.

Coming form a Tier 1 PVPer, I wouldn't run Rage in solo ranked. Rage is easily CC'ed, and the amount of CC's going around right now is insane, not to mention anti-kiting abilities. The survivability from vengeance and the unstoppable buff will carry you along way in solo ranked, not to mention it hits much harder in 3.0. As far as rage goes, it works well in 4s because your healers will actually cleanse you from being CC'ed and you can coordinate your burst.

Coming from a Tier 1 PVPer, I wouldn't run that much accuracy. Also, make sure you are fully augmenting with power.

This 100%. Stop complaining because you lost to a jugg 1v1 in a reg warzone. Currently, ranged classes dominated the ranked pvp scene, especially that of the madness sorc. Melee is currently gimped in ranked arena, you can even ask some of the best players and they will agree, again that is why it is filled wit madness sorcs and assassins. If they nerf ED, then every dot class (madness, pyro, lethality) needs a nerf as well.

Your argument would be valid a few months ago, however Smash spec is essentially single target now as well. The crit only applies to current target as well as the bonus damage. Based on that fact, why not then give some AOE love to vengeance. What I proposed was a 30% increase to our dot damage, as well as splash damage to shatter. The AOE effect would have no damage increase on single target fights, but in the case of PvP and ad fights, it could be helpful without making the ability OP.

There seems to be quite a few of solid arguments made here and for that reason: BUMP. Now for my argument for increased DPS. Vengeance/Vigilance already suffers from a severe lack of AOE damage. Therefore, an increase in shatter's damage or having shatter stack seems very fair. If you are going to limit our AOE dps, then it seems logical to further increase our single target dps, or reward us for staying on one target. My suggestion for increased AOE damage is to have shatter hit up to two nearby targets within 5 meters for 50% less damage. The percentage can be played around with, but the idea I believe is solid.

It was opinionated and a really pointless comment. Anything but constructive criticism just waste everyone's time. Nice video BTW Dire, hope to see some more from you soon. Played against you the other day in a Huttball, we ended up winning but I could tell you where leading the team. Hope to see you in ranked soon!

I actually started using the last link you posted within the last week and have found that to be a better option, although I take two points into improved sundering throw. That actually works very well with the Str>Pwr build because you can sacrifice crit in your mods/enh and replace them with the str>pwr and pwr ones while still maintaining a fairly decent crit chance.

This guide is intended to be directed at newer players to this spec for PVP, but I know experienced players will be able to take something away from this as well. Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but please use constructive criticism to help make us all better players. The video is done using a Juggernaut, but I do have a level 55 Guardian as well. The guide is interchangeable as they are mirrored classes. The link below will take you to the YouTube guide: I hope you like it and please don't forget to subscribe and follow on twitch! My goal is to bring helpful information regarding whatever game I am playing and to help make us all better players. Please don't be afraid to leave comments or some to my stream to discuss this information, or video games in general.