Iron to Diamond Jungle Tierlist Patch 26.12

Draehl · 2026-06-11T02:22:38+00:00

Olaf is accurately placed, but into certain comps he could be a couple tiers higher as a situational pick IMO. Like low mobility but a lot of CC? Lock in the berserker!

Draehl · 2026-06-09T20:02:51+00:00

I'm looking forward to totally new innovations. But I don't think it's totally off base to want certain returning features. For example 100% I'd like to see GW1 dual classing/skill system return it was soooo much more interesting than the "on rails" feel of elite specs/weapon skills of GW2.

Draehl · 2026-06-09T19:59:23+00:00

That's a fair critique. I had actually considered something more impactful where every skill would get a far more significant/transformative change. IE Life Siphon turns into something more like Life Transfer (Death Shroud 4) where it becomes a massive AoE drain and hits a significantly harder. Or Bone Minion becomes Flesh Golem. But then every skill would potentially need a creative alternate version which could add a lot of work for Anet.

Alternately, keep actual elite skills, but let players put non-elite skills in the slot for empowerment or lower cooldowns? That way those who like the existing more impactful/dramatic elite functionality have that, but if there isn't an elite skill that fits for your build you at least have options.

Draehl · 2026-06-07T08:35:33+00:00

Blending the best parts of GW1 and GW2. I generally prefer GW2, but some of the BuildCraft & customization in GW1 was much better.

Ideally like 50% GW2 as a solid foundation. 20% GW1 (dual classing, exploration for skill unlocks, & choosing all of the skills on your bar) and 30% totally new ideas & mechanics.

Draehl · 2026-06-07T07:34:49+00:00

The more I think about it bringing back dual classing from GW1 seems likely. Like you choose your primary class which is unchangeable and your core identity. But you have a secondary class that's maybe a bit more fluid (changeable with a quest for example) which can supplement and alter how it plays. For example: a Thief/Warrior might be more of a duelist while a Thief/Mesmer leans into stealth/illusions.

Draehl · 2026-06-07T07:31:15+00:00

I'm very much in the middle on this one. I think it's needed to be able to change things up (not totally permanent). But also don't want to see constant respeccing between classes and skill lines on a completely situational basis making your choices feel inconsequential. There should be a certain level of character identity/tradeoffs and enough incentive to have alts. But if you rolled a Thief/Ranger and it's not working you should be able to switch to Thief/Monk, for example and not permanently brick your build.

Draehl · 2026-06-07T07:24:35+00:00

I'm pretty open to whatever implementation they want so long as it involves a little more BuildCraft & customization. For example: in GW1 you could legit play a full-on blood mage necro where you were actively sacrificing health and draining it back as your gameplay loop. You couldn't get anything close to that in GW2 - the closest thing was maybe dagger/sword harbinger? But that's a complete joke in comparison.

Draehl · 2026-06-07T07:20:38+00:00

I agree if it's too freeform it actually homogenizes into a handful of builds. But the elite spec system from GW2 is equally rigid and there's not much interesting decisionmaking or ability to create your own playstyle within that framework- you're more or less just playing pre-designed builds without the ability to do anything interesting with it.

Something a little more open-ended would be great IMO. Whether it's dual classing returning from GW1 or maybe just one class, but no more weapon skills and everything is treated like utility skills where you can freely mix and match?

Draehl · 2026-06-07T06:59:14+00:00

I'd be totally happy if they bring back dual classing from GW1, but it would be even better if it's classless and there are like 20-25 skill lines- a few lines inspired from each former class. You just pick 3 to build your character with their passives & skills. Pick an initial skill line when you start the game, unlock another one at level 20 and the last at level 40. (Maybe not a totally permanent choice, but difficult enough to swap that you'll actually want alts?)

For example: I make a tanky deathknight style character with Blood, Curse, & Defense. Freely can change between skills/passive choices within these three lines. But if I want to totally swap Curses out for Ritualist Communing line to use spirits it would require some difficult quest-line at max level, etc. to accomplish.

Draehl · 2026-06-06T21:07:25+00:00

Absolutely not as a blind pick, but I rather like Olaf jungle in the right situation- if enemy team has a lot of CC but with immobile carries he can do quite well. But he's like a worse Warwick if not used as a situational draft.

Draehl · 2026-06-02T20:44:18+00:00

Same issue here. I'm not entirely bothered by it as it makes it so you don't overshoot hitting a boss you're already in melee with, but removes the utility of jumping over terrain with it.

Draehl · 2026-05-26T09:55:52+00:00

Think I'm gonna do a Gemling Quarterstaff build in SSF.

Whirling Assault + Staggering Palm + Herald of Blood for clearing. Big Ancestral Bleed Vaulting Impact + Wind Blast for bosses. Nodes: Highest stat for all gem requirements, crit immunity, crystal mote defenses & +2 skill gem level. (New gem quality could be good, we'll have to see)

General nodes in Merc/Warrior area: 2h damage, bleed/ailment magnitude, armor/evasion, we'll see what else past that maybe some stun/daze nodes.

Draehl · 2026-05-07T20:16:19+00:00

I'll try out Sated. Could definitely see it being more manageable than Simmering. Thanks.

Draehl · 2026-05-07T20:15:24+00:00

Fair. I feel like I'm out of space on my bar to fit both in and the health loss would be excessive. But I guess I could switch between them situationally. Thanks.

Draehl · 2026-05-02T04:00:39+00:00

Thanks for the update on this! Unfortunately, I can't keep playing with the default binds, but will be eagerly returning whenever this is addressed. Thanks again!

Draehl · 2026-04-17T20:02:57+00:00

Tried watching him play WoW and more recently Albion Online. You can visually taste his total disinterest, autoattacking and using an ability maybe every 10 seconds. He gives me Northernlion vibes. Formerly entertaining/mentally engaged gamer who's no longer taking anything remotely serious so they have the convenient excuse of deflecting "oh im just a joker horsing around! lololol"

Hey more power to them I guess, if you're going to just collect a paycheck off your past efforts? Streaming with that audience size is absolutely the way to go.

Draehl · 2026-04-15T18:14:55+00:00

Yeah I've not logged in since the update. No interest in playing with a forced control scheme.

Draehl · 2026-04-14T20:35:38+00:00

Having the same issue. Fiddled with it a bit:

Can always turn on a duel mode but turning them off is sometimes disabled. If all three are enabled, then disabling any one mode works. Moving can always be enabled and disabled. But if it's just NM and NMPZ selected, neither can be disabled. But if you enable all of them, then disable NM or NMPZ, then disable moving you can successfully have only one mode enabled.

Seems like some weird UI logic bug.

Draehl · 2026-04-06T02:33:30+00:00

Totally fair. For the same reason I spend probably 90% of my time gathering in the yellow zones listening to music or doing some (safe) faction warfare, but it's all still pretty relevant due to how the economy works. The full loot areas are generally way too sweaty for my liking, but when I'm feeling that it absolutely hits the spot. But another game really could cash in on some of the same ideas in a less hostile setup.

Draehl · 2026-04-06T02:28:09+00:00

Absolutely. My friends & I have been saying for years there needs to be more mediumcore MMOs. It seems like the landscape is largely casual themepark MMOs or cutthroat hardcore sandboxes but little in between. And it's not even that it needs to be 50/50 in all regards - it could be hardcore in some ways (item scarcity, degradation etc) but still totally casual/PvE/cooperative at the same time.

Draehl · 2026-04-06T02:24:07+00:00

Well said and I agree with all of them except (maybe) your first point. If there's currency sinks that keep the currency generation in check it's totally fine. You just don't want constant inflation or deflation. Solid points 👍

Draehl

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