Reave

This post is about Reave in the context of races (mainly Ranger).

Reave could be a great skill...

Its an AoE without -dmg effectiveness.
It will never scale as well as cleave because it doesn't use both weapons at the same time but you can use better base weapons with it (claws/daggers).
Also, there are 4 base weapon types that can be used with the skill so the chances of you finding an upgrade in races are high.
If you find one godly weapon, you can use a Boarding Axe for example to benefit from the att speed multiplier while attacking with your godly weapon constantly.
In terms of mana, its very efficient - like Cleave, like Leap Slam, unlike Rain of Arrows.


But Reave is actually terrible...

. The first few attacks hit 1 target, maybe 2. By that time, any other AoE skill would have cleared half the pack.

. If you try to shift-click the first few attacks, you will never hit anything and never get charges.

. If you don't shift-click the first few hits, even though you targeted the first mob ahead of the pack, that mob on the server is actually in the middle of the pack. While on your screen, only that mob is in range of attacking you. You suddenly die. An /oos shows that on the server you walked to the middle of the pack and died surrounded.

. To use this skill, you /oos before engaging every single pack or you die.

. The charges expire too quickly. If you get stunned and then move away to avoid more damage, the charges are gone. Even if you alternate between shooting backwards and moving towards the next pack, most of the time the charges will wear off.

. I don't understand why using a skill automatically resets the charges. Namely, Whirling Blades. It uses the same base weapon types. It would reward players for playing risky jumping quickly from pack to pack to try and maintain their charges. Would it be that broken?


A few suggestions that would make the skill better...

. Make it so that the first hits are actually AoEs. Maybe instead of 8 charges it only goes up to 5 and it starts with an AoE of what is currently 3 charges for example.

. Make it so when you use Whirling Blades, you don't lose the charges.

. Increase the time it takes for the charges to expire.

. Fix desync (jk)


Right now...

Rangers don't get a proper AoE before they kill Hailrake or go to the Wall (maybe i should post something about Split Arrow but it might be censored due to excessive swearing).

Shadows got Reave as a quest reward from hillock losing nothing, but Rangers lost Cleave.

Even Rangers that want to use Rain of Arrows at level 5 will mule Cleave.

In a 12 minute race, losing 1m30s to mule Cleave is almost as good as using Reave.

I think RoA Rangers lost more by Cleave being removed than Cleave Rangers did.
There are other topics talking about RoA Rangers vs Cleave Rangers and Cleave in general so i feel the devs should have enough feedback on that by now.


Hopefully something will change...

reave and split arrow are completely fine... :^)

In another topic, a dev gave his insights on why Reave is the way it is.
http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/528602

Short summary: the testers felt the skill was more interesting when Reave lost its charges for doing something else and it needed to have a lot of charges and build up to make that loss count.

IMO, the testers couldn't possibly have considered races- or really anything pre maps- if these were problems they had with the skill. But anyway, Reave is now "intended" to be this way. It's not supposed to compete with race skills because it's intended function is to make interesting choices when your skill bar is loaded with Enduring Cry, Curses, and other support skills (by increasing the cost of using those skills).

Having loads of low level skills that are worthless until endgame sure does contribute to build diversity.

Surely makes a great impression on new players as well.