The recent PTS (Public Test Server) for Star Wars: The Old Republic patch 7.3 has unveiled several class balance changes, some of which have raised concerns among players. One particular change, the redesign and renaming of Stealth Scan to Terminator Droid for PowerTech Vanguard, has caught the attention of many players. In this guide article, we will delve into the details of this change and explore its potential impact on PowerTechs and melee gameplay.

 

• Terminator Droid: A Game-Changing Ability
• Unveiling the Uptime
• Comparing Terminator Droid to Similar Abilities
• Impact on Melee Gameplay
• Adapting to the Changes
• Feedback and Future Considerations

 

↖ Terminator Droid: A Game-Changing Ability

The new ability, Terminator Droid, brings significant modifications to the PowerTech Vanguard's arsenal. While it continues to reveal stealth enemies like the previous Stealth Scan, it now provides additional benefits. Terminator Droid creates a field that lasts for 15 seconds, immobilizing stealth opponents for three seconds and reducing the accuracy of all enemies within its radius by 20%. Furthermore, it also slows down the movement speed of affected enemies by 30%.

 

↖ Unveiling the Uptime

One crucial aspect that makes Terminator Droid a game-changer is its almost permanent uptime. Although the cooldown for the ability has been increased to 20 seconds, the duration of the field remains at 15 seconds. This results in an uptime of 75%, meaning the ability can be active for the majority of a fight.

 

↖ Comparing Terminator Droid to Similar Abilities

At first glance, Terminator Droid may appear similar to the Sniper ability Diversion. Diversion provides an 8-meter radius, a 45% accuracy debuff, and lasts for 8 seconds. However, the crucial difference lies in the cooldown and uptime. Terminator Droid offers a longer duration but a shorter cooldown, allowing for a more sustained accuracy debuff. Calculating the accuracy of debuff per minute, Terminator Droid averages around 15 debuffed accuracy compared to Diversion's 45 debuffs. Thus, Terminator Droid emerges as a more potent defensive ability for PowerTechs.

 

↖ Impact on Melee Gameplay

The introduction of Terminator Droid raises concerns about its impact on melee gameplay. While it can be useful against ranged players, its true potential shines when used against other melee classes. Melee classes such as PowerTechs, Juggernauts, and Marauders may find their attacks frequently missing due to the constant accuracy debuff imposed by Terminator Droid. This can lead to frustrating and unplayable experiences for affected melee classes.

 

↖ Adapting to the Changes

In light of these changes, PowerTech players may need to reconsider their playstyle and build choices. Concealment and Deception classes, for example, may face significant challenges due to the constant accuracy debuff. It is advisable for PowerTechs facing other melee classes or PowerTech mirror matches to utilize Terminator Droid, as it can provide a substantial advantage in combat. However, against ranged classes or Madness Sorcerers, the versatility of Advanced Yield may still be preferred.

 

↖ Feedback and Future Considerations

While the introduction of Terminator Droid may seem powerful and potentially overbearing, it is crucial to provide constructive feedback to BioWare. The developers have the opportunity to assess and modify this ability to ensure a healthier game balance. A 15-second duration with a 20-second cooldown may be considered excessive, leading to increased RNG factors in gameplay.

 

Conclusion:

The SWTOR 7.3 class balance changes have introduced Terminator Droid as a redesigned version of Stealth Scan for PowerTech Vanguard. This ability offers a multitude of benefits, including stealth detection, enemy immobilization, accuracy debuffs, and slow effects. Its nearly constant uptime and high accuracy debuff makes it a potent defensive tool. However, concerns have been raised about its impact on melee gameplay and the overall game balance.