Update 35 for The Elder Scrolls Online is currently on the Public Test Server and it's making some serious changes to the way light and heavy attacks work along with a major change to damage over time abilities. Although the adjustments are meant to reduce the disparity between the lowest and highest performing players, veteran Elder Scrolls Online players have been voicing their concern over the proposed changes.
The Elder Scrolls Online has seen constant changes since the ZeniMax MMORPG launched back in April 2014. Like any MMORPG, The Elder Scrolls Online has had numerous expansions, additional story chapters, new character classes, and entirely new game mechanics added over the years. Some of the changes made in its major updates have completely changed the game, such as the One Tamriel update that allowed players to undertake quests in every zone in the game regardless of their level or chosen faction.
The next major update for The Elder Scrolls Online is just around the corner and is currently being evaluated on the Public Test Server. Two of the most significant changes coming with the update will overhaul the game's combat balance. The standard practice for dealing damage involves "weaving," or using light attacks between ability casts. These weaved attacks account for up to 20% of a player's total damage. Update 35 will make these attacks deal a flat amount of damage regardless of stats, narrowing the performance gap by around 10%. Buffs, debuffs, and damage over time abilities are also being overhauled, with their durations mostly doubled while strength per second is reduced. This relieves the stress of maintaining uptime without hurting the ability's overall strength.
The update will also introduce another Elder Scrolls Online DLC, The Lost Depths. The Lost Depths will come with two new 4-player dungeons: Earthen Root Enclave in High Isle and Graven Deep in Amenos. The new dungeons will drop unique item sets and Undaunted Monster Masks and feature their own achievements, earnable titles, and unlockable body and face markings. Along with the new content and balance adjustments are countless bug fixes and minor changes that span the entirety of the game, including changes to the new Tales of Tribute card game.
Although new DLC is always looked forward to, Elder Scrolls Online players have been voicing their concerns regarding the combat changes, particularly the damage over time durations. Most non-boss enemies don't last even 10 seconds in a fight, which makes 20-second long damage over time abilities exceedingly useless. This hurts players who rely on damage over time abilities and may force players to adjust their builds. Hopefully, ZeniMax can manage to strike a satisfying balance that won't step on too many toes.
The Elder Scrolls Online is available now for Google Stadia, Mac, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Patch Notes