The Elder Scrolls Online will receive the next DLC in August. In Lost Depths, players can explore two new dungeons as usual. At the same time, Update 35 will be released, which is supposed to bring changes to the combat system. Although these changes may sound minor, they could have significant impacts.
What will change in combat? In essence, only two things will be adjusted:
- The damage from light and heavy attacks will no longer scale with attributes.
- The combat effects that increase your damage will last longer, so you won’t have to renew them constantly and can make room for other abilities in your rotation.
However, although these changes may sound minor, they could have significant impacts.
Damage spikes should become smaller and rotations easier
What is behind the changes to the combat system? The focus is on adjustments to ability weaving. This involves executing multiple actions within one action.
The light attack has a long animation, for example. If you interrupt this action with a weapon switch, you can use a skill faster without waiting for the complete animation of the attack to finish. This massively increases DPS.
However, since not everyone masters weaving, a large gap arises between top players and average players. The developers want to reduce this gap by standardizing the damage of light and heavy attacks. It will no longer scale with attributes.
Along with this, adjustments to sets, passive abilities, and classes will be made to compensate for this loss of damage. According to the developers, about 15% to 20% of the damage from the best players currently comes solely from light attacks.
You can watch the launch trailer of the High Isle expansion here:
Furthermore, combat effects will have their duration extended, especially damage over time, damage enhancements, and impairments. Some effects will be adjusted to ensure they do not become too powerful with increased duration.
As early as the beginning of 2022, there were already changes to the combat system, which were not well received by MeinMMO author Melli:
New update coming in August, brings dungeons and changes to PvP
What is included in Lost Depths and Update 35? In the new DLC, you will gain access to two dungeons that are supposed to advance the entire story of High Isle and the legacy of the Bretons:
- In the Earthroot Enclave, you will enter the spiritual refuge of the druids, who have been attacked by the Fire Song Circle.
- In the Kenarth’s Depths, you will explore a part of the Abecean Sea where ships keep disappearing without a trace.
- For Lost Depths, you will need to spend crowns or have an active ESO subscription.
Update 35 will be released for all players, regardless of the ESO content you own. While this update does not bring new content, it does include some adjustments:
- New mini-events for battlegrounds will be introduced, such as a weekend with bonus alliance points. Additionally, experience gain in PvP is to be generally improved.
- The balance will be adjusted.
- The combat system will have the weaving and combat effects revamped.
What could change in the balance? It is currently unknown what exactly will be changed in the balance. However, players are expecting a nerf for the Oak Soul Ring, which is currently destroying PvP.
Many hope that only the PvP aspect will be addressed. Because in PvE, the item does quite well and is perfect for solo players. However, some fear that the item will become so weak overall that it will lose its significance even in PvE.
When will the DLC and Update 35 be released? The release of Lost Depths will take place on August 22 for PC and Mac and on September 9 for Xbox and PlayStation.
What do you think of the upcoming DLC and especially the combat changes? Are they well received by you?
However, many praise ESO for its active combat system. Here you can find out which are the best action MMORPGs:
