Patch 1.8.3 for The Division is coming next week on August 23rd and primarily brings balance changes. The secret Striker is particularly in focus. Massive is using this patch as an experiment that could be especially significant for The Division 2.
The current discussion about the secret Striker is large. After patch 1.8.2, which nerfed the Classified Sets of the Nomad and the Predator, the secret Striker took control and became the new meta set in The Division.
What’s the problem? Many players demanded a nerf for the Striker as it was overpowered. Now Massive has responded to this demand and will revise the set with patch 1.8.3.
However, these changes are not just a nerf. Massive is also introducing a new feature that many fans have been requesting for a long time.
This is the crux of the change: The secret Striker will now differentiate between PvE and PvP. Why this could be important for The Division 2 and how Massive uses patch 1.8.3 as a test balloon, you can find out with us.
The secret Striker is the strongest set in 1.8.2
What can the Striker set currently do? The Striker was one of the first gear sets introduced in The Division. It has always been a strong DPS set, which was further enhanced with the secret version.
These are the bonuses of the normal Striker set:
- 2-set bonus: 20% Stability
- 3-set bonus: 10% Damage to armor
- 4-set bonus: Each subsequent hit deals 1% more damage. The bonus can reach up to 100%. Missed shots reduce it by 2%. The bonus can be interrupted by EMP and is lost when leaving combat.
You unlock these bonuses when you equip 5-6 parts of the secret Striker:
- 5-set bonus: 10% Stability, 5% Damage to armor
- 6-set bonus: Each hit grants a self-healing bonus of 0.02% of the maximum health per second. This bonus increases by 0.05% for every 3000 stamina. The effect can stack up to 100 hits. Missed shots reduce the bonus by 1 stack and the bonus is reduced by 2 stacks each second.
This is what makes the secret Striker so strong: The set is not only ideal for dealing high damage, it also allows you to continuously regenerate health points, making you a DPS tank with the right build.
Classified Striker should no longer dominate – Massive is revising the set
What is changing with the Classified Striker? Instead of 0.02% per second, you will heal 0.01% per second in the future.
Furthermore, your stacks will now decrease when you are under an EMP effect. Previously, the Striker buff was only paused while the effect was active. The damage stacks will also be reduced from 2 to 1 per hit.
Additionally, shotgun projectile hits will no longer count double. Previously, a headshot increased your stacks by 16; after patch 1.8.3, it will be “only” 8.
The most important new feature: If you are in the Dark Zone, in Last Stand or Skirmish, your healing per second will be reduced again. How significant this change will be is not specified, also in the last State of the Game there was no exact number provided.
It’s not the change that is decisive here, but rather the way it is implemented. Because now the Classified Striker separates between PvP and PvE.
Massive uses this patch as an experiment for The Division 2
In the State of the Game, Massive confirmed that the changes to the secret Striker could indeed affect The Division 2.
How this could influence The Division 2: This new way of balancing serves as a test and aims to explore possible options for balancing in The Division 2. If gear bonuses now differentiate between PvP and PvE, it could become easier to design equipment that is balanced for respective areas.
Are there gear sets in The Division 2? Yes, gear sets are making a return in The Division 2. This time, the system will look even more complex. Because not only are gear sets making a comeback, but there will also be new Brand sets that bring additional properties.
What only concerns the Striker now could therefore be applied to other sets or perhaps even all in the future.
What could this mean? If Massive turns the right screws, it could create a more balanced relationship between gear sets in this way. If different rules apply for PvP and PvE, it could allow for separate balancing.
In the ideal scenario, one could thus make equipment more balanced for PvE and PvP.
Players react positively – Criticism focuses on the Striker
This is the community’s reaction: Division fans discuss on platforms like reddit about the patch. Most welcome the distinction between PvE and PvP. After all, this demand has been around for a long time.
However, many are not completely satisfied with the changes to the Striker. These criticisms are mentioned:
- Massive wants to increase build diversity with changes to the Striker but ignores the fact that the secret Striker is just as prevalent in PvE as in PvP.
- Previously, players could create a set and switch seamlessly between Dark Zone and PvE zone. This no longer applies to users of the secret Striker.
- Some feel that these changes do not go far enough and that specific sets for PvP and PvE should be created.
Not all fans see this as problematic. Most are relieved that they can continue to use their Striker set in PvE without issues. PvE players in the Dark Zone should still have no problems farming landmarks since these are not particularly challenging.
Most welcome the fact that Massive is undertaking this test and are curious how it will impact The Division 2.
What do you think? Do you support a different treatment of PvP and PvE?
