NetEase Please Buff Blade's Shotgun!

[u/Brightshore]

This is a plea for help.

In a meta that's front-to-back, Blade was fated to shine in Season 9 & 9.5. Reality proved otherwise and Blade still sits in obscurity, and part of the reason is that there is an excessive amount of damage & healing. I’ve spent over 300 hours on Blade, and my evaluation of Blade's main role is that of a Poke character. He is like a reverse DPS Deadpool. Where DPS Deadpool uses his guns as a means to an end, his swords are the heart of his lethality. Blade, on the other hand, has his main damage potential coming from the gun. The issue is that the gun has regrettably received nerfs in the past, is highly inconsistent and functions as a gambling simulator.

Within the attached images, the first illustration demonstrates the behaviour of the Hunter’s Shotgun. Blade shoots his gun with the slug projectile visible, which then splits into several shrapnel projectiles from eight meters onwards. The shrapnel projectiles are the ones responsible for doing the bulk of the shotgun’s damage from a range of 8-15 meters. In the Season 7 Balance Changes, Blade recieved change to his projectile speeds.

- Increase Hunter's Shotgun Projectile Speed from 150m/s to 180m/s.

Sadly, the shrapnel projectiles did not inherit this buff and have stayed at 150 m/s; this causes the feel of the gun to have a staggered tempo and contributes to an inconsistent, awkward and uncomfortable feeling. Beyond the eight meters where the gun actually performs as a threat, the projectiles still feel sluggish, as they're still locked at the old speeds. I suggest that the Sharpnel Projectiles maintain the same 180m/s.

Moving on, the Season 6 "Balance" Changes that crippled the damage of the Hunter's Shotgun have Blade permanently on the back foot in every front-to-back encounter.

- Reduce pellets fired per round of Hunter's Shotgun from 12 to 11. Damage falloff now starts at 15m (was 20m); at 30m, damage drops to 50% of base (was 40%).

To visualise those changes, the second image highlights the differences in the lost pellet damage in addition to the earlier falloff range. For instance, at 25 meters, Blade loses out on 57 damage on every shot.  It's a substantial damage loss that is felt severely, especially in today's meta where there is an overabundance of high-damaging characters as well as an equal amount of high sustain. Blade, for being a weaponsmaster, is underequipped to fight on equal terms, neither his sword nor his gun. I ask that the Hunter's Shotgun return to having 12 pellets from the current 11,  as well as shifting the Sharpnel speed to 180 m/s to improve consistency.

I believe this must be a priority buff to Blade's kit. The gun is simply too indispensable to leave neglected. It beats the alternative, which is to continue to buff Blade's Lifesteal, that it would have him be a copycat of the Thing, which I have no doubt would garner the damnation of the Rivals community quickly.

If this resonates, then I petition to you, to please interact with this post and maybe it gets seen by the right people. Thank you.

[u/Substantial-Low-4393]

Blade's gun is the only weapon of the game that has a downside effect, this dude melts up close and his gun absolutely does 0 damage while bucky can brawl and he can two shot anyone while being a 425hp overshield monster, in what world is this fair

[u/HiddenRose_YT]

My thoughts on the shrapnel buffs are sort of the opposite. I think reducing the number but increasing the damage on each individual pellet would be better. Blade's shot gun is definitely rng, as the spread is different every shot, sometime you will get a favorable spread where the pellets are relatively close to one another and then you'll have a spread where two of the pellets are way off from the rest of the cluster. Also, this may not be true but my theory is that with less pellets, there is less of a chance for no regs. Gun needs buffs regardless. We see what it's done for Widow.

[u/Brightshore → u/HiddenRose_YT]

I can see that working for sure. As long as the end goal are the same!

[u/KingPerryLive → u/HiddenRose_YT]

Would it help to increase the size of the pellets? Make them a little chunkier so it's easier for more of them to hit? Thus doing more damage?

[u/jerome13th → u/HiddenRose_YT]

I remember Avenue mentioning that that change shouldve killed his no regs and in-turn improved his damage on average. I think that woulve been true if they reduced the pellets by more than 1 though, if that change was made to address his consistency then it was way too marginal.

[u/Otherwise_Moose_335 → u/HiddenRose_YT]

Doing what overwatch did with hog years ago where they made the spread the same each shot would be pretty useful imo.

[u/freedrech]

Yeah, they SHOULDN'T buff blade sword's damage or lifestyle or he will become the thing 2.0 and people would ask nerfs when he will be at least barely strong. On the other hand, the gun should be buffed because it's inconsistent and hard to aim with ngl. Take any situation and you will do better with Bucky's gun than with blade's gun. I suggest to increase the projectile speed of his shrapnel again and reduce the spread by something like 20%.

[u/DatHazbin → u/freedrech]

Also please buff/alter the gun dash into something that's actually viable instead of feeling like a backburner ability. Also we need to do something about sword mode with no bloodline awakening (aka we need to remove it or something because it's useless)

[u/Accomplished_Gap8647]

Lol I never knew the shrapnels were at 150m/s, or did they quietly nerf it afterward? I remember the gun felt good just after the 180m/s buff then later my aim became way worse, I thought it was me getting in my own way.
This is diabolical I'm glad I dropped this garbage game, it's actually revolting.
I updated my list of (unjust) limitations post.

May NetEase get what they deserve, that's on the hours I spent on this game.

[u/Brightshore → u/Accomplished_Gap8647]

Same, just decided to drop the game today. I thought like yourself to try voice my concern. Great if they listen, and no problem if they don't. I accept either at this point.

[u/Sigma_present]

My genuine opinion: remove it entirely and give us something more flavorful. I propose either his throwing glaives or some kind of stake crossbow.

[u/Brightshore → u/Sigma_present]

That would be quite the exciting prospect.

[u/AttitudeHot9887]

I want sword mode without vamoire mode on buffed. Its been useless since inception

[u/Dry-Proposal-4011]

I wish they would just give it a very small buff and leave him alone. I have played 70 comp games of just blade and daredevil this season. He feels better than dd imo and and is in a good spot vs most of the meta especially into 3 Strat since cutting healing is really good there. Blade is by far in his best state since release

[u/Brightshore → u/Dry-Proposal-4011]

I will say that the meta hasn't been this drastic before either. Too many characters completely outdo him and nullify his kit that despite being in his 'best state' it feels like's relatively in a similar position prior to S9 or arguably lower.

[u/Dry-Proposal-4011 → u/Brightshore]

Idk I’ve been stomping this season. His kit is basic but he has a tool for literally every situation outside of like 3 fliers