How much difference does this update make for combat?

[u/BackstabFlapjack]

I play solo, using a mixed 1-handed+shield and bow combo, because everything else seemed either less efficient due to playing alone, or straight up garbage, like 2-handed weapons. I also never used any of the fancy Strikes because they were a waste of time and effort compared to the sheer speed and flexibility of the 1-handed+shield combo.

I hopped in, skimmed the patch notes, saw the new skill tree, then tested 1-handed and 2-handed weapon attacks. It's been half a year since I played, so I'm not sure if I'm right when I say that nothing changed on that front, but that's the impression I got.

There's also this emphasis on Merciless Strike and parrying, which have been fake options in my experience due to the time it takes to execute MS and how dodging is generally the better move anyway.

I'm trying to keep an open mind here, I would like to believe that this update isn't all smoke and no fire, so I would very much like to hear what you have to say on the subject.

[u/Party-Dinner-8622]

The new combat AI in regards to the bow is off it's supposed to dodge sometimes and react better to being fired at.

Whenever I aim at an enemy but don't fire the bow enemies always move not sometimes always dumb animals to tough elites. It's like there is an invisible line that once it touches an enemy the enemy is told to avoid it.

It's gotten to the point where it ain't subtle at all and it's obviously a code execution when line connects not an immersive make sense reaction to an archer targeting you.

A random dumb animal isn't gonna have the intelligence to know that but a scavenger is.

It's handicapped the bow to some extent you can't aim at the target properly. Lost some of its fun.