Is Arterial strike useless against stationary enemies?

[Ouroboros226]

Just wondering if arterial strike upgrade still does some dot damage, or if it is completely useless if the opponent does not move. Not sure if this upgrade is worth it. Debilitating upgrade allows sneak attack bonus and lowers ACC, so you can riposte more when engaged 1v1 with mobs - so that just seems plain better unless the DoT of arterial strike is still somewhat decent against stationary targets.

[dgray62]

Based on past play thoughs, I'd say no. I believe that the DoT is only triggered by movement. When I play rogues, I usually take eye gouge as well. I'd recommend using it against stationary targets, since its DoT is unconditional.

[Not So Clever Hound]

As @dgray62 mentioned, its DoT is based on movement, but you can create some devastating combos with Arterial Strike, for example with Pull of Eora. It's also the ultimate hit n' run tool.

[Boeroer]

9 hours ago, Ouroboros226 said:

Just wondering if arterial strike upgrade still does some dot damage, or if it is completely useless if the opponent does not move. Not sure if this upgrade is worth it. Debilitating upgrade allows sneak attack bonus and lowers ACC, so you can riposte more when engaged 1v1 with mobs - so that just seems plain better unless the DoT of arterial strike is still somewhat decent against stationary targets.

It only works when the target actively "walks" (pushing/pulling and stuff like moving via Escape won't trigger the DoT). So it does indeed nothing if the target doesn't move normally. 

If it does walk/run it's pretty hefty dmg though. Extremely good against slow but hard to crack enemies like Iron-/Steelclads etc. It's even more devastating if you use it with any kind of AoE weapon (Whispers of the Endless Paths, Hand Mortar, Fire in the Hole, Citzal's Spirit Lance, Kalakoth's Minor Blights, Rods + Blast modal...)

Debilitating Strike stops being useful once you get the Persistent Distraction passive which unlocks Deathblows by mere engagement. That needs a melee weapon though (else no engagement). So as a melee Rogue I'd always prefer Arterial Strike + Persistent Distraction over Debilitating Strike. 

Arterial Strike stacks with Gouging Strike and alse Ring the Bell and Toxic Strike. If you combine some of those on one target its AR won't matter - its health will melt away very quickly. And most of those guys do move. 

The only case where I'd may pick Debilitating Strike over Arterial Strike would be a ranged Rogue who doesn't use Hand Mortar - in order to unlock Deatblows. But on the other hand I can also unlock Deathblows with Blinding Strike - so it may be that I won't take Deb. Strike even then. 

Another alternative is to simply not upgrade Crippling Strike. If you feel Arterial Strike isn't worth it and Deb. Strike neither - then spare the ability point. Crippling Strike scales with Power Level just fine - and from a direct-dmg-perspective both upgrades won't add any direct damage. 

[Constentin Lévine]

Arterial Strike is funny against terrified enemys

[Ouroboros226]

Thanks for the advice  

I'm still paralyzed between the choice of berserker/shifter and assassin/shifter if anyone can help with that as well lol. I can't play atm due to indecision.

[Elric Galad]

1 hour ago, Boeroer said:

It only works when the target actively "walks" (pushing/pulling and stuff like moving via Escape won't trigger the DoT). So it does indeed nothing if the target doesn't move normally. 

Yep, but pushing effect tends to cause the target to "walk back" to its initial position. Which might help getting Arterial ticks.

It shall be pointed that the damages are among top tier DoT when the target actually moves.

[Boeroer]

True. Pushing effects can be very nasty in combination with Arterial Strike: use Xefa's Empirical Explication (blunderbuss which knocks targets back on crit - 4 chances since blunderbuss) with Arterial Strike and the target will soon die trying to reach you.

Terrify is also a great thing to use with Arterial Strike, absolutely right. Even enemies who'd normally stand still (because in melee or whatever) will start wandering around.

I was just thinking about targets that can't move due to CC such as immobilized/paralyzed/stunned and so on - or those who move without actually "walking". One could assume that pushing/pulling/Escape/Leap etc. should also trigger the effect - but they do not.