Infernal pact is useless now :

[Nymphetamine]

<DIV>It used to ward, now it just does a tiny bit of damage and heals caster for a tiny bit :</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Can't you change it back into a ward spell, because it was a lifeline before for mid level?</DIV>

[vTenebr]

<span><blockquote><hr>Nymphetamine wrote:<div>It used to ward, now it just does a tiny bit of damage and heals caster for a tiny bit :</div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>Can't you change it back into a ward spell, because it was a lifeline before for mid level?</div><hr></blockquote>Errr... don't overlook the change.  You're taking this as a one on one encounter and complaining that it's useless.  It's actually an invaluable spell.  If you take on a group encounter (2-4 mobs) that lifetap will keep you close to full.  Use your lifetaps and you don't even need a healer. The trick is constantly using the lifetap and pulling groups, the lifetap affect acts as a reactive healing you each time you're hit.  I was in a sliver of red health, threw up the unholy blessing (the upgrade of your spell) and within a couple of moments and a couple of lifetaps, I was back in yellow.  Fight GROUPS of solo mobs, if you're soloing or GROUPS of heroics in a group.  You'll find it works much better. As a ward, it sucked.</span><div></div>

[Shotguns]

are you sure your even using the spell? this spell line Kicks chicken tail feathers. i fell in love with unholy blessing the first time i put it on after the revamp. with that being said...have you tried upgrading your skills? <div></div>

[Rylight]

<DIV>?? are you sure you are using the right spell?? lol, ok honestly I am a 47 sk and have never used infernal pact post-patch, but its sounds like it is exactly like its upgrade , unholy blessing. and if that is true then you must realize this...POST AND PRE-PATCH THE SPELL IS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME!!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>but wait!! how can this be?? before patch it absorbed all damage, and post patch  we are now taking damage, Rylight must be a liar!! burn him at the stakes!!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>ok let me explian, it is now exactly the same if not better. how you ask?? ok at lvl 45 my unholy blessing ward pre-patch could ward me against about 500 pts of damage (all this at adept 1 mind you), after that it would drop and I could be hit agian (not to mention it took WAY to much power), now after patch it procs five times for about 125 pts of damage. now WORST CASE SCENERIO, even if a mob hits me five time in a row with a melee attack that takes 125 pts of damage way from me each hit, how much life have I lost??? NONE, absolutly NONE. and thats a total of 625 health points that I have not lost. in conclusion, <STRONG>it actually did the exact same thing it did before but better,</STRONG> and it also gave a total of 65x5 damage points (325 total)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>now the facts are that most mobs hit you for less then 125pts of damage (at my lvl) so you almost always get a gain of life except for magic attacks. and a lot of mobs melee for about 50-100 pts of damage average (at my lvl) so by the time the ward drops you may not have technically warded all the damage, but you have come out with more life then when you first cast the spell. think about it real hard, it really makes alot of sense</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>admittingly the only downfall is that you can no longer run and cast it, and that also herioc mobs hitting for 400 pts of damage will take you out quick, because even with the new ward up your only going to get 125 pts of health back, and if its hitting you five times with 400's, well, the ward is almost useless in that case, but like soe said, herioc mobs can no longer be fight by solo ppl.</DIV>

[Giral]

i also missed my ward :smileysad: but yeah play with your lifetap's and i say in a week you will remove the ward from your hotbar :smileyvery-happy:

[Evi]

<P>I barely post as you can tell... </P> <P>Unholy blessing change is fantastic. Half the time my ward wore off before the mob even hit me, now I can throw it up when I have damage loss. For those of you saying its exactly the same it also gives you a guaranteed 70dmg ish proc, and I have used this blessing many times during combat, and it is also a nice raid tool.</P> <P>If you take the spell off in a week, you are either crazy, low level or do not know how to proficently play your class.</P> <P>Guyris 51 shadow knight</P> <P>AB Server!</P>

[TheGeneral]

You have got to be out of your mind!?  I have Unholy Blessing Master2 and its the best choice I have ever made.  Its like my back pocket healer.  I can go from half life to full in no time, and against groups its devistating.  Couple this with your lifetap and your golden.  You can keep the old Ward, the new lifetap shield is amazing.

[Gigglet]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Nymphetamine wrote:<BR> <DIV>It used to ward, now it just does a tiny bit of damage and heals caster for a tiny bit :</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Can't you change it back into a ward spell, because it was a lifeline before for mid level?</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>What your asking is something I hope they NEVER do.  I did use that spell some when it was a ward but not much to be honest. Now that it's a life tap, I'm constantly using it.  As stated before, you use that with the other life taps - and bam your back in the game! My hubbie, who is an Inquis loves the new life taps I have to.  When he's all out of power or healing somone else, I use my taps and they make a HUGE diff.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Peace]

I gotta say - I have no clue what you are complaining about.  Honestly, the new reactive heal/damage shield (I'm just calling it a reactive lifetap) is fantastic.  It's what keeps me up in battles now - in fact even if I don't think it's necessary I just keep recasting it over and over as it wears off.  Our power pool supports me with this habit for WAVES of mobs, with no downtime in between.  And unless I'm in over my head, I rarely lose a drop of HP.  This new version of the spell is essential to our class, at least with my play style anyway, and despite not being catable while running (an admittedly huge flaw), this outshines our old ward any day. Seriously, you must be going about your SK the wrong way entirely if you don't appreciate how this spell fits into our spell/ca lineup since revamp. <div></div>

[Xakkoriz]

I also don't see your complaint. It sucked as a ward... I could barely tell it did anything as a ward,but now Unholy Blessing is awesome! If you get it as your Specialized Training then it will be Master II quality and be one of your best spells. If they changed it back to a ward I'd prob get mad and play an alt for awhile... <div></div>

[Margen]

<DIV>The only compaint I have about the new reactive lifetap is I fizzle alot on that spell for some reason, and yes my skill is maxed out at 46.  But when I am able to cast it I love what it does ... lets see I damage the mob and it heals me <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> .  Got to love that.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>V/R</DIV> <DIV>Blackoath</DIV>

[EnraptureE]

<P>Heh, yeah I too seem to fizzle more than any other ability on it also, almost like its an innate downfall for it being such a great tool.</P> <P>What I find I do alot, is after I fight some mob & lets say I only UB once + lifetaps & if the mob got lucky, I'll UB up for a new fight & pull.  I'm a bit more than half hps.  I then go lifetap crazy, just stun it & lifetap & UB when its near dead & turn OFF atk.  Just stand there let me lifetap from UB kill it & heal me to full, to get the full 5ish procs of it.  Most times the other lifetaps aren't repopped too & if they are, I'll not use em, unless it looks like the mob might need 1 shot to kill it.</P> <P>I'm now full hps for the 3rd fight & half power.  Point being, because of it being the way it is & I'll admit the other lifetaps, me downtime has gone from being almost every fight to med & heal, to 2-3 times less than it was pre CC.  I fight almost constantly in DoF & most mobs are yellow to dark orange & I do great (most of the time) unless I get jumped & get some nasty hits.</P> <P>If they do change it back... I'm sure the collective SK community would go ballistic.</P>

[Prothos]

The initial poster must have lost his mind.  Wards sucked and life taps own.  Our new line of spells makes us alot more powerful.  We can solo longer for sure.  Learn to use your abilities correctly and stop complaining.

[Gorl]

Infernal pact is a god send.  Using adept 1, I can easly take down solo mobs 2-3 lvls higher than me.  And I come out of the fight with near full health.  Fighting groups of casters that heal each other is great, keep Infernal pact up, and new AoE DoT till they run out of mana, then eat them alive. <div></div>

[Camthalion]

<DIV>Agreed. I am happy as a dead pig in the sunshine with the new wards.  I love my shadowknight even more than pre patch.  IF i could make one request is that the summoned tainted/cursed soul stick around a little longer, especially with the new graphic!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>