【 Developer Comments 】
To create a better play pattern and play experience, the development team decided to allow simultaneous use of Instill Element, granting Elemental Knights the benefits of all three Instillments (Flame, Frost, Thunder) at once. Additionally, the additional effects that each Instillment grants to the primary skills (Blazing Assault Slash, Shattering Windmill, Dynavolt Smash) have been modified to increase the link between skills as well as to provide utility and benefits to individual skills, such as increased attack range and pulling enemies inward.
As we are increasing the power of Instill Element, the upkeep cost (Mana, Stamina) will increase when multiple Instillments are activated. Our intention is that players will consider their situation and increased upkeep cost, selecting which and how many Instillments to use accordingly, rather than having all three elements up at all times. Each additionally applied Instillment will grant further increased damage, so we have adjusted the damage increase granted by each element.
【 Developer Comments 】
Harmonic Saint has been modified to maintain its role as party support. Some of the less meaningful Arcana Link effects have been adjusted, and a brand new effect Veil of Life has been added into Link Level 8. Hand of Restoration and Echoes of Salvation are powerful heals, but are limited to only healing missing health, so it can be difficult to respond immediately to every situation. With Link Level 8, Veil of Life will activate when healing those with full health, and provide an additional shield proportional to the strength of the heal cast. This effect will allow Harmonic Saints to apply preemptive support.
When considering that higher difficulty dungeons require more active play, the development team decided to allow continuous party support even while using Pulse of Purification. We felt this would allow for a more positive and synergistic experience. Additionally, by reducing the immediate damage output of the skill and supplementing it with a highly reduced cooldown and a party member support effect, Harmonic Saints will be able to leverage Pulse of Purification more often in combat. We hope you enjoy it!
Lastly, a new skill, Polyphonic Melody, has been added to increase the Harmonic Saint's contribution to the party. However, we have found that with Share Music Buffs settings, the best possible buff combination would be different for various talents, and some talents may not be able to fully benefit from such situations or require different combinations from others, causing those talents to be less favored in parties. Thus, we decided to limit the songs that can be activated with the Polyphonic Melody to Enduring Melody, March Song, and Harvest Song to allow each member of the party to benefit from the buff effects while keeping the Harmonic Saint's party contribution ability intact.
【 Developer Comments 】
Rage Impact previously would increase the strength of the next melee attack’s damage after it was applied onto a target. However, when factoring in party play, it was very likely that this effect would be consumed unintentionally, making it difficult to fully utilize this damage increase.
To resolve this, we modified the effect from the skill. Targets affected by Rage Impact will now take increased damage from all melee attacks during its duration. In order to keep this balanced, we have adjusted the duration and damage increase.
We have also adjusted the Rage Impact enhancement effects to match this change. Like Rage Impact, the damage multiplier for the enhancements have decreased, but will now apply for all melee damage applied during the duration. We expect this to increase synergistic use in combat.