Hey B.net I used to post here often but found it wasn't working out but hey why not give it another try! So here we go... [b]Welcome and in this Heart of Destiny 2 post we will take an in depth look at Blink. What does Blink do? How do you use it? I will also share strategies and tactics I use to make the best use of Blink.[/b] [b]First what is Blink?[/b] Blink is a movement ability that replaces your normal jump ability. When activated it will teleport you in your desired direction. Sounds simple, right? Well, It is really a lot more complex than that, so here’s how it goes: [b]The Blink[/b] 1. 0.00s – Activation: the jump button is hit while in the air activating the Blink process and queues your HUD to fade 2. 0.30s – De-materialization: guardian disappears 3. 0.37s – Blink: instantly move 6m 4. 0.53s – Re-materialize: guardian begins to reappear 5. 0.93s – Materialized: guardian has completed the Blink process 6. 1.60s – Weapon Ready: moment you can begin shooting again 7. 2.23s – HUD Visible: HUD and radar are visible [b]Most notable information:[/b] - You Blink 6m, at a sprinting speed you can move up to 18m during the Blink process - Delay before Blink is 0.37s, in which you can take damage - Your character is invisible for 0.2s - Weapon Ready delay is 0.67s, in which period you are fully visible but cannot shoot and your HUD is still disabled - HUD Delay is 1.3s, in this period you will have completed your blink but still do not have Your HUD including your radar [b]Blink Cooldown[/b] The Blink cooldown is weird and has 2 possible ways it can go: [b]Possibility #1[/b] 1. Blink 2. Experience 0.8s delay 3. Blink 4. Wait 2.4s for cooldown 5. Blink 6. Wait 4.0s for cooldown 7. Repeat from 1. [b]Possibility #2[/b] 1. Blink 2. Wait between 2.6s and 4.0s for cooldown 3. Blink 4. Repeat from 1. [b]The Basics to note are:[/b] - 1 Blink takes 2.4s to prepare - 2 Blinks takes 4.0s to prepare - Blinking within 2.4s of your last blink will force you to wait the 4.0s to prepare 2 blinks - Blink delay is 0.8s, you must wait this time after completing a Blink to do another blink (if you have your second ready) Now that we are fully with briefed on all the information having to do with blink lets look at how to use it. [b]Getting Used to the Disorientation and Lack of HUD[/b] With Blink you lose something that you did not realize you relied on so much, the HUD. It is easy to feel lost with out the information your HUD offers and you may be inclined to simply wait it out. While you blink your screen is rippled and blurry and you are of course teleported to a new location, this can also be quite disorienting. Overall it can be a super disorienting experience for those new to it so how do we handle it? The key is to decide a quick plan before you Blink and then follow through with it. This plan can be as simple as traveling across the map or be much more complex, either way you must follow through with it. Let’s say you move into a lane and there is an enemy right ahead of you and close and moving toward you, a good plan would be: to attack, Blink over him, melee him from behind and them move away shooting to finish him off; or instead retreat, Blink back and move to cover quickly. You must decide on such a plan quickly and then follow through with it. Of course your thinking “well things don’t often go to plan” and that’s something that matters and you may have to change your plan after blinking due to new development but you must be decisive as not knowing what you want to accomplish will slow you down and often lead to your death. As you learn to use blink you will have to learn to rely on the radar less. As any other character you will typically look at your radar after making an aggressive move to see where the enemy is around you but with blink this is not possible. Instead you will have to scan your surroundings quickly with just what you can see on screen, having good map knowledge and taking note of where your enemy was on your radar before helps you know where to look plenty. You need to do this scan so you can decide what you want to do, having just blinked into a room you have a few options: engage the enemy, Blink at the enemy to attack even more aggressively, Blink back out the way you came or blink forward to move onto the next area. This scan and then decision must be quick as any other player could have done the same scan with only a quick glance at their radar. Getting used to using Blink can take time and every player makes plenty of bad decisions but making no decision or a to slow one will always be the worst. [b]Tactics and Tips[/b] - Engage the enemy from un-expected angles. Blinking over walls and other objects that most players walk around is a great way to surprise your opponent - Use your teammates. Attack enemies who are distracted by your allies or instantly take over for an ally in a gunfight. With Blink your sudden introduction to a gunfight can nearly never be expected. - Use your enhanced speed. Blink’s traveling speed allows you to both change your angle of attack quickly and retreat from being overwhelmed. You are faster than people in there super so use this to your team’s advantage by acting as bait. - When in doubt in CQC BLINK! Often times at close range if something happens that you didn’t expect blinking straight up or around can win you the fight. Many times I’ve had situations that I though I was going to for sure lose but a well timed blink saved me. - Use tactical retreat. With blink you can retreat from a bad situation and then setup a better situation for yourself once the enemy follows. - Taking on multiple opponents. Blink offers you a better chance in outnumber engagements especially if you have a strong close quarters weapon. You can Blink in take one out quickly with a melee and your weapon then Blink away to escape. Taking on multiple opponents is difficult and will take accurate Blinking as well as good timing and aim. - Blinking at your enemy in a losing engagement. Often times if your enemy is close enough you can Blink right above or behind them to finish them off with a melee when you are losing a gunfight. This requires a good knowledge of when you are losing a fight and exceptional timing. I don’t know how many times in D1 and D2 I’ve been in terrible moments just about to lose a gunfight but I time a blink perfectly placing me right behind there head, also the amount of times I’ve failed and seen my body flung across the map. There are likely many other strategies using Blink so please share yours (as well I may add more). Do you like Blink? I hope you enjoyed my information?