Yesterday, I played nearly 60 competitive matches as a Titan Arc main to evaluate the impact of the nerf to the Titan Shoulder Charge. Here are my observations and personal opinion:
• Prominent Inefficiency: In my experience, increasing the strength attribute seems to have only a minimal impact on the effectiveness of the Shoulder Charge. Even after a complete restructuring of my gear - shifting the focus from agility to strength (from 60 to 100) - the cooldown of the Shoulder Charge remains excessively noticeable. High mobility is essential in PvP, but the redistribution towards the melee/shoulder charge doesn't seem to be adequately rewarded.
• Tactical Issues: After the nerf, the Shoulder Charge feels significantly muted, and the Titan class loses a substantial part of its dynamism. The Titan's strength has always lain in its ability to quickly engage in combat, draw fire onto itself, and skillfully distract opponents. Without this momentum, the Titan class is heavily constrained in its typical, risky maneuvers. Is it now our task as Titans to act defensively and hide?
SOLUTION: I can understand Bungie's endeavor to improve the gaming experience. However, experienced players often use the Shoulder Charge to escape from confusing situations - situations that often arise when actively playing the Titan and not camping. Here is my suggested compromise solution:
• The cooldown of the Shoulder Charge is only activated when [i]no[/i] enemies are nearby. This prevents players from moving too quickly from point A to point B.
• In encounters, the cooldown remains deactivated, to keep the game fun and not abruptly interrupt it.
I hope Bungie will consider this proposal. How do other Titans feel about this? What are your experiences and opinions?
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The benefits you discuss relating to shoulder charge are the exact reason shoulder charge needed a nerf. Titans movement was completely out of band and by far the most effective class to use. Getting to mid map and then setting up a barricade (maybe with an overshield) was just too powerful and the nerf still allows this tactic just not the capability to run away if you overreach. Stompees just got destroyed on hunter for a similar reason with the nerf being the most harsh of any other nerf. They could have just tied the jump to dodge but with the slide and movement being lost too, hunters (the movement class) don’t even have the same movement exotic mechanics like titans and warlocks have with dunemarchers and transverse steps respectively. Titans are still amazing and I’m calling it now. Antaeus wards will continue to rise in usage and receive a nerf before the start of next season. -blam!- hunter main, Ahamkara spine will be the same.