This game has gotten juuust a little more intense than when it dropped in 2017, in so many of the best ways. But Warlock Rift really hasn't kept up. It basically hasn't improved at all besides some lame, passive blobs that now spawn (with some builds).
Hunters end their snappy Class Ability (literally) in a different place, bristling with one buff or another. Titans duck low and quickly pop a strong physical barrier + buffs. Warlocks hit 'em with the spirit fingers/jazz hands.. to drop a number puddle. In any content above screensaver difficulty: you're in for a bad time. Hopefully that slow heal is enough to cover damage taken during your protracted performance. Unless you've got Empowering Rift on, which will often end in your death outright, unless you pop Rift out back and around the corner.
I don't know the solution but this ability was never very cool, and is now aging quite badly. Bungie has the talent -- please consider pointing it in this direction. Thanks for reading
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Not intended to save you. Use it for engagement from full health for better use as a healing spot. The fact you still use it to stop the onslaught and still fail, are you going to change your ways? Try it when you know the swarm is coming, that way you are out of animation and not locked.