Initial thoughts of the Reworked Nightsister (a review)
I wanted to thank the devs again for the rework and addition of events for Nightsister, you have certainly made them extremely fun (for me) again. The Nightsister faction was, prior to this update, not feasible for the majority of people. I have been running an all NS team since a few months after the release. I just wanted to give my initial thoughts on how the changes have effected my squad.
Asajj Ventress - By far my favorite change, I believe she will absolutely be the next meta in raids, since she gets stacking buffs of 15% Offense 15% critical chance and 5% health (this can not be dispelled either, it does not show as a buff it is just an inherent buff), I have managed to have her basic in the tank raid hit for over 140k per strike. I do have amazing mods on her getting her speed to 199 and, with her buffs from other abilities she is over a 300 speed. She now heals all NS with strike fear and, it is a hefty heal depending on how may buffs the enemy has. I have tried Asajj with a Talzin lead and her Endless wrath does not apply plague to all enemies, it only applies plague to the selected target (it does say that in the ability description). Her lead ability gives NS +30 speed and +30 offense with her stacking buff I would probably still use her as lead over talzin (I'll update this once I get Talzin to 7*), as she gains +15 speed for each enemy with no buffs. A few comments have said that she would be weak with her endless rampage against the current meta because of all the counter attacks, that is a valid point however, she is not 1 dimensional in the use of her rampage. Who really cares anyways when you have a Daka on the team who will pretty much rez all NS, which gives Asajj a stack of her buffs with her own death making her even more powerful when she comes back.
Nightsister Acolyte - The changes made here are probably my second favorite changes made, although not much was changed. Her strike from the shadows skill now attacks 2 x if she has stealth, this skill also has a 70% chance to stealth. If she goes stealth on her basic during that same turn she will immediately go a second time for between 12k - 18k. Sacrificial magicks (SM) has been changed to cleanse a single random ally on a critical hit, so it cleanses more often because it no longer has to kill anyone, however, it only cleanses a single random ally, rather than the whole team. So I would not count on this as a reliable way to get rid of a debuff on ally because it may cleanse someone who doesn't need a cleanse. The damage on SM is much higher consistently hitting for 32k - 38k. The trick to the higher damage with her is to not use her SM until you are stealthed as you gain 50% offense in stealth.
Talia - She has always been one of my favorites. She has a massive heal that gives 50% health 30% tm, cleanses all NS allies, although it does cost her 20% of her health she always gets that back with her basic that heals all NS for 100% of the damage done and decent damage on her basic. Her heal also gives her 15% tm for each active NS ally. Harrowing assault (HA) is a massive blow of around 30k - 38k only if she is at full health though, it does cost her 10% health, if she is not at full health she immediately strikes again with her basic attack. Her basic attack gains + 50% damage if she is below full health which goes well with HA.
Old Daka - They made a few changes to her heal/rez, she rez's a random defeated NS ally (100% chance) with a chance to revive another NS or non NS ally, the 35% for non NS is 70% for NS. In my experience so far she consistently has been rezzing all NS most of the time. Her basic still stuns and damages the initial target but now the second target also takes damage. If there is only 1 enemy left she hits him 2 x. I have not zeta'ed her yet but the ability looks pretty nice.
Nighsister Initiate - Her basic now on a critical hit applies 2 instances of DoT, so she works great in NS but if you run Zader in raids and do not have a fully geared NS squad then she would go extremely well with Zader. Cut down is what made my NS team better than my Zader squad in tank raid, it now applies critical chance up to all allies, so in phase 3 and 4 of tank you can survive the tank shot in 3 and the aerial strike in 4 with an all NS team (prior to this an all NS squad in this raid was a joke). Severing strike seems unchanged. They added a whole new skill to her called NS Retaliation, which when she is at full health has a 100% counter chance, if she is below health she gain 100% offense. I am kinda disappointed in her TBH, I was hoping they would be making her the tank and give her a taunt, but they decided not to give the one NS who has a ton of protection taunt was a fail.
Mother Talzin - I have not 7* her yet but not for a lack of trying I purchased 15 packs of hers and only ever got 7 shards per pull (honestly this is BS I should have gotten at least 1 pack with more in there seeing as how expensive they are, but I digress). So far what I see of her she is going to for sure make my PvP lineup, just not sure who I will take out (first thoughts are to remove NSI for Talzin). Special abilities by NS allies will apply the plague only to the allies target, it will not add them with Asajj endless wrath to anyone but who she is targetting.
In Rancor raid this team is really powerful, with all the changes Phase 1 is now soloable with NS, on my first attempt I was able to solo phase 1 and take rancor down 50% in Tier 6 (haven't tried t7 yet post change). In phase 1 once NS have killed a few GG Asajj can endless wrath both GG when they are called back in 1 hit. With the tm reduction from all hits by NS, and with acolyte now getting two hits when stealthed they are more effective at keeping Main guard from taking a turn than Teebo is.
In tank raid phase 3 and 4 (guild was on this phase when NS changes were released so have not done phase 1 and 2 post change). in phase 3 Asajj just becomes a beast each time the 6 droids are called back asajj will do 1 endless wrath kills all 6 and gives Asajj 90% offense, 90% critical chance and 30% health. Easily getting Asajj to 140k per hit. With NSI being able to add a buff my all NS squad can now survive tank shot. On phase 4 its pretty much the same, the tank actually only fires 1 or 2 times before Asajj takes out all enemies and you are just fighting a tank sitting there, again here expect to be doing around 140k per hit with Asajj.
NS in PvP can now compete even with CLS Meta teams, I have been able to hold my own against them pretty well, still working on the best strategy in PvP with all the changes.
If you have any questions on the NS (not the Spirit or Zombie) I'll try and answer what I can.
Asajj - GL 12
Talia - GL 12
NSI - GL 11
NSA - GL 11
Daka - GL 11
I will be adding screenshots throughout the next few days.
Asajj Ventress - By far my favorite change, I believe she will absolutely be the next meta in raids, since she gets stacking buffs of 15% Offense 15% critical chance and 5% health (this can not be dispelled either, it does not show as a buff it is just an inherent buff), I have managed to have her basic in the tank raid hit for over 140k per strike. I do have amazing mods on her getting her speed to 199 and, with her buffs from other abilities she is over a 300 speed. She now heals all NS with strike fear and, it is a hefty heal depending on how may buffs the enemy has. I have tried Asajj with a Talzin lead and her Endless wrath does not apply plague to all enemies, it only applies plague to the selected target (it does say that in the ability description). Her lead ability gives NS +30 speed and +30 offense with her stacking buff I would probably still use her as lead over talzin (I'll update this once I get Talzin to 7*), as she gains +15 speed for each enemy with no buffs. A few comments have said that she would be weak with her endless rampage against the current meta because of all the counter attacks, that is a valid point however, she is not 1 dimensional in the use of her rampage. Who really cares anyways when you have a Daka on the team who will pretty much rez all NS, which gives Asajj a stack of her buffs with her own death making her even more powerful when she comes back.
Nightsister Acolyte - The changes made here are probably my second favorite changes made, although not much was changed. Her strike from the shadows skill now attacks 2 x if she has stealth, this skill also has a 70% chance to stealth. If she goes stealth on her basic during that same turn she will immediately go a second time for between 12k - 18k. Sacrificial magicks (SM) has been changed to cleanse a single random ally on a critical hit, so it cleanses more often because it no longer has to kill anyone, however, it only cleanses a single random ally, rather than the whole team. So I would not count on this as a reliable way to get rid of a debuff on ally because it may cleanse someone who doesn't need a cleanse. The damage on SM is much higher consistently hitting for 32k - 38k. The trick to the higher damage with her is to not use her SM until you are stealthed as you gain 50% offense in stealth.
Talia - She has always been one of my favorites. She has a massive heal that gives 50% health 30% tm, cleanses all NS allies, although it does cost her 20% of her health she always gets that back with her basic that heals all NS for 100% of the damage done and decent damage on her basic. Her heal also gives her 15% tm for each active NS ally. Harrowing assault (HA) is a massive blow of around 30k - 38k only if she is at full health though, it does cost her 10% health, if she is not at full health she immediately strikes again with her basic attack. Her basic attack gains + 50% damage if she is below full health which goes well with HA.
Old Daka - They made a few changes to her heal/rez, she rez's a random defeated NS ally (100% chance) with a chance to revive another NS or non NS ally, the 35% for non NS is 70% for NS. In my experience so far she consistently has been rezzing all NS most of the time. Her basic still stuns and damages the initial target but now the second target also takes damage. If there is only 1 enemy left she hits him 2 x. I have not zeta'ed her yet but the ability looks pretty nice.
Nighsister Initiate - Her basic now on a critical hit applies 2 instances of DoT, so she works great in NS but if you run Zader in raids and do not have a fully geared NS squad then she would go extremely well with Zader. Cut down is what made my NS team better than my Zader squad in tank raid, it now applies critical chance up to all allies, so in phase 3 and 4 of tank you can survive the tank shot in 3 and the aerial strike in 4 with an all NS team (prior to this an all NS squad in this raid was a joke). Severing strike seems unchanged. They added a whole new skill to her called NS Retaliation, which when she is at full health has a 100% counter chance, if she is below health she gain 100% offense. I am kinda disappointed in her TBH, I was hoping they would be making her the tank and give her a taunt, but they decided not to give the one NS who has a ton of protection taunt was a fail.
Mother Talzin - I have not 7* her yet but not for a lack of trying I purchased 15 packs of hers and only ever got 7 shards per pull (honestly this is BS I should have gotten at least 1 pack with more in there seeing as how expensive they are, but I digress). So far what I see of her she is going to for sure make my PvP lineup, just not sure who I will take out (first thoughts are to remove NSI for Talzin). Special abilities by NS allies will apply the plague only to the allies target, it will not add them with Asajj endless wrath to anyone but who she is targetting.
In Rancor raid this team is really powerful, with all the changes Phase 1 is now soloable with NS, on my first attempt I was able to solo phase 1 and take rancor down 50% in Tier 6 (haven't tried t7 yet post change). In phase 1 once NS have killed a few GG Asajj can endless wrath both GG when they are called back in 1 hit. With the tm reduction from all hits by NS, and with acolyte now getting two hits when stealthed they are more effective at keeping Main guard from taking a turn than Teebo is.
In tank raid phase 3 and 4 (guild was on this phase when NS changes were released so have not done phase 1 and 2 post change). in phase 3 Asajj just becomes a beast each time the 6 droids are called back asajj will do 1 endless wrath kills all 6 and gives Asajj 90% offense, 90% critical chance and 30% health. Easily getting Asajj to 140k per hit. With NSI being able to add a buff my all NS squad can now survive tank shot. On phase 4 its pretty much the same, the tank actually only fires 1 or 2 times before Asajj takes out all enemies and you are just fighting a tank sitting there, again here expect to be doing around 140k per hit with Asajj.
NS in PvP can now compete even with CLS Meta teams, I have been able to hold my own against them pretty well, still working on the best strategy in PvP with all the changes.
If you have any questions on the NS (not the Spirit or Zombie) I'll try and answer what I can.
Asajj - GL 12
Talia - GL 12
NSI - GL 11
NSA - GL 11
Daka - GL 11
I will be adding screenshots throughout the next few days.
