over 5 years ago - /u/Mark_GGG - Direct link

Originally posted by Kwitchy

As per the patch notes:

"Shield Charge... [is] no longer main-hand only. " also, shield charge has always had the 'melee' tag, and deals base damage based on the melee weapon.

So I've been trying to re-read the patch notes, and figure out how the interaction works now. I'm fairly confident the result of the patch notes means one of the following is true:

  • A: Shield Charge now checks to see if a melee weapon is equipped for damage scaling purposes only. However, the Movement portion only requires a shield. Wand users can now Shield Charge for 0 damage.

  • B: Shield Charge still requires a melee weapon to trigger, since it tries to scale damage and the tag system is in effect. (However GGG has stated many times tags are more of 'guidelines' and to help people with modifying damage, not exclusive mechanic limitations). No change.

  • C: 'You can no longer use skills that require a specific weapon if you are dual-wielding' change only cares about attacks and dual wielding, wand + shield is not DW, escapes unscathed and somehow works.

I have been hopeful that the change to how shield charge speeds up with gem levels instead of base weapon speed from 3.4, and now this change for weapon inclusion in 3.5, somehow means that wands are finally viable for casters who want to zoom zoom.

Any greater interpretations / knowledge that anyone can share to figure this out?

This patch note was in error. Shield Charge was never a Main Hand Only, but was incorrectly included in the list of skills that lost that restriction. As such, it did not change.

It still only ever hit with the main hand, but that's because your off hand wasn't a weapon, not because it had a restriction to not alternate like the Main Hand Only skills, such as Double Strike.

over 5 years ago - /u/Mark_GGG - Direct link

Originally posted by OtterSeaborne

Double Strike is also listed in the patch notes as no longer main-hand only. Is that also an error?

No. I was using Double-Strike as an example of a skill which was restricted to Main Hand Only, and thus loses that restriction in 3.5.0 because that restriction no longer exists in the game.

over 5 years ago - /u/Mark_GGG - Direct link

Originally posted by redthay

glacial hammer wasnt included, was that intentional? I'm planning on doing a GH build for betrayal :)

Glacial Hammer has never been main-hand only, so removing that restriction from skills doesn't affect it.