Phantom isn't OP anymore - But still needs fixing (here's why)

[gg2ez]

Phantom is a ninja, A really bad ninja.

As a class that is described as being useful for getting behind enemy lines exclusively, he really sucks at doing anything after that. Let me put this into a scenario.

1. Phantom cloaks
2. Phantom goes around enemy concentration
3. Phantom is behind enemy concentration
4. Now what?

Of course I would attack the enemies but what’s so special? How would it differ to any other melee? The obvious answer is the fact that Phantom can pretty much two-hit kill any every merc but as a class that is supposedly an assassin, should Phantom be able to one-hit kill mercs from behind? For god sakes, I just turned invisible and snuck up behind someone and plunged a katana into their back, Still alive? Yeah. Ready to turn around an retaliate within seconds? Yeah. Teammates ready to wreck Phantom? Yeah.

What Phantom needs is a more ninja-like approach, using stealthy flourishes and speedy getaways. - Easily balanced with a slight health and cloak reduction and for God’s sake, Give the poor merc a stealth kill ability.

Ideal Phantom (IMO):
SMG, PISTOL, KATANA/KNIFE
+Can stealth kill
+Smoke bombs (A secondary ability maybe?)
+Speedy
-Shorter cloak
-Less health

Please feel free to correct me if you do not see my opinion as a reasonable solution for Phantom.

[GrandMasterFalcor]

I agree. I think if Phantom had as his second ability a guaranteed one hit kill melee attack that maybe forced the player to stand still as he did it or was very slow to cary out he would be much more worthwhile. That way if he gets the drop on a high priority target, he could actually use it. Of course an ability like this would have to have a long cool down or slow/stationary execution so it wouldn’t be viable in an open fight, only in sneak attacks, which is the entire point of Phantom.

EDIT: After thinking about and reading other people’s opinions in other threads, an instant kill ability, while it may work well in terms of the character, it just isn’t always the best in gameplay. No one likes dying suddenly without the chance to fight back (f*cking vasilli). While you may be able to look out for phantom by just simply being aware or listening for the cloak, it doesn’t justify a one-hitter; getting the first shot off is enough in most cases. Stabbing someone in the back with a sneak attack and not being able to kill them afterwards is more a problem with the katana rather than with phantom as a class. I think a spotter ability like the one Ronan has been suggesting is a better use of a second ability

[omegaskorpion]

This does not feel Phantom like, this feels like a whole other class.

The phantom is supose to be a American backstabber with a brain full of one liners. He is not suppose to be a ninja (dont let katana fool you and katana isnt ninjas weapon anyway).

He is the one that takes quik stealthy approuch but then starts killling people like a maniac.
Why do you think he has a full body armor?

I would like if the Cloak would use less energy because without the extra 20% cloak augment it feels bit shi#t.

I have nothing against ninja merc, but it would have to be a separate merc.

(also the Red Eye already has smoke bombs)

[gg2ez]

[quote=“omegaskorpion;58338”]This does not feel Phantom like, this feels like a whole other class.

The phantom is supose to be a American backstabber with a brain full of one liners. He is not suppose to be a ninja (dont let katana fool you and katana isnt ninjas weapon anyway).

He is the one that takes quik stealthy approuch but then starts killling people like a maniac.
Why do you think he has a full body armor?

I would like if the Cloak would use less energy because without the extra 20% cloak augment it feels bit shi#t.

I have nothing against ninja merc, but it would have to be a separate merc.

(also the Red Eye already has smoke bombs)

[/quote]

OK, I get where you’re coming from but there’s my point: Phantom can’t kill people like a maniac when he uncloaks. Full body armour doesn’t mean jack, 110HP is still 110HP, You can nail Phantom with half a pistol round.

A bunch of enemies are in one place, Phantom uncloaks behind them and starts hacking away at an enemy, Good luck having the rest of their team not focus fire on you, Phantom is a pretty high priority target.

Now how can he be an ‘American Backstabber’ if her can’t backstab?

[gg2ez]

I agree. I think if Phantom had as his second ability a guaranteed one hit kill melee attack that maybe forced the player to stand still as he did it or was very slow to cary out he would be much more worthwhile. That way if he gets the drop on a high priority target, he could actually use it. Of course an ability like this would have to have a long cool down or slow/stationary execution so it wouldn’t be viable in an open fight, only in sneak attacks, which is the entire point of Phantom.

Agreed. Phantom needs to be a merc that makes the player think about what they’re going to do, Not just a merc where you run in to a crowd and start mindlessly slashing at everything.

[ludicrousBlast]

Just add a bigger damage window for lunge attack, and make him less visible. The lunge attack with chopper can still one hit kill Vassili and lower, it just has a MUCH smaller damage window making moving targets almost impossible to hit, the only use for it now is if someone is on a turret, AFK, or just standing still. I have changed my opinion about phantom a lot, but I feel like doing these two things would make him pretty balanced.

[gg2ez]

Just add a bigger damage window for lunge attack, and make him less visible. The lunge attack with chopper can still one hit kill Vassili and lower, it just has a MUCH smaller damage window making moving targets almost impossible to hit, the only use for it now is if someone is on a turret, AFK, or just standing still. I have changed my opinion about phantom a lot, but I feel like doing these two things would make him pretty balanced.

Actually, That’s a pretty good idea. I think a reasonable ability for Phantom would be an ability which grants him an attack buff for a limited time, That way maybe Phantom’s stealth kills could still be ability oriented.

[Lumi]

Dude do you even check the forum before posting? For two days already before you posted there had been this discussion going on. Check this threadforums.dirtybomb.nexon.net/discussion/15473/phantom-all-but-a-fun-merc-lacking-an-identity#latest

[gg2ez]

Dude do you even check the forum before posting? For two days already before you posted there had been this discussion going on. Check this threadforums.dirtybomb.nexon.net/discussion/15473/phantom-all-but-a-fun-merc-lacking-an-identity#latest

Right, Sorry for wanting to voice my own opinion on a separate post. I have sinned so greatly, Woe is me. I am going to Hell.

So no other posts about Phantom but yours? KK.

[Lumi]

[quote=“gg2ez;59148”]

So no other posts about Phantom but yours? KK. [/quote]

I’m not saying there is no other post but seems to me like you’re just reiterating here what has already been said. And forums 101 is to check if what one wants to post about has already been adressed or not. That’s why there is that search box in the upper right corner you know?

[SirMurder]

Just let phantom 1hitkill all classes from BEHIND (except Rhino) and reduce his HP to 100 Make him more speedy sprint to 420 and get the cloak cooldown to 7 seconds the 3 seconds really make a difference imo

[Arri_Shi]

Going back to play with him in the first time in a while, I think I figured out why he’s so much harder to play. They essentially destroyed his ability to escape with the cooldown, visibility, and to a lesser degree the shielding effect nerfs.