From Nerf to “Revert”: Inside ESO’s Update 47 PTS Cycle

The Public Test Server (PTS) for The Elder Scrolls Online's Feast of Shadows and Update 47 has become a focal point of discussion, not just for its new content, but for its confusing combat adjustments. PTS Week 1 hit with major nerfs, players complained loudly, and some changes have been walked back on Week 3.

A lot of players are now confused about where game balance is headed. This article will help clear things up by covering the essential changes from the Public Test Server (PTS), giving you a clearer picture of what's to come.

ESO's Feast of Shadows dungeon pack and Update 47 will be released on August 18 for PC/Mac and September 3 for Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

The Ultimate ESO Rollercoaster: From Heroism to Hybrid Cooldowns

At first, in patch v11.1.0, the developers completely changed these ultimate-generating abilities. Many unique ways to gain ultimate, like Mountain's Blessing or Corpse Consumption, were replaced with generic Major Heroism or Minor Heroism buffs. The goal was to stop players from getting ultimate too quickly. For example, Corpse Consumption used to give you 10 ultimate, but then it just gave you Minor Heroism for a short time, with a cooldown.

Players immediately got frustrated and felt these changes took away what made their character builds special and were just too harsh. People wondered why the developers were suddenly so focused on reducing ultimate gain.

See all buffs on our ESO buffs and debuffs overview page!

Reverting the Ultimate changes (Week 3)

In Week 3, with patch v11.1.3, the developers said they were reverting the changes because of player feedback. They brought back the unique ultimate-generating abilities. However, they added a new catch: these unique effects now all share a universal cooldown.

This means if one ability gives you ultimate, all the other similar abilities go on cooldown too. So, if Corpse Consumption (16-second cooldown) triggers, Prism (4-second cooldown) also gets locked out for the full 16 seconds.

The developers originally changed these abilities to avoid confusing gameplay, but players preferred having unique abilities, even with hidden cooldowns. This shows that players are okay with more complex systems if it means their builds feel unique and powerful. Losing control over how they gain ultimate, by forcing it into a generic system, was more frustrating than managing complicated mechanics.

These class passives now share a cooldown on ultimate generation: 

The Ever-Changing Landscape of Builds

The rapid and significant changes across abilities and passives have created a taxing environment for players, especially those who had just finished theorycrafting and optimizing their builds in the wake of Subclassing's initial release.

For those looking to adapt their current builds or explore new possibilities, consider utilizing our resources:

Nightblade's Catalyst hit again

After initially being converted to Major Heroism (PTS Week 1), Nightblade's Catalyst was reverted to generate unique Ultimate but at a reduced amount of 11/22 (down from 15/30). 

While still considered a good passive and higher than its pre-subclassing value, players expressed frustration at the "whiplash" of it being buffed only to be nerfed again. 

Related: ESO Classes Database covers class skills, builds, guides and other useful information.

Sorcerer: A Class in Constant Flux

PTS Update v11.1.0 hit Sorcerers with several controversial changes, stripping abilities like Bound Armor and Bound Armaments of their valuable Max Magicka/Stamina boosts and Minor Protection. Instead, they gained Major Resolve or Major Sorcery/Prophecy. Lightning Form also swapped Major Resolve for Minor Force.

In Week 3 (v11.1.3), some changes were partially reversed. Lightning Form got its Major Resolve back, which players welcomed. Bound Armor also regained Minor Protection but now scaled with resistance, a trade-off that still worried players.

The biggest experiment involved moving the Max Magicka/Stamina boost (now 10% at full health) from Bound Armor to the Blood Magic passive. Developers called this a test to see if "shuffling power" like this would be well-received. 

Related: ESO Classes Database covers class skills, builds, guides and other useful information.  

Arcanist's Class Mastery Script

An initial change in Week 1 PTS made it so the  Arcanist's Class Mastery script effect only generates a Crux if you have no Crux active. The Arcanist Class Mastery Script is most often paired with the Banner Bearer grimoire to passively generate Crux.

In PTS Week 3, a "failsafe" was added: if the Class Mastery Script does not generate Crux, it gives 3 ultimate instead. The idea was to offer a small, general reward and prevent the skill from bypassing the intended active ways the class should generate Crux.

Related: ESO Classes Database covers class skills, builds, guides and other useful information.  

The Bigger Picture: Communication, Confusion, and the Road Ahead

The Update 47 PTS cycle has undeniably presented its share of challenges, prompting important conversations about game balance and the Subclassing system. Players have voiced frustrations regarding the pace and nature of some changes, particularly the constant need to update their builds. This continuous adaptation can be tiring, but it's also clear that ZOS has been actively engaged.

The increased communication from the developers is a positive step forward, showing a willingness to listen and respond to the community's concerns. This open dialogue offers hope that player feedback will continue to directly shape the future of combat.

Moving forward, the community continues to offer constructive feedback, emphasizing a need for greater stability and a clearer long-term vision for combat development. They also advocate for buffing underperforming skills and class lines to foster build diversity. The ongoing collaboration between players and developers is key to navigating these evolving landscapes and ensuring the continued health of The Elder Scrolls Online's combat system.

If you have any feedback or questions you can always reach us in our ESO Community Discord!