Dark Bond broken?

Mercury Angel

Mercury Angel

Avatar of Gwen

Join Date: Apr 2005

Wandering my own road.

In an Arena match a few days ago, and just now combatting against the undead, I've noticed Dark Bond provides it's reduction if you cast it when you have a minion present... But when the minion dies, the damage reduction doesn't go away.

At first I had thought that a warrior in the arena was under the condition Weakness, a 60% damage reduction, very similar to a 75%, but now I was using Balthazar's Aura against a Zombie Warlock for 11 damage per second at an actual 22. Doubled against undead, that makes 44, divided by 4 makes 11. (Edit: To clarify, I was hurting it 11, with 12 smiting prayers, which sets the base damage at 22, and the modified value for undead bonus to 44)

The warlock had summoned 2 bone minions, and I killed them both.

The same happened in the arena, and I remember an Elementalist casting Earthquake for a meager 22 damage as well, and 88 sounds about right with high Earth.

Edit; And on a side note, even if the warlock had another bone minion stuck elsewhere, between taking 75% of the damage, and natural undead summon degeneration, it would not have lasted the entire health bar from start to finish on the warlock.

twicky_kid

twicky_kid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quite Vulgar [FUN]

yes it is broken even after minions are killed it still reduces dmg

Mercury Angel

Mercury Angel

Avatar of Gwen

Join Date: Apr 2005

Wandering my own road.

Quote:
Originally Posted by twicky_kid
yes it is broken even after minions are killed it still reduces dmg
Thank you, was waiting for someone else to confirm it.

Was just doublechecking it in the CA's a moment ago. Insane, was taking 20-25's from even the most powerful skills, such as Backfire and Eviscerate.

I'd imagine it'd be a powerful exploit for monks;

Mo/N, Divine Favour/Healing or Protection/Blood, no death needed, Dark Bond, and a sac necro to kill himself before the battle once for each monk, Animate Bone Horror, and Offering of Blood. (no death needed, doesn't matter if the minion dies)

Obviously, Offering of Blood isn't a necessity, but as long as you're dabbling in blood, might as well pick one of the best energy management elites.

Simply re-summon a horror periodically and re-cast dark bond after, and you're set.