Guild Wars 2: Tempest's Gale Song Nerfed Significantly in Latest Update

Are you using Tempest in Guild Wars 2? Well, this elite specialization for the Elementalist has one particular skill that got nerfed significantly and that is none other than the Gale Song.

For the uninitiated, the Tempest’s Gale Song is a trait that triggers a skill called “Eye of the Storm!” when a foe attempts to use crowd-control abilities, such as stun, knockdown, fear, etc. Eye of the Storm increases speed and breaks CC abilities for nearby allies.

That said, Gale Song has been heavily nerfed in the latest update for Guild Wars 2. Instead of triggering “Eye of the Storm!,” the said trait now grants protection to nearby allies when you use a healing skill. Not being able to break free from stun or other CCs is far worse than just getting a reduction in strike damage taken.

Balancing Changes

• Fortified Earth: Reduced base barrier from 3,000 to 2,520 in PvP only. Increased cooldown from 25 seconds to 30 seconds in PvP only.
• Rocky Loop: Reduced damage reduction from 10% to 7% in PvP only.
• Staunch Auras: Reduced stability duration from 3 seconds to 2 seconds in PvP only.

• Skills
  • Grenade Barrage: Increased power coefficient per grenade from 0.3 to 0.3333 in PvP only.
  • Shrapnel Grenade: Reduced cooldown from 6 seconds to 5 seconds in PvP only.
  • Freeze Grenade: Increased power coefficient per grenade from 0.2 to 0.5 in PvP only.
  • Magnetic Shield: Reduced cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP only. Reduced cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and WvW.
  • Static Shield: Reduced cooldown from 40 seconds to 30 seconds in PvP only. Reduced cooldown from 30 seconds to 24 seconds in PvE and WvW.
  • Utility Goggles: Increased resistance duration from 3 seconds to 5 seconds. This skill now removes one damaging condition in addition to its other effects.
• Traits
  • Over Shield: This trait no longer reduces the cooldown of shield skills.
  • Medical Dispersion Field: Reduced healing conversion percentage from 10% to 7% in WvW.
  • Mechanized Deployment: This trait now removes a condition after using a toolbelt skill, in addition to its other effects.

• Skills
  • Coolant Blast: Increased base healing from 4,740 to 5,250 in PvP and WvW.
  • Photon Wall: Reduced cooldown from 45 seconds to 35 seconds in PvP only.
• Mechanist
  • Aim-Assisted Rocket: Attacks performed by mechs will no longer trigger this trait.
  • Mech Frame: Variable Mass Distributor: This trait no longer grants your mech additional bonus ferocity based on your attributes.

The full patch notes can be found on the official site.

So, what can you say about the recent nerf to the Tempest’s Gale Song?