Talk: Smoke Powder Defense

new return for monks?

Depends on the situation. Return gets you out of trouble by movement (essentially super-kiting) while Smoke Powder Defense is a very short-lived, melee-only defense. If you're just running from Wars, Sins, or Dervs, this is probably fine and the recharge is a bit more reasonable. However, teleporting away from an incoming Broad Head Arrow or such is also great. Another problem is that this skill provides almost negligible benefits at zero attribute rank...2 seconds Blind is laughable, even if it is AoE. Return, on the other hand, teleports you unconditionally and the Cripple is just icing usually. I suppose you could use both if you really wanted - SPD to anger them, then Return out. Heh. (T/C) 06:54, 4 August 2007 (CDT)

What a cheesy name. The Hobo 06:55, 4 August 2007 (CDT)

"Vanish" would be a nicer name...you literally disappear for a split second and become half-intangible in a cloud of smoke. Poof! Or perhaps "Throw Deku Nut" to appease Zelda fans out there :P (T/C) 06:58, 4 August 2007 (CDT)

it was better when it was 30 second blind:( but a little imba

If its smoke powder shouldn't it cause blind and daze? Smoke Trap --74.171.70.24 04:50, 5 August 2007 (CDT)

My god....they stole my idea for a skill. i mean my original idea was much better, but it was elite also. I was thinking like stance, next time you take meele damage, all nearby foes are blinded and dazed for 1...4 seconds and you have a 75% chance to block incoming attacks for 5...10 seconds. That was my idea, but they kinda ripped it off and made it lame!Kalle Damos

This skill sucks :p.--Diddy Bow 11:13, 6 August 2007 (CDT)

ATTENTION ANET. No one will really use this skill unless the recharge is reduced, make the blind last longer, and/or make it give you duration of half dmg (like dark escape, for a short time of course). I woundn't mind then for this skill to cost you 10 energy. Personally I'd rather use 10 energy for the same duration of blind Blinding Powder gives you along with half dmg duration, seeing as this is a stance and you can't use it with another stance, while blinding powder has the advantage of you not having to be next to your target to use as well as a quite long lasting blind, for the cost of 5 energy. Please make this skill better!!! --Lann 18:04, 7 August 2007 (CDT)

It would be interesting if maybe the recharge was reduced to 15, the blind lengthened, or have it so for 10 seconds the next 1...3 hits cause half damage and enemies adjacent to you are blinded for 3...9 seconds. --A Child Of Midnight 23:34, 21 August 2007 (CDT)

Time for Entropy and his LAME tag? --BeeD 00:00, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

Time for Entropy and HER LAME tag. --Gigathrash 00:14, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

/agree

The Paintballer (T/C)

We shouldn't put the tag up until it's released in final form, because it might change before GW:EN comes out. Besides, Slippery Ground is MUCH more deserving of LAME atm --Gimmethegepgun 01:41, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

what the fuck are you all talking about? this stops melee spikes, it ownzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz —The preceding awesome-sauce comment was added by Skakid9090 (contribs). 23:37, 21 August 2007 (CDT)

lern2abuseimbameldervs, imo, Skakid. :P --Edru viransu 07:19, 29 August 2007 (CDT)

Well if we are not going to post the LAME template, why not the suggestion one instead? Kalle Damos

The following Improvements have been suggested for this Stance. The poster believes that any or all of the suggestions should be adopted by ANet.

Reduce The recharge time.
Extend the blind condition.
. Add in the Dazed condition.
Add a duration time to the half damage condition.

Kalle Damos

Wow, my suggestions are being noticed thats a first "Uses Impale on BeeD". But seriously, assassins have EXCELLENT energy management. Improving this skill at the cost of 10 energy would be much better. I love you Anet, please don't let us down :( --Lann 17:06, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

Hmm, we could start a signature list of who is and isnt in favor of using this skill, or start a signature list of who is or isnt in favor of it needing to be "improved". --Lann 17:09, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

I always wanted to be a "Shadow" assassin, never was really into deadly arts, except for a few skills such as Impale. The main hex I use is Shadowy Burden. I hope this skill makes alot of poofy smoke :) --Lann 17:11, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

Maybe if they changed it to

For 1...8 seconds, you take half damage, and whenever you are struck, that foe and all adjacent foes are blinded for 1...5 seconds. --Lann 13:12, 11 August 2007 (CDT)

Major anti-Spike any1? I this'll look pretty good on an LoD infuser imo, if you got any rejections feel free to comment. SilentFry 6:58 PM, 11 October 2007 (EST)

You guys deciding the skill is useless before it is even released are pathetic. This skill is the only way I could find to usually beat M. Bison as an assassin, as the other two assassin blinding skills don't last long enough if Bison purges one of them. With over 1000 skills in the game, any given skill doesn't have to be highly useful everywhere. Indeed, if a skill is highly useful everywhere, then apart from a few exceptions, it's unbalanced and needs a nerf. Quizzical 22:21, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

How is 5/20 second blind useful? And half damage one of maybe every 15 hits? There have to be better skills for either purpose. Exhibit A

Entrea Sumatae [Talk] 22:31, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Is that an assassin skill? No, it most certainly is not. Is it even available to someone who first reaches Gunnar's Hold? Again, no: one must clear well into the Charr storyline to get it. If the question is how to do something as an assassin, an answer of "don't be an assassin" is obnoxious. Quizzical 22:54, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

W/A tank[]

"I Meant to Do That!"

Riposte

Deadly Riposte

Lion's Comfort

All points to Tactics and Strength. Put up Gladiator's and Deadly Riposte, whack foes with your Sword to charge Riposte. When Gladiator's is almost ended, use Smoke Powder Defense for momentary blind, Grapple someone, then use "On Your Knees!" + "I Meant to Do That!" to recharge all Stances and get Adrenaline going again. Use Lion's Comfort as needed for self-heal.

The nice thing with this combo is that it gets around Smoke Powder Defense's long recharge, you need only a few seconds of Blind to get Gladiator's recharged, and as long as there is no stance removal, Adrenaline/Energy denial, or foes that can't be KD this should work indefinitely. I would love to try this against Mountain Trolls outside Droks. (T/C) 17:17, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

Looks cool i can't wait to try that on my warrior

Yea! Pick me!

The Paintballer (T/C) 13:12, 11 August 2007 (CDT)

vs Shield Bash[]

This blows Shield Bash out of the water. The ability to completely stop a warrior train on you when they're spiking in GvG is incredible. For a Mo/A with Return, this is some extreme survivability. Anyone who thinks this is underpowered really needs to rethink their position. —ǥrɩɳsɧƿoɲ〚₮/ḉ〛 22:19, 12 September 2007 (CDT)

Shield Bash works against Mel dervs, too. But, yes, this skill is quite promising. --Edru viransu 17:48, 13 September 2007 (CDT)

I agree, 4 second (Usual) AoE blind? Very nice if you ask me. Shield Bash is only superior vs some sin spikes, whereas this is superior to melee pummeling, which in most cases is more threatning. Also, it works against Rangers if you stand next to them =P Zulu Inuoe 02:42, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Amazing Vs Hammer warriors also. The also spike hard.Sepia 22:49, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

Against SP Sins[]

This is wonderful. If they are running Expose+SP, they can only get one on you, so you either kite or block... I think this is their counter to SPers. ~~ frvwfr2 (T/C) 12:52, 23 September 2007 (CDT)

I thought the counter to SPers was having more than 400 health? --Edru viransu 18:30, 26 September 2007 (CDT)

No, the counter to SP is player creativity (you counter yourself that way, not others) and nerfdom, we all know that. ‽-(єronħ) no u 00:49, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

The problem with nerfdom being that Izzy doesn't know how to nerf skills that need it or buff those that need it. He just kinda does it the other way around --Gimmethegepgun 00:54, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

Notes[]

In the notes it says May work well with Protective Spirit as the damage will be reduced by 10%.... Shouldn't that say to 10% not by 10%?--‎FireTock 20:20, 15 December 2007 (UTC)

Yup, and it's been changed now.--

(Talk) (Contr.) 20:22, 21 December 2007 (UTC)

I don't understand the Protective Spirit note After the damage is reduced to 10%, it is then halved by this skill's effect. 0.1×0.5 is the same as 0.5×0.1, so how would you determine which effect occurs first/does it matter in any situation anyway? NickdeClaw 07:59, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

I've clarified that in the article. -User:PanSola (talk to the

) 08:13, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Ha, I guess I was so focused on the problem with the second sentence that I didn't even realize it wasn't describing what Protective Spirit does. Might want to consider just removing the second sentence entirely, since now it's simply describing what the two skills do. NickdeClaw 08:58, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Le Sigh[]

I wish they added more useful Shadow Arts skills for SINS not for the monks. I start believing Shadow Arts was solely created for monk-pleasure so they can spam return and consorts all day long and be unkillable.... - oh I forgot, ANet hates melee. --Taki Fujiko 00:55, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

If you need a good skill for any SINS, use Imbaslap. Trust me, monks hate it, and just run AssaRemedy to stop the blind and keep pummeling. I myself use it on my sin (Imbaslap or not lol) because sins get pummeled sometime as well.--Alc ^^ 11:11, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Related Skills?[]

Deadly Riposte, since it causes a condition to the attacker, just like this skill?--Alc ^^ 10:15, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

Stance=/=Skill, AoE=/=Single target, generally completely different imo. Smoke Powder Defense doesn't even block. ---Ch aos- 10:43, 21 February 2009 (UTC)