For the 2.65 update, the Dofus team is looking into a case: the Pandawa. The class is overpowered in both PvM and PvP (but especially in PvM). Its tanking and placement abilities affect the overall balance of game modes, requiring a major overhaul of these abilities.
DOFUS 2.65: Redesign of the Pandawa, recap of nerfs and up
The objectives for this long balancing of the Panda are numerous. The first part, obviously, is a reduction in its overall power. Spells like Vulnerability or Fermentation pass on the grill, while other more forgotten gain a new youth. This is particularly the case of Absinthe which, at the start of BETA, steals life for 2 AP.
More generally, the elementary paths are completely transformed to be able to make all the spells of the same element usable and thus dust off unused options. In short, the Pandawa doesn’t really gain any new tools. He picks them up.
General and central mechanics
The first thing to note is the proper identification of the “Drunk” and “Sober” states. The latter is also activated directly by default at the start of the fight. Several spells also allow you to get drunk, in addition to Bombance and Picole. Note that all impose a loss of 1 MP and the duration is normalized to 2 turns. You can find below the complete list of spells allowing to pass drunk. Be careful, some do not do it in all cases:
- Bistouille
- Bombance (also allows it to be removed)
- Picole (also allows you to remove it)
- Alcoshu
- liquor
- Absinthe
- Barrels (if thrown)
| Spell | Amendments | |
| Bombance | Max stack: None => 3 AP per turn Casts per turn: Infinite => 6 No longer unbewitches (a dedicated spell has been added) | Nerve |
| booze | Max stack: None => 3 MP per turn Casts per turn: Infinite => 6 Reduction of damage suffered: 25 => 20% | Nerve |
Karcham and Chamrak
Rest assured, the two spells are not modified in their casting conditions. On the other hand, a big nerf arrives to compensate: Carrying an ally fixes him the Pacifist state. This measure seems to be there to counter existing abuses in both PvP and PvM. So, while it’s still possible to go down to strike and then go up with Rock Climb, the constraints balance the option a little more.
In return, the Pandawa has two very (too) friendly UPs. He will now gain 50 power for 2 turns (cumulative 5) each time he carries an entity, ally or enemy. We can easily compensate here for the loss of Zatoischwan’s Wrath and a nice combo with Inebriation, also giving power (a small total of 400). Finally, it is worth noting that Karchamrak’s PA cost is refunded if the panda bears one of his summons.
Map of Pandawa variants with Dofus 2.65
In order to properly situate your options as a Pandawa, be aware of the new placement of certain spells, such as Water of Life, Stretcher or Cascade, becoming even more viable. Beyond these variants, you can also find below the summary of the spells that can be cast according to your state and its effects.
| Drunk | Sober | Both | Different effects |
| Ribote Flame Breath Alcoholic Breath Defilement Vulnerability Fermentation Spirits link Pandanlku | Vertigo Stretcher Water of Life Cascade Karcham Shamrak Propulsion Stabilization rock climbing Bamboo | Pandju horror Consolation Drunkenness Drunkenness Brewing Prohibition Bamboo milk | booze Bombance Explosive Palm Absinthe Explosive Flask Eviction Hangover Bistouille Pandatak Distillation Ethyl Alcoshu Blues Numbness liquor Nausea Schnapps Pandawa Hand |
Spells on a case-by-case basis
In addition to the removal of spells like Wrath of Zatoischwan, the elementary paths have been completely updated. All spells can be used simultaneously in exchange for some sacrifices. Indeed, several old utility spells now inflict damage and each lane has at least one. The multi-element becomes even more interesting despite some difficult choices, such as Eau de Vie or Bistouille.
For most options in all cases, different effects will apply depending on your state. Overall, the Drunk state allows you to inflict more damage in exchange for its range and additional effects, such as lifesteal, are unlocked.
rock climbing
The once very specific spell will slot into your gameplay considerably. Indeed, the Game Design team has chosen to make it almost essential to counterbalance Stabilization. This unlocks the possibility of riding on his Bamboo or his Spirit Link, making it the first variant to technically impose another choice of variant. We do not know if this choice is final, but it is nonetheless strange.
Return of Bamboo milk
The mythical Pandawa debuff is back with Dofus 2.65! It allows as before to unbewitch 4 turns while returning to the Sober state. Small specificity this time all the same: the spell can also be cast without a Drunk state! The whole thing costs 2 AP for 3 rounds of recovery.
Pandawa Hand
The ways of Game Design are impenetrable and Hand of Pandawa is the typical example. It would be the “Ultimate” spell of the class, with a high cost in AP and a long relaunch interval. An assumed and absurd power, the latter removing 500 power for 1 turn and inflicting up to 100 critical hit damage, almost as much as Iop’s Wrath. It is also double the normal value, 50, unheard of.
Worse, with the Drunk state, the damage line in the best element splits into 5 lines. A gold mine for do crit stuff with a rather aberrant balancing despite the casting conditions. You have to see it to believe it.
Way Fire
Land route
Water Way
Air way
Utility spells
Pandawa Class Set Note
Item effects have been completely overhauled from A to Z. Even the famous Getas bonus with the deactivation of line of sight on Vulnerability is found on another item for this update. Not all the changes are necessarily interesting, but you can still remember that:
- The Lithic Hat deactivates the inline casting of the Nausea spell and reduces the AP cost of Varrape by 1
- The Cloak Wera disables the line casting of the Vertigo spell and increases the number of casts per target for Consolation and Terror
- The Boo Strap disables Vulnerability’s line of sight, reduces Fermentation AP cost, Pandawasta and Pandanlku revives and finally makes Bamboo’s range modifiable
- The Getas Bernacle change the AP cost of Barrels to 1, deactivate the Propulsion line throw, increase the Range of Cascade by 1 and the maximum number of Pandju throws per target by 1
- The Taunt Ring increases the range of Eau-de-Vie by 2
Findings
To close this article around the redesign of the Pandawa, there is a lot to say. We can salute the desire to keep the same gameplay by reducing the power of the mechanics, in particular the Carry/Throw. The macro vision is consistent, especially for the elements despite inconsistencies (the Air route, often found in utility variants). The balancing is also completely to be reviewed, with currently overpowered options and drastically increasing the Pandawa’s capacities with legendary fluidity. Some choices are even disturbing, like Hand of Pandawa, going against recent Game Design logic.
In any case, the Pandawa will always be very powerful with Dofus 2.65. If some spells have actually been nerfed, it is clear from its redesign with an update to its kit and more flexible options. The whole is to be closely monitored in BETA, with a huge amount of work to be done to consolidate and correct this rather incomplete balancing.