Suggestions for Valk hotfixes | Forums

[Scoregasms2286]

Valk brings amazing utility we can all agree on that. Even in single fights she can shine if there is something nice to knock her opponent off of.

I played Valk when she was first introduced along with Lawbringer and Shugoki in the 2nd test of For Honor. Everyone complained that valk was too Overpowered and demanded nerfs, so valk went through extensive nerfs.

Now here is the release of For Honor and my long awaited reunion of Valkyrie. However, she is extremely displeasing to me. I am trying to love this new valk but it is so hard. Her speed is ridiculously slow, her range in minimal, and we all know she deals nothing for damage.

In the test that she was released she was extremely fast and had a longer reach. This release all of that is gone. A hybrid being 3 shot by an orochi? I can understand an assassin vs an assassin fight where their health is low but their damage is high. But a hybrid character being taken down so easily? If against the odds (3v1 for example) she stands no chance. However, in the OB PK was my main, and I reached reputation 2.5 on her, in elimination there was countless times I fought 3v1 or 2v1, sometimes 4v1, and I could come come out on top. The reason is the reactions seemed fluid with the assassins and I was able to apply bleeds to other attackers but dodging into them and causing my deflect proc. Something is just very off with how Valk feels compared to any other character i've played since the many tests this game has gone through.

On to my suggestion:

1. Increase Valks speed.
-Valk seems to move at the pace of a raider, conqueror, warlord, but deals significantly less damage, and is not rewarded for trades (Warlord for example, his heavies deal tremendous damage and can easily take the blow of the attacker and come out on top). Increasing her speed would also suggest the frequency of her attacks, landing valks simple light, light, light is impossible against any 7 year old who can tie his shoes. The attacks are so staggered out that after the first light, it is easy to counter her second and break her chain. This wouldnt be that big of an issue if she hit harder....but she doesnt. This would also apply to her leg sweep, while very effective, any character can dodge out of it with relative ease, I was having lawbringers and conquerors glide out of its range with no issue.

2. Increase Valks dodge distance (left or right)
-Compared to other classes (PK, Orochi, Berserker, Nobushi) her hunters strike is sub par. With PK I could use her sidestep strike to dodge many attacks with ease, some require timing like the raiders unblockable or Kenshi, along with PKs ability to react with my reflexes for wardens overhead light attack (the fastest light attack in the game if I am correct?) Valks sidestep is virtual non existent in the distance traveled compared to others. My point I am trying to make is that all other characters with a sidestep attack have a much easier time apply their dodge attack than valk, and they also react to the command a lot faster than valk does, Valk usually just takes the beating and I am left annoyed. If anyone has played Orochi as well...His Zephyr Slash is so easy to do, and inacts instantly. You can literally win 100% of duels just using Zephyr Slash to counter ever attack your opponent does and not even play aggressive.
-This would coincide with increasing valks speed. I am assuming increasing valks character speed, would also increase her dodging potential.

3. Decrease the time window for Valks Dodge Counter/Superior Light attacks
-With valk I do use her superior block with light attacks, problem is, its only applied successfully to heavies because of how long her start to initiate a light attack takes. I have done it very few times with light attacks, but that is only when we are in the same stance, if the attacker changes stances and I follow them, all valk does is block the attack instead of using her superior light attack to counter it as well.
-When I say decreasing the time window for the dodge counter, I am stating it feels off compared to PK and Orochi, they seem to have a much longer window to dodge in the direction of the attack and cause the deflect animation giving them more opportunities to apply Riposting Stab or Wing Gust/Hurricane Blast. With valk, the timing seems a lot harder to initiate the deflect animation than the previously mentioned. Maybe this is due to her speed....again...cause her startup of the dodge to activate a lot longer than others.

4. Increase valks range
-If you want valk to be a slower spear hybrid thats fine....But her range....Its that of an orochis overhead light attacks. Valks range compared to the other spear wielder(Nobushi) is not even close. Nobushi plays to her strength of having range, and even has a moveset that allows her to disengage and apply a bleed, keeping her opponent at range. Another option (thought I dont think makes a difference if her speed is increased) is to increase her range. Allow valk to play the range card as well, keeping her opponents at a range to poke them down (with her crappy damage) to allow her some type of battlefield advantage.

(4)Side Notes:
-Valks GB counter seems very off as well....Compared to all other heroes its frankly seems to activate at a.....0%

Valk just feels extremely under tuned, I understand she needed a nerf, but if you are dead set on playing valk, your only real options are now to spam your knockdowns (Rams Headbutt, spear sweep, shield tackle) and get 1 hit off, then do it again. It makes the play style of valk very unappealing. Not to mention all of the kids who will soon cry that "All valk does in knock me down get a hit on me and repeat" well thats because that is all we have in our kit to successfully use, everything else is practically counterable or takes Valk too long to initiate.

Take what I said however, you like. I just really wanted to main Valk again. But at this current state I cant, I will be more than happy to keep PK as my main and drink the salty tears of my foes.








TL;DR - Valks speed needs increasing, Valks dodge distance is crap, Valks Dodge counter is questionable, Valk has no range, GB is broken.

[Torstein8]

dont forget that a oroshi does more dmg with a light attack as the valkyrie with a heavy... the damage is far far faaaaaaaar beyone good and evil

[Aibjorn]

I personally would rather her get less range and take more stamina to knock someone over.

[Sergeant_5illy]

I used to love the valk as well but now I just can't bring myself to use her... I fought through to lvl 17 and I just can't see where her strength lies as pretty much none of her combo's do any damage (unless we are talking basic triple combo's which are easily blocked).
You have to rely on basic attacks for actual damage so keeping up your attack is essential.
I don't personally agree on the range. I think she is at a good place where she is atm considering her hand is on the middle of the spear and she uses both ends of the weapon to strike.
In short:
- A damage and/or stamina buff is a necessity if you want to keep this character competitive.
- Range is good as it is.

[Ravakin]

She isn't the light attack spam assassin she was in the previous tests. She has an incredibly punishing kit right now and I think could outpace warlord. All of her lights can counter into an attack, she has a built in superior deflect blocking mechanic that applies bleed, and her parry combos are devastating. From what you have said, you are a PK main, valk isn't the damage dealer assassin she was before. If you were to play warlord, you would think he was a crappy because his lights don't do tons of damage and his only "reliable" engage is a head butt, but I'm sure after playing against him you wouldn't dare say he is under powered. Valk just has significantly more options than the other classes had and until people are able to use ALL of her kit to its max extent its pretty much impossible to make a statement on balance.

[Scoregasms2286]

She isn't the light attack spam assassin she was in the previous tests. She has an incredibly punishing kit right now and I think could outpace warlord. All of her lights can counter into an attack, she has a built in superior deflect blocking mechanic that applies bleed, and her parry combos are devastating. From what you have said, you are a PK main, valk isn't the damage dealer assassin she was before. If you were to play warlord, you would think he was a crappy because his lights don't do tons of damage and his only "reliable" engage is a head butt, but I'm sure after playing against him you wouldn't dare say he is under powered. Valk just has significantly more options than the other classes had and until people are able to use ALL of her kit to its max extent its pretty much impossible to make a statement on balance.

See ive also mained the warlord as my go to heavy and I love his kit. His leap is incredible if timed right, absorb a light attack but you hit them with a powerful heavy, follow this up with a headbutt and a quick light attack. The warlords kit is actually really enjoyable and it just "feels" right, like when I go into all guard to block an attack quickly, no hesitation.

Thats where im getting at with increasing Valks speed, she just feels like a snail, whos hunter's strike hardly even dodges left or right, and if you do it too early, you take damage, where as orochi or PK once you see the red stance indicator you can use their sidestep and dodge it, with valk its almost timed with a parry (when the bar flashes red).

Valks kit just seems extremely sluggish and unresponsive, along with very punishing if you get caught in a combo (practically dead). Warlord, pshhh, you can take a beating all day and deal a ton of damage all while striking quickly with the headbutt, or trading with your uninterruptible heavy.

I dont want Valk to be a huge damage dealer, but I want her to have quickness with her attacks so she can actually complete a full combo (as I stated anyone who has played the game a fair amount can dodge, block, or parry valks light combo extremely easily, leaving valk open to an attack)

I have played duels with her and they are so/so, she really shines when she can knock players off ledges....In dominion and Elimination, I hardly ever got the final blow, I was only acting as aid for my allies, providing them with knocked down enemies for them to wail on and get the kill for me.

[Scoregasms2286]

I used to love the valk as well but now I just can't bring myself to use her... I fought through to lvl 17 and I just can't see where her strength lies as pretty much none of her combo's do any damage (unless we are talking basic triple combo's which are easily blocked).
You have to rely on basic attacks for actual damage so keeping up your attack is essential.
I don't personally agree on the range. I think she is at a good place where she is atm considering her hand is on the middle of the spear and she uses both ends of the weapon to strike.
In short:
- A damage and/or stamina buff is a necessity if you want to keep this character competitive.
- Range is good as it is.

Yea it was really a sad moment to find my old beloved character, a washed up hero that I dread playing. I think the range is fine as well, I was just giving suggestion to maybe improve her if the Devs do not want to change anything else.

I personally just want her agility/dexterity/whatever you want to call it raised, as I stated doing this would increase her damage output (allowing her ample time to perform her combo paired with her takedowns) and increase her survivability, making her hunter's strikes feel more fluid.

[m1y4gi]

Ok, i don't know this character as well as you do, but after this day i would honestly agree, that the valkyrie is underpowered. i had some pretty good rounds with her, but even if you bring some good attacks, dodge the right way and stay long in a fight, you have the feeling of being useless, because your opponent always got more hp after all. The only way to deal a useful amount of damage is to spam those light attack chains.

She needs better heavy attacks.

[Dehumanizer86]

Don't think i ever managed to pull off a full light attack chain. I always get blocked or parried, or just simply dodged, after the initial attack.

[v4c.TomBrody]

She isn't the light attack spam assassin she was in the previous tests. She has an incredibly punishing kit right now and I think could outpace warlord. All of her lights can counter into an attack, she has a built in superior deflect blocking mechanic that applies bleed, and her parry combos are devastating. From what you have said, you are a PK main, valk isn't the damage dealer assassin she was before. If you were to play warlord, you would think he was a crappy because his lights don't do tons of damage and his only "reliable" engage is a head butt, but I'm sure after playing against him you wouldn't dare say he is under powered. Valk just has significantly more options than the other classes had and until people are able to use ALL of her kit to its max extent its pretty much impossible to make a statement on balance.

What are you talking about. Her lights are slower than other lights and has trouble superior blocking it. The deflect is terrible, it has low active frames AND it usually whiffs because it's small hit box.

Her parry combos arent devastating, its just guard break into heavy.

Her sweep misses after shield charge if they dodge ANY direction EVEN against walls.

And even if you manage to land sweep, you barely get any damage consistently, you usually whiff unless against a wall.

She has a lot of options, but it's inconsistent and rarely leads to damage.

Her shield bash doesn't lead to damage, doesn't combo with sweep. Sweep only leads to damage in perfect situations and can be easily dodged and heavily punished.

Superior Block on lights is the only decent thing, but it's still not consistent.

And one of her best things, her backwards all block into charge, the guardbreak move out of it doesn't even work (bug) so people just dodge for free.

And unlike other top tier classes, her clearing isn't fast at all, there is no fast , low damage surprises.