Mass Effect 3: Multiplayer Balance Changes 21 Aug 2012

Another day, another nerf.  Here are the most recent changes Bioware posted for Mass Effect 3 Online Multiplayer:

Locust SMG
– Damage increased from [34.3-42.8] to [37.7-47.1]

Crusader Shotgun
– Damage increased from [486.6-608.3] to [530.9-663.6]

Kishock Sniper Rifle
– Damage multiplier for full charge increased from 150% to 175%

Biotic Charge Power (all kits excluding the Krogan)
– Base damage increased from 250 to 400
– Base force increased from 500 to 600

Biotic Charge Power (Krogan only)
– Base damage increased from 400 to 500
– Evolve 4 melee damage bonus increased from 25% to 40% and duration increased from 4 to 5 seconds

Biotic Charge Power (all kits including the Krogan)
– Rank 3 damage and force bonus increased from 20% to 30%
– Evolve 1 damage and force bonus increased from 30% to 40%
– Evolve 3 weapon damage bonus increased from 15% to 25% and duration increased from 3 to 5 seconds
– Evolve 4 power damage bonus increased from 25% to 40% but duration decreased from 15 to 10 seconds
– Evolve 5 chance to cause no cooldown increased from 25% to 33%

Electric Slash Power
– Base cooldown increased from 5 to 8 seconds

Biotic Slash Power
– Base cooldown increased from 5 to 8 seconds

Sticky Grenade Power
– Base damage increased from 750 to 900

Analysis:  Meh.  I don’t care about these changes that much since I don’t typically play as a Vanguard or use the weapons Bioware buffed this week (though now it appears the worthless Crusader shotgun might be usable with a 10% buff, so that’s good news).

I am slightly mad that they nerfed the Electric Slash for the N7 Shadow – given that you can’t really use Shadow Strike on Platinum, it’s annoying that they would mess with the Electric Slash, even though it is pretty powerful.  At least they didn’t nerf the Piranha again like they did last week – I can still do speed runs, yay!

What do you think about this week’s nerfing/buffing?  Let me know in the comments!