Is melee at a disadvantage?

Is melee at a disadvantage?
Yes.

Does it matter?
Not really.

You can still soloclear pretty much any content in the game if you got semi-good gear, the disadvantages only appear at specific content (like Uber Atziri) or while grouping (monsters are dead before you even attack because of some super screenclearing ranged dude).

You are slower, you are not as safe as at range.

But if you really want to melee, go ahead, you can deal with this.

the thread title should be "are two handed melee builds at a disadvantage"

"

Kiluvaras wrote:

the thread title should be "are two handed melee builds at a disadvantage"

THIS +1

I'm a melee build marauder, using a 2 handed mace. Lacking DPS is one thing, feeling like I am constantly shortchanged in defence is the other. You really can't stand toe to toe with the big bads in the game, and you're kiting around with the ranged guys in your party, except they continue to do DPS and you're not.

Yes, I do regret it from time to time. Kind of stopped playing because I didn't want to use a ranged build, nor have the patience to level one from scratch.

Is melee at a disadvantage relative to ranged: Yes (anyone who has played multiple melee and ranged builds knows that).

Is melee still viable: Yes (anyone who has played multiple melee and ranged builds knows that).

Is 2H the most disadvantaged melee: Yes (anyone who has played multiple melee 1h and 2h builds knows that).

Yes it is in terms of clear speed but it's largely due to the hugely more effective mechanics such as proliferation, chaining and the increased range of non-melees.

Although, make no mistake high-end melee still clears very well, e.g. crit Reave or Flicker.

The main problem is defensive options aren't really relevant in this game at all. Most of the top tier (max block/spell block, lightning coil) defensive options can easily be build on a ranged character. Correct me if I'm wrong, but GGG's intention of wanting Strength character to use armor is pretty much ignored by the population because Armor is just a horrible form of damage mitigation.

Sure hope GGG works on this at some point. It makes me sad that two handed guys are so bad in this game.

2H melee is in the worst state it has ever been in. Ranged characters can easily get more damage and defense compared to 2H tanks, which is just flat out wrong. Armor needs a buff and pretty much every 2H node needs substantial increases to make it even close to viable. If I am walking around with a maul, I should feel like a badass. Instead, I am wearing a sign saying, "Easy kill here!"

Problems right now:
1) No block chance (unless you have a staff)
2) Less defenses without said shield means less physical reductions, resists, and life
3) 1H weapons can get 70-80% of 2H base damage with higher attack speed

Some fixes that would help 2H'ers
1) Lower base block chance on shields and increase passives for blocking to compensate
2) Allow 2H weapons to have massive life mods (100-300 hp)
3) Allow 2H weapons to have base damage reductions or max resists mods
4) Better passives that include life and damage reductions for 2H weapons

"

_wuv_ wrote:

no

get Master of the Arena, get AOE either with melee splash or the melee skill itself, get life leech, learn to kite

Kite? With melee? Do you even know what kiting means?
Also, nothing of the above confirms that melee is NOT in a disadvantage, which it clearly is.