Gravity is too good for a 2 shard ability
Why do I say this?
Compared to Earthquake: It can hit enemies in any dodge state other than the I-frames of the manual dodge (earthquake can be jumped over and I-framed), It applies high blockstun and stamina damage when blocked (earthquake is greatly weakened in both these aspects when blocked), It has longer range, higher hitstun when it lands, and if it isn't I-framed you'll always receive the weight dubuff (as it does not get nulified by blocking). Sure, it doesn't have hyper armor like earthquake, but it casts fast enough to where even at close range it's easy to execute. The only thing earthquake does better is deal with multiple enemies, as gravity is single target. However, just because it can only be casted on one person, it shouldn't be this much stronger.
Earthquake is a well balanced 2 shard ability, but it's overshadowed by gravity in almost every aspect. Earthquake has many counters, and it doesn't guarantee the the most powerful attacks. Meanwhile, Gravity is super effective at both offense and defense whilst having little risk for its use. Earthquake can be hard countered by: A jumping state, being blocked, stopping attacks, breaking attacks, I-frames, and Gravity (lol). Gravity can only be fully avoiding with I-frames, and the reward is much greater when it lands.
It just boggles my mind how this thing hasn't had an increased shard cost or a nerfed yet.
Compared to Earthquake: It can hit enemies in any dodge state other than the I-frames of the manual dodge (earthquake can be jumped over and I-framed), It applies high blockstun and stamina damage when blocked (earthquake is greatly weakened in both these aspects when blocked), It has longer range, higher hitstun when it lands, and if it isn't I-framed you'll always receive the weight dubuff (as it does not get nulified by blocking). Sure, it doesn't have hyper armor like earthquake, but it casts fast enough to where even at close range it's easy to execute. The only thing earthquake does better is deal with multiple enemies, as gravity is single target. However, just because it can only be casted on one person, it shouldn't be this much stronger.
Earthquake is a well balanced 2 shard ability, but it's overshadowed by gravity in almost every aspect. Earthquake has many counters, and it doesn't guarantee the the most powerful attacks. Meanwhile, Gravity is super effective at both offense and defense whilst having little risk for its use. Earthquake can be hard countered by: A jumping state, being blocked, stopping attacks, breaking attacks, I-frames, and Gravity (lol). Gravity can only be fully avoiding with I-frames, and the reward is much greater when it lands.
It just boggles my mind how this thing hasn't had an increased shard cost or a nerfed yet.
Comments
I think the main reason because gravity is better than earthquake is because gravity focuses on a single target, like you said, and the only mode right now is 1vs1. Earthquake (and maybe other underused spells) might become much better in 3vs3, or it becomes a total disaster because you might end up hitting your own teammates aswell, we will see.
I also think Earthquake needs to have higher hitstun over all (but still barley lower than Gravity).
The cast speed of gravity is already slow enough, I often run around with 5 shards because I cant use gravity in a range where I can make use of the stun because most attacks can interrupt it when the enemy is too close while earthquake is fast enough to be used even when pressured. I think you can even counter an attack with earthquake just like with shockwave, so the aoe aspect of earthquake is not the only advantage it has over gravity.
I dont think the stun should be closer to gravity either since its much faster. To me, earthquake and gravity are like jab and sidekick, quick and weak vs slow and strong. If the stun of earthquake gets better then it will probably just switch with gravity and be equipped by everyone.
I think the hitstun of Earthquake on hit should remain the same, but against a guarding opponent it should deal around the same that it does to a non-guarding one. Considering Gravity still has insane hitstun when blocked in addition to a 5 second slow speed debuff. Gravity will still have higher hitstun overall, but blocking Earthquake would be a soft counter instead of a hard counter (like Gravity in that blocking only reduces hitstun slghtly).
It'd make Earthquake and Gravity pretty much on par with eachother. main differences being the opposite evasion counter (jumping and ducking), the slower cast time of Gravity (balanced out by debuff, and longer range), and the Hyper armor from Earthquake allowing it to tank a quick attack (balanced out by the lack of an additional offensive effect [Gravity's slow weight debuff]).
Gravity would still be used if Earthquake had longer shield stun, since it already has insane hitstun (when blocked or not). In addition to the weight class debuff, and stamina damage on block. In general, one is slower with a stronger stun and a bit more range (Gravity), but they each have an equal number of counters (fast jabs vs. stopping attacks, ducking vs. jumping attacks, and I-frames).
Fun fact: both counter eachother depending on distance (closer making Earthquake hit before Gravity, and long range Gravity breaking Earthquake's hyper armor).
I agree with the suggestions against blocking opponents but that combined with avoiding gravity by ducking still wouldnt set the counters for earthquake and gravity equal. I am not sure if remember correctly but I think you can even absorb earthquake (like shockwave) and punish that. Its rare to see earthquake right now so its hard to confirm.
Maybe adding guard breaking properties to earthquake would help there, but that could also be overkill when combined with the other suggestions.
Please keep it up!
So I guess the discussion I'm curious about here is should powers all be MEH? Or should they all be as useful as Shockwave?
If they are to stay, they should be about as counterable as Earthquake. Gravity actually needs a slight hitstun buff on direct hit. The stun while blocking is fine where it is right now.