Vortex Gaming

· A major meta shift is anticipated in the Arena of Raid: Shadow Legends.
· This is expected to be the first large-scale change since the introduction of the Mercurial Set.
· The Mercurial Set, while loved by many players for its powerful defensive effects, is also disliked by some for being difficult to counter.

· The biggest current issue with the Mercurial Set is the lack of effective counter mechanics.
· Furthermore, the Total Guard stack resetting at the start of a champion's turn is a particularly annoying factor for fast champions.
· Due to these issues, effects like multi-hits, ally attacks, and skill cooldown increases act as counters to the Mercurial Set, but the effective champions are limited.
· Block buffs can also be a counter, but it has the disadvantage of being difficult to apply.

· While the Stone Skin Set has various counter options, the Mercurial Set is criticized for having relatively few counters.
· Currently, the Mercurial Set's Total Guard stacks can only be removed by dealing damage or ignoring skill cooldown increase effects.
· Accordingly, the game developer Plarium plans to introduce the 'Provoke' debuff as a new counter to the Mercurial Set.

· After the update, the Provoke debuff can be applied while ignoring Total Guard stacks.
· Additionally, champions under the Provoke status will not have their Total Guard stacks reset at the start of their turn.
· This change is expected to bring champions with Provoke abilities, who had faded from the meta, back into the spotlight.

· The developers hinted at an effect not commonly used in PvP, and that was the Provoke debuff.
· The Provoke debuff ignores Total Guard stacks and prevents the stack reset at the start of a champion's turn, neutralizing the Mercurial Set's core defensive mechanism.
· This enables new strategies different from existing counter methods.

· Gallus: Can Provoke for 2 turns (1 turn on champions), grants counterattack.
· Ashnar: Can Provoke for 2 turns (1 turn on champions), usable after awakening.
· Iron: AoE Provoke for 1 turn, grants counterattack, A1 hits twice.
· Bark: Can Provoke for 2 turns, grants accuracy buff.
· Naganth Archer: Can Provoke for 2 turns.
· Umbrantris: Can Provoke for 2 turns.
· Knights: Can Provoke after awakening.
· Anaxya: AoE Provoke and grants herself counterattack, A1 is single hit.
· Geral: AoE Provoke for 1 turn and grants himself counterattack.
· Angar: 75% chance to Provoke for 2 turns and reflects damage to all, grants himself counterattack.

· When using alongside Mercurial Set champions, it becomes crucial to ban or control enemy Provoke champions.
· Strategies involving banning Provoke champions or using champions that can nullify Provoke abilities will be necessary.
· Corina: AoE Provoke, debuff block, defense increase. Cannot be immune to Provoke when used with Mania.
· Harima: Potential for meta relevance after awakening.
· Vival: Can Provoke on weak hit.
· Hecaton: Can Provoke on counterattack.
· Tormund: AoE Provoke on non-frozen enemies (80% chance). Powerful when combined with Hillvia.
· Sigune, Narhon, etc., also have potential for use.

· With this update, champions like Gallus, Ashnar, Iron, Bark, Anaxya, Geral, and Angar are expected to benefit significantly.
· Angar, in particular, has the potential to emerge as the ultimate counter to the Mercurial Set.
· Hecaton also has the ability to ignore Stone Skin, allowing him to counter both Mercurial and Stone Skin sets.
· Anaxya and Bark also possess some Stone Skin ignore abilities.

· The usage rate of the Mercurial Set may decrease, and the use of the Stone Skin Set might increase again.
· This change is expected to have a significant impact on the game's meta, and players will need to explore new strategies.
· Some players have expressed concerns that the Provoke debuff might be too powerful a counter.

· In addition to the Mercurial Set nerf, there are opinions that some recently released OP champions are causing greater problems for the game's health.
· Concerns have been raised that powerful champions like Solena, Predator, and Techsion could disrupt game balance.
· Even if this update neutralizes the Mercurial Set, there are worries that the meta could remain unstable due to other OP champions.

· After the update is applied, we will monitor the changes through actual data, and further adjustments may be made based on player feedback.
· Players can share their initial thoughts on these changes and discuss which champions will benefit the most.
· This update is expected to be a significant change that will alter the game's landscape.