Dev Workshop: Revisiting Wukong

[[DE]SpaceySarah]

Calling all Tenno and Wukong lovers!

Released in 2015, Wukong entered the Arsenal as an homage to Chinese folklore. Since his initial inception, we’ve undergone changes to Melee and beyond which have made this Warframe feel a bit left behind. As highlighted in our latest Devstream, exciting developments are in the works for Wukong - and we are not monkeying around. Read on to see how we plan on making all his abilities a bit more active and meaningful:

Statistic Changes

• Health will be increased from 100 to 150 (at max rank increased from 300 to 450).
• Shield will be decreased from 125 to 100 (at max rank decreased from 375 to 300).
  • Why? Since Wukong’s new kit now involves an armour buff, relying more on his health will enable a better synergy.
• Energy will be increased from 100 to 120 (at max rank 150 to 180).
• Sprint will be increased from .95 to 1.0.

Celestial Twin

• Replacing Iron Jab, Celestial Twin will allow for Wukong to shed a part of himself to call a supporting clone into action. The clone will attack from range while Wukong uses melee, or will use melee while Wukong uses range.
• Press ability again to command Wukong’s clone to attack a specific target with increased damage.
• Wukong’s clone will remain until it runs out of life.

Reasons for changes: Iron Jab is being replaced as it essentially exists as a weaker version of other powers. Wukong’s Ultimate can fulfill and surpass the role of Iron Jab, while fulfilling more of Wukong’s lore and creating a more powerful, synergized kit.

Cloud Walker

• Wukong evaporates into a fast-moving cloud of mist that will temporarily daze and paralyze enemies in his path. While in his cloud of mist, Cloud Walker has the additional mechanic of healing Wukong and his clone.
• His movement can be interrupted by attacking at any time.
• Cloud Walker has a much faster cast time which will no longer hold Wukong in place.
• Wukong will no longer trigger laser traps or doors while using Cloud Walker.
• Energy cost for Cloud Walker has been lowered.

Reasons for changes: Previously, Cloud Walker did not have many use cases as it was a slower and lesser stealth option than that of other frames. These changes make the Ability good for repositioning, more well-rounded - and WAY faster.

Defy

• Defy will now taunt enemies while Wukong and his clone gain temporary invulnerability with reduced movement speed. All damage is captured, stored, and dealt back in a single furious long range staff spin attack.
• Based on the amount of damage prevented by Defy, Wukong and his clone will receive a temporary armour buff.
• Press ability again to trigger spin early.

Reasons for changes: Previously, Defy’s invulnerability was not very interactive. This change features invulnerability while encouraging more tactical, active, and interesting gameplay techniques. As many of us used Defy to be immortal, it simply was too much of a set-it-and-forget it ability. Changing it to still offer invulnerability is important to us, and strengthening the rest of his Abilities makes up for the loss of complete god mode.

Primal Fury

• Primal Fury will feature a new specialized and streamlined combo for Wukong’s legendary Iron Staff. As a preview of the upcoming Melee 3.0 system, Wukong’s Primal Fury uses new combo routes with simplified inputs providing a safe, limited space to try out coming releases.
• Damage for Wukong and his clone is redistributed for a more powerful feel, with a much higher status chance, larger base range, and some slash.
• Casting no longer holds Wukong in place. With new energy requirements, the cast cost of Primal Fury was lowered but cast drain was increased to be turned off and on as desired.
• Animation has been trimmed.
• The range of Wukong’s Iron Staff is always long, comparable to top range Zaws, and no longer needs to build combo to scale range.

Reasons for changes: When Primal Fury was initially used previously, it felt weak due to short range and after some use felt strong. These changes will enable a stronger, more exciting play while featuring a taste of the upcoming Melee 3.0 system.

Passive

• 5 Levels of Immortality: Wukong has learned 5 techniques to avoid death whenever he takes fatal damage. Wukong will be randomly allowed 3 of these techniques per mission to avoid death 3 times. Each technique will make Wukong invulnerable for 2 seconds, restore 50% health, and provide a unique buff.
  1. Primal Forces: Triple elemental damage for 60 seconds
  2. Heavenly Cloak: Invisibility for 30 seconds
  3. Cosmic Armour: Invulnerable for 30 seconds
  4. Monkey Luck: Extra loot drops for 60 seconds
  5. Sly Alchemy: Orbs 4x more effective for 60 seconds

Augments

• Celestial Twin Augment: Replacing Iron Vault, Wukong will command his clone to perform a wide radius slam, suspending enemies.
• Enveloping Cloud: No planned changes.
• Primal Rage: Increased cap from 100 to 150%, increased bonus per kill from 10% to 15%. Drain now scales with duration, so the higher Wukong’s duration, the slower it drains, and when Wukong gets a kill the drain stops for 5 seconds.

Right now, Wukong is one of our less utilized Warframes. We hope that these changes will create a more interesting and engaging playing experience for current Wukong mains while helping this trickster find his way into the hearts of future fans. To celebrate the changes, all players who currently own Wukong will receive 3 Forma!

We’re really excited to share these early stages, but keep in mind that everything listed is still subject to change prior to release! Please feel free to share your constructive feedback and thoughts below on the developments coming to The Monkey King. As Lotus once said, “Everybody's got something to hide, Tenno. Except Wukong.”

*Wukong will be disabled in Conclave after his Revisit has launched until the team can properly balance him for the Conclave gamemode.

Update

Today, Rebecca and Pablo hosted a Wukong Dev Workshop stream where they answered some of your questions and showed gameplay of the changes coming to Wukong. We recommend checking out the full video if you have time, linked below:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GZRwhpCrB4&t=1s

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_adcUHClrDY

We also managed to track down some of your clone FAQs from today’s stream!

1) Will Wukong’s clone trigger alarms?

No.

2) Does the clone have its own combo counter and does it benefit from Blood Rush?

Yes, and yes.

3) Will the clone try to avoid Nullifiers? In the stream, he dominated a Nullifier, will that happen usually?

No. What happened in the stream today was a bit of a unique case. Typically, the clone will attempt to take on a Nullifier, and will take health damage over time while inside a Nullifer’s field.

4) Will a Wukong Specter also create its own clone?

No.

5) What happens to the clone when you go into Operator mode?

The clone will continue functioning while a player is in Operator mode, but will remain anchored to Wukong.

6) Can the clone use alt fire on weapons?

This will depend on the weapon, as some will have AI behaviour defined.

7) Can the clone use heavy weapons?

Nope!

[trunks013]

Well hi Sarah ^.^ welcome to the forums ^.^ 

[SSI_Seraph]

Please change this

il y a 15 minutes, [DE]SpaceySarah a dit :

Enveloping Cloud: No planned changes. 

That augment is absolute garbage. At least let allies keep the invis even after attacking.

[Hanayama_San]

seems a bit "meh" to me.

maybe i just hoped for a better rework, i don't know, we'll have to wait and see. this is the problem of not having a test perion to play these changes imo

[GinKenshin]

 

the passive is...unique?? but can you clarify a bit more on how it works? say when I start a mission, and I randomly roll 1, 2 and 3 of the passives, when I take fatal damage, does 1 of these 3 activate? 

Quote

To celebrate the changes, all players who currently own Wukong will receive 3 Forma!

can't you make this a thing whenever a frame gets reworked? 

 

some questions: 

what if I don't use a melee/ranged weapon on my wukong, what will my clone be using then? 

will these changes launch with his deluxe skin?


also....  @DeMonkey
 

 

[(PSN)big_eviljak]

I am so freaking stoked for these changes! Next to Rhino, Wukong us my favorite frame! That passive is superb!

[RandomXZ]

Welcome, Sarah. A new victim....staff member for the forums to devour. 

 

[redddfer44]

I just sold my Wukong, bye 3 Forma! This rework looks really promising, though.

[JacketUnHoly]

.

[(PSN)big_eviljak]

1 minute ago, SSI_Seraph said:

Please change this

That augment is absolute garbage. At least let allies keep the invis even after attacking.

Dont like it... Dont use it

[Dioxety]

Looks decent overall. Have to see in game first.

[(PSN)Instrumentalie]

Excited to try out the new rework. Clarmy representing

[_TheWoodsman]

Looks good, we´ll see

[SSI_Seraph]

à l’instant, (PS4)big_eviljak a dit :

Dont like it... Dont use it

How about... idk... making it good while they're looking at it.

[(PSN)big_eviljak]

Just now, SSI_Seraph said:

How about... idk... making it good while they're looking at it.

It looks good to me. Itll also make his clone invisible.

[SSI_Seraph]

Le 13/06/2019 à 19:58, (PS4)big_eviljak a dit :

It looks good to me. Itll also make his clone invisible.

and will break as soon as the clone attacks....

Edit: it will also probably be innate since if not it's completely counter-intuitive with:

Le 13/06/2019 à 19:38, [DE]SpaceySarah a dit :

Wukong will no longer trigger laser traps or doors while using Cloud Walker.

[Kylo.]

Sounds good, better at least.

The passive RNG is dumb in my opinion though, nobody wants RNG while loading into a mission. 

Will see how it plays out.

[(PSN)narutoStar24]

This looks good

[Ceryncross]

Not a Wukong main, but these changes really make me want to be one.

[-Virtuoso-]

Just now, Gyronex said:

Not a Wukong main, but these changes really make me want to be one.

my thoughts EXACTLY!

[toyetic]

Pablo did it we lit bois wukong mains rise

[Loza03]

Look pretty sweet and interesting! I'll look forward to trialling the new Melee combo string. It's an element I'm not... terribly enthused about compared to some of the other suggested changes, but I won't knock it until I try it.

Oh, and @[DE]SpaceySarah - Welcome!

 

 

@DeMonkey in the 0.1% chance you aren't immediately aware of this as the Wukong, I summon thee.

[GrrimGiirl]

As one of the few Wukong mains, I thank you, DE.

[Giantconch]

This looks pretty solid actualy. I'd comment on the changes before they go in but that doesnt seem like a wise move. I'll wait until after the changes drop to give feedback and hopefully needed tweaks can be made then.

 

*edit*

 

Defy in its current form is a broken 1-trick-pony ability. Cloudwalker is a joke currently, iron jab is essentially useless, his 4 is also a mobile meme. Though he will no longer have defy, having a clone with boosted damage you can send after a target, a better cloudwalker that could actually be useful in spy missions that doesnt feel like a glaciar receeding, and a potentially better version of primal fury which doesnt take a few hundred kills to actually start working like an exalted weapon should be a good improvement.

 

His passive sounds a lot like Defy currently but not an infinite unkillable state. To those saying he's ruined as a result of no longer having Defy, like, do you even Inaros bro? If you crutched Wukong on Defy when the going got tough then I hate to say it, but its time to git gud. ...I feel dirty saying that.

[(PSN)MJ-Cena7]

25 minutes ago, [DE]SpaceySarah said:

new energy requirements, the cast cost of Primal Fury was lowered but cast drain was increased to be turned off and on as desired.

If its anything like valkyr/ember/revenant energy requirment wukong will be doomed 

These frames are S#&$ already and are maily ruined because of the rediculous energy needed to do nothing Specially compared to excal/mesa/wisp who can do the same thing just better