Blink is a side-grade at best, but costs 60 spirit

Blink is an interesting idea for a spirit gem, it replaces the dodge roll with a different effect. Making it teleport rather than having travel time, letting it pass through enemies as well as over terrain. However, I find it lacking in it's current state, as despite costing 60 spirit, a non-insignificant amount, it can frequently be a downgrade.

I have no issues with it costing so much, I just believe it should be worth giving up another skill for.

My frustrations can mainly be split into two categories, so I'll do just that for ease of digestion

Blink Distance/Cooldown and Roll replacement:
Blink currently teleports 4+ meters, scaling with gem level, with a 3.8 second cooldown, scaling with quality.
Important to note, is that while blink is on cooldown, you are unable to even roll, effectively disabling your ability to quickly dodge for that duration.
And unlike roll, it doesn't slow you down during use, this means it's possible to use blink to traverse the map more quickly, similar to travel skills in PoE 1, which is what GGG seems to be heavily against with PoE 2.

This effectively results in a weird situation where it's not really useful in combat outside of escaping being surrounded, and is instead far better for increasing clear speed.

The effect is pronounced in boss fights where rapidly dodging multiple attacks might be required to avoid dying.
A cooldown this long makes it effectively detrimental against many bosses, and it's teleport distance is far longer than is needed for many boss rooms.

The cooldown is so prohibitively long, that the ingenuity support gem is all but required for it.
Scaling distance with level, and cooldown with quality is also very unusual, since a distance increase isn't even an upgrade all the time. Where as cooldown is always good.

Realistically, it should have a shorter cooldown, but also travel a shorter distance, making it closer to a combat blink than an actual travel tool.

Blink targeting:
Currently, blink teleports you in the direction your character is moving, just like roll, however as it's instant, there is no chance for you to direct mid-blink like you can with roll
Being able to change how blink targets would significantly increase useability.
It's current function should still exist, but just like dash in PoE 1, it should change functionality when "always attack without moving" is ticked.

My idea is that it should just function like any of the blinks in PoE 1, where it blinks towards the cursor, rather than in the direction.
I believe this would allow for better use in boss fight type scenarios, where you need to be at a specific location, which the current blink would significantly overshoot.


As it currently stands, the only situation where i've found blink to ever be worth using, is in Trial of the Sekhema, specifically for skipping over traps.

Edit:
I have just found out that blink ALSO costs mana if you are using archmage, directly adding anti-synergy

Think blink coudl cost less spirit.

The new buff to dodge roll makes blink even less appealing

The second wind support gem gives you an additional blink charge, this is super required. Once you have 2 charges, you're able to use 1 for map traversal, and always keep 1 in reserve to yeet out of a bad situation.
With 25%-30% increased movespeed from boots, you don't really need dodge roll, and blink becomes very effective.

What I have noticed, is that ingenuity/second wind's % cooldown reduction doesn't seem to effect blink? At least it doesn't show any cooldown reduction in the tooltip. I believe they need to fix this?

I'm using Blink right now and it made me go from never pressing roll to having an actual movement skill. It's pretty neat tbh.

Blink - Ingenuity(cdr) - Arcane Tempo (cast speed) - Mobility

Has anyone experienced the issue with being stuck in a slow-moving "walk" mode after blinking? Is this a bug I am running into or a feature I am unaware of?

You should watch Empyrians video about 0-cooldown Blink. Crazy stuff.

Definitely hearing you on complaints here and this is not going to be an ideal solution to everyone.

But I have a habit of only actually playing with 1 weapon anyway.

Ive got blink only available on my secondary weapon set. This means it doesnt actually reserve spirit nor does it remove my roll while my primary weapon is out.

When i swap to weapon set 2 (by raising my shield) I get access to blink and then can swap straight back to my Primary weapon + roll

Well, TBH I think that the whole system should be reworked.
I like the thing in PoE 1, that blink was not JUST a dodge roll but a skill with its use, like a fire trail or creating a chilled area at the area where a character ends up.
Generally speaking, I think it's fine that blink costs 60 spirit, BUT you should be able to make it to do something. Like, make it kinda similar to Cast On something (not exactly the same). Basically, give my blink something to do AFTER I used a dodge button. Cast a comet, Freezing skill like Ice Nova, or make it similar to the blink from sorc skill gems (Lightning Warp).
I generally like similar changes to be made for Leap Slam and Shield Charge. Like, press the dodge button and Jump and Run (short-term significant boost for movement speed) BUT let me automatically block with my shield or cast Earthquake on landing. And give me more options to choose from.
I generally think this would be the best solution in the long term. Like, you have your classic Dodge Roll as a basic movement ability (which it basically is now, but with no cooldown and being able to cancel animations; it is also on a separate button, unlike other skills). But you can swap in on Jumps, Blinks, Sprints and possible other option in the future.

blink is very 'OP' when compared to roll, not sure what grade and which side you looking at here OP