You need to hit the other player with the axe during the gravity we’ll animation in order to trigger Insatiable Gravity Well. This has always been the case.
Sorry, i wasn’t clear. You need to hit during the activation of the ability, WITH the activation of the ability.
When you activate gravity well, you swing the axe in an uppercut motion, similar to Charge. You need to hit with that uppercut. You need to be standing against your target - not throwing the well away from you.
I can certify not , i’ve made some test and with the perk , you only need to be in a certain range from the center of the bubble to trigger the 2nd damage from the perk, no need to do anything else .
But i havent tested it recently so , my last test was a month ago i think.