Blizzard has recently announced several class tuning adjustments that aim to balance gameplay based on data and feedback received from the community. This article delves into these changes, slated to take effect after the next scheduled weekly maintenance.
As we continue to closely follow gameplay data and player feedback, we will soon make several tuning adjustments to classes that are over- and under-performing in group content as well as PvP. The following are changes that we intend to make with scheduled weekly maintenance (Tuesday, August 22 in this region).
Classes
Druid
Demon Hunter
Mage
Fixed an issue that caused Mass Invisibility to cancel inconsistently, with no direct actions taken.
Developers’ notes: This change also adjusts the timing of when Mass Invisibility is removed from spell casts. Mass Invisibility now cancels when beginning a cast, instead of when it ends, which is consistent with other invisibility effects.
Fire
Flamestrike damage reduced by 6%.
Flame Patch damage reduced by 8%.
Incendiary Flames can now only proc once every 10 seconds (was 8 seconds).
Conflagration damage reduced by 10%.
Developers’ notes: Fire Mage damage in heavy AoE scenarios is still higher than we’re comfortable with. We intend these adjustments to further rein it in.
Monk
Mistweaver
Ancient Teachings now transfers 150% of damage done (was 135%). Does not apply in PvP combat.
Yu’lon’s Grace can now stack up to 15% of maximum health (was 10%) and stacks 3% per second (was 2%).
Chi Cocoon’s absorb is increased by 100%.
Enveloping Breath’s healing decreased by 12%.
Developers’ notes: We’re shifting more of Celestial Harmony’s throughput into Chi Cocoon, with the intent of keeping the talent’s power level similar in raid, and increased in dungeon content.
Paladin
Holy
All damage decreased by 10%.
Blessing of Summer now causes attacks to deal 20% additional damage as Holy (was 25%). Blessing of Summer remains at 30% in PvP combat.
Developers’ notes: Holy Paladin damage output has been higher than we would like, considering their toolkit as a whole.
Rogue
Assassination
Warrior
Protection
Defensive Stance’s reduction to damage dealt reduced to 5% (was 10%).
Spell Reflection’s damage reduction increased to 25% (was 20%).
Vanguard’s increase to stamina increased to 35% (was 30%).
Player versus Player
Death Knight
Demon Hunter
Havoc
Chaos Strike/
Annihilation damage is now increased by 10% in PvP combat. Eye Beam damage is no longer increased in PvP combat (was increased by 16%).
Isolated Prey (Talent) no longer has reduced duration bonus for Chaos Nova in PvP combat (was reduced by 50%).
Soulrend (Talent) damage is now reduced by 8% in PvP combat (was reduced by 17%).
Essence Break (Talent) damage is now reduced by 10% in PvP combat (was reduced by 20%).
Essence Break (Talent) bonus damage for Chaos Strike and Blade Dance is now reduced by 19% in PvP combat (was reduced by 38%).
Druid
Evoker
Augmentation
Verdant Embrace healing decreased by 25% in PvP combat.
Molten Blood is now 50% effective in PvP combat (was 70%).
Panacea healing decreased by 20% in PvP combat.
Ebon Might is now 80% effective on allies.
Ebon Might now increases the Augmentation’s damage by 30% in PvP combat (was 20%).
Prescience now grants 6% critical strike chance in PvP combat (was 3%).
Developers’ notes: The Augmentation Evoker ability to extend game length has been more effective than we would like, so we’re decreasing the effectiveness of some healing spells. Additionally, we’re shifting more of Ebon Might’s output into the Evoker themselves.
Hunter
Monk
Priest
Discipline
Power Word: Shield is no longer reduced by 15% in PvP combat.
Aegis of Wrath increases Power Word: Shield by 20% (was 30%) and decays by 2% (was 3%) every second in PvP combat.
Developers’ notes: Aegis of Wrath was too impactful in PvP due to its ability to deal with burst damage, so we’re reducing Discipline’s reliance on the talent and baking in some of its power to Power Word: Shield baseline. This should encourage more build diversity and give Discipline a small bump up in PvP.
Shaman
Elemental
Lava Burst damage is now increased by 12% in PvP combat.
Lightning Bolt damage is now increased by 45% in PvP combat (was 31%).
Volcanic Surge now increases the damage of Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning by 35% (was 25%) and increases the damage of Lava Burst by 55% (was 45%).
Skybreaker’s Fiery Demise now increases the critical strike chance of Flame Shock by 25% in PvP Combat (was 50%).
Fire Elemental now causes Flame Shock to deal damage 15% faster in PvP Combat (was 33%).
Developers’ notes: We’re adjusting some of Elemental’s damage away from Flame Shock and into instant damage spells to improve the spec’s finishing power, which has been lacking this season.
Enhancement
Ascendance’s immediate damage is reduced by 50% in PvP combat.
Windstrike now deals 25% additional damage in PvP combat (was 45%).
Stormstrike’s damage is increased by 60% in PvP combat (was 45%).
Ice Strike’s damage increased by 45% in PvP combat.
Developers’ notes: We’re evening out the rate at which Enhancement Shaman deals its damage, as it is more reliant on inconsistent procs than we would like.
Warlock
Warrior
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