Hello guys, how’s it going? My name is Librarian Husky. This week, we’re seeing some substantial increases for a handful of playstyles, with Mages probably taking home the biggest amount of updates.

Mages Receiving Significant Updates

It feels like Mages are getting so much attention, not only during the development of Alpha and Beta, but also through continued updates for the live launch of Season 1 content. These updates are becoming a regular occurrence for Mages, with a noticeable amount of tuning being made.

Death Knight Adjustments for PvE

Starting off, we have the class of Death Knight. For PvE content, there aren’t a lot of changes. The primary adjustment we are seeing is to Troll Bane’s Icy Fury ability, focusing mainly on the slow effect that it provides.

Control Adjustments in Mythic+ Dungeons

In PvE content, specifically Mythic+ dungeons, the control for Death Knights is getting slightly reduced. However, there are still plenty of other ways for Death Knights to slow enemies within PvE content. Despite these changes, Death Knights still maintain solid control abilities overall.

Unholy Death Knight Nerfs in PvP

For PvP, control is further lessened by a slight nerf to the PvP talent, Doom Burst. This adjustment reduces how many festering wounds your Death Coils can pop. While Unholy Death Knights already have a base popping of festering wounds through Sudden Doom, Doom Burst used to provide a bit more burst and a movement speed reduction on enemies, which is now toned down.

Demon Hunter PvP Adjustments

Demon Hunters aren’t seeing many changes for raids and dungeons, but they are receiving some PvP adjustments aimed at addressing their dwindling participation in rated content. To give them a boost, their basic Fury generators, such as Demon’s Bite and Demon’s Blade, are seeing a 10% damage increase in PvP combat, alongside other basic abilities like Chaos Strike.

Demon Hunter Damage Buffs

Annihilation is seeing a 10% damage increase, while Blade Dance also receives a 10% boost alongside its demonic counterpart, Death Sweep. This means a 10% damage increase across all basic combat abilities for Demon Hunters. While this may give them a bit more bite in their damage output, it’s uncertain if this will significantly impact their overall performance, as mobility and survivability remain untouched.

Druid PvE Adjustments

For Druids in PvE content, there aren’t many changes, though Feral Druids are receiving a quality of life adjustment with Rampant Ferocity. Normally, when using Ferocious Bite, your Rip and AOE damage are centered around the target of your Bite, which could make positioning awkward. Now, instead of the AOE radiating from the target, it will radiate from the Feral Druid, ensuring all nearby enemies take damage.

Improved AOE Control for Feral Druids

This update allows Feral Druids to micromanage their AOE damage better, ensuring all targets within range, especially those with bleeds, are cleaved effectively. While mostly a quality of life improvement, this change should help Feral Druids control AOE damage distribution more precisely.

Restoration Druid Healing Buff

Restoration Druids are receiving a 4% overall healing increase, but this buff applies only to PvE content and not to PvP. This adjustment aims to improve their healing output in PvE scenarios, while leaving their PvP performance untouched.

Feral Druid PvP Adjustments

In PvP, Feral Druids are seeing some power shifts, with less damage focused on Ferocious Bite and more transferred into their bleed effects. These changes come as a way to balance their burst potential, which has been out of control in certain situations.

Saber-tooth and Taste for Blood Nerfs

The Saber-tooth talent, which increases Bite damage, will now provide only a 10% increase instead of 15%, with its periodic effect boost reduced from 3% to 2%. Taste for Blood is also being heavily nerfed, boosting Bite damage by 6% instead of 12% in PvP.

Buffs to Rip and Rake

While Bite damage is reduced, bleed abilities like Rip and Rake are getting significant buffs. Rip now deals 25% more damage, up from 15%, and Rake’s initial damage is increased by 25%, while its periodic damage receives a 10% boost, up from 6%. These adjustments aim to shift Feral Druid’s damage focus to bleeds, making them more consistent in PvP.

Evoker PvP Adjustment

For the Evoker class, the main adjustment is focused on Devastation, where the ability Eternity Surge is seeing a 15% damage reduction in PvP. This change will slightly reduce their burst and cleave capabilities, but it’s not a significant shift beyond that.

Beast Mastery Hunter AOE Buffs

Beast Mastery Hunters, on the other hand, are seeing some improvements. While their single-target damage has been decent, their AOE damage needed attention. The Beast Cleave talent is being buffed to 90% cleave damage, up from 80%, which should make pet damage more effective overall.

Kill Cleave Buff

In addition to Beast Cleave, the Kill Cleave talent is also being updated, increasing its damage to 90%, up from 80%. These buffs should help address the recent decline in BM Hunter’s AOE performance, providing a much-needed boost to their overall damage output.

Mage Class Adjustments

Mages are also seeing a host of buffs, particularly for the Fire and Frost specializations. Along with these changes, a number of PvP adjustments are being made to further improve Mage performance across different scenarios.

Fire Mage AOE Buffs

In the AOE department, abilities such as Flamestrike are being further increased by 15%, which is significant and should help Flamestrike builds become more effective. Phoenix Flames is also getting a 20% increase, making it a fantastic ability for cleave damage. Additionally, Living Bomb is being buffed by 10%.

Living Bomb’s Return

Living Bomb was a fun talent during the early Alpha and Beta periods, but it’s been underutilized in live play. Over the last few weeks, the developers have continually buffed Living Bomb, and there’s hope that it will soon become a viable option for players, bringing back the fun of the original build. However, in its early stages, it was too powerful to make it to live servers without adjustment.

Living Bomb’s Limited Playability

It’s frustrating that many players still cannot experience the good version of Living Bomb, as it hasn’t been a truly viable option since the release of War Within. Maybe one day they’ll get it right, but for now, it’s hard to tell if the current changes will be enough to bring it back to prominence.

Frost Mage Buffs

The Frost specialization is also receiving substantial buffs. Ray of Frost is being increased by 15% in both PvE and PvP content, which could improve talents like Cryopathy. Additionally, Glacial Spike is getting a 20% damage boost in dungeons and raids, but not in PvP, making it a more competitive option compared to Arcane.

PvP Adjustments for Frostfire Spec

The upcoming update brings further adjustments to the Frostfire specialization. Frostfire Bolt is seeing a significant 100% damage increase in PvP, up from the previous 75% increase. This additional 25% boost, alongside the Frostfire Empowerment effect, which makes the ability 100% crit, adds notable power to the spec.

Frostfire Bolt Adjustments

Frostfire Bolt’s burst damage is being reduced to a 30% increase, down from the initial 50% in PvP. This change makes the damage more consistent, with less burst and random proc damage. While the overall burst is lower, the trade-off favors sustained damage, which could benefit Frost Mages focusing on a Frostfire or Frostbolt build, with Frostfire Bolt replacing Frostbolt in some cases.

Arcane Mage PvP Buffs

Arcane Mages are seeing some significant buffs in PvP. Arcane Blast’s damage has been amplified, increasing from a 15% PvP gain to a 45% boost, which is a substantial upgrade. Additionally, Arcane Missiles are buffed by 20%, and Arcane Barrage is getting a 15% increase, improving the basic abilities of the Arcane specialization.

Magus Spark Burst Reduction

While Arcane Mages are receiving hefty increases to their basic abilities, their burst potential is being toned down. The burst damage from Magus Spark is now 50% less effective in PvP. This creates a balance between sustained damage from abilities like Missiles and Barrage, while reducing the overall burst potential in PvP combat.

Shift to Sustained Damage for Arcane Mages

Arcane Mages may no longer rely on being a “one-hit wonder” class, but instead focus on sustained damage. This change could benefit Arcane Mages by allowing for a more consistent damage output, rather than relying on burst windows. This shift aligns with the overall adjustments being made across different specializations.

Fire Mage PvP Buffs

For Fire Mages, Fireball damage is being increased by 100% in PvP, up from the previous 35% boost. This is a massive upgrade for Fireball, but if you’re playing with the Frostfire build, Fireball gets replaced by Frostfire Bolt. There’s some confusion on whether these buffs apply separately to Frostfire Bolt and Fireball, or if they stack, but both spells are seeing substantial boosts in PvP.

Potential for Frostfire and Fireball Playstyles

Whether you’re playing Frostfire or a traditional Sunfury build, both Frostfire Bolt and Fireball are receiving significant 100% buffs in PvP. With talents like Glass Cannon further increasing Fireball, Scorch, and Ignite damage by 30%, though at the cost of health, Fire Mages may find themselves with powerful burst setups they can activate periodically.

Greater Pyroblast PvP Talent Adjustment

In addition to these changes, the PvP talent Greater Pyroblast is also being adjusted, but the details regarding its reduction are not fully specified. This tweak may impact Fire Mages’ overall burst potential in PvP, adding more balance to their toolkit.

Greater Pyroblast Adjustment

The cast time for Greater Pyroblast is being reduced from 4.5 seconds to 4 seconds. However, it will now deal 30% of the target’s maximum health instead of 35%. While the ability is faster to cast, its overall damage is slightly reduced, making it a more balanced tool in PvP.

Frost Mage PvP Changes

For Frost Mages, Ice Lance’s damage is being reduced from a 45% PvP increase to a 25% increase, meaning it’s still buffed, but by a smaller margin. Additionally, Frostbolt is getting a significant PvP buff, now increasing by 150% instead of 118%. There’s some debate on whether the Frostfire buff also affects Frostfire Bolt, and this will likely require testing to clarify if the two abilities overlap.

Ray of Frost and Ice Barrier Changes

Ray of Frost is seeing another 5% damage increase in PvP, providing more offensive power. However, defenses are being slightly weakened, with Ice Barrier’s absorb reduced by 40% in PvP, down from the previous 25% reduction. This makes Frost Mages more vulnerable despite their increased damage.

Mistweaver Monk PvP Buffs

Mistweaver Monks are receiving PvP healing buffs. Enveloping Mist’s healing is increased by 20%, and Vivify’s priority healing is also getting a 20% increase. These adjustments aim to improve single-target healing effectiveness in PvP content for Mistweavers.

Mistweaver Monk Healing Strategy

If you’re struggling to provide as much healing as possible to your allies, you can now combine abilities like Enveloping Mist and Vivify to funnel significant healing into a single target. This improvement could help you top off your allies more effectively in high-pressure situations.

Holy Paladin PvP Adjustments

Holy Paladins are seeing PvP adjustments, primarily to mana regeneration and basic healing abilities. Mana regeneration, previously reduced by 35%, is now only reduced by 40% in PvP combat. Additionally, basic healing spells like Holy Shock and Word of Glory are buffed by 15%, and Holy Light is increased by 20%, enhancing the overall single-target healing potential.

Herald of the Sun and Healing Synergy

The buffs to Holy Shock and Word of Glory also enhance the Herald of the Sun builds, making them more viable in PvP. You can synergize Holy Light with Hand of Divinity or Divine Favor to maximize healing efficiency, offering more substantial single-target healing for Holy Paladins.

Shadow Priest PvE Buff

For Shadow Priests in PvE content, there’s a straightforward 4% damage increase overall. While this change doesn’t introduce any new talents or build adjustments, it’s a small buff that will be welcomed by players looking for improved damage in dungeons and raids. Although not game-changing, every little boost counts.

Discipline Priest PvP Adjustments

The Discipline Priest talent “Weal and Woe” is seeing a reduction in its effectiveness for Power Word: Shield in PvP. The bonus amplification is reduced to 50% overall effectiveness. Discipline Priest shields have been notably strong, so this nerf will make “Weal and Woe” less impactful in PvP, balancing their defensive capabilities.

Holy Priest PvP Buffs

Holy Priests have struggled with representation in PvP, particularly in solo-rated content. To give them a boost, both Holy Word: Serenity and Holy Word: Sanctify are being buffed by 40% in PvP. This significant increase should make these major abilities more impactful, improving the burst healing potential for Holy Priests.

Shadow Priest Voidform Nerf

While Holy Priests are receiving buffs, Shadow Priests are seeing a nerf. The talent “Perfected Form”, which increases damage during Voidform, is being reduced in effectiveness from a 20% bonus to 10% in PvP. This adjustment lowers the burst potential of Shadow Priests when utilizing Voidform.

Subtlety Rogue PvP Adjustments

Lastly, Subtlety Rogues are receiving some minor adjustments in PvP, particularly affecting specific talents. While the exact details of the changes aren’t fully fleshed out, these adjustments aim to refine the balance of Subtlety Rogues in PvP content.

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