Hello adventurers, Librarian Husky here! As Patch 11.0.3 is fast approaching, significant changes are coming to the class meta for both Mythic Plus and raiding. Knowing which classes will shine and which might struggle is crucial for staying competitive. Major class updates are coming, and understanding the biggest winners and potential losers will help you navigate the shifting landscape. Here’s a breakdown of the top-performing and struggling classes for PVE content in Patch 11.0.3.

Biggest Winner: Hunter Class

Right off the bat, the biggest winner heading into the next patch has to be the Hunter. The class has received substantial changes across all three specializations, including a complete rework of the Dark Ranger Hero Talent tree. These changes are expected to elevate the Hunter class in both Mythic Plus and raiding.

New Passive: Death Blow

Hunter now has a new passive ability called Death Blow, which gives Kill Shot a chance to be used regardless of the target’s health. This provides much more flexibility and enhances damage potential during critical moments. Both specs using Dark Ranger talents will benefit greatly from this new passive.

Exciting Hunter Changes in Patch 11.0.3

Changes to Banshee’s Mark will apply A Murder of Crows, providing additional AOE Black Arrows through Ling Fire. Beast Mastery and Marksman Hunters are also getting exciting updates. Beast Mastery sees a duration increase for Barb Shot, reducing the need to spam it. Marksman’s Steady Shot Focus passive now requires just one shot for the Haste buff, while Precise Shot boosts only one Arcane or Multi-Shot.

Survival Hunter Improvements

Survival Hunter is receiving significant quality-of-life improvements, including updates to Butchery and Fury of the Eagle. While these are more tuning and rotational tweaks, the overall rework to Dark Ranger talents benefits Beast Mastery and Marksman, pushing Hunters higher in performance.

Hunters Poised for Success

With all three specializations currently performing well in Mythic Plus and Mythic raiding, the adjustments in Patch 11.0.3 will push Hunters even further up the rankings. Marksmanship in particular is excelling in Mythic Plus, and the class is poised to be a dominant force in the upcoming patch.

Paladin Class Rework and Improvements

In my opinion, another big winner is the Paladin class. Currently, Paladin is performing exceptionally well in healing, with Holy Paladin being one of the best in raid and Mythic Plus. Retribution Paladin is dominating in all forms of content. However, Protection Paladin has been falling behind, ranked among the worst in the game. Thankfully, we are seeing some changes and buffs for Paladin in the upcoming patch.

Complete Talent Tree Rework

Paladin is receiving a complete rework of its class tree, with around 25 brand-new talents being added. These changes aim to improve the quality of life and versatility within the tree. One example is the Worthy Sacrifice talent, which now automatically casts Blessing of Sacrifice, offering a helpful passive. Another is Selfless Healer, which boosts Flash of Light healing on allies and duplicates some of its effects on you.

Enhancements for Protection Paladin

Protection Paladins will benefit from Lightbearer, which converts some of your healing into a divided amount for your allies. This talent is especially useful for Protection Paladins. Overall, these changes streamline utility and make navigating the tree much smoother and more efficient, improving the experience for all Paladin players.

Upcoming Changes for Paladins in the New Patch

The upcoming Tuesday patch brings only light buffs and tuning for Retribution and Holy Paladins, with no major individual changes. However, the major focus is on Protection Paladin, which has been struggling more than other tanks since launch. Protection Paladins are receiving significant buffs, especially to their Lightsmith Hero Talent Tree and overall damage output.

Paladin’s Current Domination

Despite the issues with damage mitigation, Paladins are still performing extremely well. They were already dominating the meta before the patch, and these changes, updates, and reworks will likely solidify their top position even further. While concerns remain about their survivability, overall, Paladins are in a great place heading into the next patch.

Rogue’s Big Wins in the Upcoming Patch

I believe Rogues are going to perform exceptionally well starting Tuesday. One of the biggest surprises is that Rogue is actually one of the biggest winners heading into the next patch, and there’s a good reason for it. In Mythic Plus, Assassination is dominating as one of the best DPS in the game, while all three specs are excelling in raids at the highest level possible. This is a huge win for Rogues overall.

Major Quality of Life Changes

Rogues are also seeing some significant quality of life improvements with the upcoming Clash changes. The most notable is the adjustment to Cut to the Chase, which now grants the full duration of Slice and Dice instead of just extending it. This means you can effectively remove Slice and Dice from your bar, a long-requested update that greatly improves the Rogue experience. Thistle Tea will now automatically activate when your energy drops below 30, which is perfect for new players.

Reworks and New Passives

Echoing Reprimand is also receiving a complete rework, turning it into a passive ability that activates on key abilities like Shiv, Roll the Bones, or Symbols of Death. Additionally, Rogues are getting new passives that increase the damage of abilities like Mutilate or Sinister Strike after consuming buffs. All of these changes are set to make Rogue play smoother and more effective, solidifying their place as top-tier DPS in both Mythic Plus and raids.

Quality of Life Updates for Rogues

Rogues are receiving several updates aimed at reducing button bloat, which is a nice improvement considering it can take 10 to 15 seconds to fully unleash their damage. One key change is the new passive for Assassination called Twist the Knife, allowing your Envenom to overlap and stack multiple times. This is a great boost for damage output and rotation efficiency.

Assassination and Outlaw Tweaks

Outlaw Rogues also get a boost with Crackshot, which now refreshes the cooldown of Between the Eyes when entering stealth. While some players may dislike the Crackshot playstyle, it helps smooth out the rotation for those who prefer it. Overall, these changes enhance the fluidity and impact of Rogue’s toolkit, though preferences for playstyle remain divided.

Subtlety Rogues: The Biggest Changes

Subtlety Rogues see the most changes, losing Sepsis and Invigorating Shadow Dust, which previously reduced cooldowns when Vanish was used. However, the cooldowns of their heavy-hitting abilities have been significantly reduced, allowing for more frequent use without relying on Vanish. Additionally, Subtlety gains multiple charges of Symbols of Death, and Trickster’s Coup de Grace no longer locks players into a lengthy animation. These updates make the class much smoother to play, combining quality of life changes with an already high damage output.

Shaman: The Dominating Class of the Current Meta

In its current state, Shaman is the best class in the game when you consider all three specs dominating in all stages of gameplay. Restoration Shaman is arguably the best overall healer in the expansion. Elemental Shaman is a top-three ranged DPS, while Enhancement Shaman is leading as the number one overall DPS in raid environments. Wherever Shamans go, they dominate. Let’s dive into the changes coming in Patch 11.0.3.

Elemental Shaman Rework

Ascendance for Elemental Shamans has been completely reworked. It no longer allows you to spam Lava Burst, but instead, you automatically cast Flame Shock and Lava Burst on six nearby enemies instantly, which is great for kickstarting some serious damage. Additionally, Elemental Overloads now deal 150% increased damage, which can be insane when combined with Stormkeeper for even more burst potential. These changes open up exciting new possibilities for damage output.

New Talents and Passives

Shamans also gain a few new passive talents. One amplifies your Lightning Rod, which is great for those who prefer the Lightning Tempest build. Another new passive allows Lava Burst to consume a few seconds of Flame Shock, adding an extra layer of burst damage. What’s also great is that Stormkeeper will now be a staple in every Elemental build, making it very easy to pick up regardless of your talent choices. This versatility ensures that Shamans will continue to dominate.

Elemental Shaman: Ice Fury Rework and Adjustments

At the top of the Elemental Shaman talent tree, Ice Fury is receiving a complete rework. It can now proc off multiple abilities, which is a nice improvement. It causes your next Frost Shock to deal a significant chunk of AOE damage, which is preferable for many players. However, there are some changes that might not sit well, such as removing the cast time reduction for Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning and reducing the duration of Elemental Pets. These changes shift the focus toward abilities like Stormkeeper, Lava Burst, and the Ascendance window.

Enhancement Shaman: Major Updates

Enhancement Shaman is receiving substantial updates in the new patch. Doom Winds now becomes an AOE damage effect when activated, which adds much-needed versatility. A new passive called Voltaic Blaze gives your Flame Shock a chance to spread as AOE and deal additional damage. This makes the rotation smoother and more efficient. Ice Strike also has a chance to proc now, rather than being a purely activatable ability, and there are updates to Crash Lightning, improving its single-target performance.

Totemic Hero Talent Rework

The biggest highlight for Enhancement Shamans is the rework to the Totemic Hero talent tree. Previously, the totem-based abilities in this tree felt lackluster and ineffective. Now, with streamlined talents and abilities like Hot Hands and the ability to spread Flame Shock more effectively, the tree feels significantly improved. Many players have expressed their satisfaction with these changes during the beta, as it provides a smoother and more dynamic gameplay experience.

Enhancement Shaman: A Clear Winner in the Upcoming Patch

I find Enhancement Shaman much more enjoyable than the Tempest build right now. Overall, it feels far more fun and dynamic than before, so if you’re an Enhancement Shaman main, there’s plenty to be excited about. With the introduction of a second hero talent tree that looks incredibly strong, Enhancement Shaman is undoubtedly one of the big winners in this patch. These new reworks and key talent tree updates will surely make them perform better than most classes come Tuesday.

The Biggest Losers in the Patch

Unfortunately, not all classes are seeing such positive changes. Some classes are falling behind in terms of DPS, tanking, or healing, and they aren’t receiving any major updates in the upcoming patch. This puts them in a precarious spot. The first class we need to address is Warlock. Despite having three specs, Warlocks are underperforming, especially in high-level Mythic Plus.

Warlock Struggles in Mythic Plus and Raids

Currently, none of the three Warlock specs are even in the top six when it comes to ranged DPS in Mythic Plus. And that doesn’t account for the dominating melee specs like Frost Death Knight, Unholy, Fury Warrior, Rogue, or Enhancement Shaman. Even worse, all three Warlock specs are sitting at the bottom tier of DPS for Mythic raiding. What makes this even more concerning is that the 11.0.3 patch brings no significant changes to Warlock specs, leaving them in a tough spot.

Warlock: A Grim Outlook in the Upcoming Patch

I was pretty excited about Warlock during the beta, but the reality now is quite worrying. None of the three Warlock specs are performing above average in any form of content, and they aren’t receiving any major changes in the next patch. If you’re a Warlock main, things are looking grim for you come Tuesday. Hopefully, they will get some much-needed updates soon.

Priest: Mixed Performance and Concerns

Next up, we need to talk about Priest, which might come as a bit of a surprise. In a raiding environment, Discipline and Holy Priests are performing exceptionally well, especially in Mythic raiding. Discipline Priest, in particular, is also excelling in high-level Mythic keys. These are the bright spots for the Priest class, but things are quite different when it comes to damage output.

Shadow Priest Struggles

Shadow Priest is currently performing below average in most content. They are valued primarily for their excellent off-healing and Power Infusion, but in terms of individual damage, they struggle to keep up. Compared to the higher-tier classes, Shadow Priest is falling behind, and what makes this worse is that they aren’t receiving any significant changes in Patch 11.0.3. This lack of updates is a cause for concern, as the issues that plague Shadow Priest remain unaddressed.

Shadow Priest: Damage Struggles and Design Issues

Shadow Priest continues to struggle with damage, especially when on the move. They lack on-demand burst damage, requiring around 15 seconds to ramp up and catch up to other classes. Both of their hero talent trees need damage adjustments and tuning. While the design is strong, the numbers just aren’t there for this class. Despite having well-designed specs with potential, tuning is necessary for Shadow Priest to be more competitive.

Monk: One of the Biggest Losers

This next point is painful to address, as one of the biggest losers in the upcoming patch is Monk. Right off the bat, Brewmaster Monk and Protection Paladin are neck and neck for the worst tanks in the game. Both classes suffer from similar issues: their damage is high, but their consistent damage mitigation is lacking. This puts them in a precarious position, particularly in high-level content.

Windwalker Monk’s Struggles

Windwalker Monk isn’t faring any better in either raiding or Mythic Plus content. They are performing well below average in terms of overall damage output. The design for Windwalker is solid, but the numbers simply don’t add up. In Patch 11.0.3, Shadow Pen Flurry will trigger at 240 energy instead of 300, allowing it to be cast more often. Additionally, Windwalker is receiving buffs to Flurry of Xuen and Blackout Kick, but these changes may not be enough to solve the core issues plaguing the spec.

Monk Spec Worries and Mistweaver Updates

I don’t think the upcoming changes will push Windwalker Monk into even slightly above average or top-tier performance, which is concerning. However, the star of the show for Monk is Mistweaver, performing well in most forms of content. Surprisingly, Mistweaver is getting the most additions and changes in Patch 11.0.0, with five new talents and a new passive. There are also fun updates to Crackling Jade Lightning and additional fistweaving improvements. Mistweaver is in a great spot, but I remain worried about the current state of Brewmaster and Windwalker.

The Biggest Loser: Druid

Unfortunately, in my opinion, the biggest loser is Druid. Every Druid spec is performing either average or below average in most forms of content, except for Balance Druid in Mythic Plus. It’s mindboggling that a class with four different specs isn’t dominating in any form of content heading into the next update. The upcoming changes don’t address the core problems; they merely act as a temporary fix. For example, Starfall becoming baseline frees up a talent point, and Celestial Alignment’s cooldown is reduced with two charges, which is a nice change, but these adjustments don’t solve the major issues.

Druid Talent Updates and Shifting Power

There are some fun changes coming for Balance Druids, particularly around their talent tree. Combining certain abilities means that about every minute, you’ll be dealing a significant chunk of damage, which could be quite useful in Mythic Plus. Additionally, Wild Mushroom is getting a passive version that has a chance to proc off your Sunfire, adding more potential damage as gear and haste improve.

Unaddressed Issues for Druid

However, some major concerns remain unaddressed. For example, Druids still have poor defensive capabilities that haven’t been updated, and they struggle to deal consistent, high damage while on the move, unlike classes such as Elemental Shaman. This is particularly problematic for Restoration Druids, who lack mobility in high-pressure scenarios, leaving them vulnerable in certain situations.

Restoration Druid Improvements

On a positive note, Restoration Druids are receiving some nice updates. Nature’s Swiftness will now have two charges, and the Abundance talent is being buffed alongside the Wild Roots talent. Swiftmend’s cooldown is also being reduced, and the best part might be the new automatic Nourish effect whenever you consume Clearcasting with Regrowth. This should bring some extra fun and flexibility to the Restoration Druid playstyle.

Druid Updates: A Step in the Right Direction

I still believe that Druid might need a bit more work, but there’s definitely progress for some of the specs. However, I don’t think these changes will be enough to push them into the upper tier or even slightly above average across the board. It’s also surprising that both Guardian Druid and Feral Druid aren’t getting any updates at all. What you see is what you get for Druid, and that’s what’s coming on Tuesday for these specs.

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