Class Tuning Incoming – 18 August

Community General Discussion
1

With the first week of the Curse of Ula’tek content update, we’re making some adjustments to low and high performers to start Season 2 next week. We’ve identified several tier sets that would greatly overperform our expected targets if we didn’t make targeted adjustments to bring their throughput to more expected power levels. At the same time, we’re increasing affected specs baseline abilities to limit the impact of the changes to their tier set bonuses.

CLASS CHANGES

  • DEATH KNIGHT

    • Blood
      • San’layn
        • Visceral Strength now grants 6% strength (was 10%).
        • Transfusion increases Dancing Rune Weapon damage by 5% (was 10%).
        • Developers’ notes: The tooltip will be updated at a later date to reflect the new value.
    • Frost
      • All ability and auto-attack damage increased by 9%.
      • The Venomous Abyss 2-set bonus has been updated – Now grants 1% attack speed per stack (was 2%). Now increases Icy Death Torrent damage by 2% per stack (was 4%).

  • DEMON HUNTER

    • Devourer
      • Developers’ notes: Devourer’s 4-piece set bonus is performing significantly above expectations, so we are reducing its power. To compensate for this set bonus reduction, we are increasing all ability damage. Additionally, Devourer has been overperforming, mostly in single target, so we are reducing the damage of Reap/Cull/Eradicate while increasing the AoE damage portion of Eradicate to reduce the impact of the change in AoE combat.
      • All ability damage increased by 14%. Does not affect PvP combat.
      • Reap/Cull/Eradicate damage reduced by 12%.
      • Eradicate’s area-of-effect damage increased to 90% of base damage (was 85%).
      • The Venomous Abyss 4-set bonus has been updated – Now generates 2 soul fragments (was 8 soul fragments) and increases Reap damage by 10% (was 20%).

  • DRUID

    • Restoration
      • Developers’ notes: We’re increasing Restoration Druid’s healing and damage as both aspects are underperforming relative to other healers.
      • All healing increased by 4%. Does not affect PvP combat.
      • All damage increased by 20%. Does not affect PvP combat.

  • HUNTER

    • Beast Mastery
      • Developers’ notes: The new Venomous Abyss tier set bonus isn’t quite as strong as we would like it to be, so we are increasing the effects of the 4-set bonus.
      • The Venomous Abyss 4-set bonus has been updated – Now causes Cobra Shot to benefit from Beast Cleave at 30% effectiveness per stack (was 20%), or strike your target for an additional 20% damage per stack (was 15%).

  • MAGE

    • Arcane
      • Developers’ notes: The Venomous Abyss set bonus is overperforming our target tuning for set bonuses. However, the amount we need to reduce its value by would be a greater impact than intended to Arcane’s overall damage, so we are also making a small positive adjustment to Arcane’s baseline.
      • All ability damage increased by 3%.
      • Venomous Abyss 2-set bonus has been updated – Arcane Missiles damage bonus reduced to 5% (was 20%).
      • Venomous Abyss 4-set bonus has been updated – Cumulative Power damage bonus per stack reduced to 3% (was 5%).

  • MONK

    • Mistweaver
      • Developers’ notes: Mistweaver has been underperforming so we are targeting increases to its casted healing and the Venomous Abyss 4-set bonus to improve its performance and maintain build diversity.
      • All healing increased by 8%. Does not affect PvP combat.
      • Venomous Abyss 4-set bonus has been updated – Activation rate increased by 33%.

  • PALADIN

    • Retribution
      • All ability damage increased by 6%. Does not affect PvP combat.

  • PRIEST

    • Discipline
      • Developers’ notes: We are reducing Discipline Priest’s damage done and offsetting this in Atonement to not affect their overall healing as their damage has been overperforming compared to other healers. At the same time, we are increasing the damage of Entropic Rift to minimize the impact this will have on Voidweaver’s dungeon viability and help maintain high damage as one of its strengths.
      • All damage reduced by 30%. Does not affect PvP combat.
      • Entropic Rift damage increased by 20%.
      • Atonement now transfers 46% of damage into healing (was 32%). Does not affect PvP combat.
      • Void Shield reflects 10% of damage (was 15%).
    • Holy
      • Developers’ notes: We are increasing the healing throughput of Oracle so that it can serve as a competitive option against Archon. Furthermore, we are increasing the mana regeneration of Enlightenment to further help Holy Priest’s mana economy.
      • Enlightenment now regenerates mana 25% faster (was 10%).
      • Oracle
        • Words of the Wise now increases the healing of Holy Word: Serenity and Holy Word: Sanctify by 40% (was 10%). Does not affect PvP combat.
        • Prompt Prognosis healing increased by 55%. Does not affect PvP combat.
        • Preventive Measures now increases Prayer of Mending healing by 40% (was 15%). Does not affect PvP combat.

  • ROGUE

    • Assassination
      • All damage increased by 4%.
    • Subtlety
      • Developers’ notes: Subtlety’s 4-piece set bonus is overperforming expectation, so its effectiveness is being reduced. An overall buff to Subtlety’s damage is being applied to compensate.
      • All damage increased by 6%.
      • The Venomous Abyss 4-set bonus has been updated – Effectiveness reduced to 60% (was 100%).

  • SHAMAN

    • Enhancement
      • All damage increased by 5%.

  • WARLOCK

    • Demonology
      • Developers’ notes: We are increasing the throughput of the Venomous Abyss 2-set bonus for Demonology so that its performance is closer to other specialization tier set bonuses.
      • The Venomous Abyss 2-set bonus has been updated – Wild Imps now Implode at 350% effectiveness to their main target (was 250%) and 315% effectiveness to other targets (was 225%).

  • WARRIOR

    • Developers’ notes: Fury’s 4pc set bonus is currently overperforming, but Fury is in a good place overall and we don’t want to disrupt that, so we’re moving some of the value out of the 4pc bonus and into Fury’s baseline.
      Additionally, Slayer has been overperforming for both specs due to a bug causing Executioner to provide double value which was recently hotfixed. This fix has brought overall Arms performance down into our intended range, but we’re happy with where Fury has been, so their baseline damage has been increased below to compensate for this fix as well as the set bonus change.
    • Fury
      • All damage increased by 6%.
      • The Venomous Abyss 4-set bonus has been updated – Bloodthirst damage increased by 10%. During Recklessness Bloodthirst increases the critical strike bonus of Recklessness by 3%, up to 6%. (was 5%, up to 10%).

PLAYER VERSUS PLAYER

  • The PvP trinket set bonus now increases primary stat by 20% for damage dealers and tanks (was 15%).
    • Developers’ notes: We’ve felt the pace of PvP combat has been slower than intended, so we’re increasing the primary stat of non-healer specializations to increase overall outgoing damage.

  • DEMON HUNTER

    • Devourer
      • Developers’ notes: Devourer Demon Hunters are both very threatening and very defensible during Void Metamorphosis and Surrender to the Void has provided the opportunity to increase the duration of those windows too significantly, so its Fury generation effect is being reduced.
      • Surrender to the Void now increases Fury generated by 60% (was 100%).

  • DRUID

    • Restoration
      • Developers’ notes: Restoration Druid received several changes in Curse of Ula’tek that improved its throughput beyond what we would like in PvP.
      • All healing reduced by 5% in PvP combat.

  • MAGE

    • Fire
      • Developers’ notes: Fire Mage’s Venomous Abyss tier set bonus is particularly difficult to take advantage of in PvP combat, so we’re making a few tweaks with the objective of increasing its usability. We’re also decreasing Meteor’s damage to reduce Fire Mage’s burst capabilities.
      • Pyroblast damage increased by 10% in PvP combat.
      • Meteor damage decreased by 20% in PvP combat.
      • Comet Storm damage decreased by 20% in PvP combat.
      • The Venomous Abyss 4-set bonus has been updated – Now decreases the cast time of Pyroblast and Flamestrike by 30% (was 10%) and increases Pyroclasm’s damage bonus by 5% (was 10%) in PvP combat.

  • PALADIN

    • Holy
      • Developers’ notes: Holy Paladin’s throughput has been higher than we would like, and Judgment has been too effective as an offensive tool. Avenging Crusader’s effectiveness is being increased to offset the decrease to Judgment’s damage.
      • All healing decreased by 5% in PvP combat.
      • Judgment damage decreased by 30% in PvP combat.
      • Avenging Crusader now transfers 80% of damage done into healing in PvP combat (was 55%).
    • Retribution
      • Developers’ notes: Retribution had been contributing to longer PvP matches during Season 1 due to their frequent access to team utility. We’re shifting some of that effectiveness into more consistent offensive power, and additionally giving Templar an increase to Hammer of Light damage so they are a solid offensive alternative to Herald of the Sun.
      • All damage increased by 8% in PvP combat.
      • Final Verdict damage increased by 15% in PvP combat.
      • Hammer of Light damage increased by 25% in PvP combat.
      • Sacrifice of the Just now reduces Blessing of Sacrifice’s cooldown by 30 seconds in PvP combat (was 60 seconds).
      • Unbreakable Spirit reduces the cooldown of affected spells by 20% in PvP combat (was 30%).

  • SHAMAN

    • Restoration
      • Developers’ notes: We’re making some targeted adjustments to primarily improve Farseer’s viability as we begin season 2. We’re also reducing the effectiveness of Storm Conduit which we feel has been too powerful under the right circumstances.
      • All healing increased by 4% in PvP combat.
      • Storm Conduit now reduces the cooldown of affected spells by 2 seconds (was 4 seconds).
      • Storm Conduit now reduces the duration of interrupts on Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning by 40% (was 65%).
      • Farseer
        • Healing Wave, Healing Surge, and Chain Heal healing from Ancestors increased by 35% in PvP combat.
        • Hydrobubble absorption increased by 35% in PvP combat.

  • WARLOCK

    • Destruction
      • Soul Fire damage reduced by 30% in PvP combat.
2

More buffs to Rogue Mage in PvP as if it wasn’t already completely broken and fool proof

Good job guys, would love to know your justification and rationale for this!

1 Like
3

Guess I have to turn my holy pala into retribution as its the only spec that keep getting buffed even when it is literally top of each rated modes. Warlock didnt need a nerf either, they were in need of buff entire season 1.

Increasing cd by little wont hurt their ability to prolong matches as they lose nothing from their utility in a short round. They needed spellwarding and possibly LoH removed. Increasing some cd changes nothing regards too many externals for team in short 2-4 min shuffle round.

This wont have the announced effect and it will overtune their dmg.

Now you just buffed their dmg and made it the best dps of season 2 PvP. Retri already got buffs across spellbook for season 2 outside of these buffs. They will be massively overtuned now in PvP.

This is what you already gave retri for season 2 outside of this tuning. And now your giving them 8% flat dmg buff and 15% verdict.

  • Blade of Justice damage increased by 40%.
  • Final Verdict damage increased by 15%.
  • Divine Storm damage increased by 15%.
  • Avenging Wrath now increases damage done and critical strike chance by 15% (was 20%).
  • Templar Strike damage increased by 50%.
  • Templar Slash damage increased by 50%.
  • Judgment damage increased by 50%.
  • Hammer of Wrath damage increased by 50%.
  • Divine Toll’s Judgment now deals 50% increased damage (was 100%).
  • Apex Talent: Light Within (Rank 3) damage reduced by 25%.
  • Flash of Light healing increased by 25%.
  • Word of Glory healing increased by 25%.
  • Eternal Flame healing increased by 25%.
4

How to make Arcane PvE Sh!t again. Good Job guys! How can you make all the Mage and Hunter specs so bad in the next season?.. You want nobody to play with these specs or what?

3 Likes
5

Demon Warlock especially solo needs more baseline damage, giving it to set bonus is not the best approach imo.

The spec already need some ramping up, and the set bonus doesn’t help much with that.

I think Felguard itself needs more baseline damage that would also help him generate more threat, which it’s lacking It’s not uncommon to get aggro from with a fully talented drainlife healing the pet you get the aggro also very very fast.

Also, he dies very easily

3 Likes
6

Feral 2+4pc is all about Zerk and Incarn. But we dont play Incarnation at all, we play convoke YET AGAIN since you’ve only nerfed Incarnation at every turn since Uldir. It used to be a cool button which just sucks nowadays. So the tier set bonuses are quite useless.

And you’ve still done nothing to correct this.

Whomever is in charge of this spec’s development needs a proper sacking.

7

Do you even play your own Game? Hillarious…

1 Like
8

Nerfing the worst caster in the game. Time to quit.

2 Likes
9

They really went and buff retribution twice for season 2 then, retri which is literally top in each rated modes pvp.

Also you didnt address the issue of it having too much utility to prolong fights as you didnt remove any of its utilites like spellwarding from retri. Retri has more externals than healers.

People complain that retri prolongs each game to overly long fights, so you say to take action and then increased some cd which does hardly nothing regards their amount of externals in general in a 2-4 min shuffle round.

And to make it worse you nerfed Warlock that were performing worst across each rated modes. How do you not see that Warlock were in need of buff for whole season 1, why not buff the class to balance it for PvP in season 2.

10

And they say that pvp has too small player base to justify development. I wonder why is that, buffing S+ tier retri each season and neglecting other specs. Who else cares play this when its not fun for anyone else than for the retributions.

I cant understand how its possible that warlocks have not been buffed yet. Locks have waited buffs PvP for 3 seasons and you go and nerf them before next even begins, this gotta be a joke. What are these tuning even based on, ladder statistics are free for even players to see.

11

OFC…typical Blizzard flawed logic. I JUST STARTED PLAYING ARCANCE. I had fun for like a few hours….not anymore. I’m seriously considering leaving this stupid game behind.

1 Like
12

Blizz should look how many Ret have been playing Shuffle and how many Rank 1 spots there are for retri in shuffle/3v3 compared to other dps since dragonflight. And you still keep buffing this spec while also neglecting the rest. Will they wake up if we all reroll retri so we could have fun playing a season once. So everyone plays retri and then what? Horrendous game.

13

Very nice to see prot paladin are not getting a buff that they need… Lol the same as last season.

1 Like
14

Resto druid’s problem is not with throughput. As a long time resto main with an unreasonably high /played, the spec has been butchered. At least in M+ it is just not fun anymore.

Season 1 was really peak in spec design IMHO, at least among all the seasons I played. I won’t pick it back up unless I see massive changes. It really feels like a mono-spell spec (regrowth) with extra steps, spamming hots all the time, so much more than before… and only for mastery value so that regrowth is worth something. Hots are entirely unrewarding to cast.

The SoTF/apex talent change is also terrible (apex triggered on Swiftmend instead of SotF consumption) - it essentially requires shoehorning group healing in a timer/CD that’s one of our main single-target heals. It makes absolutely no sense, and is super frustrating to play.

15

why is there no “Does not affect PvP combat.” ?

16

I guess same question as why is there retri buffs and warlock nerfs pvp, who knows :dracthyr_shrug:

I stop care what blizz is doing I start play retrobution like the rest. Stay safe y’all.

1 Like
17

no buff for brewmaster :skull: :skull: :skull:

1 Like
18

Nevermonk.

19

They dont need it.

1 Like
20

it almost looks like they are asking ai to make tuning and ai is just looking at which specs are being played most and they keep buffing them .

2 Likes