Some unacceptable Elemental Shaman changes

[Psycó-tarren-mill]

Hello dev team,

I’m reaching out as an Elemental Shaman main with some concerns about the recent changes. I understand that Elemental was slightly outperforming other specs in certain scenarios even after bug fixes and the Lightning Rod nerf. However, a few of the latest adjustments seem problematic, and I’d like to explain why they feel off.

• Stormbringer: Arc Discharge now grants 1 instant cast Chain Lightning or Lightning Bolt (was 2).

The change from granting 2 instant casts of Chain Lightning or Lightning Bolt to only 1 isn’t just a damage nerf; it changes the gameplay feel. Now, when we don’t have Lava Burst procs, no Tempest, or enough maelstrom for a spender, we’re forced to hardcast, which takes around 1.7-1.8 seconds per each. This feels clunky, and this nerf will only make these gaps more frequent. It also makes damage making harder in situations where movement is necessary.
This change negatively impacts gameplay fluidity.

• Echo Chamber - Damage from Elemental Overloads reduced from 40% to 20%.
• Ascendance - Elemental Overload damage boost lowered from 150% to 100%.

First, you reworked Elemental mid-season, making Mastery the top stat, which led many of us to invest a lot in new gems, enchants, and gear recrafting, as well as using catalyst charges to optimize our gear for new reality. Now, with further Mastery adjustments, theorycrafting suggests we’ll need to go through another round of costly recrafting.

Please consider reverting the Echo Chamber change. If you believe Ascendance as a 3-minute burst is overperforming (keeping in mind the Spymaster is part of this season), please consider a gradual, step-by-step reduction. A 30% nerf to Ascendance feels too drastic all at once.

Summary:
Theorycrafting suggests these changes will result in about a 20% single-target nerf, which could place us at the bottom of rankings with huge gap.
Mistakes happen, I believe in buffs week after nerfs. But frequent changes in gameplay and stat weights are unacceptable and should be handled with caution.
I believe it would be much better to revert at least the changes mentioned and monitor the spec’s performance, rather than making such large adjustments all at once.

Thank you for considering a review of these adjustments.

[Bahlu-burning-legion]

I totally agree with you my friend. The nerfs are just too much. I was expecting some NERF, ngl… but not that HUGE. Preminence nerf is okay, but ascendance? It’s a long 3 min CD which is made to be strong as it is now. No needs on nerf that talent. Also some top elemental shamans are breaking the charts using Echoes of Great Sundering (EoGS) talent. Im not even using it because for me it is just a pain gameplay. Maybe nerf this talent instead od nerfing ascendance tree?

[Shamole-twisting-nether]

Well written take with very good points.

[Inajune-emerald-dream]

Elemental Shaman are about to receive an outrageous, baseless nerf to their damage that has no representation in any available data across multiple forms of content. The spec is plagued with bugs, like so many others, and the last few weeks of balancing have demonstrated an alarming, erratic and often absurd approach to nerfing and buffing classes. We are paying a subscription to ensure our product is of high quality. We should be demanding so accordingly.

There is legitimately not a single data set I can find that indicates that this nerf to our ST damage is appropriate. I am genuinely concerned at what the Blizzard balancing team are looking at.

[Ezyä-tarren-mill]

I knew nerfs were to be expected but the fact we’re punished for overperforming a week into a 20% ST NERF where ST is not even the issue makes me just not want to play anymore …

[Shàmpoo-twisting-nether]

I was just about to buy the 12-month subscription. Good thing I haven’t. I will unsub and comeback in Season 2, maybe Blizzard will stop treating Elemental Shamans in such a disgraceful manner. Shame on you, Blizz.

[Psycó-tarren-mill]

Thank you for listening community, devs.