[2023] Class Tuning Incoming – June 6

As we continue to monitor class performance in instanced group content as well as PvP, we regularly adjust classes that are over- or under-performing. Based on recent data, observations, and feedback from players, we intend to make the following adjustments during scheduled weekly maintenance (on June 6 in this region).

Classes

Death Knight

• Blood
  • All damage abilities increased by 8%.

Druid

• Feral
• Developers’ notes: The following set bonus changes will increase the average number of stacks of the (2) Set Bonus and cause the (4) Set Bonus to trigger less often, but provide more Agility when it does.
  • Aberrus (2) Set Bonus: Chance for Shadows of the Predator stacks to reset reduced by 15%.
  • Aberrus (4) Set Bonus: Now increases Agility by 8% (was 5%).

Evoker

• Preservation
• Developers’ notes: We would like there to be more of a reward to using Disintegrate over Living Flame as a Preservation Evoker, since it has a high Essence cost.
  • Disintegrate damage has been increased by 15% for Preservation Evoker.

Hunter

• Beast Mastery
  • All damage dealt by you and your pet’s abilities increased by 5%.

Mage

• Fire
  • Pyroblast damage increased by 5%. This does not apply to PvP combat.
  • Fire Blast damage increased by 10%. This does not apply to PvP combat.
  • Fireball damage increased by 10%. This does not apply to PvP combat.
  • Phoenix Flames damage increased by 10%. This does not apply to PvP combat.
  • Scorch damage increased by 10%.

Monk

• Brewmaster
  • All ability damage increased by 3%.
  • Rising Sun Kick damage increased by 10%.
  • Blackout Kick damage increased by 30%.
  • Tiger Palm damage increased by 30%.
• Mistweaver
  • All healing abilities increased by 3%. This does not apply to PvP Combat.

Rogue

• Assassination
  • All ability damage increased by 5%.

Warlock

• Developers’ notes: The high frequency of Amplify Curse has been problematic in PvP combat, so its cooldown has been increased. These changes are also noted in the PvP section below.
  • The cooldown of Amplify Curse is now 60 seconds (was 30 seconds).
  • Teachings of the Satyr now reduces the cooldown of Amplify Curse by 15 seconds (was 10 seconds).

Warrior

• Arms
• Developers’ notes: Arms Warriors are not performing as well as we would like in single target or low-target-count situations.
  • All ability damage increased by 4%.
  • Fatality Fatal Mark damage increased by 15%.
  • Deep Wounds periodic damage increased by 5%.
  • Rend periodic damage increased by 5%.
• Protection
• Developers’ notes: Protection Warriors are not currently performing as competitively as we would like compared to most other tanks in terms of damage and survivability.
  • All damaging abilities increased by 8%.
  • Auto-attack damage increased by 10%.
  • Spell Block’s duration increased to 30 seconds (was 20 seconds).
  • Thunderlord now causes each enemy hit by Thunder Clap to reduce the remaining cooldown of Demoralizing Shout by 1.5 seconds, up to 4.5 seconds (was 1.0 seconds, up to 3.0 seconds).

Player versus Player

Druid

• Balance
• Developers’ notes: Balance Druids have been overperforming due to their ability to generate so much Astral Power and deal high damage by applying dots and casting Starfall repeatedly. We’d like to reduce the effectiveness of that playstyle since it’s difficult for opponents to stop. Goldrinn’s Fang also became much more effective in Embers of Neltharion, and includes some randomness and ability to score kills unexpectedly. Finally, Owlkin Adept has been a locked-in talent for a while now and has been propping up their control a bit more than we’re comfortable with.
  • Moonfire and Sunfire generate 4 Astral Power when cast in PvP combat (was 6).
  • Stellar Innervation increases Astral Power generation of Moonfire and Sunfire by 50% in PvP combat (was 100%).
  • Star Burst grants 8 Astral Power (was 15).
  • Owlkin Adept reduces the cast time of Cyclone and Entanglng Roots by 20% (was 30%).
  • Goldrinn’s Fang damage is reduced by 50% in PvP combat.
  • Wrath and Starfire deal 60% increased damage in PvP combat (was 50%).

Hunter

• Marksmanship
• Developers’ notes: Marksmanship Hunters have been underperforming in different forms of PvP content.
  • Aimed Shot damage increased by 25% in PvP combat (was 15%).
  • Rapid Fire damage increased by 25% in PvP combat (was 15%).
  • Arcane Shot damage increased by 25% in PvP combat (was 16%).

Priest

• Discipline
• Developers’ notes: Discipline has been more reliant on shields this season than we’d like. We’re increasing Atonement healing while bringing down the power of shields, with the goal of the preferred playstyle being an offensive one. We’re also targeting the mana reduction from Inner Light, as Discipline has been more mana efficient than we’d like.
  • Power Word: Shield now absorbs 15% less damage in PvP combat.
  • Inner Light now reduces the mana cost of the affected spells by 10% (was 15%).
  • Atonement healing is now 50% more effective in PvP combat (was 40%).

Mage

• Fire
• Developers’ notes: Glass Cannon is intended to have high risk and high reward with its gameplay, and we feel the risk is too low for the benefit it provides, especially when paired with Flamecannon.
  • Glass Cannon now decreases maximum health by 20% (was 15%)
  • Flamecannon now increases maximum health by 2% per stack (was 3%).

Monk

• Mistweaver
• Developers’ notes: Mistweavers have been overperforming compared to other healers, especially due to their mana efficiency.
  • Soulfang Infusion now regenerates 75% less Mana in PvP combat (was 50%).
  • Zen Spheres now cost 0.5% base Mana.
  • Enveloping Mist now heals for 5% more in PvP combat (was 20%).
  • Mistweaver Monks now regenerate 15% less Mana in PvP combat (was 10%).
• Windwalker
• Developers’ notes: Whirling Dragon Punch has felt underwhelming and we’d like it to feel impactful to use without being a major portion of a Windwalker’s damage profile.
  • Whirling Dragon Punch damage increased by 80% in PvP combat.

Shaman

• Enhancement
• Developers’ notes: There are a few talents that are leading to fast kills that can feel unfair when facing an Enhancement Shaman. We’re aiming to bring down the burst potential from cooldowns and increase sustained DPS.
  • Forceful Winds is now 75% effective in PvP Combat.
  • The damage increase to Lava Lash from Ashen Catalyst is now 33% effective in PvP combat.
  • Lava Lash now deals 35% increased damage in PvP combat (was 15%).
  • The Physical damage increase from Feral Spirit is now 33% effective in PvP combat.
  • The Fire, Frost, and Lightning damage increase from Elemental Spirits is now 50% effective in PvP combat.
  • Stormstrike now deals 75% increased damage in PvP combat (was 50%).
  • Windstrike now deals 75% increased damage in PvP combat (was 50%).
• Restoration
• Developers’ notes: We feel Restoration Shaman is in a good spot. Rain Dance wasn’t as valuable as we were anticipating, so we’re aiming to increase its viability.
  • Rain Dance now increases the healing done by Healing Rain by 30% (was 20%).
  • Rain Dance now reduces the mana cost of Healing Rain by 45% (was 30%).

Rogue

• Subtlety
• Developers’ notes: Burst damage from Subtlety has been higher than we’d like this season. We’re looking to keep the spec in a strong position while toning down their burst potential in short windows.
  • Secret Technique damage is now reduced by 33% in PvP combat (was 25%).
  • Shadowstrike and Backstab damage from Weaponmaster is now 50% effective in PvP combat.
  • Flagellation’s Mastery bonus is now 80% effective in PvP combat.
  • Dark Shadow is now 67% effective in PvP combat (was 80%).

Warlock

• Developers’ notes: Inquisitor’s Gaze has been dealing a sizeable portion of Warlock damage this season, and we’d like damage to come primarily from active spells.
  • Fel Barrage from Inquisitor’s Gaze now deals 40% reduced damage in PvP combat.
  • Developers’ note: The high frequency of Amplify Curse has been problematic in PvP combat.
  • The cooldown of Amplify Curse is now 60 seconds (was 30 seconds).
  • Teachings of the Satyr now reduces the cooldown of Amplify Curse by 15 seconds (was 10 seconds).
• Affliction
• Developers’ notes: We are increasing the damage of Unstable Affliction’s backlash effect to lessen the value of dispelling Affliction’s damage over time effects. It’s been lower than we’d like, in addition to healers gaining extra health this season. Additionally, we’re increasing Shadow Bolt damage as the reward for casting it is lower than we’d like.
  • Unstable Affliction backlash damage increased by 50%.
  • Shadow Bolt damage increased by 30% in PvP combat.
• Destruction
• Developers’ notes: Destruction’s sustained DPS has been high and we feel this is mainly due to Shadowburn’s high multiplier. We would like for instant casts to be strong but not be the primary way to land kills.
  • Conflagration damage is now reduced by 15% in PvP combat (was 9%).
  • Shadowburn damage is now increased by 15% in PvP combat (was 45%).
• Demonology
• Developers’ notes: Demonology’s healing reduction effect from their Felguard was one of the best healing reductions in the game, which didn’t feel appropriate given the class identity, how easy it is to apply, and how it can be applied to multiple targets at a time. Along with Affliction, we’re also increasing the damage of Shadow Bolt in PvP, as the reward for casting it is low.
  • Legion Strike reduces healing taken by 20% in PvP (was 25%).
  • Shadow Bolt damage increased by 30% in PvP combat.