Evaluation of Patch 10.2 Enhancer Perception: Insights on Raiding, Prescience, and Future adjustments

Since the introduction of the Augmentation Evoker, they have become an integral part of high-level Mythic+ compositions. However, these powerful Evokers have seen repeated nerfs to their toolkit, causing players to wonder how this has affected their performance in raids. In this guide, we will discuss why players are less enthusiastic about raiding as an Augmentation Evoker and how the changes in Patch 10.2 will impact this support spec.

Augmentation Evoker Guide

The Public Test Realm (PTR) is a testing environment for the content that will be coming with the Dragonflight: Guardians of the Dream update. This update brings with it changes to the Augmentation Evoker and other aspects of the game.

Dragonflight: Guardians of the Dream Update Development Notes

In this update, the developers have made some nerfs to the Augmentation Evoker in order to balance their contributions to the party, particularly in Mythic+. These nerfs include reducing the value of Aspects' Favor, Molten Blood, and Ebon Might, which are all key abilities of the Augmentation Evoker.

• Aspects' Favor now increases maximum health by 2/4% (down from 3/6%).
• Molten Blood absorption has been reduced by 50%.
• Ebon Might now grants 8% of the Evoker's primary stat (down from 10%).

These changes will be implemented gradually through hotfixes during the PTR phase.

Augmentation Evoker Raid Impressions in Patch 10.2

When it comes to Mythic+ dungeons, the Augmentation Evoker is considered the complete package. They bring damage, healing, control options, and defensive cooldowns to the group, making them a valuable asset. In these dungeons, communication and coordination with just two other DPS players is relatively easy, allowing the Evoker to optimize their buffs and cooldowns. With the upcoming tuning in Patch 10.2 and some minor concerns about the newly-revealed T31 Tier Set Bonuses, the Augmentation Evoker will continue to play an enjoyable role in Mythic+.

However, the situation is quite different in raids. Many Evoker players express a sense of obligation rather than true enjoyment when playing the spec in raid encounters. While there might be some players who simply don't understand the spec, it is important to delve deeper into the mechanics of the Augmentation Evoker in a raid setting to understand the challenges and limitations.

• Disengage Autopilot, Activate Manual Override

The Augmentation Evoker has two modes of play: Autopilot and Manual. In Mythic+, playing on Autopilot can be effective as you simply target the enemy and cast spells while coordinating with your team. However, this strategy doesn't work well in raids. In raid encounters, playing on Autopilot results in poor performance. To contribute effectively as an Augmentation Evoker in raids, players need to master not only their own rotation but also the damage patterns and cooldown timings of their teammates.

The Manual playstyle requires players to manually select buff targets using their abilities, such as Prescience. This adds complexity and requires careful coordination with other raiders. Achieving optimal damage as an Augmentation Evoker in raids involves identifying the players who will deal the most damage during the next Ebon Might, ensuring they have the Prescience buff, and positioning oneself near remaining ideal targets. This demands considerable time and effort in preparation for each raid fight.

• Prescience Setup: Like Playing Discipline, Only Moreso

Managing Prescience and Ebon Might requires careful planning and preparation. In the current patch, using Prescience effectively requires setting it up at least 12 seconds in advance of Ebon Might to have two active Prescience buffs on the right targets. With the new T31 2-piece set bonus, this setup time would have increased to at least 24 seconds with three concurrent Prescience buffs. This approach seems unintuitive and adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging rotation.

Playing as an Augmentation Evoker in raids also requires additional UI setup, as the default UI is not sufficient for manual buff targeting. Many players use custom Weakauras or addons like Vuhdo, MRT, and OmniCD to organize raid frames and display active cooldowns. Additionally, the limited range of Prescience and other abilities can be frustrating when trying to buff specific targets.

• The Second (and Third… and Fourth) Aug Problem

Bringing multiple Augmentation Evokers to a raid can be beneficial for damage output, but it also increases the complexity of playing the spec. Stacking buffs onto optimal targets can result in buffs accidentally hitting other Augmentation Evokers, leading to frustration and decreased overall performance. The new T31 2-piece set bonus encourages stacking Augmentation Evokers in raids, offering near-perfect selection of buff targets, but it requires careful coordination and planning.

However, the upcoming changes in Patch 10.2 will make it easier to stack buffs on the same targets and avoid buffing other Evokers. These changes will improve gameplay and coordination for Augmentation Evokers.

• A Light at the End of the Tunnel

In the most recent Patch 10.2 PTR notes, two changes to Prescience were announced. First, Prescience now clears on raid encounter and Mythic+ start, reducing the need for lengthy pre-pull setups. Second, Prescience now has 2 charges, allowing players to bank charges and cast the spell on ideal targets right before using Ebon Might. These changes address some of the main pain points of playing as an Augmentation Evoker in raids.

However, these changes also have implications for the new tier set. The addition of charges to Prescience creates a small anti-synergy with the T31 4-piece set bonus, as casting Prescience in succession before using Ebon Might overwrites the buff to Eruption, reducing the value of the set. This could be adjusted to avoid conflicts with the improved playstyle.

In terms of damage tuning, the recent nerfs to Ebon Might will bring the average Augmentation Evoker in raids closer in line with Devastation, offering players a more practical choice between the two specs. However, the amount of coordination and preparation required for playing Augmentation Evoker in raids compared to other traditional DPS specs remains a challenge.

Impact of Upcoming Tuning and Final Thoughts

The changes in Patch 10.2 PTR show that the developers are actively listening to player feedback and are working to improve the Augmentation Evoker's gameplay experience. The Manual playstyle of the Evoker, centered around identifying buff targets in advance, still presents challenges and requires coordination, but the changes to Prescience enhance the overall feel of gameplay.

However, the Augmentation Evoker still requires a considerable amount of preparation and coordination in raids, which can be burdensome for some players. The upcoming tuning and changes aim to bring the spec more in line with other DPS specs and provide a more enjoyable experience for players.

In conclusion, Augmentation Evoker is more enjoyable to play in Mythic+ dungeons compared to raids. The changes in Patch 10.2 PTR address some of the spec's pain points, but there is still room for improvement. The design dilemma of choosing buff targets requires careful consideration to strike a balance between player agency and overall performance. Don't forget to check out our pre-orders for the upcoming Amirdrassil Raid to get ahead of the curve right from the start! We'll see you in the next one!