Patch 10.2 PTR Class Tuning Developer Notes - Upcoming Evoker of Augmentation Nerfs!

Blizzard Announces Augmentation Evoker Nerfs in Patch 10.2 PTR

Written by WowCarry

Blizzard has recently shared some upcoming nerfs to the Augmentation Evoker in the Patch 10.2 PTR. These changes are in addition to the other updates in the 10.2 PTR build. Let's take a closer look at what's in store for the Guardians of the Dream PTR.

Battleground Blitz Brawl

In the Temple of Kotmogu, the resource acquisition rate has been increased in the middle areas of the map. This change aims to create a more dynamic and engaging gameplay experience for players.

Additionally, the duration of the Shadow Sight ability has been increased from 8 seconds to 12 seconds. This will allow players to have a longer window of time to utilize this powerful ability.

Classes

• Death Knight

The Death Knight class has received some adjustments for both the Blood and Frost specializations.

Blood

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus now triggers from consuming Runic Power instead of Bone Shield charges. This change aims to streamline the gameplay for Blood Death Knights.

Frost

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (4) Set Bonus has been tuned down slightly. The chance to trigger this bonus has been reduced to 30% from 40%, and the cooldown reduction of Empower Rune Weapon has been decreased to 6 seconds from 10 seconds.

Additionally, an issue with Chill Streak not decrementing a bounce when it bounces off of a Death Knight has been fixed.

• Demon Hunter

The Demon Hunter class will be receiving updates to their talents, starting with the Havoc tree in this week's PTR build. The changes aim to provide a more balanced and impactful gameplay experience for Demon Hunters.

Some specific updates for the Havoc specialization include:

• The Spectral Sight ability now has a cooldown of 1 minute and 30 seconds, up from 1 minute. With the rank 2 talent, it was previously 1 minute and 30 seconds.
• The Fodder to the Flame demon is now revealed by Spectral Sight.
• Fodder to the Flame demon now takes fatal damage from Eye Beam/Fel Devastation in addition to Throw Glaive.
• The Fodder to the Flame buff is now granted immediately upon killing a demon instead of collecting a soul.
• The Metamorphosis cooldown has been reduced to 3 minutes from 4 minutes.
• The Darkness ability now has a 15% chance to avoid all damage from an attack. This chance is increased by 100% when not in a raid.
• The First of the Illidari talent has been removed.
• The duration of Metamorphosis has been reduced to 20 seconds from 24 seconds.
• Demonic Appetite is now baseline for Havoc and causes souls to generate 20 Fury instead of 30.
• Fel Eruption is now baseline for Havoc.
• The cooldown of Glaive Tempest has been increased to 25 seconds from 20 seconds. Its damage has been increased by 15%, and damage beyond 8 targets has been reduced (previously 5 targets).
• Fel Barrage has been redesigned. It is no longer channeled and instead drains 15 Fury per tick. It lasts until Fury is depleted, and its damage has been reduced beyond 5 targets (previously 8 targets).
• Initiative's effect is no longer triggered or denied by damage over time effects.
• Momentum now increases damage by 6%, lasts for 6 seconds (up from 5 seconds), and stacks to a maximum of 30 seconds (previously 10 seconds).
• A new talent called Inertia has been introduced. When empowered by Unbound Chaos, Fel Rush increases damage by 20% for 5 seconds.
• Fel Rush now enforces a global cooldown of 0.5 seconds (previously 0.25 seconds).
• Felblade now enforces a global cooldown of 0.5 seconds (previously 1.5 seconds).
• A new talent called Deflecting Dance has been introduced. Blade Dance now deflects incoming attacks, absorbing damage up to 15% of your maximum health.
• A new talent called A Fire Inside has been introduced. Immolation Aura has 1 additional charge and a 30% chance to refund a charge when activated. This allows players to have multiple Immolation Auras active at the same time.
• The Felfire Heart talent has been removed.
• Fel Rush's damage has been increased by 60%.
• Unbound Chaos is now a single-point talent (previously 2 points) and increases the next Fel Rush's damage by 250% (previously 200/400%).
• Critical Chaos is now a single-point talent (previously 2 points) and has a refund chance of 30% of your Critical Strike chance (previously 20/40%).
• Dancing with Fate is now a single-point talent (previously 2 points). Blade Dance's final slash damage bonus is now 25% (previously 20/40%).
• Blind Fury is now a single-point talent (previously 2 points). Eye Beam now generates 40 Fury per second (previously 20/40) and has a 10% increased damage and duration (previously 10/20%).
• Serrated Glaives is now a single-point talent (previously 2 points). Enemies hit by Chaos Strike or Throw Glaive (previously only Throw Glaive) take 15% (previously 10/20%) increased damage from Chaos Strike and Throw Glaive (previously Chaos Strike and Eye Beam).
• Growing Inferno is now a single-point talent (previously 2 points) and increases damage by 10% per tick (previously 5/10%).
• Isolated Prey has been adjusted. It no longer causes Fel Rush to grant Fury and now causes Immolation Aura to deal 30% increased damage.

• Druid

Guardian

The Guardian Druid's Rage generation has been adjusted to scale better with a large number of targets. Previously, the Rage generation from Thrash's Blood Frenzy was uncapped. It now has a target cap to prevent resource saturation in scenarios with a high number of enemies.

Additionally, the Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus has been improved. The Dream Thorns now absorbs 25% of the damage dealt to the Guardian Druid while active (previously 10%). The duration of Dream Thorns has also been increased to 45 seconds.

Restoration

The Cenarius' Guidance ability no longer spawns an additional Grove Guardian at the beginning of Incarnation: Tree of Life. Instead, it reduces the cooldown of Incarnation of Tree of Life by 5 seconds when a Grove Guardian fades. Additionally, Grove Guardians are now present on the totem bar for easier management during gameplay.

• Evoker

Blizzard has recognized that the Augmentation Evoker's contributions to the party, particularly in Mythic+ dungeons, have been too impactful and have made it challenging for other compositions to shine. To address this, they are implementing some targeted nerfs to their group utility. The value of Aspects' Favor, Molten Blood, and Ebon Might will be reduced.

The specific changes are as follows:

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

These changes will be implemented gradually over the course of the PTR via hotfixes.

Preservation

The Restoration Shaman's Spiritbloom healing has been increased by 25%. However, the healing increase from Spiritbloom has been reverted to its original value.

Additionally, the Rewind ability now recovers 33% of the damage taken in the last 5 seconds instead of 40%.

• Mage

Arcane

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus has been improved. The duration of the Forethought has been increased to 20 seconds from 15 seconds.

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (4) Set Bonus has also been updated. It now requires consuming 3 Clearcasting stacks to empower the next Arcane Missiles. After consuming 3 Clearcasting Arcane Missiles, the next Arcane Missiles will deal 150% increased damage to the primary target and 100% increased damage to the secondary targets hit.

An issue with the Arcane Missile Volley reach has been fixed, as it was extending further than intended.

Fire

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus for Fire Mages now increases Critical Strike damage by 4% per stack instead of 3%.

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (4) Set Bonus for Fire Mages now increases the Critical Strike damage bonus of Searing Rage by 150% instead of 100%.

Blizzard has acknowledged an issue with certain Crit Damage bonuses not attributing the correct amount of damage to Ignite when an ability critically strikes. This issue will be resolved in the next week's PTR build.

• Monk

For Jade Serpent Statue, the Soothing Mist healing has been increased by 40% for Mistweaver Monks.

For Mistweaver Monks, the Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus now stores 20% of all healing in Chi Harmony (previously 15%).

The Healing Elixir ability has been redesigned as a passive effect for Mistweaver Monks. Now, when a Mistweaver Monk drops below 35% health and is not in a loss of control effect, they consume a healing elixir that instantly heals them for 15% of their maximum health. They generate 1 healing elixir every 30 seconds, up to a maximum of 2 times.

The range of the Unison ability for Mistweaver Monks has been increased to 40 yards from 15 yards.

Some changes for Windwalker Monks include:

• The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus now increases Blackout Kick damage by 150% instead of 100%.
• The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (4) Set Bonus now has a cooldown reduction of 2 seconds instead of 1 second.
• An issue preventing Windfoot from being correctly consumed when using Spinning Crane Kick has been fixed.
• An issue causing Windfoot to be consumed when Dance of Chi-Ji empowers a Spinning Crane Kick has also been fixed.
• An issue preventing Dance of Chi-Ji from granting Blackout Reinforcement has been fixed.

• Paladin

Holy

All healing for Holy Paladins has been reduced by 5%, and the Hand of Divinity ability now increases the healing of Holy Light by 40% instead of 80%.

The absorb shield from Saved by the Light has been increased by 50%, and the Blessed Focus ability now increases the healing of Glimmer of Light by 40% instead of 25%.

While Aura Mastery is active, the Merciful Aura healing is increased by 20% instead of 50%. Additionally, the base healing of Merciful Aura has been increased by 15%.

The healing of Touch of Light has been increased by 500%, and the healing of Word of Glory has been increased by 10%.

The Barrier of Faith ability now creates an absorb based on 25% of the healing done instead of 50%.

Aura Mastery now increases the effectiveness of Devotion Aura by 12% instead of 15%.

Protection

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus has been slightly redesigned for Protection Paladins. Instead of granting Armor, it now grants damage reduction. The maximum stacks have been reduced to 5, with each stack granting 2% damage reduction instead of 10 stacks granting 1% Armor each.

Retribution

Due to bugs with targeting issues on Wrathful Sanction, the ability was undertuned. Following the bug fixes, the set bonus is being retuned to better meet the intended tuning targets. Additionally, the 4-set bonus has been overperforming in tandem with certain Retribution talents, so some adjustments have been made.

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus now increases the damage of Envenomous Explosion by 230% instead of 50%.

The damage of Caustic Spatter has been increased to 35% instead of 30%.

The Dashing Scoundrel talent is now a single-point talent instead of requiring 2 points.

The duration of Indiscriminate Carnage is now 10 seconds instead of 3 seconds.

The Scent of Blood talent now increases Agility by 2/4% per Ruptured target, up to a maximum of 20% instead of 1.5/3% per target, up to a maximum of 24%.

• Priest

The Power Word: Life ability now costs 2.5% mana instead of 0.5%. Its cooldown has been decreased to 15 seconds from 30 seconds, but the cooldown no longer decreases when cast on targets above 35% health. The healing of Power Word: Life has been increased by 500%, but it no longer increases its healing on targets below 35% health.

Discipline

Some adjustments have been made to the Discipline Priest's talents to improve flexibility and interesting gameplay.

The Ultimate Penitence ability now takes into account the primary target and will prioritize healing bolts if an ally is selected or damaging bolts if an enemy is selected. The damage and healing have been increased by 25%, and an initial tick has been added to the start of the channel.

The Embrace Shadow ability has been removed, but Twilight Corruption remains and increases the effectiveness of Shadow Covenant by an additional 10%.

The duration of Shadow Covenant now matches the duration of Mindbender at 12 seconds instead of 7 seconds with Mindbender. Additionally, Shadow Covenant now grants a 10% Shadow damage and healing increase with Mindbender or a 25% increase with Shadowfiend instead of 25% with either one.

The visuals of Shadow Covenant have also been improved.

The damage and healing of Penance has been increased by 15%.

Some talent changes include:

• Mindbender and Void Summoner have swapped locations in the talent tree. Void Summoner now reduces the cooldown of Shadowfiend by 4 seconds or Mindbender by 2 seconds instead of 2 seconds for both.
• An issue causing Mindbender to sometimes return to the player immediately upon being summoned has been fixed.
• The Expiation talent now increases the damage of Mind Blast and Shadow Word: Death by 15/30% instead of 10/20%.
• The Weal and Woe talent now increases Smite's damage by 20% per stack instead of 12% and Power Word: Shield by 10% per stack instead of 5%.

Holy

Some changes have been made to the Holy Priest's talents to improve gameplay balance.

The Prayer of Mending ability's healing has been decreased by 5%.

The Prismatic Echoes talent now increases the healing of Echo of Light by 4/8% instead of 6/12%.

The healing of Echo of Light has been decreased by 15%.

The healing of Divine Image's Dazzling Light has been decreased by 35%, and the healing of Blessed Light has been decreased by 20%.

The Trail of Light talent now replicates Heal or Flash Heal for 13/25% value instead of 18/35%.

The Pontifex talent now increases the healing done by Holy Words by 20% and stacks 2 times instead of 10% and stacks 1 time.

The healing of Echo of Light now occurs every 2 seconds and lasts 4 seconds instead of every 3 seconds and lasting 6 seconds.

• Rogue

For the Rogue class, the Airborne Irritant ability has been moved to the class tree from Outlaw. It has also been adjusted to reduce the cooldown and duration of Blind and apply to all enemies near the target.

Some specific changes for the specializations include:

Assassination

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (4) Set Bonus has been redesigned. The damage of Envenomous Explosion has been increased by 230%.

The damage of Caustic Spatter has been increased to 35%.

The duration of Dashing Scoundrel is now 10 seconds.

The Scent of Blood talent now increases Agility by 2/4% per Ruptured target, up to a maximum of 20%, instead of 1.5/3% per target, up to a maximum of 24%.

Outlaw

The Grand Melee (Roll the Bones buff) ability has been adjusted. It now increases damage by 5% and blade Flurry deals an additional 10% damage to nearby targets.

The damage of Crackshot with Dispatch has been reduced to 75% of normal damage.

The Dreadblades ability has been removed.

Subtlety

The Stiletto Staccato and Stunning Secret abilities have been removed.

The cooldown of Goremaw's Bite has been reduced to 45 seconds.

The damage of Secret Technique has been increased by 12%.

• Shaman

Elemental

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (4) Set Bonus has been redesigned. When consuming Primordial Wave and for 10 seconds afterward, Lava Burst now burns the target for 25% additional damage over 4 seconds. Additionally, each cast of Chain Lightning causes the next Lava Burst to hit up to 3 additional targets affected by Flame Shock for 100% of normal damage.

Restoration

For Restoration Shamans, the Ancestral Awakening ability now heals for 10/20% of the healing done instead of 15/30%. Additionally, it now prefers to heal injured players instead of always healing the lowest health player.

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus has been adjusted. The healing of Tidal Reservoir has been reduced to 15% of all Riptide healing done, and its duration has been increased to 15 seconds from 10 seconds. The chance to create a new Riptide has also been reduced to 5% from 10%.

• Warlock

Affliction

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (4) Set Bonus has been redesigned. Soul Rot now grants 3 Umbrafire Kindling which increase the damage of the next Malefic Rapture by 50% or the next Seed of Corruption by 60%. Additionally, Umbrafire Kindling causes Malefic Rapture to extend the duration of damage over time effects and Haunt by 2 seconds.

Demonology

Various adjustments have been made to the Demonology Warlock, including damage increases for all Nether Portal demons and improvements to Gul'dan's Ambition, Demonic Tyrant, and several abilities.

Destruction

The Rain of Fire ability's damage has been increased by 15%.

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus has been redesigned. Bolts from Dimensional Rifts now deal 25% of damage dealt to nearby enemies. Immolate's periodic damage now has a chance to grant a charge of Dimensional Rift.

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (4) Set Bonus has been redesigned. Dimensional Rift can now summon a powerful Flame Rift that blasts 20 Searing Bolts dealing Fire damage and an additional Fire damage over 10 seconds.

• Warrior

The Rallying Cry ability now increases current and maximum health by 10% instead of 15%.

The Inspiring Presence ability has been removed.

Arms

The damage of Slam has been increased by 25%, and the Critical Strike damage increase of Improved Slam has been reduced to 10% from 30%.

Protection

The Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope (2) Set Bonus has been slightly redesigned. Instead of applying a damage dealt reduction to the target, it now grants a damage taken reduction to the Warrior. It consumes 40% of the remaining Bleed damage when casting Shield Slam.

These are the most recent updates to the PTR for Patch 10.2. If you want to level a new character quickly after these class changes, consider ordering our Speed Leveling service. Happy gaming!