Class Tuning Coming in the Season of Discovery - April 23rd

Blizzard has recently made an exciting announcement regarding the upcoming class adjustments for World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery. As part of the scheduled maintenance on April 23rd, players can expect to see some significant changes to various classes. In this blog post, written by WowCarry, we will go into detail about the adjustments for each class and discuss the developer's notes for each change.

Druid Adjustments

• The Natural Weapons Talent

The Natural Weapons talent for Druids has received a significant improvement. Previously, it only increased physical damage done by Druids during the Season of Discovery. However, with the latest update, this talent now increases all damage done by Druids, regardless of the damage type.

• The Gale Winds Rune

The Gale Winds Rune has also seen a significant change. Previously, it reduced the mana cost of Hurricane, a powerful spell used by Druids. Now, it reduces the mana cost of Hurricane by 60%. This adjustment will allow Druids to cast Hurricane more frequently, providing them with additional crowd control and area-of-effect damage capabilities.

• Swiftmend

Another change is related to the Swiftmend ability. Previously, when used, Swiftmend would consume a Rejuvenation or Regrowth effect on the target. However, with the recent adjustment, Swiftmend no longer consumes these effects. Nevertheless, it is important to note that Swiftmend still requires either Rejuvenation or Regrowth to be present on the target to be activated.

The developers encourage players to provide feedback on these changes as they continue to monitor the performance and behavior of Druids in Season of Discovery.

Paladin Adjustments

• Seal of Righteousness

The developers have made an intriguing adjustment to the Seal of Righteousness for Paladins. Previously, critical hits were not possible with this ability. However, with the latest update, Seal of Righteousness damage can now also result in critical hits. This change will significantly increase the damage potential of Paladins who rely on this ability.

• Sacred Shield

The duration of Sacred Shield, a protective ability for Paladins, has been extended from 30 seconds to 60 seconds. This adjustment will provide Paladins with a longer window of protection, allowing them to better mitigate incoming damage.

• Crusader Strike

An additional effect has been added to Crusader Strike, an essential ability for Paladins. Now, when using Crusader Strike, all judgment effects active on the target will be refreshed to a remaining duration of 30 seconds. This change promotes a more strategic use of judgment effects, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of Paladins in combat.

• Seal of Martyrdom

The developers have also revisited the concept of "seal twisting" for Paladins in Season of Discovery. Seal twisting refers to the practice of using two different seals simultaneously to gain additional benefits. Initially considered a bug, this playstyle became popular among Paladin players. In response to player feedback, the developers have decided to allow Seal of Martyrdom to be twisted with other seals, including Seal of Command. However, they acknowledge the mana inefficiency and complexity of this playstyle and are closely monitoring its impact on the game.

Overall, these adjustments aim to enhance the gameplay experience for Paladins and provide them with more diverse and strategic options in combat.

Priest Adjustments

• Shadowform

Shadow Priests will be pleased to hear that Shadowform has received a significant improvement. Previously, Shadowform increased shadow damage done by 15%. With the recent adjustment, this increase has been raised to 25%. This change significantly boosts the damage potential of Shadow Priests, making them even more formidable opponents in battle.

Rogue Adjustments

• Saber Slash Bleed

Rogues will see a change to the Saber Slash ability and its associated bleed effect. Previously, the bleed effect stacked up to 3 times. However, with the adjustment, the Saber Slash bleed effect can now stack up to 5 times. This change enhances the damage over time capabilities of Rogues, allowing them to inflict more consistent and powerful bleeds on their opponents.

Furthermore, the bleed effect from Saber Slash now also increases the impact damage done by Sinister Strike and Saber Slash by 15% per stack, but the damage per tick has been reduced to 3% of the Rogue's Attack Power (previously 5%). This adjustment encourages a more strategic use of the bleed effect and provides Rogues with additional burst damage potential.

Shaman Adjustments

• Mental Dexterity

The developers have responded to player feedback regarding the usability of Mental Dexterity, particularly for Elemental Shamans. This ability was not originally designed for Elemental Shamans, so adjustments have been made to ensure its usage is more focused on enhancement-oriented gameplay. Mental Dexterity now only triggers from dealing damage with Stormstrike and Lava Lash, and the duration has been extended to 30 seconds (previously 10 seconds). These changes aim to provide a better balance and usability for Elemental Shamans.

• Burn

Shamans who rely on the Burn rune will be pleased with the recent adjustments. Burn now increases Flame Shock damage by 100% and extends the duration of the Flame Shock damage over time effect by 6 seconds. Additionally, Flame Shock can now strike up to 5 targets simultaneously (previously 3 targets). These changes significantly enhance the damage potential and crowd control capabilities of Shamans utilizing the Burn rune.

The developers acknowledge that these adjustments may not be enough to bring Elemental Shamans to the desired level of balance. They assure players that further changes will be made in future class adjustment updates to address any remaining issues.

In the Weeks to Come

Blizzard is committed to continuously improving the gameplay experience for all classes in World of Warcraft. In the coming weeks, players can expect to see more adjustments for Hunters, Mages, Shamans, and Warlocks. The developers appreciate the valuable feedback they have received since the start of Phase 3 and look forward to sharing more details about the upcoming changes soon.

Final Thoughts

With the upcoming class adjustments in World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery, players can look forward to enhanced gameplay experiences and more strategic options in combat. The changes made to each class aim to address player feedback and provide a more balanced and engaging environment for players to enjoy. Blizzard's commitment to continually improve the game demonstrates their dedication to creating the best possible gaming experience for World of Warcraft players around the world.