We have the class tuning in for this week, with several classes getting the PvE treatment, as well as some more significant PvP changes as well, and a Wrath Classic improvement.
February 27 (Source)
Classes
Death Knight
Blood
[With weekly restarts] All damaging abilities increased by 3%.
Paladin
Holy
[With weekly restarts] Light of Dawn healing increased by 10%.
Protection
[With weekly restarts] Greater Judgment’s bonus to your next Holy Power ability against the afflicted target increased to 40% (was 20%).
[With weekly restarts] Hammer of Wrath damage increased by 30%.
[With weekly restarts] Hammer of the Righteous damage increased by 20%.
Shaman
Elemental
[With weekly restarts] Lightning Bolt damage increased by 10% for Elemental only. Does not apply to PvP.
[With weekly restarts] Lava Burst damage increased by 6% for Elemental only. Does not apply to PvP.
[With weekly restarts] Earth Shock damage increased by 6%. Does not apply to PvP. Does not apply to PvP.
[With weekly restarts] Elemental Blast damage increased by 6% for Elemental only. Does not apply to PvP. Does not apply to PvP.
[With weekly restarts] Icefury damage increased by 80%.
[With weekly restarts] Icefury causes Frost Shock to generate 14 Maelstrom (was 8).
[With weekly restarts] Frost Shock damage increased by 15% for Elemental only.
Developers’ notes: These changes are aimed at improving Elemental single target damage. We also felt that Icefury should deal more damage so that the spell is not solely focused on the follow-up Frost Shocks.
Player versus Player
Items
[With weekly restarts] Gladiator’s Distinction’ Stamina provided by the bonus increased by 40%
Developers’ note: Our goal for PvP pacing is for it to be fast, while leaving time for players to react; we’ve continued to see that overall PvP pacing has been faster than we would like, especially as players have been gaining increased offensive power through tier set acquisition, so we are adjusting the stamina bonus from Gladiator’s Distinction to help address this.
Classes
Hunter
[With weekly restarts] Improved Kill Shot now increases Kill Shot’s critical strike damage by 15% in PvP Combat (was 25%).
Marksmanship
[With weekly restarts] Razor Fragments now increases Kill Shot’s damage by 40% in PvP Combat (was 50%).
[With weekly restarts] Arcane Shot damage increased by 45% in PvP Combat (was 30%).
[With weekly restarts] Chimaera Shot damage increased by 45% in PvP Combat (was 30%).
Developers’ notes: Kill Shot critical strikes have been particularly deadly for Hunters, so we’re reducing the value of Improved Kill Shot. Marksmanship will be receiving several other adjustments to shift more of their damage profile into their base rotation.
Monk
Brewmaster
[With weekly restarts] Incendiary Breath (PvP Talent) now increases the Radius and Damage of Breath of Fire by 30% (was 100%).
Developers’ notes: Incendiary Breath’s radius increase has been difficult to read as a player and Brewmaster damage has been higher than we would like.
Windwalker
[With weekly restarts] Touch of Karma now redirects 105% of absorbed damage in PvP Combat (was 70%).
Developers’ notes: Touch of Karma’s redirect damage should be a strong deterrent to targeting a Monk while it’s active, and we feel that it was too weak previously.
Rogue
Assassination
[With weekly restarts] Hemotoxin (PvP Talent) healing reduction effect reduced to 30% (was 35%).
Developers’ notes: We felt that the Healing reduction effect from Hemotoxic was too strong, especially as it is easy to keep applied.
Outlaw
[With weekly restarts] Dispatch damage increased by 15% in PvP Combat.
Developers’ notes: Outlaw has been underperforming, so we’re increasing their finisher damage.
Shaman
Enhancement
[With weekly restarts] Converging Storms increases Stormstrike damage by 10% per stack in PvP Combat (was 25%).
[With weekly restarts] Lava Lash damage increased by 15% in PvP Combat.
[With weekly restarts] Stormstrike damage increased by 50% in PvP Combat (was increased by 30%).
[With weekly restarts] Windstrike damage increased by 50% in PvP Combat (was increased by 30%).
Developers’ notes: We’re looking to increase Enhancement’s consistent damage while reducing its high-end burst potential.
Warrior
Fury
[With weekly restarts] Rampage damage increased by 15% in PvP combat.
[With weekly restarts] Execute damage increased by 10% in PvP. Arms and Protection damage unchanged.
Developers’ notes: Fury Warriors’ offensive pressure has been notably lower than we would like, so we’re increasing Rampage and Execute damage.
Wrath of the Lich King Classic
Achievements
School of Hard Knocks is no longer required for the Children’s Week meta-achievement For the Children.