WoW Forever October 15 patch: races reworked, winners and losers

Warrior

Net buff

All specializations▲ 3

• ▲Battle ShoutModifiednow applies to the whole raid.
• ▲SlamModifiedno longer subject to spell pushback (a hit taken no longer delays the cast).
• ▲OverpowerModifiedcould fail to activate against significantly lower level enemies. This is fixed.

Arms▼ 1

• ▼Arms – WeaponmasterModifiedthis talent’s Sword Specialization can no longer be triggered by Shield Bash or Shield Slam.

Fury▲ 2

• ▲Fury – Lingering RageModifiedno longer stops the player’s Health regeneration after combat.
• ▲Fury – Improved Berserker RageModifiedfinally removes movement-impairing effects, as the talent says it does.

Paladin

Balanced

All specializations▲ 4▼ 2◆ 3

• ▲Salvation and Mass SalvationNewreplace Blessing of Salvation and Greater Blessing of Salvation. They still reduce threat generated by 30%, but they are no longer blessings. Before, a Paladin could give each player only one blessing: a DPS had to choose between Salvation, to pull less aggro, and a damage blessing such as Blessing of Might. Now they get both.
• ▲RevokeNewnew spell, learned together with Salvation. It removes Salvation from one specific player. Useful because Mass Salvation covers every player of the same class, tank included: a Warrior tank who gets it generates 30% less threat, which is the last thing they want. The Paladin can now take it off them.
• ▲Seal of FuryModifiedis no longer overwritten by a Priest’s Power Word: Shield.
• ▲Righteous FuryModifiedthreat generated by Holy damage increases to 90% (was 60%).
• ▼Seal of RighteousnessModifiedgained almost twice as much benefit from spell power as intended. This is fixed: the share of damage that comes from spell power goes down, base damage is unchanged.
• ▼ConsecrationModifiedthe spell power coefficient per tick goes down to 0.042 (was 0.095).
• ◆Judgement of Righteousness and Judgement of FuryModifiednow have the correct spell power coefficients for instant cast spells. Blizzard does not give the values.
• ◆Judgement of RighteousnessModifiedits spell damage coefficient was incorrect. It is fixed, with no published value.
• ◆Seal of FuryModifiedrank 3 is now correctly trained at level 26, not level 25 as it was by mistake.

Holy▼ 1◆ 1

• ▼Holy – Infusion of LightModifiedno longer gives Holy Shock 50% increased damage against enemies, an effect that was not intended.
• ◆Holy – Light’s VigilModifiedwhen cast with a focus macro, the spell did not go onto the right target. This is fixed.

Protection▲ 1▼ 1

• ▲Protection – ReckoningModifiedeach trigger gives a charge, up to 4. Your next melee swing (auto attack) uses all accumulated charges, for 1 extra attack per charge. This restores the Classic Era behavior and delays the triggers until your next swing, so that instant attacks no longer reset the auto attack timer.
• ▼Protection – Shield SpecializationModifiedthe Mana restored drops to 4% (was 6%), still with a 3 second internal cooldown.

Retribution▲ 1▼ 2

• ▲Retribution – Sanctified JudgementModifiedthe Mana it restores no longer generates threat.
• ▼Retribution – Champion of the LightModifiedincreases your spell damage by 10/20/30% of your Intellect (was 20/40/60%).
• ▼Retribution – VindicationModifiedthe attack power reduction applied to the target drops to 2/4/6 (was 68/136/204). The Paladin’s own 1/2/3% attack power bonus is unchanged. Not in Blizzard’s notes, found in the game data by Wowhead.

Hunter

Balanced

All specializations▲ 4▼ 4◆ 1

• ▲Fire trapsModifiednow scale correctly with attack power.
• ▲TrapsModifiedthe Hunter can have 1 active Fire Trap and 1 active Ice Trap at the same time (was 1 trap among all types).
• ▲PetsModifiednow correctly benefit from Expertise.
• ▲PetsModifiedinherit the player’s higher critical strike chance, melee or ranged, instead of only the melee one.
• ▼Auto ShotModifiednow requires standing still for 0.5 seconds before shooting, matching early versions of World of Warcraft. The developers specify that your character will still fire Auto Shot while casting spells like Aimed Shot or Sniper Shot.
• ▼Pets – Crocolisk DismemberModifiedhealing reduction drops to 25% (was 50%), duration to 6 seconds (was 10) and cooldown rises to 15 seconds (was 6).
• ▼Pets – Bat Sonic BlastModifiedcast speed reduction drops to 30% (was 60%), duration to 20 seconds (was 30) and cooldown rises to 60 seconds (was 30).
• ▼Pets – Bird of Prey Mine!Modifiedduration drops to 3 seconds (was 4) and cooldown rises to 90 seconds (was 60).
• ◆Arrowsthey are now visible when the character has the bow drawn back.

Beast Mastery▲ 1◆ 2

• ▲Beast Mastery – Improved Mend PetModifiedincreased the Mana cost of Mend Pet instead of reducing it. This is fixed.
• ◆Beast Mastery – Summon HawkModifiedthe hawk now spawns at the target the spell was cast on.
• ◆Beast Mastery – Summon HawkModifiedthe hawk now stays stuck to the target it was summoned on.

Marksmanship▲ 3

• ▲Marksmanship – Trueshot AuraModifiednow applies to the whole raid.
• ▲Marksmanship – Sniper ShotModifieddid not benefit from a few Marksmanship talents. This is fixed.
• ▲Marksmanship – Multi-ShotModifiedbecomes instant (was a 0.5 second cast). Not in Blizzard’s notes, found in the game data by Wowhead.

Survival▲ 3◆ 1

• ▲Survival – Strider KickModifiedcan be used while disarmed, or with no weapon in the main hand.
• ▲Survival – ResourcefulnessModifiednow correctly reduces the Mana cost of Strider Kick.
• ▲Survival – ResourcefulnessModifiedfinally activates on a critical strike, but only on melee and ranged ability critical strikes, to prevent spamming. The developers specify that traps do not activate it. Not in Blizzard’s notes, found in the game data by Wowhead: the proc chance goes up to 50/100% (was 30/60%).
• ◆Survival – Predator’s EdgeModifiedthe tooltip now states that it only increases the critical strike damage of your abilities.

Rogue

Net nerf

All specializations▼ 3

• ▼Rogue PoisonsModifiedno longer wrongly activate against targets that are attacking the Rogue.
• ▼SapModifiedno longer has a chance to activate weapon procs.
• ▼SpecializationsModifieda Rogue can no longer swap specializations to keep their Energy full.

Assassination▼ 1

• ▼Assassination – Cold BloodModifiedis now consumed when Mutilate lands a critical strike.

Priest

Net buff

All specializations▲ 3▼ 1◆ 3

• ▲RenewModifiedhigh ranks were preventing other Priests from applying their own Renew to the target. This is fixed.
• ▲Devouring PlagueModifiedthe cooldown drops to 24 seconds (was 1 minute).
• ▲Mind VisionModifiedcasting the spell no longer makes the target stand up or interrupts its drinks.
• ▼Shadow Word: DeathModifiedthe cooldown rises to 18 seconds. Blizzard’s notes say « was 12 », but the game data tracked by Wowhead shows 15 seconds before the patch.
• ◆Holy FireModifiedrank 5 periodic damage was higher than rank 6. This is fixed.
• ◆Power Word: ShieldModifiedthe game now correctly tells the player they can’t replace a shield that is stronger than the new one.
• ◆Power Word: ShieldModifiedscrolling combat text no longer shows « SHIELDED » twice.

Discipline▲ 3▼ 2◆ 3

• ▲Discipline – Power in LightModifiednow increases Smite and Penance if the target is afflicted by Holy Fire or Shadow Word: Pain.
• ▲Discipline – Silent ResolveModifiedthe threat reduction now applies to all spells. The patch notes spell it « Silence Resolve ».
• ▲Discipline – Twin DisciplinesModifiednow correctly benefits Shadow Word: Death, Mind Flay, Starshards and Penance.
• ▼Discipline – Inner FocusModifiednow only applies to a single spell, even if you queue another spell during the Penance channel.
• ▼Discipline – Mental StrengthModifiedmoves from row 4 to row 2, but the Intellect bonus drops to 2/4/6/8/10% (was 3/6/9/12/15%, value found in the game data by Wowhead).
• ◆Discipline – Divine AegisModifiedthe tooltip now says the talent triggers on non-periodic critical heals.
• ◆Discipline – Divine AegisModifiedthe tooltip now shows the maximum value of the shield.
• ◆Discipline – Improved Power Word: ShieldModifiedmoves from row 2 to row 3.

Shadow Magic▲ 6▼ 2◆ 3

• ▲Shadow – Shadow Word: DeathModifiedfinally benefits from the critical strike damage increase of Shadowform.
• ▲Shadow – Devouring ContagionModifiedthe bounced Devouring Plague no longer costs Mana, no longer plays a cast animation and no longer puts the caster’s Devouring Plague back on full cooldown.
• ▲Shadow – Devouring ContagionModifiednow spreads to 2 targets.
• ▲Shadow – Vampiric EmbraceModifiedcan no longer be resisted.
• ▲Shadow – Vampiric EmbraceModifiedthe cooldown drops to 30 seconds (was 1 minute).
• ▲Shadow – Dark InspirationNewnew row 4 talent. Mind Blast and a fully channeled Mind Flay increase the Priest’s and their party’s Spirit by 3/6/9/12/15% for 10 seconds.
• ▼Shadow – Improved FadeModifiedtalent removed.
• ▼Shadow – Shadow AffinityModifiedtalent removed. It reduced the threat generated by Shadow spells by 10/20/30%. Blizzard’s notes call it Shadow Infinity by mistake.
• ◆Shadow – Improved Mind BlastModifiedmoves from row 3 to row 2.
• ◆Shadow – Improved Mind FlayModifiedeach instance of Mind Flay damage deals 10/20% more damage than the previous one. Not in Blizzard’s notes, found in the game data by Wowhead: the talent no longer grants 5 yards of range or a 35% slow on the target.
• ◆Shadow – Shadow WeavingModifiedthe tooltip now correctly states that the target takes increased damage from you.

Shaman

Net buff

All specializations▲ 5▼ 4◆ 3

• ▲Totemic RecallModifiedcost 70 silver at the trainer instead of the intended 22. The price is fixed.
• ▲Grace of Air TotemModifiedis no longer exclusive with Windfury Totem and Flametongue Totem.
• ▲TotemsModifiedGrace of Air Totem, Strength of Earth Totem, Windfury Totem and Flametongue Totem now apply raid-wide.
• ▲Chain LightningModifiedMana cost reduced by approximately 35% on all four ranks.
• ▲Fire NovaModifiedthe Mana cost is significantly reduced.
• ▼Grounding TotemModifiedis now destroyed after redirecting a spell, as intended.
• ▼Fire NovaModifiedthe spell power coefficient drops to 0.143 (was 0.214).
• ▼Fire NovaModifiedbase damage is significantly reduced.
• ▼Flametongue Totem and Windfury TotemModifiednow only affect players.
• ◆Windfury WeaponModifiedits attacks now show up as white hits in the scrolling combat text.
• ◆Windfury Totem and Flametongue TotemModifiedkeep their mutual exclusivity.
• ◆Chain HealModifieda little green is added to the visual effect, without overpowering the original.

Elemental Combat▲ 7▼ 1◆ 7

• ▲Call of ThunderModifiedleaves the Elemental tree and becomes a baseline effect for every Shaman, whatever the spec: +3% critical strike chance on Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning. Blizzard’s notes only say « Talent removed »; the move to a baseline effect shows in the game data tracked by Wowhead.
• ▲Elemental – Elemental MasteryNewreturns as the new 31-point gold medal talent. Reduces the cast time of Lightning Bolt and Lava Burst by 0.5 seconds and removes the cooldown from Chain Lightning for 15 seconds. 3-minute cooldown, Lava Burst is a prerequisite.
• ▲Elemental – Lava BurstModifiedmoves from row 7 to row 5 as the 21-point gold medal talent. A rank 4 is added, the ranks are redistributed and the talent no longer has a prerequisite. Ranks 2 and 3 are learned earlier, at levels 40 and 50 (was 50 and 60).
• ▲Elemental – Elemental ReachModifiedalso reduces the cooldown of Totemic Projection by 10/20 seconds. Not in Blizzard’s notes, found in the game data by Wowhead: the talent no longer adds 8 yards of range to Flame Shock.
• ▲Elemental – Call of FlameModifiedalso extends the duration of Flame Shock by 3/6/9 seconds.
• ▲Elemental – ClearcastingModifiedis no longer consumed by Lightning Overload activations.
• ▲Elemental – Trial by FireModifiedthe talent formerly known as Improved Fire Nova also extends the duration of Magma Totem by 10 seconds. Not in Blizzard’s notes, found in the game data by Wowhead.
• ▼Elemental – Elemental FocusModifiedthe Clearcasting it grants can no longer be spent on the Fire Nova that triggered it.
• ◆Elemental – Elemental FuryModifiednow has Lightning Overload as a prerequisite.
• ◆Elemental – Lightning OverloadModifiednow has Elemental Alacrity as a prerequisite.
• ◆Elemental – Elemental AlacrityModifiedmoves from row 3 to row 2.
• ◆Elemental – Elemental WardingModifiedmoves from row 2 to row 3.
• ◆Elemental – EarthboundModifiedmoves to row 4 as the 16-point gold medal talent.
• ◆Elemental – column arrangementModifiedmany talents move to make room for other talents and their connections.
• ◆Elemental – Fire NovaModifiedthe tooltip now correctly increases when you invest in Trial by Fire, the talent formerly known as Improved Fire Nova.

Enhancement▲ 3

• ▲Enhancement – StormstrikeModifiedthe debuff is no longer consumed if your spell does not land.
• ▲Enhancement – StormstrikeModifiedthe debuff can no longer be consumed by players or pets other than the casting Shaman.
• ▲Enhancement – StormstrikeModifiedthe cost changes to 8% of base Mana (was 125 Mana at all levels). Listed as a buff because the cost now scales with level, so it is much lower while leveling. The cost still needs checking at level 60.

Restoration▲ 3◆ 1

• ▲Restoration – Mana Tide TotemModifiedan additional rank is learned at level 38. Ranks now come at levels 25, 38, 48 and 58 (was 25, 48 and 58).
• ▲Restoration – Restorative TotemsModifiednow increases the full effect of Healing Stream Totem, not just its base value.
• ▲Restoration – Water ShieldModifiedcan trigger from any critical spell cast by the Shaman (was only critical heals).
• ◆Restoration – Tidal Focus and Totemic FocusModifiedswap places. Tidal Focus moves to row 1 and Totemic Focus to row 2.

Mage

Balanced

All specializations▲ 1▼ 1

• ▲Frost BlastNewnew spell learned at level 24. 1.5 second cast, low frost damage and a 40% movement slow. It benefits from every talent that affects Frostbolt, including Winter’s Chill. The developers explain that it takes over the role of rank 1 Frostbolt despite the down-ranking penalty: it costs more Mana and deals a little more damage. The notes describe this spell twice, in the Mage and Frost sections. Improved Frostbolt and Arctic Reach also apply to it (found in the game data by Wowhead).
• ▼ClearcastingModifiedno longer rolls for every target struck, can no longer activate off Dampen Magic and Amplify Magic, nor off spells cast out of combat.

Arcane▲ 2▼ 2◆ 1

• ▲Arcane – Missile BarrageModifiedmoves to row 1 and becomes a 2-point talent. It also gives a chance to trigger when Arcane Missiles hits land. At rank 2: 40% chance from Arcane Blast, 20% from Arcane Wrath, Fireball, Frostbolt and Frostfire Bolt, 10% from each Arcane Missiles hit; rank 1 gives half. The old values come back at rank 2, but cost 2 points instead of 1.
• ▲Arcane – Arcane WrathNewnew 16-point gold medal talent. This spell deals base damage similar to a Fireball, with a 3.5 second cast, and counts as if the Mage had additional Spell Power equal to 5% of their maximum Mana. 6 second cooldown. Improved Channeling also protects it from interruptions (found in the game data by Wowhead).
• ▼Arcane – Presence of MindModifiedwas not being consumed by spell casts. This is fixed.
• ▼Arcane – Missile BarrageModifiedcould reduce the cost and duration of a second Arcane Missiles cast. This is fixed.
• ◆Arcane – Arcane BlastModifiedredesigned. The spell has a 1.5 second cast, and each cast gives the Mage 15% of their Intellect as additional Spell Damage. The effect still increases the cost and stacks up to 4 times, but it lasts 15 seconds from when it is first applied (instead of ending at the next spell cast). Mana cost unchanged, damage done and spell power coefficients reduced by 40%. The old 10% bonus to your other spells’ damage per stack is removed.

Fire▲ 2▼ 1◆ 1

• ▲Fire – Heating UpModifiedis no longer consumed if Presence of Mind was active for the Pyroblast cast. Each Fire Blast also always adds a charge, so a critical Fire Blast gives 2.
• ▲Fire – Critical MassModifiedMages can spend up to 5 points for 10% total critical strike chance.
• ▼Fire – Wake of FireModifiedthe talent reverts to Improved Fire Blast and no longer grants a bonus when the Mage kills a target. It increases the range of Fire Blast by 8/15 yards. Listed as a nerf: a kill bonus disappears, and the range only makes up for it on a filler spell.
• ◆Fire – Fire PowerModifiedredesigned, now only 3 points. Increases damage done by Fire spells by 1/2/3% per Fire effect of the Mage on the target, up to a maximum of 12%. Spells that mix multiple schools of magic do not grant this bonus. The effects that count are Ignite, Improved Scorch, Fireball, Pyroblast and Impact. Frostfire Bolt does not grant the bonus but benefits from it. Before: 5 points, a flat +2/4/6/8/10% Fire damage with no condition.

Frost▲ 3▼ 1◆ 3

• ▲Frost – Frost ChannelingModifiednow correctly reduces the Mage’s threat.
• ▲Frost – Frostbite and Fingers of FrostModifiedcan now activate from Ice Armor and Frost Armor, which the game had been preventing.
• ▲Frost – Cone of ColdModifiedthe movement slow on the first 4 targets hit is increased by 10% and lasts 3 seconds longer. The developers explain that controlling massive numbers of targets was the main reason for the original reduction, and they consider this power level reasonable against 4 or fewer targets.
• ▼Frost – Ice LanceModifiedagainst a frozen target, the damage increase drops to 200% (was 300%).
• ◆Ice BlockModifiedthe visual effect was too transparent. This is fixed.
• ◆Frost – Winter’s ChillModifiedredesigned. It no longer grants critical strike chance. In the October 15 game data, your Frost damage spells have a 20/40/60/80/100% chance (by rank) to apply Winter’s Chill: each stack increases the damage of your Cone of Cold on the target by 40%, up to 5 stacks, consumed by the next Cone of Cold. Blizzard’s notes also describe a second version (5% more damage taken and 7% of your spell damage per stack) that the game does not apply at this point.
• ◆Frost – Cone of ColdModifiedthe position of the spell visual changes slightly.

Warlock

Balanced

All specializations▼ 2

• ▼Summon IncubusModifiedcan no longer be cast without a Soul Shard with the Reagent Economy Legacy perk.
• ▼Curse of RecklessnessModifiedmultiple debuffs of this kind can no longer be active on a target at the same time. The notes write « Cure of Recklessness », a typo for Curse.

Affliction▲ 2▼ 1

• ▲Affliction – Shadow MasteryModifiedincreases Shadow damage by 2/4/6/8/10% (was 1/2/3/4/5%).
• ▲Affliction – Amplify CurseModifiedits effect on Curse of Exhaustion goes from 20% to 50%. Not in Blizzard’s notes, found in the game data by Wowhead.
• ▼Affliction – MaledictionModifiedreplaced by Grim Reach, which increases the range of your Affliction spells by 10/20%. Malediction increased all periodic damage from your spells by 1/2/3/4/5%: the loss hits every damage-over-time spell, the range gain is minor.

Demonology▲ 1

• ▲Demonology – Soul LinkModifiedit was impossible to cast on your pet. This is fixed.

Destruction▼ 1

• ▼Destruction – Destructive ReachModifiednow only increases the range of your Destruction spells, by 10/20%. Before, the bonus applied to all your damaging spells.

Druid

Net buff

All specializations▲ 4▼ 2

• ▲RejuvenationModifiedhigh ranks were preventing other Druids from applying Rejuvenation to the target. This is fixed.
• ▲Faerie FireModifiednow generates threat in Bear Form and Dire Bear Form, instead of just initiating combat at 0 threat.
• ▲ShredModifiedrank 1 is learned at level 20 (was 22). It was possible to get Shredding Attacks before knowing Shred or Lacerate.
• ▲Talents on loginModifiedHeart of the Wild, Feral Swiftness, Thick Hide and Leader of the Pack were not always applying to the character on login. This is fixed.
• ▼Omen of ClarityModifiedcan no longer be triggered by Faerie Fire in Cat Form, Bear Form or Dire Bear Form. In those forms Faerie Fire costs no resources, so it cannot trigger it.
• ▼Faerie FireModifiedmultiple Faerie Fire debuffs can no longer be active on the same target.

Balance▲ 1▼ 1

• ▲Balance – Moonkin AuraModifiednow only increases spell critical strike chance, but is raid-wide and no longer exclusive with Leader of the Pack: the two auras stack. The end of the exclusivity is not in Blizzard’s notes, it was found in the game data by Wowhead.
• ▼Balance – Insect SwarmModifiedmultiple instances no longer keep reducing the target’s hit chance.

Feral Combat▲ 2◆ 1

• ▲Feral – FurorModifiedthe player keeps the Energy they had in Cat Form when shifting into Bear or Dire Bear Form. These forms still prevent Energy regeneration.
• ▲Feral – Leader of the PackModifiednow only increases melee and ranged critical strike chance, but is raid-wide and now stacks with Moonkin Aura.
• ◆Feral – ShredModifiedthe flat damage shown in the tooltip now correctly scales with the percentage damage increase of Savage Fury. The developers specify this was only a display bug: the damage is unchanged.