April Balance Update

Heroes!

Welcome to the April Balance Update Changelog! This balance update focuses on 3 big things:

Buffing a lot of builds on Elune
Adjusting builds that are SPECIFICALLY overperforming in Raid Trials
1. And also making Raid Trials more fun
Separating spells while leveling from spells at end-game so that adjustments to one area of the game doesn’t effect the other

Let's dive into specifics:

Adjusting Raid Trials

Raid Trials are the highest tier of content for the most committed players. As the most difficult content, they should be hard but not impossible. Currently, in order to get into higher levels of Raid Trials–especially at Ascended difficulty–you have to play one very specific build that forces you to snapshot a ton of abilities just right, and that build outperforms all other builds by like 300%.

Many players say they don’t find this fun.

The April Balance Update nerfs these overperforming snapshot builds while buffing underperforming builds to increase the number of builds you can play in Raid Trials and Ascended Raids.

ADDITIONALLY: since the overperforming builds are being nerfed, Raid Trials as a WHOLE can be adjusted downward slightly so that the wide variety of builds that are actually fun are now also the top performers.

Adjustments to over performing spells and abilities
Buffs to underperforming spells and abilities
Fixed critical bugs affecting gameplay and interactions
Raid Difficulty Adjustments
- Less reliant on playing one specialization in raiding
- Play more of what you want
  - More things are now viable and raids are tuned for that

Introducing New Spell Ranks to BOTH Elune and Area 52

Many spells on Ascension don’t have different Spell Ranks: i.e. you can cast a Rank 1 Frostbolt, but there is no Rank 1 Whirlwind. This means that every time a balance change was applied to Whirlwind, it was applied to all Whirlwinds at all levels all the time forever. This resulted in a lot of problems like:

Adjusting Whirlwind’s potential at higher levels made it suck at low levels
Adjusting Whirlwind’s potential in PvP in the 30-40 bracket (where it was unstoppable) made it terrible in the 60 bracket

To fix this, New Spell Ranks for LOTS of spells are being introduced! This allows balance to adjust those specific ranks instead of the entire spell. Now adjustments can be made to some parts of the game without affecting others, which is gucci:

New Spell Ranks for spells that didn’t have ranks are being introduced
- This allows changes to be made at one level–say a damage increase to Whirlwind at level 60 without affecting Whirlwind at level 36
  - Makes it so leveling doesn’t affect end-game, and end-game doesn’t affect leveling
This allows more intricate, targeted balance changes to specific areas and improves the overall health of all aspects of the game
- Better balance throughout leveling for both underperforming and overperforming spells
- Gradual power adjustments across ranks for smoother progression
- Meaningful advancement with each rank-up

New spell ranks come to both Elune and Area 52 to make balancing better.

Buffs

Arcane Divinity

[Elune] [Arcane Divinity] - Increased the base damage and scaling of Arcane Blast (Divine) by 35%.
[Elune] [Arcane Divinity] - Increased the base damage and scaling of Arcane Barrage (Divine) by 35%.

Ray of Frost

[Elune] [Ray of Frost] - Increased the base damage and scaling of Ray of Frost by 15%.
[Elune] [Ray of Frost] - Now deals 30% reduced damage in PvP combat.

Cremation

[Elune] [Cremation] - Cremation now deals 7 times the total periodic damage of consumed periodic effects, buffed from 5 times the amount.
[Elune] [Cremation] - Now deals its damage every 2 seconds over 10 seconds, buffed from every 3 seconds over 21 seconds.

Compound Speed

[Elune] [Compound Speed] - Compound Speed now increases your ranged attack speed by 30%, buffed from 20%.

Exploding Storm

[Elune] [Exploding Storm] - Exploding Storm now increases the damage of Immolation Trap by 85% per stack, buffed from 70%.
[Elune] [Exploding Storm] - Exploding Storm now increases the damage of Explosive Trap by 50% per stack, buffed from 40%.

Deadly Instinct

[Elune] [Deadly Instinct] - Fixed a bug where Deadly Instinct was additionally increasing the damage of Counterattack by 100% and Mongoose Bite by 60% against players instead of creatures. (The buff against creatures did not work at all).

Deadly Bite

[Elune] [Deadly Bite] - Increased the damage and scaling of Deadly Bite by 50%.

Deadly Aim

[Elune] [Deadly Aim] - Deadly Aim now has a 15% chance to trigger, buffed from 12%.

Defias Gunslinger

[Elune] [Defias Gunslinger] - Defias Gunslinger now increases the damage of Raptor Strike by 50%, buffed from 30%.

Widowmaker

[Elune] [Widowmaker] - Now has a 33% chance to proc and 5 second internal cooldown, buffed from 18% and 7 second cooldown.

Molten Earth

[Elune] [Molten Earth] - Molten Earth now lasts 8 seconds, buffed from 6 seconds.
[Elune] [Molten Earth] - Doubled base damage and spell power scaling of Molten Earth.
[Elune] [Molten Earth] - Tripled the attack power scaling of Molten Earth.

Stormforged Edge

[Elune] [Stormforged Edge] - Stormforged Edge now increases the damage of next Stormstrike by 24%, buffed from 12%.
[Elune] [Stormforged Edge] - Stormforged Edge now stacks up to 8, changed from 12.

Stormborn

[Elune] [Stormborn] - Doubled the damage of Stormborn against monsters.

Super Hot

[Elune] [Super Hot] - Super Hot now increases the damage of Lava Sweep by 10%, buffed from 6%.

Searing Rage

[Elune] [Searing Rage] - Searing Rage now increases the damage of Lava Sweep by 25%, buffed from 15%.

Elemental Fusion

[Elune] [Elemental Fusion] - Elemental Fusion now increases the damage of Lava Sweep and Lightning Blade by 15% per stack, buffed from 10%.

Static Shock

[Elune] [Static Shock] - Static Shock now has a 1 second internal cooldown, buffed from 1.5.

Pack Alpha

[Elune] [Pack Alpha] - Pack Alpha now increases your haste by 25%, buffed from 20%.

Bloody Maelstrom

[Elune] [Bloody Maelstrom] - Bloody Maelstrom now deals 65% increased damage per stack, buffed from 50%.

Eclipse

[Elune] [Total Lunar Eclipse] - Eclipse (Lunar) now increases the Arcane damage dealt by 25%, buffed from 15%.
[Elune] [Critical Cycles] - Eclipse (Lunar) now increases the damage of Moonfire by 70%. Up from 50%.

Lunar Spirits

[Elune] [Lunar Spirits] - Lunar Spirits now affects 5 targets, buffed from 3.
[Elune] [Lunar Spirits] - Increased the base damage and scaling of Lunar Spirits by 50%.

Single-Minded Fury

[Elune] [Single-Minded Fury] - No longer decreases the damage of said abilities.

Vanguard of Hellscream

[Elune] [Vanguard of Hellscream] - Vanguard of Hellscream now has a 50% chance to trigger, buffed from 35%.

Reaping Gallows

[Elune] [Reaping Gallows] - Reaping Gallows now increases the damage of Execute by 40%/80% on targets below 35%/10% health respectively. Buffed from 30%/40%.

Blood and Guts

[Elune] [Blood and Guts] - Increased the base damage and scaling of Executing Disembowel by 30%.

Phalanx Strike

[Elune] [Phalanx Strike] - Phalanx Strike now increases the damage of Thrust by 38% stack, buffed from 30%.

Master of Kunai

[Elune] [Master of Kunai] - Master of Kunai now increases the damage of Deadly Throw by 70%, buffed from 60%.

Elemental Dagger

[Elune] [Elemental Dagger (Earth/Fire/Ice)] - Now increases the damage of Backstab by 40%.
[Elune] [Elemental Dagger] - While affected by Elemental Dagger (Earth, Fire, Ice), Backstab ignores 50% of the opponent's armor.

Vampiric Death

[Elune] [Vampiric Death] - Vampiric Death now deals 220% of the total damage of Vampiric Touch if the consuming Shadow Word: Death critically hit the target, buffed from 100%.
[Elune] [Vampiric Death] - Vampiric Death now deals 50% reduced damage in PvP combat.

Spear Mastery

[Elune] [Spear Mastery] - Spear Mastery now increases the damage of Siegebreaker by 100% and makes it grant 2 stacks of Skewered, buffed from 75% damage and 1 stack of Skewered.

Adjustment to Snapshotting

[Elune] [Natural Selection] - Natural Selection can now trigger up to 15 times before going on 15 second cooldown.
[Elune] [Charged Up] - Charged Up now increases the duration of your Explosive Shot by 4 seconds, buffed from 2 seconds.
[Elune] [Charged Up] - Fixed a bug where Explosive Shot would not consume stacks of Coldstrike Marksmanship while being extended by Charged Up but kept benefiting. Now, every damaging instance of Explosive Shot while Charged Up is active will reduce one stack of Coldstrike Marksmanship.
[Elune] [Endless Agonizer] - Now extends the duration of Curse of Agony by 1 second, buffed from 0.6 seconds.
[Elune] [Endless Agonizer] - You can now extend Curse of Agony by 24 additional seconds. Recasting Curse of Agony resets the counter.
[Elune] [Neltharion's Legacy] - Neltharion's Legacy now lasts 10 seconds, changed from 12 seconds.

New Talents

[Elune] [Intellectuality of Balanced Mind] - New talent: While your Intellect exceeds your Spirit, critical strikes with spells increase Spell Haste Rating by 7% of your Intellect.
[Elune] [Sheer Power] - New talent: Critical hits with melee and ranged abilities increase your Strength and Agility by 12%. This does not work if you know Mental Quickness.

Abilities Receiving Ranks:

Whirlwind
Crusader Strike
Titanic Strike
Titanic Mutilate
Dragon Roar
Raging Blow
Siegebreaker
Stormhammer
Raging Lunge
Colossus Smash (Warbreaker)
Savage Blade
Battle Charge
Overwhelm
Steel Wind
Blind Revenge
Spiteful Strike
Warbreaker
Piercing Cleaver
Steady Shot
Glaive Toss
Frenzy Shot
Shuriken Toss
Compound Shot
Locust Shot
Grove Shot
Bone Arrow
Hail of Arrows
Stormstrike
Lava Lash
Lightning Blade
Lava Sweep
Wind Strike
Hurricane Strike
Stormhammer
Divine Storm
Light of the Guardian
Exorcist's Slash
Cat-a-clysm
Frenzied Swipe
Feral Frenzy
Insect Swarm (Plague)
Impaled
Saber Slash
Razorlash
Mass Razorlash
Shadow Dagger
Gloomblade
Herod's Legacy
Quick Draw
Razzashi Talon
Frost Bomb
Frost Bomb Pulse
Temporal Blast
Ice Prism
Downpour
Hammerstorm
Abiding Fel Energy
Carrion Swarm
Fel Meteor
Unleash Fel Energy
Fel Strike
Fel Cleave
Felblade
Devil's Ignition
Beam of Hatred
Pure Chaos Bolt
Entropy
Curse of the Swamp Witch
Bone Spear
Bone Toss
Disease Cloud
Sundering
Ice Spear
Venom Belch
Hammer the Gap
Voltaic Bite
Grasp of Darkness
Ice Lash
Ground Slam
Upheaval
Hateful Strike
Plague Swarm
Shadow Artillery
Loa's Assault
Zandalari Glaive
Flare Strike
Deconstruct
Sunder Soul
Focused Burst
Banshee's Wail
Hell Scream
Shielded Slash
Shadow Smash
Champion's Spear
Ravager
Astral Storm
Sunburst

Raid Difficulty Adjustments

[Elune] [Raid Trial - Serpentshrine Cavern (Level 1-6)] The Base Health scaling of all creatures and bosses per trial level was decreased to 2/10/20/30/40/50%. Changed from: 8/20/32/43/55/67%.
[Elune] [Raid Trial - Tempest Keep (Level 1-6)] The Base Health scaling of all creatures and bosses per trial level was decreased to 2/10/20/30/40/50%. Changed from: 8/20/32/43/55/67%.
[Elune] [Raid Trial - Zul'Aman (Level 1-6)] The Base Health scaling of all creatures and bosses per trial level was decreased to 2/10/20/30/40/50%. Changed from: 8/20/32/43/55/67%.
[Elune] [Raid Trial - The Battle for Mount Hyjal (Level 1-6)] - The Health scaling of all creatures and bosses in the raid per trial level was decreased to 1/7/14/18/23/28%. Changed from: 8/19/30/41/52/63%.
[Elune] [Raid Trial - Black Temple (Level 1-6)] The Base Health scaling of all creatures and bosses per trial level was decreased to 1/7/14/18/23/28%. Changed from: 8/19/30/41/52/63%.

Ascended Raid Adjustments

[Elune] [Karazhan Ascended] - Decreased the health of all creatures inside the instance by 8%.
[Elune] [Gruul's Lair Ascended] - Decreased the health of all creatures inside the instance by 8%.
[Elune] [Magtheridon's Lair Ascended] - Decreased the health of all creatures inside the instance by 8%.
[Elune] [Serpentshrine Cavern Ascended] - Decreased the health of all creatures inside the instances by 12%.
[Elune] [Tempest Keep Ascended] - Decreased the health of all creatures inside the instances by 12%.
[Elune] [Zul'Aman Ascended] - Decreased the health of all creatures inside the instances by 12%.
[Elune] [The Battle for Mount Hyjal Ascended] - Decreased the health of all creatures inside the instances by 15%.
[Elune] [Black Temple Ascended] - Decreased the health of all creatures inside the instances by 15%.
Reminder that: Raid Trial health increasing auras stack with instance health modifiers in a multiplicative manner.

Salt exchange at Gabriel Mewell

Gabriel Mewell (GM for short) has a special power: he can reset your build when any ability or talent in it is nerfed, giving you back the scroll of fortunes you used in that specialization. You just have to bring him salt.

Basically, if any ability or talent in your build undergoes any balance changes. For example, if Seal of Command gets hit in your OwtL build, you can talk to GM to completely reset your build.

Here’s how it works:

Seek out to Gabril Mewell in Moonglade
Give him your Salt (1x Salt)
Confirm with exceeding confidence you would like to reset the build. (You have to be really, really, REALLY sure)
He’ll take your salt and reset your entire build without resetting your level
Also, he resets your Skill Cards so you can slot them again
Then he gives back ALL of the Scrolls of Fortune you used in the build.

OD Ascension