July Balance Updates

Heroes!

A wave of balance updates hits both Area 52 and Elune: this update brings a variety of adjustments to multiple specializations, and aims to improve combat mechanics and overall performance.

Changes will begin to roll out in the next 24-48 hours.

The goals for this balance patch are to introduce new ways to build and play your Hero on both realms:

Ensure that more builds can compete at all levels
Bring the performance of builds closer together
Performance improvements for many different Abilities, Talents, and Mystic Enchantments
Enhance potential investment paths on Elune through new interactions and mechanics
Create new synergies to bridge playstyles that were in need of them
Give more proactive tools to tanks
Bring some love to underutilized spells and abilities

Heroes whose builds are negatively impacted by the changes can speak to Gabril Mewell to reset their build and retrieve their Scrolls of Fortune.

New Mystic Enchants and Talents

[Area-52] [Elune] [Threatening Presence]

[Area-52] [Payback]

[Area-52] [First to the Fight]

New Talents

[Elune] [Stormforged Edge]

[Elune] [Frostfire Collapse]

[Elune] [Elemental Reaver]

[Elune] [I’m a Fan of Knives]

[Elune] [Critical Serration]

[Elune] [Greater Judgement of Righteousness]

Balance Changes

[Area-52] [Elune] - Paladins

[Area-52] [Elune] - Casting Seals now only triggers a short global cooldown of 0.5 seconds.
[Area-52] [Elune] - Increased attack power scaling of Seal of Righteousness to match 65% of its Spell power scaling. Now it has 2.8% Attack Power scaling.
[Area-52] [Elune] - Increased attack power scaling of Seal of Vengeance to match 65% of its Spell power scaling. Now it has 7% Attack Power scaling.
[Area-52] [Elune] - Doubled scaling of Seal of Vengeance damage-over-time effect.
[Area-52] [Elune] - Increased scaling of Judgement of Righteousness by 50%.
[Area-52] [Elune] - Increased scaling of Judgement of Vengeance by 50%.
[Area-52] [Elune] - Crusader Strike has been added to Fanaticism it gains a 10/20/30% damage increase against targets affected by your Execution Sentence.
[Elune] [Consecrated Strikes] - Can now trigger from Judgements.
[Elune] [Dark Justicar] - Triggering Dark Justicar with Judgement of Vengeance makes your Paladin abilities apply 1 additional stack of Seal of Vengeance for 12 seconds, this effect functions even if you swap to another Seal.
[Elune] [Inevitable Vengeance] - Now also increases the damage of your offensive direct damage Paladin abilities by 1% per stack.
[Elune] [Empowered Light] - Now stacks up to 3 times from 4, and reduces the cast time of Holy Light by 33% per stack, from 25%.
[Elune] [Exorcist’s Slash] - Now deals Holy damage.
[Elune] [One with the Light] - Now lowers Physical damage by 20%. Down from 50%.
[Elune] [Divine Blademaster] Now increases your armor by 150% of your Strength, down from 200%. And Holy Spell damage by 75% of your Strength, down from 100%.
[Elune] [Critical Blademaster] Now increases your critical strike rating by 12% of your Strength, down from 15%.

[Elune] Lava Lash and its transforms

Lava Lash damage increasing talents were mainly used by Lava Sweep builds, this change is aimed to buff Lava Lash, Ice Lash and Upheaval while adjusting the potency of Lava Sweep.

[Elune] - Elemental Fusion now increases the damage of your next Lava Lash and Stormstrike by 20% per stack. Up from 15%.
[Elune] - Elemental Fusion now increases the damage of your next Lava Sweep by 10%. Damage increase stays 20% for other Lava Lash transforms.
[Elune] - Searing Rage now increases the damage of your next Lava Lash, Ice Lash and Upheaval by 55%. Up from 50%.
[Elune] - Searing Rage now increases the damage of your next Lava Sweep by 30%. Down from 35%.
[Elune] - Super Hot now increases the damage of your next Lava Lash by 20%. Up from 15%.
[Elune] - Super Hot now increases the damage of your next Lava Sweep by 10%. Damage increase stays 20% for other Lava Lash transforms.

[Elune] Nature Casters

Nature damage casters fell short whenever Astral Storm no longer carried the brunt of their damage. Here are some buffs to get them up to speed.

[Elune] - Increased base damage and scaling of Earthpulse agony by 30%
[Elune] - Increased the duration changes of Lightning Eclipses to 0.7 seconds Up from 0.5 seconds.
[Elune] - Druidic Overload now increases the damage of Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning by 15%. Up from 10%.
[Elune] - Total Solar Eclipse now increases your Nature critical strike chance by 20%. Up from 15%.
[Elune] - Elemental Destruction now increases the damage of your Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning by 3% per stack. Up from 2%.

[Elune] Harbinger of Pestilence kit

Harbinger of Pestilence kit did not integrate well into the ecosystem of Elune; its Wrath-heavy playstyle lacked synergy with other interesting talents it could utilize. Now, you are a true Corrupted Druid who harnesses the power of the sun to corrupt everything he sets his eyes on.

[Elune] - Increased the base damage and scaling of Wrath of the Plague by 50%
[Elune] - Wrath of the Plague now has a new mechanic: Haunt now triggers Eclipse (Solar) if known.
[Elune] - Wrath of the Plague now uses Insect Swarm modifiers (used Haunt modifiers previously).
[Elune] - Wrath of Pestilence now increases the damage of your Diseases by 35%. Up from 20%.
[Elune] - Plaguebringer now has a new mechanic: Dealing damage with Haunt increases the duration of your Eclipse (Solar) by 5 seconds.
[Elune] - Increased base damage and scaling of Plague Swarm by 20%.
[Elune] - Haunting of Pestilence now increases the damage of your Harbinger’s Bile by 90%. Up from 60%.
[Elune] - Shadow Swarm now has a new mechanic: Critical hits with Wrath onto a target afflicted by Shadow Swarm will increase your Shadow critical strike bonus by 15%. Stacks up to 3 times. Lasts 3 seconds. Cannot be refreshed at max stacks.

[Elune] Shadow Cats

[Elune] [Lycan Claws] Increased the scaling of the damage proc by 120%, and increased the proc chance to 15%.
[Elune] [Goldrinn’s Focus] Consuming 3 stacks of Goldrinn’s Focus now makes your next 3 feral finishing moves deal additional Shadow damage. 1 stack/charge per stack of Goldrinn’s Focus consumed.
[Elune] [Goldrinn’s Focus] Fixed a bug allowing you to use the same Goldrinn’s Focus stacks for more then 1 Mind Flay or Mind Sear cast.

Frost Mages

[Elune] [Ice Barrage] - Cone of Cold and Deep Freeze hits now also generate Icicles.
[Elune] [Ice Barrage] - Triggering 5 stacks of Icicles now also reduces the global cooldown of Ice Lance by 66% and increases its damage by 100% for 3 seconds.
[Elune] - Increased base damage and scaling of Water Bolt by 10%.
[Elune] - Doubled the scaling of Glacial Spike.

Fire Rogues/Warlocks hybrids

[Elune] [Ready for Mayhem] Now also makes your rogue melee combo point-generating abilities have an 18% chance to generate Molten Core.
[Elune] [Interrogator’s Immolation] Increased the scaling of Fanatic Flames from Interrogator’s Immolation by 66%.

Enhancement buffs

[Elune] [Elemental Assassin] - Now reduces the cooldown of Stormstrike by 5 seconds, up from 2 seconds.
[Elune] [Elemental Daggers] - While affected by all three Elemental Daggers, your Backstab deals 33% of its initial hit as Elemental damage.
[Elune] [Loose Circuit] - Increased the duration of Loose Circuit from 8 to 12 seconds. Loose Circuit now also increases the chance to trigger Static Shock(if known) by 2% per stack.
[Elune] [Swirling Maelstrom] - Now has a 30% chance to trigger from Stormstrike and Lava Lash hits. Stacks can only be generated once per cast.
[Elune] [Lightning Blade] Now deals Nature damage.

Tank Balance

[Area-52] Thermal Void

Thermal Void is receiving some quality of life adjustments to the build and shifting in some defensive power to be more upfront.

[Area-52] [Thermal Void] Snowstorm is now cast on the player and follows the player around instead of being stationary.
[Area-52] [Thermal Void] Updated the visual for Snowstorm to be more prominent.
[Area-52] [Thermal Void] Frost Blast has had its base cast time reduced to 1 second. Down from 1.5 seconds.
[Area-52] [Thermal Void] Clad in Frost now grants 5% all damage reduction instead of just physical.
[Area-52] [Thermal Void] Clad in Frost now increases your chance to trigger Fingers of Frost from 10% to 15%.
[Area-52] [Thermal Void] Arctic Bulwark now reduces your damage taken by 12% from 15%.

[Area-52] Blunt Force Trauma

[Area-52] [Blunt Force Trauma] The Blunt Force Trauma stacking debuff has been changed to now apply to any target that is hit by your damage shield instead of just your main target.

[Area-52] Bulwark

Adding a bit more quality of life adjustments to the Mystic Enchant and ability to help it feel smoother to play.

[Area-52] [Elune] [Bulwark] Lowered the movement speed penalty while channeling Bulwark from 50% to 25%.
[Area-52] [Elune] [Bulwark] Clarified on the tooltip that the damage dealt by Bulwark scales from Shield Slam modifiers.
[Area-52] [Bulwark] You can now use Shield Block while you have the Bulwark enchant equipped, Shield Block - Bulwark has had its name changed to Bulwark to reflect this and will no longer scale from Shield Block modifiers.
[Area-52] [Bulwark] Fixed an issue causing Bulwark to trigger unintended mechanics.

[Area-52] Defense of Thundarian

This Legendary Mystic Enchant was primarily used for its passive gain of damage reduction when triggering Windfury; we're adding an additional incentive to press Thunder Clap and utilize the full Mystic Enchant.

[Area-52] [Defense of Thundarian] The damage dealt to nearby enemies with Windfury has been increased from 40% weapon damage to 50%.
[Area-52] [Defense of Thundarian] Consuming Thundarian’s Fury will now empower your Cloaked in Wind to grant you resistances (based on your level) and reduce your physical damage taken by 2%.

[Area-52] Crackling Thunder

We’re adding a defensive mechanic to Crackling Thunder and adjusting its power to help its power as both a tank based Mystic Enchant that is also utilized by some dps builds.

[Area-52] [Crackling Thunder] Increased the range of the area of effect of Crackling Thunder from 5 yards to 8 yards, to match Thunder Clap.
[Area-52] [Crackling Thunder] Increased the scaling of the periodic area of effect damage of Crackling Thunder by 100%.
[Area-52] [Crackling Thunder] Reduced the critical strike chance on targets within your Crackling Thunder from 5% to 3%.
[Area-52] [Crackling Thunder] Casting Thunderclap grants a stack of Grounded, reducing all damage taken by 1% per stack, stacking 5 times lasting 8 seconds.

[Area-52] [Elune] Shield Wall, Retaliation and Improved Disciplines talent.

Based on the feedback from the Improved Disciplines capstone, we saw that placing a cooldown reduction mechanic for Shield Wall and Retaliation to trigger while below 50% health wasn’t popular. We’ve now removed the Capstone for Improved Disciplines and baseline lowered the cooldown of Shield Wall and Retaliation to 3 minutes while adjusting other sources of cooldown reduction accordingly. We’ll be monitoring this change to see if further changes are needed for Shield Wall and Retaliation in the future.

[Area-52] [Elune] The cooldown of Shield Wall and Retaliation has been reduced from 5 minutes to 3 minutes.
[Area-52] [Elune] [Hasty Shield Wall] The cooldown reduction has been reduced from 9 seconds to 5 seconds.
[Area-52] [Elune] [Hasty Retaliation] The cooldown reduction has been reduced from 15 seconds to 5 seconds.
[Area-52] [Elune] [Improved Disciplines] Reduces the cooldown of your Shield Wall, Retaliation and Avatar abilities by 10/20/30 seconds. While in defensive stance you gain an additional 10/20/30 seconds cooldown reduction.
[Area-52] [Elune] The Onslaught 3 set bonus for Warrior block tanks has had its Shield Wall cooldown reduction lowered from 60 seconds to 30 seconds.
[Area-52] [Elune] The capstone of Improved Disciplines has been removed.

Healer Balance

[Area-52] Seed of Life

[Area-52] [Seed of Life] - Seed of Life now ticks once every 3 seconds up from every 1 second. Its healing has gone up by 3x to accommodate the change in tick speed.
[Area-52] [Seed of Life] - Seed of Life has had its healing increased by 30%. (This is in addition to its increase from having its tick timer go from 1 second to 3 seconds.
[Area-52] [Seed of Life] - Now causes your Rejuvenation and Regrowth to be able to periodically critically heal. (This was moved from the buff mechanic provided from consuming Seed of Life stacks from allies.)
[Area-52] [Seed of Life] - Bloom has had its healing increased by 30%.

[Area-52] its the Circle of Life (and it moves us all)

[Area-52] [Circle of Life] - Light of Life has had its coefficient reduced by 25%.
[Area-52] [Circle of Life] - Light of Life now lasts 10 seconds up from 6 seconds. (These changes mean that Light of Life now does 30% more healing overall over a longer duration.)
[Area-52] [Circle of Life] - Empowered circle of Healing now also increases the amount of targets healed by Circle of Healing by 1 per stack.

[Area-52] Steward of Eternity

[Area-52] [Elune] - Fixed a bug where Synchronize would count as a single target heal when triggering Divine Aegis and Sheath of Light, It is now considered an Area of Effect heal and will trigger these effects at half value like other Area of Effect heals.
[Area-52] [Steward of Eternity] - The duration of Align is now 7 seconds down from 8 seconds baseline.
[Area-52] [Steward of Eternity] - Synchronize now has 2 spell charges with a 6 second recharge time.
[Area-52] [Steward of Eternity] - Synchronize now does 50% less healing. (Synchronize usually does a huge amount of overhealing which makes decision-making for when to use this spell not as impactful as it should be.

General Healing changes

[Area-52] [Blessing of the Divines] - The Blessing of the Divines area of effect heal over time effect has had its healing reduced by 30%.
[Area-52] [Low Tide] [Primal Tide] - The Triggered Riptide from Low Tide will now correctly consume the buff gained from Primal Tide. (This means that it will no longer benefit from the additional duration and max target increase but not consume it.)
[Area-52] [Cryotherapy] - Cryotherapy now has a bonus scaling equal to 2% of your Healing Power.
[Area-52] - Improved Chain Heal is now a 3 point talent and increases the amount healed by your Chain Heal by 7/14/20%. It now also has a Capstone: Upon consuming two charges of Tidal Waves your next Chain Heal will no longer consume Riptide.

Small Tweaks and rebalancing

[Elune] - Reduced the base damage and scaling of Ice Prism Shatter by 10%.
[Elune] - Reduced the base damage and scaling of Sphere of Annihilation by 15%.
[Elune] - Titanic Power now increases the damage of your next Warrior ability by 25% while Titan’s Grip is active. Down from 30%.
[Elune] - Titan’s Fury no longer gives additional damage bonus while Titan’s Grip is active.
[Elune] - Increased base damage and scaling of Dark Intent by 25%.
[Elune] - Winter’s Mantle now increases the damage of your next Arctis by 22% per stack. Down from 24%.
[Elune] - Gathering Will now increases the damage of your next Fuego by 15% per stack. Down from 18%.
[Elune] - Thunder Seer now reduces the channel time of Arcane Missiles by 0.5 sec per stack. Up from 0.25 sec.
[Elune] - Arcane Thunder now increases the damage of your Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning by 5% per stack. Up from 4%. It now correctly affects all transforms of Chain Lightning.
[Elune] - Increased base damage and scaling of Deadly Bite by 20%.
[Elune] - Reduced scaling of Primordial Fury by 15%.
[Elune] - Reduced the damage and scaling of Serpent Venom by 10%.
[Elune] - Toxic Strikes now increases damage of Envenom by 6% per stack. Down from 8%.
[Elune] - Venomous Wound now increases the damage of mentioned abilities by 5% per stack. Up from 4%.
[Elune] - Elemental Rend Nature / Fire / Frost now scale of 30% weapon damage (up from 20%), but no longer have an additional bonus scaling from Spell Power and Attack power. (Since weapon damage is already scaling from these, it previously caused Elemental Rends to double dip from your stats).
[Area-52] [Elune] - Reduced the global cooldown of Hunter’s Mark to 0.5 seconds.
[Area-52] [Elune] - Soul Swap has been fixed to correctly save duration of damage over time effects upon cast.
[Area-52] [Elune] - Lacerate has had its base damage and scaling increased by 20%.
[Area-52] [Consumed by Fire] - Gul’dan’s Chosen now increases the potency of your Backdraft and Molten Core by 20%. Down from 33%.
[Area-52] [Gurubashi Berserker] - Now also reduces all damage dealt by -1% per stack.
[Area-52] [Cleanse by Flames] - Now also increases the damage of Hammer of Wrath, and Hammer of Wrath hits now increases the duration of your Exorcism by 3 seconds.
[Area-52] [Paratrooper] - Reduced the hunter shot damage increase on the Target Spotted! debuffed targets from 15% to 12%.
[Area-52] [Trick Shots] - With Trick Shots equipped Lock and Load now also affects, and is consumed by Multi-Shot. These effects do not affect Focused Burst.
[Area-52] [Pyroshot] - Now triggers on hit instead of on cast, and Pyroshot is now classed as Ranged damage instead of Magic and will benefit from Mortal Shots.
[Area 52] [Elune] [Defensive Stance] Defensive Stance now also increases your total armor by 10%.
[Area 52] [Elune] Improved Defensive Stance has had its the damage reduction increase on Defensive Stance changed from 3/6% to 4/8% per point.

[Area-52] - Mystic Enchant Changes

[Area-52] [Flashpoint Operative]

These changes aim to make the Flashpoint Operative perform a little better outside of raids, allowing players to enjoy it in all forms of content.

[Area-52] [Flashpoint Operative] - Consuming Flashpoint now generates 6% of your missing mana.
[Area-52] [Flashpoint Operative] - Burst Shot is now ranged damage, instead of magic. It will now also benefit from Mortal Shots.
[Area-52] [Flashpoint Operative] - The duration of Engine of Destruction has been increased from 8 to 10 seconds.
[Area-52] [Flashpoint Operative] - Triggering Lock and Load now also triggers Hot Streak, requires Hot Streak (Rank 3).

[Area-52] [Warden of Demonreach]

The recent changes to Warden of Demonreach generally worked out well, and made it a lot more fun to play! But it also made it vastly overperform, these changes reign in the power a little bit but keeps the full phase skip mechanic allowing for more variations of the build to be played.

[Area-52] [Warden of Demonreach] - The shared cooldown between Arctis and Fuego has been returned.
[Area-52] [Warden of Demonreach] - Starborn now immediately removes the cooldown on Arctis and Fuego.
[Area-52] [Warden of Demonreach] - The base cast time of Arctis and Fuego has been increased to 3.5 seconds.
[Area-52] [Warden of Demonreach] - Heart of Winter and Soul Powered Flames now reduce the cast time of Arctis and Fuego by 40%.

OD Ascension