WoWJan 29, 2019 5:30 pm CT

Battle of Dazar’alor class tuning is all confusing changes and disappointed community members

By Rachelle Riddle

As Mythic and LFR modes for Battle of Dazar’alor open up, we have also received the first balance pass of the raid. Class tuning tends to rectify any extreme imbalances and bring class performances closer together. While there may be grumbling, it’s generally well-received.

Not this time. The tuning changes announced on Friday were immediately met with mixed reactions. To say their reception is controversial is an understatement. It’s not just the fact that there are changes. Aman’Thul knows, we’re always clamoring for something or another. The source of discontent seems to be the unknown “why” behind the changes applied to which classes and traits, along with the wildly varying amounts they were adjusted by.

There has been a great deal of grumbling regarding class changes in Battle for Azeroth, with some warrant behind it. Blizzard hasn’t been necessarily forthcoming regarding class plans. While it can be hard to keep players happy, promising much-needed class reworks (like those for Shamans and Shadow Priests) only after the first major patch didn’t sit well with many.

And while balance passes the day of Mythic raid release are completely normal — after all, Blizzard gathers raid data from the first week of Normal and Heroic — seeing so many adjustments at such extreme numbers has been disconcerting. It’s no surprise that DOT-heavy classes have been doing well in Battle of Dazar’alor, and it’s hard to begrudge Shadow Priests their place at the top after such a disappointing run in Uldir. However, players see the top performers stay untouched while the middle of the pack specs are nerfed further, and they wonder what is possibly going on in Blizzard’s internal data.

There are already a slew of memes going around regarding these changes. From those making fun of the apparent favoritism of some classes, to those pointing out the disparity in rankings and changes, players are struggling to understand what is going on. A large part of the problem is the lack of context. Changes can seem absolutely asinine by themselves, but if they’re explained in they may make a lot of sense with the additional information — even if it just leaves us wondering “Why didn’t you say that in the first place?” Blizzard works off internal numbers, but players only see what they have access to, and a lot of the ever-boiling frustration could be relieved by a little communication and explanation of thought processes.

Check out the full list of changes below.

Originally Posted by Kaivax (Official Post)

Classes

Death Knight
- Unholy
  - Death Coil damage increased by 20%.
Druid
- Restoration
  - Efflorescence healing increased by 15%.
  - Lifebloom and Wild Growth cost reduced by 7%.
Hunter
- Marksmanship
  - All damage and pet damage increased by 3%.
  - Developers’ note: Marksmanship damage has been a bit too low when not using Unerring Vision. With the reduction to Unerring Vision’s effectiveness, this increase brings Marksmanship up to a more appropriate overall level.
Warrior
- Arms
  - Mortal Strike, Execute, Slam, Overpower, and Rend damage increased by 8%.

Based on data observed since Tides of Vengeance launched, we have a number of tuning changes for Azerite traits. The goal of these changes is to improve the usability of some class traits, as well as rein in the power of some of the newer traits in a way that still preserves their core coolness. Additionally, some Azerite traits changed value dramatically with changes to specs in Tides of Vengeance, so we’re taking this opportunity to rebalance those traits as the Mythic Raid opens.

Dungeons and Raids

Battle of Dazar’alor
- Jadefire Masters
  - Placing a raid marker while holding the egg for the Hidden Dragon achievement should no longer cause you to drop the egg.
- Stormwall Blockade
  - Laminaria health reduced by 10% on Normal and Heroic difficulties.
  - Energized Storm health reduced by 10% on all non-Mythic difficulties.
  - Tidal Volley and Jolting Volley damage has been reduced by 10% on all non-Mythic difficulties.
  - Sea Storm initial damage reduced by 10% on all non-Mythic difficulties.
  - The interval between spawns of Energized Storms has been increased by 25% on all non-Mythic difficulties.
  - Storm’s Wail now lasts 13 seconds on Raid Finder and Normal difficulties (was 10 seconds).
- Lady Jaina Proudmoore
  - Fixed an issue where Elusive Brawler was not being correctly removed when dodging Ice Shard.
  - Jaina will now finish casting Orb of Frost or Glacial Ray before activating Ice Block if she detects Heroism or Bloodlust effects.
  - Frozen Solid can no longer be broken with stun breaks (Icebound Fortitude, Blink).
  - Jaina’s berserk timer has been adjusted to 15 minutes in non-Mythic difficulties. It is 12 minutes in Mythic difficulty.
- King Rastakahn
  - Fixed a bug that caused some players to see no loot in the Treasure of the Zandalari.
Temple of Sethraliss
- Fixed an issue with Reaping that caused Static-charged Dervish to incorrectly summon many, many, MANY Lost Souls.
- Hoodoo Hexxers now continue to cast Rain Of Toads as long as they are alive.

Items

The wrapper quest for Assaults can no longer award Azerite Armor Caches.
- Developers’ notes: We’d like Assaults to remain a lucrative source of equipment for characters who have recently hit level 120, but this wasn’t a good source for Azerite gear, as players will want to obtain newer Azerite gear with 5 powers.
Fixed an issue that prevented the Crest of Pa’ku from being activated by Healing spells.
Fixed a bug where some on-use Battle of Dazar’alor trinkets were not properly triggering the on-use cooldowns of other trinkets.
Shadowtome can now be upgraded by Ensorcelled Tarots
Heart of Azeroth
- All Classes
  - Dagger in the Back effectiveness reduced by 10%.
  - Champion of Azeroth effectiveness reduced by 10%.
  - Treacherous Covenant effectiveness reduced by 10%.
- Druid
  - Streaking Stars effectiveness increased by 15%.
- Hunter
  - Unerring Vision effectiveness reduced by 33%.
  - Blur of Talons effectiveness reduced by 33%.
  - Rapid Reload damage increased by 100%.
  - Feeding Frenzy damage increased by 30%.
  - Dance of Death agility increased by 20%.
  - Serrated Jaws Kill Command damage increased by 40%.
  - Focused Fire damage increased by 15%.
- Mage
  - Wildfire damage reduced by 30%.
  - Equipoise damage increased by 200%.
  - Arcane Pummeling damage increased by 50%.
- Monk
  - Fury of Xuen chance to spawn Xuen reduced by 33% per stack.
- Paladin
  - Light’s Decree damage reduced by 30%.
  - Fixed an issue which caused Light’s Decree to deal less damage than intended when your Holy Power costs were reduced by effects like Divine Purpose or Fires of Justice.
- Priest
  - Searing Dialogue effectiveness reduced by 35%.
- Rogue
  - The First Dance haste reduced by 40%.
  - Replicating Shadows shadow damage increased by 30%.
- Shaman
  - Echo of the Elementals damage reduced by 33%.
  - Primal Primer effectiveness reduced by 30%.
  - Strength of Earth effectiveness reduced by 30%.
  - Igneous Potential damage increased by 150%.
  - Ancestral Resonance mastery increased by 10%.
  - Thunderaan’s Fury totem spawn chance reduced to 8% (was 10%).
- Warlock
  - Pandemic Invocation damage increased by 15%.
  - Explosive Potential effectiveness increased by 100%.
  - Umbral Blaze effectiveness increased by 100%.

Mounts

The G.M.O.D. can now fly … on Azerite-powered rocket thrusters.
Fixed a bug that prevented Alliance players from using the Dazar’alor Windreaver.

Player versus Player

“Against Overwhelming Odds” now rewards item-level 385 items and 50 Conquest.
“Call to Arms” now rewards a piece of Aspirant’s gear, 50 Conquest, and 250 Honor.
“The Arena Calls” now rewards a piece of Aspirant’s gear, 65 Conquest, and 750 Azerite Power.
Gladiator’s Safeguard trinket’s absorb amount reduced by 33%.
Gladiator’s Emblem trinket’s maximum health buff increased by 20%.
The healing absorption from Sinister Gladiator’s Maledict will no longer stack. New spell absorption effects will overwrite older applications, even if they are more powerful. Initial damage has been reduced by 33%.
Resolved an issue that prevented some players from earning credit towards the Seasonal Vicious mount (Vicious Black Warsaber, Vicious Black Bonesteed).
Cooking Impossible
- The number of Ingredients required has been reduced to 30 (was 40).
Druid
- Restoration
  - All healing increased by 10% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  - Focused Growth (PvP Talent) increases the healing of Lifebloom by 20% (was 15%).
  - Focused Growth (PvP Talent) reduces mana cost of Lifebloom by 20% (was 15%).
  - Overgrowth (PvP Talent) mana cost reduced by 25%.
Hunter
- Marksmanship
  - Aimed Shot, Arcane Shot, and Steady Shot damage increased by 10% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
Warlock
- Destruction
  - Grimoire of Supremacy increases Chaos Bolt damage by 4% per Soul Shard spent when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 8%).
  - Chaos Bolt damage increased by 15% when engaged in combat with enemy players