- With the new season, you'll see increased item levels for rewards and new seasonal rewards. The new seasonal rewards for PvP include a new Arena title: "Eternal Gladiator", a new weapon illusion: Eternal Flux, new coloration of the Gladiator Soul Eater mount, and new Vicious mounts–Alliance and Horde themed Warstalker.
- Additional PvP class tuning for Season 4 is underway. We'll update this section with further adjustments soon.
- DEATH KNIGHT
(PvP Talent) now grants a 25% increased effectiveness to Rune of Spellwarding (was 50%).
Developers' note: With the baseline increase to Anti-Magic Zone in 9.2.5, we've seen Death Knight defensives be stronger than we would like against casters.
Brutal Grasp (Necrolord Conduit) effectiveness reduced by 50% in PvP combat.
DEMON HUNTER - HAVOC
Dancing with Fate is now 75% effective in PvP combat (was 100%).
Developers' note: Demon Hunter's damage is slightly higher than we would like, so we are reducing the Dancing of Fate conduit to tone it down.
MAGE - Deathborne (Necrolord Ability) increased spell damage decreased to 10% in PvP combat (was 15%).
- Incanter's Flow (Talent) no longer has a reduced effect when engaged in PvP combat (was 25% reduction).
- ARCANE
Arcane Missile damage increased by 15% in PvP combat.
Developers' note: Arcane Mages continue to be underrepresented so we are looking to increase damage opportunities for them through various parts of their kit, including Arcane Missiles, Clearcasting, and Incanter's Flow.
FIRE - Blazing Soul now ignites a Improved Blazing Barrier at 50% effectiveness in PvP combat.
Developers' note: Fire Mage survivability has continued to be higher than we would like, so we are targeting Blazing Soul to address that while keeping the overall feel of Mage gameplay intact.
FROST - Ice Lance damage increased by 15% in PvP combat.
- Frozen Orb damage increased by 20% in PvP combat.
Developers' note: A substantial portion of a Frost Mage's damage profile has come from Frostbolt, particularly around the Necrolord class ability Deathborne. We're looking to reduce Deathborne and increase some of their base abilities to have a better distribution of damage in their kit.
MONK - MISTWEAVER
Rising Sun Kick now deals an additional 25% damage in PvP combat. - Blackout Kick now deals an additional 25% damage in PvP combat.
Developers' note: We are increasing Mistweaver damage on Rising Sun Kick and Blackout Kick to better reward aggressive gameplay moments.
PALADIN - RETRIBUTION
Blade of Justice damage increased by 20% in PvP combat. - Crusader Strike damage increased by 30% in PvP combat.
- Hammer of Wrath damage increased by 15% in PvP combat.
- Avenging Wrath increases damage, healing, and critical strike chance by 15% in PvP combat (was 20%).
- Crusade (Talent) effectiveness reduced by 25% while in PvP combat.
Developer's note: The damage dealt in Avenging Wrath's window can be volatile, so we would like to bring that down while increasing some of Retribution Paladins' base damage abilities.
PRIEST - HOLY
(PvP Talent) now has a 60 second cooldown (was 45 seconds). - (4) Set Bonus: Divine Conversation increases the healing of your next Holy-word affecting spell by 24% in PvP combat (was 36%).
- Flash Heal heals for an additional 20% in PvP combat (was 30%).
- Heal heals for an additional 25% in PvP combat (was 35%).
Developers' note: Holy Priests continue to outperform other healers, and we are looking to target various areas of their kit to better fit within other spec representation and performance.
ROGUE - Invigorating Shadowdust (Runecarving Power) now reduces the cooldown of your other abilities by 10 seconds in PvP combat (was 20 seconds).
- Septic Shock (Night Fae Conduit) effectiveness reduced by 50% in PvP combat.
- SUBTLETY
Eviscerate damage reduced by 10% in PvP combat. - Resolved an issue that caused Deeper Daggers (Conduit) to affect non-Rogue abilities.
Developers' note: Rogues have been overperforming across all specs so we are looking to tone down damage within burst windows for Subtlety and Assassination while reducing Outlaw's cooldown recovery potential.
SHAMAN - RESTORATION
(4) Set Bonus: Chain Heal cast by Theurgic Starspeaker's Regalia is no longer reduced in PvP combat (was 30% reduction).
Developers' note: Resto Shaman's Tier Set bonus has not had as much impact as we initially suspected so we are nullifying the reduction of power it previously had.
WARLOCK - Health Funnel effectiveness increased by 20% in PvP combat.
- AFFLICTION
Unstable Affliction damage increased by 15% in PvP combat. - Unstable Affliction backlash damage when dispelled deals 20% more damage, but can no longer critically strike.
- Corruption damage increased by 30% in PvP combat.
- Dark Soul: Misery (Talent) increases Haste by 20% in PvP combat (was 30%).
Developer's note: For Affliction, we want to smooth out some of the spiky damage that results from Dark Soul windows and the occasional Unstable Affliction critical strikes, while at the same time allowing them to maintain consistent pressure outside of these windows.
DEMONOLOGY - Call Felhunter (PvP Talent) cooldown increased to 30 seconds (was 24 seconds).
Developers' note: Overall Demonology has high utility potential, so we are increasing the cooldown to Call Felhunter to bring it more in line with what we are comfortable with. Additionally, Warlock pets can have difficulty with survival, especially when being focused, so we are increasing Health Funnel as a tool to help that.
