Blizzard has published the class tuning it will apply at the weekly reset, a pass headlined by Retribution Paladin and Warlock buffs, Wowhead reports. The adjustments land with scheduled weekly maintenance in each region, and are part of what the developers said would be broad class tuning every week for the first three weeks of the Curse of Ula’tek content update.
Where the damage buffs land
Frost Death Knight takes the largest flat increase: all ability and melee damage rises 6 percent, with Obliterate up a further 15 percent. Blizzard said the specialisation had performed under expectations at the beginning of Curse of Ula’tek, especially in the Venomous Abyss raid. Havoc Demon Hunter gains 3 percent to all damage, Survival Hunter 4 percent across the hunter and its pets, and Brewmaster Monk 3 percent alongside a 20 percent increase to the absorb value of Celestial Brew and Celestial Infusion.
Warlock carries the largest number in the notes. Imp, Voidwalker, Sayaad and Felhunter damage increases by 350 percent, which Blizzard said should also help with aggro concerns during solo play. Affliction gains a spread of buffs outside PvP combat, including 20 percent to Agony, 15 percent to Corruption and Unstable Affliction, 35 percent to Wrath of Nathreza and 25 percent to Shadow of Nathreza. Retribution Paladin’s buff is confined to its tier set: the four-piece Divine Arbiter effect gains 150 percent damage on its main target and 75 percent on secondary targets, which the developers said was needed to make its rotational ask worth executing.
Healers rebalanced toward dungeons
Restoration Druid is the one specialisation receiving nerfs alongside its buffs. Rejuvenation and Germination healing rises 15 percent and Wild Growth 10 percent, and the four-piece class set now extends Genesis by 8 seconds rather than 4. Against that, Nature’s Bounty replicates 10 percent of Regrowth’s healing rather than 20 percent, and Everbloom heals five targets rather than six while healing for 48 percent of Lifebloom’s final heal rather than 40 percent. Blizzard framed the package as addressing Rejuvenation and Wild Growth feeling weak in dungeons while holding the specialisation’s raid healing at roughly the same power.
Preservation Evoker’s triage healing also rises outside PvP combat, with Verdant Embrace up 25 percent, Living Flame up 20 percent, and Dream Simulacrum’s bonus to Verdant Embrace increased from 30 to 40 percent. Frost Mage’s changes are aimed at Mythic keystone dungeons: Ice Barrier now absorbs 35 percent of maximum health rather than 30 percent, which Blizzard said bakes back in survivability lost when the health increase was removed from Improved Ice Barrier, while Blizzard damage rises 10 percent and Isothermic Core’s Meteor 25 percent.
Beast Mastery Hunter’s cleave also improves, with Wild Thrash dealing 300 percent increased damage against more than two targets rather than 200 percent and Beast Cleave having pets strike nearby enemies for 70 percent of damage dealt rather than 55 percent. Vengeance Demon Hunter’s Mastery: Fel Blood gains 24 percent effectiveness, and Protection Warrior is on the list with buffs of its own.