World of Warcraft: Major Fire Mage Buffs in The War Within Class Tuning

With the first season of World of Warcraft: The War Within now live, it’s clearer how various classes and specializations are performing. Due to an imbalanced landscape, Blizzard has committed to implementing changes that will impact a majority of players.

In a blue post on the official World of Warcraft forums, community manager Kaivax outlined the developers’ plans for the near future. Following data analysis and player feedback, significant adjustments are scheduled to go live on September 24.

Among these updates, Fire Mages will receive substantial buffs after the specialization has notably underperformed compared to other spellcasting classes. Meanwhile, Shadow Priests will see a general buff that should significantly enhance their viability in all PvE and PvP content.

Complete WoW: The War Within Class Tuning for September 24

Mistweaver Monks will receive some notable PvP healing buffs.

The comprehensive list of upcoming changes set to be implemented on September 24 is as follows:

Classes

• Death Knight
  • Rider of the Apocalypse: Trollbane’s Icy Fury slows targets by 40% (was 70%).
• Druid
  • Feral
    • Rampant Ferocity now damages enemies within 8 yards of the Druid when using Ferocious Bite, instead of the target.
    • Developers’ note: This adjustment is aimed at giving Feral Druids better control over the enemies hit by Rampant Ferocity’s AoE, preventing situations where a large boss hit with Ferocious Bite wouldn’t affect nearby foes.
  • Restoration
    • All healing increased by 4%. Does not apply to PvP combat.
• Hunter
  • Beast Mastery
    • Beast Cleave damage increased to 90% (was 80%).
    • Kill Cleave damage increased to 90% (was 80%).
• Mage
  • Fire
    • Flamestrike damage increased by 15%.
    • Phoenix Flames damage increased by 20%.
    • Living Bomb damage increased by 10%.
  • Frost
    • Glacial Spike damage increased by 20%. Does not apply to PvP combat.
    • Ray of Frost damage increased by 15%. Does not apply to PvP combat.
• Priest
  • Shadow
    • All damage increased by 4%.

Player versus Player

• Death Knight
  • Unholy
    • Doomburst causes Death Coil to burst 2 Festering Wounds (was 3).
• Demon Hunter
  • Havoc
    • Demon’s Bite damage increased by 10% in PvP combat.
    • Demon Blades damage increased by 10% in PvP combat.
    • Chaos Strike/Annihilation damage increased by 10% in PvP combat.
    • Blade Dance/Death Sweep damage increased by 10% in PvP combat.
• Druid
  • Feral
    • Sabertooth now increases the damage of Ferocious Bite by 10% (was 15%) and per periodic effect by 2% (was 3%) in PvP combat.
    • Taste for Blood now increases Ferocious Bite damage by 6% (was 12%) in PvP.
    • Rip damage increased by 25% in PvP combat (was 15%).
    • Initial Rake damage increased by 25% (was 15%) and its periodic damage increased by 10% (was -6%) in PvP.
• Evoker
  • Devastation
    • Eternity Surge damage reduced by 15% in PvP combat.
• Mage
  • Frostfire: Frostfire Bolt damage increased by 100% in PvP combat (was 75%).
  • Frostfire: Frostfire Empowerment increases Frostfire Bolt damage by 30% in PvP combat (was 50%).
  • Arcane
    • Arcane Blast damage increased by 45% in PvP combat (was 15%).
    • Arcane Missiles damage increased by 20% in PvP combat.
    • Arcane Barrage damage increased by 15% in PvP combat.
    • Magi’s Spark is now 50% effective in PvP combat.
  • Fire
    • Fireball damage increased by 100% in PvP combat (was 35%).
    • Greater Pyroblast’s cast time reduced to 4 seconds (was 4.5 seconds) but now deals 30% of the target’s maximum health in damage (was 35%).
  • Frost
    • Ice Lance damage increased by 25% in PvP combat (was 45%).
    • Frostbolt damage increased by 150% in PvP combat (was 118%).
    • Ray of Frost damage increased by 5% in PvP combat.
    • Ice Barrier absorb amount is decreased by 40% in PvP combat (was 25%).
• Monk
  • Mistweaver
    • Enveloping Mist healing increased by 20% in PvP combat.
    • Vivify primary healing increased by 20% in PvP combat.
• Paladin
  • Holy
    • Mana regeneration reduced by 20% in PvP combat (was 35%).
    • Holy Shock healing increased by 15% in PvP combat.
    • Word of Glory healing increased by 15% in PvP combat.
    • Holy Light healing increased by 20% in PvP combat.
• Priest
  • Discipline
    • Weal and Woe’s bonus to Power Word: Shield is now 50% effective in PvP combat.
  • Holy
    • Holy Word: Serenity healing increased by 40% in PvP combat.
    • Holy Word: Sanctify healing increased by 40% in PvP combat.
  • Shadow
    • Perfected Form now increases damage dealt during Voidform by 10% in PvP combat (was 20%).
• Rogue
  • Subtlety
    • Reverberation now increases Echoing Reprimand damage by 50% in PvP combat (was 70%).

While these adjustments won’t completely elevate Fire Mages to match the other Mage specs in PvE, it’s a positive move forward. Arcane players might feel fortunate to dodge any nerfs after excelling in the early stages.

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