Small buffs for Mage, Druid, Priest; small nerf for Shaman
by Eliah Hecht 
Feb 25th 2008 at 8:30PM
Even if Blizzard is remiss in updating their patch notes, we can always rely on our good friend Boubouille at MMO-Champion to have the goods on new PTR pushes. He doesn't disappoint tonight. The following changes are straight from the data files, so there's always a possibility that they aren't actually implemented, although usually datamined changes do show up on the PTR. Let's see what we have:- [Druid] Nurturing Instinct now increases healing done to you by 10/20% while in Cat form (not affected by AP), in addition to increasing healing done by you by 50/100% of your Agi. [reworded for clarity]
- [Mage] Arctic Reach now affects Ice Lance as well as Frostbolt and Blizzard. Edit: Maybe just a tooltip change?
- Priest:
- Mana Burn tooltip changed to read "Destroys" instead of "Drains;" unknown whether this makes an actual difference.
- Power Infusion now reduces the mana cost of all spells by 20%, as well as increasing the casting speed by 20%.
- Shaman: The Ghost Wolf bonus on a few level 60 PvP items no longer affects players above level 60.
[via MMO-Champion]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Illyria Feb 25th 2008 8:36PM
I am guessing destroys mean the slight buff that they had previously was/is to make up for not giving any mana back
Aikiwoce Feb 25th 2008 8:40PM
Arctic reach always affect ice lance, even though it never said it.
Moofles Feb 25th 2008 8:45PM
I'm confused on why Bliizard Dev's are working on stupid things like ghost wolf nerf on lvl 60 items??? Instead of fixing the class problems with pretty much all 3 trees that have been a problem for shaman since day 1 of release.
Snailking Feb 25th 2008 8:52PM
OMG it's about time blizz corrected the huge imba... level 60 ghost wolf items.....?
Calaana Feb 25th 2008 8:58PM
... What items give that bonus? Sounds kinda cool.
Magnetite2 Feb 25th 2008 9:51PM
These ones do:
http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=22801
I wonder if this is linked to the similar changes in a lot of druid PvP sets.
jbodar Feb 25th 2008 9:02PM
Mana Burn was changed because the word "drains" implies that you receive the mana taken -- same as the warlock drains -- as opposed to the actual effect of "mana damage".
Bootsanator Feb 26th 2008 4:10PM
Yup, I always thought it was stupid that it said "drains" when I didn't get any mana from it. warlocks are the ones with the drain spells.
Not sure if I like "destroy" either, but I guess I can't think of anything better off-hand.
Doma Feb 25th 2008 9:16PM
heh, blizz- you and me? we're square now
Switch4475 Feb 25th 2008 9:40PM
"[Druid] Nurturing Instinct now increases healing done to you by 10/20% while in Cat form (not affected by AP), in addition (I assume) to increasing your healing done by 50/100% of your Agi."
These are two separate effects; increases healing done to you in cat form by 10/20% and gives you 50/100% of your agility as +healing for your healing spells. The wording in the article makes it appear as if the two bonuses will stack, when in all likelihood they will not.
Llanion Feb 25th 2008 9:54PM
It's unfortunate, but you're very wrong- the Druid so-called 'buff' is entirely BLOWN AWAY by the massive, skull-crushing and in fact entirely hideous nerf to Lifebloom.
To put this in perspective, my Lifebloom on 2.4 PTR as of 12 PM EST today was doing the same healing, per tick, as my Lifebloom on the current live realms.
The difference, unfortunately, is that while I was fully equipped on the PTR, I wasn't carrying a weapon (Light's Justice) or wearing either of my rings (Keeper's Ring of Piety, Violet Signet (revered, healer variant)) on Live.
There's a new PTR just issued, hopefully when the realms come back up I'll be able to report an improvement. Until then, calling this a 'small buff' is both an order of magnitude out, and in the wrong direction.
Fyxie Feb 25th 2008 10:45PM
Yeah, I just love how everyone except druids are totally ignoring the HUGE nerf to PvE raiding resto druids.
Angus Feb 26th 2008 10:21AM
I'm a shaman and I have been poting in test realms forum saying to reverse it.
I like my trees keeping the tanks up or just dropping a single heal on me and not having to worry. I like when I am resto having that tree helping me keep the tank up so my much longer cast time heals are not coming too late.
Hell, I just like my trees. I hump them whenever I go ghost wolf.
What I don't understand is why they aren't just doing like they did with the water.
Here's the deal, in PVE your class works like this.
In Arena or Battlegrounds the following differences will be in place.
innajunglestylee Feb 25th 2008 10:01PM
I am a Shaman QQer and I endorse this change.
SJPadbury Feb 25th 2008 11:05PM
Wait.... what?
So you put a speed boost on an item for Ghost Wolf, you make the item require Level 60 to equip, then then speed boost doesn't apply to players over level 60, effectively making it good for that level, and that level only.
W
T
F?
Mein Bratwurst Feb 26th 2008 1:31AM
Blizzard logic at its finest. Gotta love it.
SaintStryfe Feb 26th 2008 4:27AM
They give you something, then they spit on your shoes, it feels like doesn't it?
Jeff Feb 26th 2008 1:11AM
Doesn't effect me too much even though I play a druid, I'm just glad to see we're not getting nerfed after hearing some bad rumors about shapeshifting and cyclone. I'll take whatever I can get.
Jeff
http://www.wowdungeon.com/forums/
Llanion Feb 26th 2008 7:58AM
We are getting nerfed. See my comment above- the effects of Lifebloom, the major healing spell Resto druids use, are getting a serious cut.
As in "After the patch, fully-geared, you'll do as much healing as you currently do when not carrying a weapon or any rings." And I'm not talking a random green weapon; specifically and literally, Light's Justice.
Jack Spicer Feb 26th 2008 2:28AM
Why increased healing done to you in cat form?!?
This would be a much better talent if it just said something like "shapeshift form" especially considering the shape that makes the most use of healing is bear.