Patch 3.2: Replenishment nerfed, MP5 buffed
by Eliah Hecht 
Jun 18th 2009 at 3:40PM
Mana regeneration was a much-discussed area for change in patch 3.1, but when the patch went live, it turned out the changes hadn't been all that massive; most healers are still not putting a high premium on regen stats or watching their mana bars too closely, fights like Vezax excluded.
A big part of the reason why mana regen has been so extreme in Wrath is Replenishment; as of right now, any of five DPS specs (Shadow Priest, Survival Hunter, Retribution Paladin, Frost Mage, and Destruction Warlock) will provide the ten lowest people in your raid 0.25% of their maximum mana per second. Among other things, this makes Intellect a prime regen stat.
Well, Replenishment is getting a bit of a nerf in patch 3.2: instead of 0.25% max mana per second, it'll be 1% maximum mana over five seconds. That's a 20% nerf. This applies to all sources of Replenishment. At the same time, all items with MP5 on them are having the MP5 buffed by about 25%. These two changes will probably even out for the MP5-based healers (Paladin and Shaman), while making them value MP5 gear a bit more. Druids and Priests will feel a regeneration nerf, but I think they can afford it.
Patch 3.2 will bring about a new 5, 10, and 25 man instance to WoW, and usher in a new 40-man battleground called the Isle of Conquest. WoW.com will have you covered every step of the way, from extensive PTR coverage through the official live release. Check out WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.2 for all the latest!
Filed under: Patches, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Chris M Jun 18th 2009 3:43PM
"[...] Priests will feel a regeneration nerf, but I think they can afford it."
Can we, now? Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of me being OOM during Firefighter. :(
Nick S Jun 18th 2009 3:44PM
Between this change and the FoL change, Holy Light looks worse and worse.
tyleristheshyt Jun 18th 2009 3:45PM
So...Paladins will never get into a raid again, huh?
tyleristheshyt Jun 18th 2009 3:47PM
Ret paladins that is
Josin Jun 18th 2009 4:00PM
Go Prot and be a God of Tanks. Everyone else will be.
pietrex Jun 18th 2009 3:47PM
Now that's a news spree!
Todd Jun 18th 2009 3:48PM
Wow... the developers just can't make up their mind.
ToyChristopher Jun 18th 2009 4:25PM
I really agree. It seems like they buff and nerf things for the otucome of zero actual change.
splodesondeath Jun 18th 2009 5:04PM
@ToyChristopher
Yes, it's called "Balancing".
Axe Jun 18th 2009 3:53PM
with the upcoming changing regarding restoration shamans and buffed mp5, we'll never run out of mana :D
JoeHelfrich Jun 18th 2009 3:51PM
"Druids and Priests will feel a regeneration nerf, but I think they can afford it."
Ret pallies can't.
Kevin Jun 18th 2009 4:00PM
If you're playing a Ret paladin and are running out of mana, you're doing it wrong. Even with this change the only remotely threatening thing to a Ret's mana pool is that there was no mention of a reduction in mana cost for Crusader Strike to match its CD reduction.
JoeHelfrich Jun 18th 2009 4:31PM
I'm not running out of mana except in long boss fights or chain pulls, and a potion usually gets me through those. But in addition to the extra crusader strike costs, this change means that instead of 0.25% of your mana ticking back per second with a 100% uptime, you'll get 0.20% of your mana back per second with a 62.5% or 71.4% uptime (with set bonus).
So let's say that you have 5000 mana (for ease of math) and the fight lasts one minute.
Current: Uptime of 60 seconds, for 750 mana returned over the fight; 15% of your mana pool.
3.2 Talented only: Uptime of 37.5 seconds, for 375 mana returned over the fight; 7.5% of your mana pool.
3.2 Talented and set bonus: Uptime of 42.85 seconds fpr 428.5 mana returned over the fight; 8.57% of your mana pool.
Now, these numbers may adjust up if there are other replenishment-providing characters in your raid, but even if you're lucky enough to always get the buff (not certain in 25 man content) you'll get 600 mana back per minute, or 12% of your mana pool.
This doesn't sound like much over a single minute. But after 5 minutes of fighting, your best case scenario is that your mana bar is 15% less full then it is now; worst case is almost 40% less mana at that stage of the fight.
Maybe it will be off set by not spending money on FoL or Exorcism.
Don Jun 18th 2009 3:55PM
What about DPS classes that use Mana? We're just screwed now? Awesome, thanks Blizz. Time to roll a DK I guess.
USsoel Jun 18th 2009 3:57PM
Ugh. What are shadow priests good for again? Sub-par dps is the only answer I can think of.
Candina@WH Jun 18th 2009 4:21PM
Mind Control, in one Naxx.25 fight.
Oh, yeah, and as the butt of every "you should have rolled a warlock" joke.
Naix Jun 18th 2009 4:28PM
Actually warlocks are the butt of every "You should have rolled a Shadow Priest" joke.
Lagavoulin Jun 18th 2009 4:18PM
All a holy pally has to do is put up blessing of wisdom and melee for mana. Maybe ret pallies should too? switch in and out of DPS blessing to Mana blessing..
t0xic Jun 18th 2009 4:22PM
You mean change from a seal that kills me to a seal that gives me mana back? That's crazy talk. Next you'll be saying I should use seal of command. Wait a minute...
webdesign Jun 18th 2009 3:57PM
*Casts Seal of.. wait, Martyr is gone... Command* Aww.. Less DPS, but let's wait for Replenish!
*Replenish Procs at 1%* Whuh? /oom
*Whacks boss with stick, dies horribly from lack of DPS/Mana*
LFG Deadmines, lvl 80 ret Pally :(