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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsPatch 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 3 of 4)
machoflaco Jun 18th 2009 4:13PM
Ahhh ok.
Freyal Jun 18th 2009 4:10PM
This sucks. As a shadow priest, I find that I run out of mana a fair bit. I'm ok with using my tricks, fiend, hymn, mana pot. That's with the current regen that I have. Maybe holy priests or disp priests can afford it, but I dont think that shadow priests can!
OIK2 Jun 18th 2009 4:26PM
I am a shadow priest too, and I found that the best way to stretch my personal mana pool is to invest in crit. I see this less of a nerf of our own mana pools, and more of a nerf of our utility to the group as a whole. Now I did have some mana trouble before I got enough crit, getting by on fiend, pot, dispersion, but now I use my fiend more for the DPS, never disperse in battle unless it is for the damage reduction, and can't remember the last time I used a mana pot.
Jason Jun 18th 2009 4:10PM
This is the first time since i've started playing that mages get nerfed :( Replenishment helped me save so much mana...
Kikr Jun 18th 2009 4:11PM
Unless they change the way Divine Plea works, it won't affect holy paladins stacking Intellect so much.
ToyChristopher Jun 18th 2009 4:27PM
Especially because intellect scales with buffs, increases your mana pool crit rate, and for holy paladins increase spellpower (nerfed a little bit) and mp5 only does exactly what it says it does.
Rakah Jun 18th 2009 4:23PM
can they make spirit tap better? leveling a priest is worse than it was before 3.1
Matt Jun 18th 2009 4:20PM
Can you say boomkin are screwed??? I knew you could.
Therresa Jun 18th 2009 4:22PM
One less reason for my shadowpriest to get invited to groups. Thanks Bliz.
Arrowsmith Jun 18th 2009 4:27PM
Wait a minute... .25% times 15 is 3.75%, which is replenishment currently. The new replenishment is 5% of mana over five seconds. Please explain to me how getting MORE mana back is considered a nerf, especially when I can keep replenishment going for an entire fight.
Arrowsmith Jun 18th 2009 4:29PM
Clearly I cannot read...though I could have sworn it said 1% mana every second for five seconds...ah well.
OIK2 Jun 18th 2009 4:29PM
Because 1%/5sec=.20%/sec compared to the current .25%/sec
JoeHelfrich Jun 18th 2009 4:30PM
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.
JoeHelfrich Jun 18th 2009 4:38PM
Whoops, meant to put this as a reply to my previous.
ash Jun 18th 2009 4:36PM
Um, illumination was nerfed too, so... this doesn't look to good. The extra 25% on mp5 does not make up for the illumination being cut in half. Add on to that the replenishment nerf and the nerf of divine intellect down from 15% to 10% and this holy pally is one sad panda.
What's the Klingon phrase for sad panda? Ahh yes, "MoB SiQ!"
bswopes Jun 18th 2009 5:42PM
Yep, I'm a bit worried about the illumination nerf, especially with this hitting at the same time. Otherwise, I'm loving 3.2.
xvkarbear Jun 18th 2009 5:35PM
Wait, someone explain the impact on druids. Or is it only Resto druids?
My druid's main spec is Balance, and I've been having to stop and regen mana far too often for my own good (Although I need to get better gear).
I noticed that Innervate (druid mp regen spell) is getting changes - but they seemed for the better.
Am I missing something?
Wil Jun 18th 2009 6:38PM
Frost mages aren't a DPS spec. XD
Dixonij Jun 19th 2009 2:37AM
So all these changes to pally regen/seals/etc, I've yet to see anything about that practically worthless Seal of Command. Awesome. Keep nerfing Ret's raid viability...
TO THE GROUND BABY.
x.x
Randuin Jun 19th 2009 4:24AM
"any of five DPS specs (Shadow Priest, Survival Hunter, Retribution Paladin, Frost Mage, and Destruction Warlock) ..."
What about balance druids?