Patch 3.3 PTR: Slight leveling Priest buffs
by Matt Low 
Oct 1st 2009 at 8:00PM
So we got some patch 3.3 PTR notes and information on our hands. Let's talk about these buffs. Do they help us do our job in some way? Well, no not really. We're not getting any spell power buffs or mana buffs or anything remotely useful. Instead, we get this:
Glancing Blows: The mage, warlock, and priest classes no longer have an increased chance for their melee attacks to be glancing blows; and the damage penalty due to their glancing blows is the same as for other classes.
How's that, eh? This was a much needed buff for the Priest class. Now I can finally become a battle priest and not be completely handicapped if I have to resort to hand to hand combat!
All sarcasm aside, this patch introduced a number of features to further ease the leveling process. Priests have one of the challenging experiences going from 1-20 and it is refreshing to see some help for the newer clerics.
Health and Mana Regeneration: These regeneration rates have been increased by up to 200% for low level characters. As a player's level increases, the regeneration rates gradually reduce, returning to normal rates at level 15.
From 1-15, the accelerated regeneration rates mean less downtime while we're leveling. In other words, we won't have to sit and drink as much.
Not only that, our mana costs on lower ranked spells have been cut. Any spells learned before 20 that have lowered cast times and durations become even cheaper to cast depending on cast time and damage.
Dwarf priests continue to rock since they will begin with an extra point of stamina. That could be the difference between beating back a Gnoll or getting wrecked by a Kobold. Aside from that, all the races are going to be equal in attributes.
Our Shadowfiend gets a nice buff. Sparky here will take less AoE damage from bosses but will proceed to get slaughtered by players in PvP settings. It's a cool change for the raiders, at least!
The Black Magic enchant gets changed. The current iteration has it causing a damage over time curse on a target. It's being revised to increase the caster's haste rating. Sorry healing Priests, Black magic only activates when harmful spells impact the boss. Shadow Priests may wish to give this a look on the PTR and see how viable it may be.
Filed under: Priest, Patches, Leveling, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
notBowen Oct 1st 2009 8:13PM
Haste is pretty worthless to Spriests too (save mind flay), so that glove enchant change is probably pointless as the straight spell power one is more than likely still superior. It's early yet but these patch notes don't have shit for priests, really. The 1-15 experience being slightly tweaked is a negligible change even if I was going to roll a new character. It's a very short amount of time in the leveling experience.
notBowen Oct 1st 2009 8:16PM
Oh, did I say gloves? It's a weapon enchant? Likelihood of uselessness goes up even higher in that case.
Yanel Nov 13th 2009 9:03AM
Have you bothered looking at any of the other priest changes? Haste is becoming one of our best stats.
Adoisin Oct 1st 2009 8:17PM
So the black magic chant may actually become useful? Any details on the haste rating yet? I'm wondering if it would be worth considering replacing a spell damage enchant.
klink-o Oct 1st 2009 8:22PM
It's gonna have to average out to a sizable chunk of haste (100+) to even be considered by any dps caster. And even then, if it's proc rate is really sporadic then to hell with it.
Wyred Oct 2nd 2009 2:39AM
Some dps casters (like arcane mages I believe) value haste. But it's pretty useless for priests.
Siaperas Oct 1st 2009 8:24PM
The change to glancing blows and health and mana regen will be a little nicer for leveling casters. I rolled a preist alt the other day, and was suprised to see how quickly I went oom then finished off the mob with melee. Minimal changes, sure, but I think they're doing it to give the game a bit more polish to make the new character experience, match the ease of the leveled character.
kabshiel Oct 1st 2009 9:54PM
I always wondered why my priests had so much trouble meleeing, while my shaman didn't even with similar gear and stats. Now I know.
JPN Oct 1st 2009 9:18PM
I wish they'd buff the drinks too to adjust for inflation. With a sugar daddy main and easy gold it's so much easier to buy good gear and enchants and potions on the AH, now I have tons of mana. The drinks at 14, 24, 34 etc. barely cover 50% of my mana. I mean I know it's a good problem but it would help speed up levelling. Probably same for food. I'm just levelling a priest now.
Melvyl Oct 1st 2009 11:21PM
I haven't leveled a mage higher than 16 but getting my priest to 71 has been a pretty similar experience - only without the free food. I am so looking forward to 80 and getting her in really good enchanted gear and see if I continue to have the same sorts of issues.
Avan Oct 1st 2009 9:53PM
"How's that, eh? This was a much needed buff for the Priest class. Now I can finally become a battle priest and not be completely handicapped if I have to resort to hand to hand combat!"
All the more reason for you to be gemming Veiled Ametrine for +hit!
Evelinda Oct 1st 2009 10:25PM
i can see it now... zomg, priests meleeing too hard! nerf priests!
Kyle Oct 2nd 2009 12:12AM
that silly enchant will probably impact our balance druids and elemental shamans more than anyone else. as far as priests go, i don't see to much to get excited about. i'm still pretty confident leveling one would be an absolute pain in the rear.
Maxpowr Oct 2nd 2009 3:33AM
There are actually some undocumented changes that are pretty big.
For Holy:
- Inspiration now also effects Prayer of Mending.
For Shadow:
- Silence additional tooltip text - Non-player victim spellcasting is also interrupted for 3 sec.
and a clarification also...
- Divine Hymn - Tooltip clarified to add the 40 yards range.
Sten Oct 2nd 2009 9:30AM
pretty big? would say they are minor. a tooltip clarification and a better use of a pvp talent for pve :p im still not gonna spend 3 points to get this silence for pve, as the improved fear is 2 completely wasted points. if pshycic horror and silence switched place then i might have considered it.
the inspiration change is rather nice though.
nickkristensen Oct 2nd 2009 7:14PM
yay now priest leveling won't be impossible. and nice on the reduced SF aoe damage, its unfortunate it's now gonna get killed in PvP, but good for raids now. cool, and they'll have much more stuff for priests on the patch i'm sure.