PTR build 13033: Restoration shaman update
by Joe Perez 
Sep 24th 2010 at 8:00PM
Another PTR build is on the way with patch 13033. With it, there are several tweaks and changes all over the place. Earlier today, we heard about the changes warriors are receiving in the patch -- but what about restoration shaman?
We only get one change this time around, but it is a big one. Back in build 12984, Mana Tide Totem was changed from adding back a percentage of your base mana to increasing your spirit by 200 percent for the totem's duration. This was a fairly significant change that mirrors the shift from MP5 to spirit. It placed the ability firmly in the camp of healers only, and instead of giving us a flat amount back, it increased our mana regeneration based on whatever it was at the time of casting.
The cooldown remained at 5 minutes, which was a bit long, considering the effect. In the latest PTR build, though, the cooldown is being reduced to 3 minutes. This change should also be applied to the Cataclysm beta pretty soon, as well. This is a fantastic change and one that will make us that much stronger in the months to come. An average boss fight right now in Wrath lasts roughly around the 5-minute mark, meaning that you can only use this cooldown once per fight in most cases. After 4.0.1 drops, though, you will be able to use it more than once per boss fight. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me.
Also consider that in the Cataclysm beta, healer mana is at a premium. Every heal has a right and wrong place, and we consume mana so much more quickly than we have previously. This change allows us to use a very important regeneration cooldown much more often, and so we can keep healing for longer. This will give us a distinct advantage early in the upcoming expansion. Anything that gives us mana back is a good thing. Things that give it back to us faster are even better.
We only get one change this time around, but it is a big one. Back in build 12984, Mana Tide Totem was changed from adding back a percentage of your base mana to increasing your spirit by 200 percent for the totem's duration. This was a fairly significant change that mirrors the shift from MP5 to spirit. It placed the ability firmly in the camp of healers only, and instead of giving us a flat amount back, it increased our mana regeneration based on whatever it was at the time of casting.
The cooldown remained at 5 minutes, which was a bit long, considering the effect. In the latest PTR build, though, the cooldown is being reduced to 3 minutes. This change should also be applied to the Cataclysm beta pretty soon, as well. This is a fantastic change and one that will make us that much stronger in the months to come. An average boss fight right now in Wrath lasts roughly around the 5-minute mark, meaning that you can only use this cooldown once per fight in most cases. After 4.0.1 drops, though, you will be able to use it more than once per boss fight. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me.
Also consider that in the Cataclysm beta, healer mana is at a premium. Every heal has a right and wrong place, and we consume mana so much more quickly than we have previously. This change allows us to use a very important regeneration cooldown much more often, and so we can keep healing for longer. This will give us a distinct advantage early in the upcoming expansion. Anything that gives us mana back is a good thing. Things that give it back to us faster are even better.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion, from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SaintStryfe Sep 24th 2010 8:22PM
I've been healing on the PTR and I gotta say I don't have a big problem with it. Running out of Mana is not an imminent threat, unless you sit there and insist on chain heal or greater heal spamming. The new raid frames makes it much much easier I found even then Grid (which is what I'm using on live).
MikeLive Sep 24th 2010 8:31PM
I use Healbot currently, but going to log onto PTR tonight or tomorrow and give a few dungeons ago with Clique and default frames.
feniks9174 Sep 24th 2010 8:32PM
I think I remember Ghostcrawler saying somethin to the effect of "even though the mechanics have changed, you still heavily outgear these instances. Things will feel much more in line with what is intended as you start leveling to 85"
Brett Porter Sep 24th 2010 9:12PM
What feniks said... from what I understand (and I've been too nervous to try it out myself) healing on beta has become a lot more scary than before. When you take 2 1/2 hours and many, many wipes to get past 4 trash mobs and a boss in Heroic Deadmines... healing will definitely be more "challenging."
Joe Perez Sep 25th 2010 3:39AM
You start to see the real benefit when you start hitting 81-85. As far as healing in the beta. Shaman are further ahead of the curve than the other classes right now. Heroics are manageable, but require some planning. But I'll get into that later.
The new raid frames are glorious. Seriously glorious. If they give us a little more control over what we can choose to display on them I'll be 100% sold on them.
feniks9174 Sep 24th 2010 8:26PM
The new mechanic of Mana-Tide will definitely add some depth and strategy to it's use, lining it up with set bonuses or trinket procs to maximize it's effect. A 2 minute CD reduction is definitely a welcome change, even if I don't have healing experience on the PTR or Beta.
Admittedly, the new healing approach in Cata makes me a tad nervous since I started playing at the beginning of Wrath, but this will at least make things a little more forgiving since I'm terrible at watching my mana pool.
Hollow Leviathan Sep 24th 2010 8:38PM
Are there any buffs that overlap with the Mana Tide functionality, or is it still unique? Also, don't let the homogenization panels hear me ask that.
Joe Perez Sep 25th 2010 3:40AM
Mana Tide, still unique. Mana Spring right now may be bugged but it's overlapping if a shaman of a different spec is in the group with you, as does Healing Stream Totem. I suspect the later two are bugs though.