Blizzard · Oct 7 · posted with build 70245
Class deep dives: Mage and Shaman
102 notes, each checked against the game files of build 1.60.1.70291. The note is Blizzard's wording; "The files" is what the client data shows. Read the original post.
Baseline Abilities
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Comprehension: This new Mage-specific minor tradeskill allow Mages to read and decipher scrolls dropped by creatures in the world. Various benefits are provided by these that players will discover in their adventures.
The files Comprehension is skill line 3012, a Secondary Skill like Cooking, open only to class mask 128 (Mage) from level 6; Classic Era has no such line. Its description says scrolls found in the world are consumed when read and grant a variety of beneficial effects.
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Comprehend Scroll: This is the specific ability used to attempt Comprehension, found in the General tab of the spellbook.
The files Comprehend Scroll (1296017, 'Decipher an untranslated scroll') is learned at level 6 on the Comprehension skill line (3012). That line is a Secondary Skill rather than a Mage class line, the kind the spellbook lists under General.
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Cone of Cold: Duration decreased. This is part of a general fix to reduce the ability of gold farmers and experience boosters to kite large numbers of creatures while generating large amounts of gold and experience via repetitive low-risk gameplay mechanics.
The files All 5 ranks last 6 sec in 70291, Classic 8 sec (spell 120 duration), and the slow also dropped from 50% to 40%.
Cone of ColdCone of ColdCone of ColdCone of ColdCone of Cold - Matches the files
Frostfire Bolt: New spell learned at level 40. This spell is considered both a Fire spell and a Frost spell. Most talents that benefit either of those schools of damage also benefit Frostfire Bolt. With a 3 second cast time, Frostfire Bolt deals large upfront damage like Fireball, and also applies a debuff that includes both damage over time and a movement speed Slow. Frostfire Bolt always uses the higher of the Mage’s spell damage bonuses to Fire or Frost damage and uses the lower of the target’s resistances to Fire or Frost damage.
The files Frostfire Bolt rank 1 (401502) is trained at level 40 (ranks 2 and 3 at 50 and 60) with a 3 sec cast, Fire and Frost school (mask 20), a 40% slow and damage over 9 sec, and the tooltip checks the lower of Fire and Frost resistance. Picking the higher spell damage bonus is server math that no field shows.
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Mage Armor: Mana regeneration bonus from Spirit increased.
The files All 3 ranks let 50% of mana regeneration continue while casting, Classic 30% (effect 2 value, spells 6117, 22782, 22783).
Arcane
- Partly
Wand Specialization: Now only requires 2 talent points for same benefit.
The files It takes 2 points for 13/25% wand damage in 70291, but Classic Era's Mage version was 2 ranks at 13/25% too (spells 6057, 6085). The change in the files is the move from Arcane row 2 to row 1.
- Partly
Arcane Focus: (Redesigned.) Now grants increased chance to hit with Arcane spells.
The files The tooltip says +1/2/3/4/5% hit with Arcane spells, but the effect uses the same spell modifier as Classic's 'resist' wording (aura 107, type 16). The maximum fell from 10% in Classic to 5% (talent curve).
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Improved Channeling: (Formerly Improved Arcane Missiles.) Now also grants Arcane Blast protection against spellcasting interruption from taking damage.
The files Improved Channeling (11237, Classic's Improved Arcane Missiles) keeps 20-100% for Arcane Missiles and adds a 14/28/42/56/70% chance to avoid interruption while casting Arcane Blast (tooltip, second effect curve).
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Arcane Subtlety: (Moved from row 1 down to row 2. Resistance ignoring effect a little stronger, and threat reduction to Arcane spells a little weaker.
The files Arcane row 2 in 70291, Classic row 1. At 2/2 it lowers resistances by 15 (Classic 10) and Arcane threat by 30% (Classic 40%), from the talent curves and Classic rank 2 (12592).
- Partly
Magic Absorption: Now has a 1 second cooldown on triggering the effect to prevent some abuses.
The files The tooltip limits it to once per sec and the proc cooldown is 1000 ms, but Classic Era had the same 1000 ms limit and a '1 sec. cooldown' tooltip (spell 29441). The files show changes the note skips: 5 ranks became 2, at 5/10 resistance and 1/2% mana (Classic max 10 and 5%).
- Not in the files
Arcane Concentration: The chance for the talent to be triggered by a spellcast is now reduced when a Mage casts spells of a significantly lower rank. This adjustment is due to the abuse of this talent by gold farmers to “fish” for procs with low mana cost low rank spells in the past. We have applied this same type of reduction to multiple talents across many classes, but this was the best place for us to explain why. Players should expect any similar talents that trigger a free effect to have the same penalty applied to low rank spells.
The files The low-rank penalty is a server rule. The talent's second effect changed from a class-script aura (112) in Classic to a server-script dummy in 70291, and the 2-10% chance on the tooltip matches Classic (spell 11213).
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Arcane Resilience: Moved from row 3 up to row 2. No longer a gold medal talent. Now 2 talent points for the same effect.
The files Arcane row 2 in 70291 (Classic row 3), 2 ranks for armor equal to 25/50% of Intellect where Classic gave 50% from 1 point. Row 3's 1-point slot belongs to Arcane Blast.
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Arcane Geometry: New row 3 talent. Increases the range of Arcane spells.
The files Arcane Geometry (11247, in Classic's Magic Attunement slot) is Arcane row 3 and adds 3/6 yards to Arcane spell range (tooltip; aura 107 at 6).
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Arcane Impact: (Formerly Improved Arcane Explosion.) Now increases the critical strike chance of all Arcane spells.
The files Arcane Impact (11242, Classic's Improved Arcane Explosion) raises the crit chance of all Arcane spells by 2/4/6% (tooltip); Classic applied 2-6% to Arcane Explosion only.
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Arcane Blast: (New 11-point gold medal talent. New spell.) This version of Arcane Blast is a redesign of the one known from early World of Warcraft expansions. It deals immediate damage with a 2.5 second cast, and then increases the damage done by all other Mage spells and increases its own Mana cost. These increases stack up to 4 times and last 8 seconds or until any other spell is cast. Older versions of Arcane Blast encouraged Mages to only cast that one spell. This new version encourages Mages to make use of other spells in their toolkit after increasing their damage by building an Arcane Blast stack.
The files Arcane Blast (400574) is a 1-point talent in Arcane row 3, the 11th point, with a 2.5 sec cast. Each cast adds 10% damage to your other spells and 175% to its own mana cost, stacking 4 times for 8 sec, and the tooltip ends it when any other damage spell is cast.
Arcane BlastArcane BlastArcane BlastArcane BlastArcane BlastArcane Blast - Matches the files
Arcane Shielding: (Formerly Improved Mana Shield.) Mana cost reduction to Mana Shield increased, and now also increases resistances granted by Mage Armor.
The files Arcane Shielding (11252, Classic's Improved Mana Shield) cuts Mana Shield's mana per damage by 17/33% (Classic 10/20%) and has a second effect raising Mage Armor's resistances by 25/50% (tooltip).
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Improved Counterspell: (Slight redesign.) Having only 1 point in this talent now grants a shorter duration Silence all the time, instead of a 50% chance of any Silence at all.
The files Counterspell silences for 2/4 sec by rank (talent curve 2000/4000 ms) with no chance roll. Classic rank 1 gave a 50% chance at a 4 sec Silence (spell 11255).
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Arcane Meditation: Mana regeneration from Spirit while casting increased. Now has Arcane Concentration as a pre-requisite.
The files 17/33/50% of mana regeneration continues while casting, Classic 5/10/15% (spell 18462), and the talent node requires Arcane Concentration.
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Missile Barrage: New 16-point gold medal talent. This talent grants a chance for Arcane Blast, Fireball, Frostbolt, and Frostfire Bolt spells to cause your next Arcane Missiles to channel twice as fast and cost no Mana. This chance is doubled for Arcane Blast.
The files Missile Barrage (400588) is a 1-point talent in Arcane row 4, the 16th point. Arcane Blast has a 40% chance and Fireball, Frostbolt and Frostfire Bolt 20%, and the proc halves Arcane Missiles' channel time and removes its mana cost (tooltip).
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Arcane Mind: (Redesigned.) Now increases Intellect instead of maximum Mana. Now also increases the critical strike damage bonus of Arcane Spells. No longer has Arcane Resilience as a pre-requisite talent.
The files Arcane Mind (11232) gives +2-10% Intellect (aura 137; Classic gave +2-10% max mana, aura 132) and a new effect for +20-100% Arcane crit damage bonus. It has no prerequisite; Classic required Arcane Resilience.
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Arcane Instability: No longer has Presence of Mind as a pre-requisite.
The files Arcane Instability (15058) has no prerequisite in the 70291 tree; in Classic it required Presence of Mind (talent prerequisite).
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Arcane Power: Now has Presence of Mind as a pre-requisite.
The files Arcane Power (12042) requires Presence of Mind in 70291; Classic required Arcane Instability (talent prerequisite).
Fire
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Wake of Fire: (Formerly Improved Fire Blast.) Moved from row 2 up to row 1 Reduces the cooldown on Fire Blast by even more, and each time you kill a non-trivial target your next Fire Blast gains a large increase to critical strike chance.
The files Wake of Fire (11078, Classic's Improved Fire Blast) is Fire row 1 (Classic row 2). It cuts Fire Blast's cooldown by 1/2 sec (Classic 0.5/1/1.5 over 3 ranks), and a kill raises the next Fire Blast's crit chance by 25/50% within 30 sec (tooltip).
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Incineration: (Formerly Incinerate.) Moved from row 3 up to row 1. Now increases the critical strike chance of Ice Lance and Arcane Blast, in addition to Fire Blast and Scorch.
The files Incineration (18459, Classic's Incinerate) is Fire row 1 (Classic row 3) and raises the crit chance of Fire Blast, Ice Lance, Arcane Blast and Scorch by 2/4/6% (tooltip). Classic covered Fire Blast and Scorch at 2/4%.
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Improved Fireball: Now also reduces the cast time of Frostfire Bolt.
The files The tooltip cuts the cast time of Fireball and Frostfire Bolt by 0.1-0.5 sec (spell 11069); Classic named Fireball only.
- Not in the files
Ignite: This talent now provides a unique debuff per Mage caster, rather than the Classic Era behavior where all Mages in an encounter shared a single Ignite debuff. This solves some problems with threat and damage attribution. In addition, improvements have been made to make sure that damage is not lost when critical strikes are timed too closely together, just as was done in Season of Discovery.
The files Who owns the debuff and how close crits add up are worked out by the server. The client did swap debuffs: Classic's stacking Ignite (12654) isn't in the 70291 files, and the Season of Discovery Ignite (412538, a dummy ticking every 2 sec) is.
- Not in the files
Impact: This is another example of a talent where casting low rank spells now decreases the chance to trigger the effect.
The files Impact (11103) is a plain proc aura that triggers the 2 sec stun (12355) at 3/7/10%, with nothing tied to spell rank, so any low-rank penalty is applied by the server.
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Burning Soul: Now requires 3 talent points for the same effect.
The files With 3 ranks it gives 23/47/70% pushback protection and 10/20/30% less Fire threat, where Classic needed 2 ranks for 35/70% and 15/30% (spells 11083, 12351).
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Improved Scorch: The debuff caused by Improved Scorch now benefits only the casting Mage.
The files Fire Vulnerability (22959) moved from aura 87 (all damage taken) to aura 270, and its tooltip reads 'Increases Fire damage taken from the Mage by 3% per stack'.
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Heating Up: This new row 4 talent requires Pyroblast as a pre-requisite. Non-periodic critical strikes with Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, Fire Blast, and Scorch grant a 25% reduction to the cast time of your next Pyroblast, stacking up to 3 times. With 3 stacks, this reduces the cast time of Pyroblast to 1.5 seconds, and is Forever’s variation on the ideas found in the Hot Streak talent that existed in early World of Warcraft expansions.
The files Heating Up (400624) is Fire row 4 and requires Pyroblast. Its buff (400625) cuts Pyroblast's cast time by 25% per stack, up to 3 stacks for 20 sec, which takes the 6 sec cast to 1.5 sec.
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Blast Wave: No longer requires Pyroblast as a pre-requisite.
The files Blast Wave (11113) has no prerequisite in 70291; Classic required Pyroblast (talent prerequisite).
Frost
- Partly
Elemental Precision: Now increases the chance to hit with Fire and Frost spells instead of reducing the target’s chance to resist.
The files The tooltip says +1-5% hit with Fire and Frost spells, but the effect uses the same spell modifier as Classic's 'reduces the chance to resist' (aura 107, type 16). It went from 3 ranks at 2/4/6% to 5 ranks at 1-5% (spell 29438).
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Permafrost: (Minor redesign.) Instead of increasing the duration of all Chill effects by 1/2/3 seconds, it now increases their duration by 11/22/33%. This prevents it from excessively increasing the duration of Improved Blizzard.
The files Chill durations rise by 11/22/33% (aura 108 at 33) where Classic added 1/2/3 sec (aura 107), and the extra slow is 3/7/10% (spell 11175).
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Frost Channeling: Moved from row 4 up to row 3.
The files Frost Channeling (11160) is in Frost row 3 in 70291 and was in row 4 in Classic (talent tree position).
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Ice Lance: New 11-point gold medal talent. Instant cast. Deals low damage, but damage increased by 300% when the target is Frozen (or treated as Frozen by Fingers of Frost).
The files Ice Lance (1312002) is a 1-point Frost row 3 talent, the 11th point, instant cast, and deals 300% more damage to Frozen targets (tooltip). Fingers of Frost's tooltip has the target treated as Frozen.
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Improved Blizzard: Movement speed Slow effect reduced in magnitude. Now maxes out at a 40% Slow instead of 65%. This change was made to reduce the power of Frost Mages to AoE (Area of Effect) farm instances, which was widely used by gold farmers and boosters to disrupt the economy of the game.
The files The Blizzard chill slows by 15/25/40% (effect value -40 at 3/3), Classic 30/50/65% (spells 11185, 12488).
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Ice Block: Moved from row 5 up to row 4 and is now the 16-point gold medal talent.
The files Ice Block (11958) is a 1-point talent in Frost row 4, the 16th point; Classic had it in row 5.
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Shatter: No longer has Improved Frost Nova as a pre-requisite.
The files Shatter (11170) has no prerequisite in 70291; Classic required Improved Frost Nova. It is 3 ranks at 17/33/50% (Classic 5 ranks up to 50%).
- Partly
Cold Snap: Moved from row 3 down to row 5, and is now the 21 point gold medal talent. Cooldown increased to 10 minutes up from 5 minutes.
The files Frost row 5 (the 21st point, Classic row 3) matches. The cooldown is 10 min in 70291, but Classic Era had 10 min too (600000 ms on spell 12472), so it didn't rise from 5.
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Fingers of Frost: (New row 5 talent.) Pre-requisite of Ice Lance. Give your Chill effects a chance to grant 1/2 charges of Fingers of Frost. Fingers of Frost causes your spell casts to treat the target as if it were Frozen.
The files Fingers of Frost (400647) is Frost row 5, requires Ice Lance, and gives Chill effects a 15% chance to grant 1/2 charges (talent curve) that treat the target as Frozen.
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Winter’s Chill: Now only benefits the casting Mage. Critical strike chance now only increased on Frostbolt and Ice Lance.
The files The Winter's Chill debuff (12579) became aura 308 limited to Frostbolt and Ice Lance (class mask), and its text reads 'The Mage's Frostbolt and Ice Lance spells have a 2% additional chance to critically hit'. Classic's text said Frost spells.
Baseline Abilities
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Totems:
The files Section label for the totem notes below.
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All totems now have a 1.0 second global cooldown, down from 1.5 seconds.
The files Every trained totem, Earthbind (2484) and Windfury Totem (10614) included, has a 1 sec global cooldown in 70291 (StartRecoveryTime 1000), Classic 1.5 sec.
Earthbind Totem
Searing Totem
Healing Stream Totem
Stoneskin Totem
Windfury TotemWindfury Totem - Matches the files
All totems that provide persistent buffs have their duration increased to 5 minutes from 2 minutes. Shorter duration totems are unaffected by this change.
The files Buff totems such as Strength of Earth, Stoneskin, Grace of Air, Windfury, Tremor and the resistance totems last 5 min in 70291, Classic 2 min; Healing Stream and Mana Spring went to 5 min from 1 min. Searing, Magma, Stoneclaw, Earthbind and Mana Tide keep their Classic durations.
Strength of Earth TotemStoneskin Totem
Grace of Air TotemWindfury Totem
Tremor Totem
Fire Resistance TotemHealing Stream Totem
Mana Spring Totem - Not in the files
Totems now have a tracking UI showing which totems are active and their remaining duration. It can also be used to instantly unsummon a totem by right clicking on the UI.
The files Interface code isn't in the tables we read. The totem API (GetTotemInfo, DestroyTotem) is in both the Classic Era and Forever API docs, so the files can't show what's new about the tracker.
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Resistance Totems now provide their resistance bonus to the entire raid group.
The files The Fire, Frost and Nature Resistance Totem auras (8185, 8182, 10596 and their higher ranks) use the raid area aura effect (65) in 70291; Classic used the party area aura effect (35).
Fire Resistance TotemFire Resistance
Frost Resistance TotemFrost Resistance
Nature Resistance TotemNature Resistance - Matches the files
Weapon Imbues: All weapon imbues (Frostbrand Weapon, Flametongue Weapon, Rockbiter Weapon, Windfury Weapon) have their duration increased to 60 minutes from 5 minutes. In addition, they can now be active at the same time as temporary weapon enchantments like Sharpening Stones, Weight Stones, and Wizard Oil.
The files Rockbiter, Flametongue, Frostbrand and Windfury Weapon tooltips say 60 minutes, Classic 5. They moved from enchant effect 54, which sharpening stones, weightstones and wizard oils use, to effect 360, the one rogue poisons use.
Rockbiter Weapon
Flametongue Weapon
Frostbrand Weapon
Windfury WeaponRockbiter WeaponFlametongue WeaponFrostbrand WeaponWindfury Weapon - Matches the files
Fire Nova: Fire Nova Totem has been removed and replaced with a new Fire Nova spell. With Fire Nova, you cause an eruption of Fire damage at the location of your current Fire Totem. Now you can place a Fire Totem and trigger AoE damage at that Totem’s location multiple times, instead of needing to place the Fire Nova Totem every time.
The files Fire Nova (408341 to 408345, 5 ranks from level 12) hits enemies within 10 yd of your active Fire totem on a 10 sec cooldown (tooltip). Fire Nova Totem (1535 to 11315) is gone from the 70291 client.
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Windfury Totem: No longer a weapon enchantment, and now a party-wide buff. Shaman cannot benefit from this totem if they have Windfury Weapon on their weapon. Parties cannot benefit from this totem at the same time as Grace of Air or Flametongue Totem.
The files The totem aura became a party area aura (effect 35) that procs an extra attack (8516) where Classic enchanted weapons, and Windfury Weapon's tooltip says it disables your Windfury Totem benefit. The rule against Grace of Air and Flametongue Totem isn't in any field we can read.
- Partly
Flametongue Totem: No longer a weapon enchantment, and now a party-wide buff. Shaman cannot benefit from this totem if they have Flametongue Weapon on their weapon. Parties cannot benefit from this totem at the same time as Windfury Totem.
The files The totem aura became a party area aura with a proc (effect 35, aura 42) where Classic used a held-item enchant (effect 92), and Flametongue Weapon's tooltip says it disables your Flametongue Totem benefit. The rule against Windfury Totem isn't in any field we can read, and rank 1's tooltip (8227) says it enchants weapons.
Flametongue TotemFlametongue TotemFlametongue TotemFlametongue Weapon - Matches the files
Tranquil Air Totem: Removed.
The files Tranquil Air Totem (25908) has no spell name in 70291, and its skill line entry is set to never learned (AcquireMethod 3).
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Totemic Projection: This new ability learned at level 22 allows you to teleport all your totems to a new location within 30 yards. 1 minute cooldown. Costs 25% of base mana.
The files Totemic Projection (437009) is trained at level 22, moves your active totems to a spot within 30 yards (Medium Range), and has a 1 min cooldown and a cost of 25% of base mana.
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Totemic Recall: This new ability learned at level 20 instantly destroys all your totems and returns 25% of their Mana cost. Note there is a bug in beta currently that Mana is not being refunded.
The files Totemic Recall (36936) is trained at level 20, and its tooltip and effect value return 25% of each destroyed totem's mana. The refund itself is server-side. Blizzard's Oct 1 notes called the bug fixed, and build 70291 added another hidden Totemic Recall energize spell (39104, amount 0 in the file).
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Call of the Elements: Learning this ability at level 20 unlocks the totem bar User Interface (UI). You can pre-program a set of 4 totems, one of each element, and Call of the Elements will summon all 4 after a 3 second cast. This costs Mana equal to the sum of the Mana cost of all 4 totems.
The files Call of the Elements (66842) is trained at level 20, has a 3 sec cast and places up to 4 totems set on the Totem Bar (tooltip). It has no mana cost row (SpellPower), which fits a cost the server adds up from the totems.
- Doesn't match
Call of the Spirits: Learned at level 30, this ability allows you to pre-program a second set of 4 totems.
The files The files put Call of the Spirits (66844) at level 40 and Call of the Ancestors (66843) at level 30 (SpellLevels), the reverse of the note. Its tooltip makes it the third set: 'different totems than Call of the Elements or Call of the Ancestors'.
- Doesn't match
Call of the Ancestors: Learned at level 40, this ability allows you to pre-program a third set of 4 totems.
The files Call of the Ancestors (66843) is learned at level 30 in 70291 and its tooltip makes it the second set ('different totems than Call of the Elements'). The level 40 set is Call of the Spirits (66844).
- Matches the files
Lightning Bolt: Cast time of ranks 4 and up of this spell changed from 3 seconds to 2.5 seconds. Its spell power coefficient was also reduced to match.
The files Ranks 4 to 10 (915 to 15208) cast in 2.5 sec, Classic 3 sec, and their spell power coefficient fell from 0.857 to 0.714. Build 70291 changed damage on ranks 1 to 5 but left cast times and coefficients alone.
Lightning BoltLightning BoltLightning BoltLightning BoltLightning BoltLightning BoltLightning Bolt - Partly
Chain Lightning: Cast time of all ranks of this spell changed from 2.5 seconds to 2 seconds. Its spell power coefficient was also reduced to match.
The files All 4 ranks cast in 2 sec, Classic 2.5 sec. Ranks 1, 2 and 4 drop from coefficient 0.714 to 0.571, but rank 3 (2860) has 0.517, below what the shorter cast accounts for.
Chain LightningChain LightningChain LightningChain Lightning
Elemental Combat
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Convection: Now also reduces the Mana cost of Lava Burst.
The files The tooltip adds Lava Burst to Shock, Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning for 2-10% less mana (spell 16039).
- Matches the files
Concussion: No longer applies to Frost Shock or Flame Shock.
The files The tooltip names Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning and Earth Shock where Classic said Shock spells, and Classic's second effect is gone (spell 16035).
- Matches the files
Reverberation: Moved from row 3 up to row 2.
The files Reverberation (16040) is Elemental row 2 in 70291, Classic row 3.
- Matches the files
Call of Flame: Now also increases the damage done by Flame Shock, Fire Nova, and Lava Burst.
The files Call of Flame (16038) gives 5/10/15% to Fire Totems and, through a new second effect, to Flame Shock, Fire Nova and Lava Burst (tooltip). Classic covered Fire Totems only.
- Matches the files
Elemental Devastation: Moved from row 4 up to row 2. This talent is intended primarily as a reason to entice Enhancement Shaman into spending points on Elemental talents, and so was made more accessible.
The files Elemental Devastation (30160) is Elemental row 2 in 70291, Classic row 4, at 3/6/9% melee crit for 10 sec.
- Not in the files
Elemental Focus: Chance to trigger reduced when casting low rank spells.
The files The server applies the low-rank penalty. Elemental Focus (16164) keeps Classic's 10% proc into Clearcasting (16246) with no rank field, and its proc rules didn't change in 70291.
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Elemental Alacrity: (Formerly Lightning Mastery.) Moved from row 6 up to row 3. Now requires only 3 points for maximum rank and reduces the cast time of Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning by only 0.5 seconds at max rank but also reduces the cast time of Lava Burst. This talent was both very deep in the tree previously, making it unavailable to Shaman leveling up, and was twice as strong as similar talents with other classes, causing a spell power scaling problem. To account for this, its potency was reduced and it was moved much earlier in the tree.
The files Elemental Alacrity (16578, Classic's Lightning Mastery) is Elemental row 3 (Classic row 6), 3 ranks cutting the cast time of Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning and Lava Burst by 0.17/0.33/0.5 sec. Classic took 5 ranks to reach 1 sec.
- Matches the files
Improved Fire Nova: (Formerly Improved Fire Totems. Redesigned.) Now increases Fire Nova’s damage and reduces its cooldown.
The files Improved Fire Nova (16086, Classic's Improved Fire Totems) raises Fire Nova damage by 10/20% and cuts its cooldown by 2/4 sec (tooltip and talent curves).
- Matches the files
Eye of the Storm: (Redesigned.) This talent now grants resistance against spell pushback from damage while casting Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Lava Burst. Formerly it was only effective after being hit with a critical strike. This talent was previously only really useful in PvP. It is now useful broadly in the game.
The files Eye of the Storm (29062) cuts pushback while casting Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning and Lava Burst by 23/47/70% (aura 108). Classic procced Focused Casting (29063) after a melee or ranged crit.
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Call of Thunder: Moved from the row 3 down to row 4, and now has Elemental Alacrity as a pre-requisite. This talent is now the 16-point gold medal talent, granting 3% increased critical strike chance to Lighting Bolt and Chain Lightning.
The files Call of Thunder (16120) is a 1-point talent in Elemental row 4, the 16th point, requires Elemental Alacrity, and gives 3% crit to Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning. Classic had it in row 3 with 5 ranks up to 6%.
- Matches the files
Elemental Reach: Now also increases the range of Fire Nova and Lava Burst by up to 6 yards and increases the range of Flame Shock by up to 15 yards.
The files Elemental Reach (28999, Classic's Storm Reach) adds 3/6 yards to Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Fire Nova and Lava Burst and 8/15 yards to Flame Shock (tooltip).
- Matches the files
Lighting Overload: This new row 5 talent grants a chance for every cast of Lightning Bolt or Chain Lighting to instantly cast a second copy of that spell at no Mana cost but for half damage and no threat.
The files Lightning Overload (408438) is Elemental row 5 and gives Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning a 3/7/10% chance to cast a second copy at no cost, for half damage and no threat (tooltip).
- Matches the files
Earthbound: This new 21-point gold medal talent causes Earthbind Totem to instantly immobilize nearby targets for 5 seconds when cast.
The files Earthbound (1222988) is a 1-point talent in Elemental row 5, the 21st point, and makes Earthbind Totem immobilize nearby targets for 5 sec when cast (tooltip).
- Matches the files
Elemental Fury: Moved from row 5 down to row 6 and requires Call of Thunder as a pre-requisite.
The files Elemental Fury (16089) is Elemental row 6 in 70291 (Classic row 5) and requires Call of Thunder. It also went from 1 rank to 5 (20-100% crit damage bonus).
- Matches the files
Lava Burst: This new 31-point gold medal talent grants the Lava Burst spell. This 2.5 second cast spell deals Fire damage to a target, increased by 20% if the target is afflicted by your Flame Shock. 10 second cooldown.
The files Lava Burst (408490) is Elemental row 7, the 31st point, with a 2.5 sec cast, Fire damage, 20% more with your Flame Shock on the target, and a 10 sec cooldown (tooltip, SpellCooldowns).
Enhancement
- Matches the files
Earth’s Grasp: Moved from Elemental to row 1 of Enhancement.
The files Earth's Grasp (16043) is Enhancement row 1 in 70291; Classic had it in Elemental row 2.
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Thundering Strikes: Moved from row 2 up to row 1. Now increases critical strike chance of all spells and attacks instead of only weapon attacks.
The files Thundering Strikes (16255) is Enhancement row 1 (Classic row 2) and uses aura 290, crit with all spells and attacks, where Classic used aura 52, weapon crit only. Both give 1-5%.
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Ancestral Knowledge: Now increases Intellect instead of maximum Mana.
The files Ancestral Knowledge (17485) gives +2-10% Intellect (aura 137); Classic gave +1-5% max mana (aura 132).
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Mental Dexterity: (New row 2 talent.) Increases your Attack Power by a percentage of your Intellect.
The files Mental Dexterity (415140) is Enhancement row 2 and adds Attack Power equal to 33/67/100% of Intellect (tooltip).
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Improved Ghost Wolf: (Improved. ) Rank 1 now makes Ghost Wolf useable indoors while reducing its cast time by 1 second, and Rank 2 now makes Ghost Wolf Instant.
The files The talent swaps Ghost Wolf for a copy without the outdoors-only flag (1238640) and cuts its 3 sec cast by 1/3 sec (talent curve -1000/-3000), so rank 2 makes it instant.
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Elemental Weapons: Moved from row 5 up to row 3.
The files Elemental Weapons (16266) is Enhancement row 3 in 70291, Classic row 5.
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Shamanistic Focus: New 11-point gold medal talent. Reduces the Mana cost of Shocks and Lightning Shield by a large percentage.
The files Shamanistic Focus (1223030) is a 1-point talent in Enhancement row 3, the 11th point, and cuts the mana cost of Shocks and Lightning Shield by 45% (tooltip).
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Anticipation: Now grants twice as much Dodge chance.
The files Each point gives twice the dodge (2% instead of 1%), but ranks fell from 5 to 3, so the maximum only rises from 5% to 6% (talent curve, spell 16254).
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Toughness: No longer increases Armor. Now increases Stamina by a percentage.
The files Toughness (16252) gives +2-10% Stamina (aura 137); Classic gave +2-10% armor from items (aura 142).
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Flurry: Now increases attack speed by 5% per talent point up to 25% (down from 30%). Now requires Mental Dexterity as a pre-requisite, instead of Thundering Strikes.
The files Flurry gives 5/10/15/20/25% attack speed (Classic 10-30%, spells 16256 to 16284) and requires Mental Dexterity; Classic required Thundering Strikes.
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Stormstrike: Moved from the 31-point gold medal talent to the 16-point gold medal talent. Cooldown reduced from 20 seconds to 8 seconds. Now increases damage done by your next Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, or Earth Shock spell by 20%, instead of the next 2 Nature attacks from any attacker.
The files Stormstrike (17364) is Enhancement row 4, the 16th point (Classic row 7), with an 8 sec cooldown (Classic 20). Its debuff adds 20% to your next Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning or Earth Shock with 1 charge (aura 271), where Classic boosted the next 2 Nature hits from anyone (aura 87).
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Spirit Weapons: (Formerly Parry.) This 21-point talent now also reduces threat while you are not using Rockbiter Weapon, and increases threat while you are using Rockbiter Weapon. This talent will help Enhancement Shaman manage their threat now that their damage is competitive, while also retaining their unique ability to generate high threat and serve as a temporary tank in small group gameplay.
The files Spirit Weapons (16268, Classic's Parry) is Enhancement row 5, the 21st point. Two new effects cut threat by 30% without Rockbiter Weapon and add 30% with it (tooltip).
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Mental Quickness: (New row 5 talent.) Increases your spell damage and healing by a percentage of your Intellect.
The files Mental Quickness (30812) is Enhancement row 5 and adds spell damage and healing equal to 15/30% of Intellect (tooltip).
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Improved Stomstrike: Requires Stormstrike as a pre-requisite. This new row 5 talent grants a chance for Stormstrike to activate Mana regeneration while casting spells, and a chance for Stormstrike’s cooldown to reset each time you Dodge or Parry. This talent allows Enhancement Shamans to regenerate Mana from Spirit, and also to have more active Stormstrike usage when serving as a temporary tank.
The files Improved Stormstrike (1223031) is Enhancement row 5 and requires Stormstrike. At 50/100% it grants 50% mana regeneration while casting for 15 sec after a Stormstrike and resets Stormstrike's cooldown on a dodge or parry (tooltip).
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Maelstrom Weapon: This new row 6 talent grants a chance on every melee attack to stack charges of Maelstrom, reducing the cast time of Lightning Bolt. At sufficient ranks and charges, Lightning Bolt becomes instant.
The files Maelstrom Weapon (408498) is Enhancement row 6. Melee hits can stack it 5 times, each stack cutting Lightning Bolt's cast time and mana cost by 4-20% by rank, so 5 stacks at rank 5 make it instant (tooltip).
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Rage of the Farseer: This new 31-point gold medal talent grants you a 3 minute cooldown that increases your attack speed by 30% for 25 seconds. We were inspired by the Heroism and Bloodlust abilities found in early World of Warcraft expansions but wanted to make it a personal cooldown for the Shaman instead of a raid or party wide event.
The files Rage of the Farseer (425336) is Enhancement row 7, the 31st point, giving you +30% attack speed for 25 sec on a 3 min cooldown (tooltip, SpellCooldowns).
Restoration
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Totemic Focus: Moved from row 2 up to row 1. Now also discounts Totemic Projection and totem Call spells.
The files Totemic Focus (16173) is Restoration row 1 (Classic row 2), and its tooltip covers 'totems and any spells that summon or move them' for 5-25% less mana.
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Mindfulness: (New row 2 talent.) Allows Shaman to regenerate Spirit while spellcasting. This is deliberately placed to make it more accessible for Elemental Shaman.
The files Mindfulness (1223033) is Restoration row 2 and lets 17/33/50% of mana regeneration continue while casting (tooltip). The note calls this regenerating Spirit; the tooltip is about mana regeneration.
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Natural Grace: (Formerly Healing Grace.) Moved from row 3 up to row 2. Now reduces all threat from spells and moved up to earlier in the tree to make it more accessible to Elemental Shaman.
The files Natural Grace (29187, Classic's Healing Grace) is Restoration row 2 (Classic row 3) and lowers threat from all your spells by 5/10/15% (aura 10); Classic covered healing spells only.
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Tidal Focus: Now also grants increased chance to hit with all spells and attacks.
The files Tidal Focus (16179) has two new effects for +1-5% melee hit (aura 54) and spell hit (aura 55), next to the 1-5% healing mana cut (tooltip).
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Improved Reincarnation: Now also increases maximum health by a percentage.
The files A new effect raises maximum health by 2/4% (aura 133), next to the cooldown and reincarnation bonuses (spell 16184).
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Ancestral Healing: Moved to row 3 down from row 2.
The files Ancestral Healing (16176) is Restoration row 3 in 70291, Classic row 2.
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Healing Focus: Now only requires 3 talent points for full effect instead of 5.
The files 3 ranks reach Classic's 70% chance to avoid interruption on heals (23/47/70%), where Classic took 5 ranks of 14% (spell 16181).
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Water Shield: This new 11-point gold medal talent grants you a new Shield ability. Only one shield can be active at a time. The 3 globes on this shield grant you Mana when an attack hits you, or when one of your healing spells gains a critical result.
The files Water Shield (408510) is a 1-point talent in Restoration row 3, the 11th point, with 3 globes that restore 2% of max mana when you're hit or land a critical heal, one Elemental Shield at a time (tooltip). Build 70291 fixed its buff text and removed a 15 sec shared cooldown, which leaves this description intact.
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Tidal Mastery: No longer affects Lightning spells.
The files The tooltip covers healing spells only (Classic: healing and lightning), and the effect's spell mask lost the Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning bits (1475 to 1472, spell 16194).
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Restorative Totems: Bonus to Healing Stream Totem doubled.
The files Mana Spring Totem gets 5-25% as in Classic, and a new second effect gives Healing Stream Totem 10-50%, double Classic's 5-25% (spell 16187).
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Mana Tide Totem: Now the 16-point gold medal talent instead of the 31-point gold medal talent.
The files Mana Tide Totem (16190) is a 1-point talent in Restoration row 4, the 16th point (Classic row 7). Build 70291 also lowered its level from 40 to 25 (SpellLevels).
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Healing Way: Redesigned. Increases amount healed by Healing Wave by a percentage.
The files Healing Way (29206) raises Healing Wave healing by 8/17/25% directly (aura 108); Classic gave a 33-100% chance at a stacking 6% buff (29203).
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Riptide: (New 31-point gold medal talent.) Pre-requisite Healing Way. This new ability heals the target instantly and then periodically over 15 seconds. Increases the effectiveness of Chain Heal casts on targets with your Riptide by 25%. 6 second cooldown.
The files Riptide (408521) is Restoration row 7, the 31st point, and requires Healing Way. It heals at once and over 15 sec, makes Chain Heal 25% stronger on that target, and has a 6 sec cooldown (tooltip, SpellCooldowns).
