Battle for Azeroth Discipline Priest Changes

By Anshlun Updated: 2018/08/05

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legendary effects and artifact traitsazerite traitsadded to the GCDWar ModeLegionBattle for AzerothCommunity Opinion - State of Priests

Arcane Torrent and Every Man for Himself changed.
Two of the strongest racial effects have received changes in BfA, with Arcane Torrent receiving a new effect and added to the GCD and Will to Survive having its cooldown increased.

The majority of class cooldowns have been added to the GCD

Abilities that are in the Global Cooldown, or GCD, cannot be used at the same time, meaning you must wait for the default GCD, 1.5s reduced by haste, until you can use your next ability.

Before BfA, many abilities were called "off-GCD" as you could two or more of them at the same time, even in the same button macro. For BfA, Blizzard started to reduce to amount of abilities in this state.

Battle for Azeroth has a huge stat and ilvl squish.

Battle for Azeroth implements the second stat squish for World of Warcraft, two expansions after the Warlords of Draenor Squish.

Unlike Warlords, Battle for Azeroth will also have an item level squish, changing the item level previously found on classic items as well.

26970 Class Changes - July 2nd

26936 Class Changes - June 27th

26926 Class Changes - June 26th

26903 Class Changes - June 22nd

26871 Class Changes - June 19th

26812 Class Changes - June 12th

26788 Class Changes - June 9th

26734 Class Changes - May 31st

26707 Class Changes - May 24th

26624 Class Changes - May 15th

26567 Class Changes - May 8th

26522 Class Changes - April 30th

26476 Class Changes - Apr 20th

26433 Class Changes - Apr 13th

26367 Class Changes - Apr 3rd

26031 Class Changes - Mar 27th

26287 Class Changes - Mar 22nd

26231 Class Changes - Mar 14th

26175 Class Changes - Mar 6th

26131 Class Changes - Feb 27th

26095 Class Changes - Feb 22nd

26032 Class Changes - Feb 13th

26010 Class Changes - Feb 9th

25976 Class Changes - Feb 6th

25902 Class Changes - Jan 25th

Check out all Battle for Azeroth changes for every class and specialization!

Core Changes from Legion to BFAArtifact RetiredLight's Wrath

Rapture 1.5s GCD

Returning Artifact Traits and Legendary Effectsin a future eventwon't work past level 115our full article about returning effects in Battle for Azeroth

The artifact trait Lenience's Reward has become the talent Lenience.

The artifact trait Sins of the Many has inspired the talent Sins of the Many.

The artifact trait Pain is in Your Mind has been incorporated into Pain Suppression.

The artifact trait Power of the Dark Side became the new passive Power of the Dark Side and likely inspired the azerite power Depth of the Shadows.

Prydaz, Xavaric's Magnum Opus effect became the new azerite power Resounding Protection.

Blizzard Direct Feedback

Blizzard

The talent row balancing comments are something we'll probably look at in a little more detail slightly later, though there is a simple buff in the pipeline for Luminous Barrier.

On the base rotation: while we don't want it to be as burst-oriented as it was in Legion due to Light's Wrath, we are looking to add a little more texture back as far as moments of higher damage/healing. In the next build, we're trying out Power of the Dark Side as a baseline part of the spec.

On Power Word: Shield (based on various comments in a lot of different places): Power Word: Shield will definitely be used a lot more than it was in Legion (obviously, due to not having a cooldown). But, we neither expect nor want it to be like the Power Word: Shield spam of Mists or Warlords. In those days, a rotation based almost entirely on Power Word: Shield did sufficient healing to make a Disc using that rotation into a top healer. Therefore it was doing roughly an entire healer's worth of healing in the form of absorbs.

Disc in BFA should not be able to put out that level of absorption, even if it uses a higher portion of casts on Power Word: Shield. Using Power Word: Shield, and absorbs generally, is still a core part of Disc's identity, but reaching full healing potential still requires a significant contribution of other mechanics like Atonement. We don't see it as a problem if Power Word: Shield is a major workhorse spell of the rotation in all contexts, but the opportunities to apply very high amounts of shielding are cooldown-limited (Rapture and Luminous Barrier), and current talents that buff Power Word: Shield generally do so without adding absorption (Lenience and ).

Blizzard

A few changes for an upcoming beta build.

New talent: Sins of the Many. Your damage is increased by up to X%, diminishing for each ally with Atonement.
Likely location is L75, pushing Lenience to L100, and removing .

We agree with trying to find a talent that calls to having a smaller number of Atonements out, but are trying a version that still provides some benefit in all situations.

's concept was generally subsumed by the new mastery (which is seeming successful so far), and stacking Grace on top of mastery led to huge variance in the strength of Shadow Mend and Power Word: Shield casts. Making that choice with mastery is a better place than making it with a talent that was essentially required in some types of content.

The talent rearrangement should leave L100 as a row of talents that most show their strength when effectively healing a large number of targets, and L75 as a row of talents less focused on that situation.

Penance's healing is increased by Power of the Dark Side

So that Power of the Dark Side remains neutral as to your choice of which mode of Penance to use.

Mindbender's damage reduced 24%

It has been unintentionally strong ever since the squish, as many people have observed.

General Priest Changes

NEW Power Word: Fortitude Infuses the target with vitality, increasing their Stamina by 10% for 1 hour.
If the target is in your party or raid, all party and raid members will be affected.

Mass Dispel Dispels magic in a 15 yard radius, removing all harmful Magic from 5 friendly targets and 1 beneficial Magic effects from 5 enemy targets. Potent enough to remove Magic that is normally undispellable.
Cooldown changed from 15 sec cooldown to 45 sec cooldown

Prayer of Mending Places a ward on a party or raid member that heals them for (175%43.75 of Spell power) the next time they take damage, and then jumps to another party or raid member within 20 yds. Jumps up to 5 times and lasts 30 sec after each jump.

Shackle Horror Shackles the target undead enemy for 50 sec, preventing all actions and movement. Damage will cancel the effect. Limit 1.
Cost changed from 2.0% of base mana to 4.0% of base mana

NEW Sanctum When you cast Fade, absorb 495 Magic damage for 10 sec.

NEW When you successfully Dispel Magic, heal yourself and 4 injured allies for 208.

Glyph of Angels Triggering Serendipity grantsCasting healing spells has a chance to grant you angelic wings.

Discipline Priest Changes

Discipline Priest Apply Aura: Modifies Damage/Healing Done by 53%40%

REMOVED Mastery: Absolution Increases the healing transferred through Atonement by 13.0%.

REMOVED Plea A quick, efficient plea to heal an ally for (56.25% of Spell power).

REMOVED The Penitent Penance may be cast on a friendly target, healing them for over 2 sec.

NEW Desperate Prayer Increases maximum health by 25% for 10 sec, and instantly heals you for 25% of that amount.

NEW Holy Nova Causes an explosion of holy light around you, dealing (137%20.5% of Spell power) Holy damage to all enemies and (10% of Spell power) healing to all allies within 12 yds.

NEW Mastery: Grace Increases the damage of Penance, the absorption of Power Word: Shield, and the healing of Shadow Mend by 12.0%Your healing and absorption is increased by 10.0% on targets with Atonement..
Name changed from Mastery: Reverence to Mastery: Grace

Atonement Plea, Power Word: Shield, Shadow Mend, and Power Word: Radiance also apply Atonement to your target for 15 sec.
When you deal spell damage, you instantly healYour spell damage heals all targets affected by Atonement for 40.0%60% of the damage done.

Flash Heal A fast spell that heals an ally for (475%135% of Spell power).
Cost changed from 2.8 to 3.0% of base mana

Pain Suppression Reduces all damage taken by a friendly target by 40% for 8 sec. Castable while stunned.
Cooldown changed from 4 min cooldown to 3 min cooldown

Penance Launches a volley of holy light at the target, causing 190%42% of Spell power) * 3] Holy damage to an enemy or 300%71% of Spell power) * 3] healing to an ally over 2 sec. Castable while moving.
Cost changed from 2.8% of base mana to 2.0% of base mana

Power Word: Radiance A burst of light heals the target and 4 injured allies within 30 yards for (250%62.5% of Spell power), and applies Atonement for 60% of its normal duration.
Cooldown changed from 18 sec to 20 sec recharge

Power Word: Shield Shields an ally for 15 sec, absorbing Spell power * 5.5) + 0 * (1 + Versatility) * 1 * 1] damage, and preventing damage from delaying spellcasting.
Cooldown changed from 7.5 sec cooldown to None
Cost changed from 2.3% of base mana to 2.5% of base mana

Rapture For the next 810 sec, Power Word: Shield has no cooldown.absorbs an additional 200%.
Cooldown changed from 2 min cooldown to 1.5 min cooldown

Shadow Mend Wraps an ally in shadows which heal for (750%180% of Spell power), but at a price.
The ally will take 750%180% of Spell power) / 20] damage every 1 sec, until they have taken 750%180% of Spell power) / 2] total damage from all sources, or leave combat.
Cost changed from 2.8 to 3.0% of base mana

Shadow Word: Pain A word of darkness that causes (31%20% of Spell power) Shadow damage instantly, and an additional (279%120% of Spell power) Shadow damage over 18 sec.16 sec.
Cost changed from 2.2% of base mana to 1.8% of base mana

Shadowfiend Summons a shadowy fiend to attack the target for 12 sec.15 sec.

Smite Smites an enemy for (173.353.3% of Spell power) Holy damage and absorbs the next 22565 / 100) * (1 + Versatility)] damage dealt by the enemy.

Sanctuary Smite absorbs the next 22565 / 100) * (1 + Versatility)] damage dealt by the enemy.

Live

BFA

Removed

REMOVED Clarity of Will Shields the target with a protective ward for 20 sec, absorbing 92.25 * (1 + Versatility)] damage.

REMOVED Increases your non-Atonement healing and absorption by 30%20% on targets with Atonement.

REMOVED Smite's absorption effect is increased by 50%.

New

NEW Penance When you heal with Penance, everyone with your Atonement is healed for (12% of Spell power).
Tier 5 Talent

NEW Lenience Atonement reduces damage taken by 0.5%3%.
Tier 7 Talent, formerly artifact trait

NEW Luminous Barrier Create a shield on all allies within 40 yards, absorbing damage on each of them for 10 sec.
Tier 7 Talent

NEW Sins of the Many Your damage is increased by up to 12%, diminishing for each ally affected by your Atonement.
Tier 5 Talent

Swapped Position

Dominant Mind You may also control your own character while Mind Control is active, but Mind Control has a 2 min cooldown, and it may not be used against players.
Tier 4 Talent

Strikes an enemy with heavenly power, dealing (350%110% of Spell power) Holy damage and restoring 1% of your maximum mana.
Tier 3 Talent

Psychic Voice Reduces the cooldown of Psychic Scream by 30 sec.
Tier 4 Talent

Shield Discipline When your Power Word: Shield is completely absorbed, you instantly regeneraterestore 1%0.5% of your maximum mana.
Tier 3 Talent

Shining Force Creates a burst of light around a friendly target, knocking away nearby enemies and slowing their movement speed by 70% for 3 sec.
Tier 4 Talent

Changed

Angelic Feather Places a feather at the target location, granting the first ally to walk through it 40% increased movement speed for 5 sec. Only 3 feathers can be placed at one time.Maximum 3 charges.

Body and Soul Power Word: Shield increases your target's movement speed by 40% for 3 sec. Can occur once every 6 sec.

Divine Star Throw a Divine Star forward 24 yds, healing allies in its path for (30%40% of Spell power) and dealing (30%40% of Spell power) Holy damage to enemies. After reaching its destination, the Divine Star returns to you, healing allies and damaging enemies in its path again.

Halo Creates a ring of Holy energy around you that quickly expands to a 30 yd radius, healing allies for (431.1%110% of Spell power) and dealing (431.1%110% of Spell power) Holy damage to enemies.

Mindbender Summons a Mindbender to attack the target for 12 sec. You regenerate 0.50%0.5% of maximum mana each time the Mindbender attacks.

Purge the Wicked Cleanses the target with fire, causing (100%30% of Spell power) Fire damage and an additional (500%165% of Spell power) Fire damage over 20 sec. Spreads to an additional nearby enemy when you cast Penance on the target.
Cost changed from 2.0% of base mana to 1.8% of base mana

Mind Blast Attack the enemy's soul with a surge of Shadow energy, dealing (425%150% of Spell power) Shadow damage and increasing damage that you deal to the target by 30% for 6 sec40% for 9 sec.
Cooldown changed from 6 sec cooldown to 24 sec cooldown
Cost changed from 2.5% of base mana to 0.5% of base mana

Draws on the power of shadow to heal the target and 4 injured allies within 30 yds for (500%135% of Spell power), but leaves a shell on them that absorbs the next 500%135% of Spell power) * 50 / 100] healing they receive within 6 sec.
Cost changed from 5.0% of base mana to 2.8% of base mana, cooldown changed from None to 12 sec cooldown

Twist of Fate After healing a target below 35% health, you deal 20%15% increased damage and 20%15% increased healing for 10 sec.

PowerReduces the cooldown of Luminous Barrier/Power Word: Barrier by (60)) sec.
Luminous Barrier absorbs an additional 45% damage
Power Word: Barrier reduces damage taken by an additional 45%.and the cooldown of Power Word: Barrier is reduced by (60)) sec.

Spiritual Cleansing Purify no longer has a cooldown, and costs 50% less mana, but only dispels 1 Magic and Disease effect.

Strength of Soul Your Power Word: Shield instantly heals targets for (87.5% of Spell power) and reduces all Physical damage taken by 20%15% while the shield persists.

Trinity The duration of your Atonement is increased by 15 sec and the healing transferred through Atonement is increased by 20%.
However, Atonement can now only affect a maximum of 3 targets and can only be applied through Plea.Power Word: Shield.

NEW Penance deals an additional 31 damage and extends your Purge the Wicked/Shadow Word: Pain by 1 sec per bolt.

NEW Depth of the Shadows Each time Purge the Wicked/Shadow Word: Pain deals damage, the healing of your next Shadow Mend is increased by 8, up to a maximum of (8 * 30).

Gift of Forgiveness Smite deals an additional 31387 damage if you have at least 3133 Atonements active.

NEW Moment of Repose Pain Suppression applies Atonement to the target and instantly heals them for 313.

Torment of Torments Shadow Word: Pain's duration is increased by 1.0 secNEW Weal and Woe Healing an ally with Penance increases the damage of your next Smite by 125. Damaging an enemy with Penance increases the absorption of your next Power Word: Shield by 219.

NEW Enduring Luminescence Power Word: Radiance restores 62 additional health, and applies Atonement for 70% of its normal duration.

NEW Atonement reduces damage taken by 1.0/1.0/2.0/2.0/3.0/3.0/4.0/4.0%.

NEW Purge the Wicked/Shadow Word: Pain has a chance to increase damage dealt by your next Penance by 50%.

Comments

Comment by Daswubwub

" Flash Heal A fast spell that heals an ally for (475%135% of Spell power).
Cost changed from 2.8 to 3.0% of base mana"

Disc doesn't have Flash Heal.

Battle for Azeroth Discipline Priest Changes

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