Demon Hunter, Rogue Nerfs in WoW Class Tuning Changes for December 19

The Weekly Tuning Changes for World of Warcraft: Dragonflight bring nerfs to Demon Hunter and Rogue and buffs to almost everyone else in PvE and PvP content.

Author:
Robbie Landis
Publish date:
Dec 18, 2023 3:26 PM EST

World of Warcraft: Dragonflight Class Changes for Weekly Reset December 19 for PvP and Group Content

The December 18th Weekly Reset comes with some Nerfs and Buffs for a lot of classes in both PvP and PvE group content.
The Demon Hunter class saw a nerf to Sigil of Flame with further nerfs to the Havoc Spec, while Rogue saw nerfs to overall damage.
Classes that saw buffs include; Evoker, Mage, Monk, Paladin, Priest, Shaman and Warlock.

Maintaining a massive game like World of Warcraft: Dragonflight with as many classes as there are is a process that takes a lot of balance. That balance comes in waves and sometimes the tide benefits everyone (unless you’re a Demon Hunter or Rogue). With the December 18th weekly reset a slew of new class tuning changes have been announced and most players are going to be very happy.

Demon Hunter & Rogue Nerfs

Out of all of the changes coming to World of Warcraft in this class tuning patch, the Demon Hunters and Rogues are the two who are being hit with the nerf bat. The changes aren’t too bad but nerfs are nerfs, even if you’re already topping the charts in your raids.

While the Demon Hunter Class overall did get hit with a 10% reduction in Sigil of Flame, the Havoc specialization saw further tuning with three different abilities being reduced in some fashion.

Meanwhile, Rogue is seeing a small reduction in all ability and melee auto attack damage by 3%. However, this does not carry over into PvP.

Every Other Class is Buffed

While the Demon Hunters and Rogues suffer the nerf bat, every other class mentioned in the WoW blue post are seeing increases in damage and buffs to abilities. This includes every specialization of Mage and Shaman.

There are also some PvP changes as well which you can find in the notes below.

The Class Armor sets for (left to right) Death Knight, Shaman and Demon Hunter obtained in Amidrassil, the Dream's Hope raid in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
World of Warcraft

Full Patch Notes for December 19th

Classes

Demon Hunter

Sigil of Flame damage reduced by 10%.
Havoc

Collective Anguish (talent) damage from summoned Fel Devastation reduced by 10%.
Ragefire (talent) damage stored from Immolation Aura critical strikes reduced to 30% (was 35%).
A Fire Inside (talent) chance to reset Immolation Aura reduced to 25% (was 30%).

Evoker

Devastation

Pyre damage increased by 15%. Does not apply to PvP.
Damage of all spells and abilities increased by 3%. Does not apply to PvP.

Preservation

Resonating Sphere once again applies Echo to the first 5 allies it passes through (was 3).

Developers’ notes: Resonating Sphere was recently reduced as part of a broad AoE healing reduction pass. After watching the change play out, we’re not happy with the resulting gameplay – particularly in dungeons, where it doesn’t cover your whole party.

Mage

Arcane

Arcane Blast damage increased by 6%. Does not apply to PvP.
Arcane Missiles damage increased by 10%. Does not apply to PvP.

Fire

Fire Blast damage increased by 12%. Does not apply to PvP.
Pyroblast damage increased by 5%. Does not apply to PvP.
Fireball damage increased by 10%. Does not apply to PvP.
Flamestrike damage increased by 12%
Intensifying Flame now increases Ignite damage by 25% (was 15%).

Frost

Frostbolt damage increased by 15%. Does not apply to PvP.
Ice Lance damage increased by 12%. Does not apply to PvP.
Flurry damage increased by 10%. Does not apply to PvP.
Glacial Spike damage increased by 6%. Does not apply to PvP.

Monk

Windwalker

Spinning Crane Kick damage increased by 20%.
Blackout Kick damage increased by 10%.
Rising Sun Kick damge increased by 8%. Does not apply to PvP.
Fists of Fury damage increased by 8%. Does not apply to PvP.
Blackout Reinforcement increased to 250% (was 200%).
Glory of the Dawn damage increased by 40%.
Dance of Chi-Ji bonus increased to 300% (was 200%).

Mistweaver

Unison now heals a second injured ally for 35% of the amount healed (down from 50%). Does not apply to PvP.
Enveloping Breath healing reduced by 10%. Does not apply to PvP.
Essence Font healing reduced by 8%. Does not apply to PvP.

Paladin

Retribution

All ability damage increased by 3%.

Priest

Shadow

Psychic Link now causes direct damage spells to inflict 25% of their damage on all other targets afflicted by your Vampiric Touch (was 15%).

Holy

All healing increased by 3%. Does not apply to PvP.
Prayer of Mending healing increased by 15%. Does not apply to PvP.

Rogue

Assassination

All ability and melee auto attack damage reduced by 3%. Does not apply to PvP.

Shaman

Elemental

Earthquake damage increased by 50%.

Enhancement

Elemental Warding now reduces magic damage taken by 3%/6% (was 2%/4%).

Developers’ notes: This is aimed at improving Enhancement’s survivability in all content.

Restoration

Torrent now increases the initial heal of Riptide by 15%/30% (was 10%/20%). Does not apply to PvP.
Healing Surge healing increased by 12%. Does not apply to PvP.
Healing Stream Totem healing increased by 12%. Does not apply to PvP.

Warlock

Affliction

Seed of Corruption damage increased by 10%.
Soul Rot now applies to up to 4 additional targets (up from 3).
Dark Harvest now increases critical strike and haste by 4% per target (up from 2.5%).

Destruction

Rain of Fire damage increased by 12%.
Cataclysm damage increased by 25%.
Immolation damage from Infernal and Blasphemy increased by 25%.
Immolate damage increased by 10%.

Player versus Player

Gladiator’s Distinction (Trinket Set Bonus): Primary stat for DPS and tank specializations is now increased by 12% (was 20%) when in Arenas, Battlegrounds, and War Mode.
Druid

Balance

Stellar Flare backlash damage increased by 8%.

Feral

Regrowth healing is no longer reduced in PvP Combat (was reduced by 20%).

Hunter

Marksmanship

Aimed Shot now deals 40% additional damage in PvP (was 25%).
Rapid Fire now deals 30% additional damage in PvP (was 20%).

Paladin

Holy

Mana regeneration is now reduced by 35% in PvP combat (was 25%).

Shaman

Enhancement

Healing Surge healing is now increased by 5% in PvP combat (was reduced by 12%).
Control of Lava (Flame Shock backlash damage) damage increased by 8%.

Elemental

Searing Flames now has a 40% chance to generate Maelstrom in PvP combat (was 100%).
Rolling Magma is now 60% effective in PvP combat.
Control of Lava (Flame Shock backlash damage) damage increased by 8%.