Patch 3.2.2 PTR Druid changes
There really aren't a ton of Druid changes on the 3.2.2 PTR as yet, but two of them are rather intriguing means of handling current PvP concerns for the weaker PvP specs (Balance and Feral). Anyway, I wanted to get our commenters' take on them because PvP is definitely not my area of expertise.
MOONKIN FORM: This form now also reduces the damage the druid takes while stunned by 15%.
Ghostcrawler mentioned recently that the main concern for Balance PvP isn't damage or CC -- it's just survivability, pure and simple. This is a very welcome change in that vein, although I'm surprised that it went to us over other casters, who are arguably more vulnerable to melee stuns. Well...maybe not. Shadow Priests have Dispersion, Warlocks have Demonic Circle, Mages have Ice Block and Blink, and so on. All of these are instant-cast, which might be part of why they're more effective "Oh s^$t!" buttons than Roots and Cyclone, both of which can be interrupted and silenced. Travel Form leaves you more vulnerable than you are in Moonkin, Bear Form has limited options given that most moonkin PvP builds I see still don't put any points in Feral despite the change to Survival Instincts, and Nature's Grasp -- well, you have to get hit for that to trigger that anyway.
We'll see if this helps, although if the root of Balance arena issues lies in the vulnerability of caster form (which was one of the factors driving the "tankiness" of Trees in Season 6), this change just nudges the Druid to stay in moonkin more than they already are. Still, I'm curious to see what effect this will have.
TYPHOON: The knockback distance for this spell has been increased to match Thunderstorm.
Huh. I actually had no clue that the Thunderstorm knockback was bigger all this time. Well, I fail at Comparative Hybrids 101.
PREDATORY STRIKES: This talent now also causes the Druid's finishing moves to provide a 7/13/20% chance per combo point to make the next Nature spell with a cast time below 10 seconds instant cast.
Translated from Developerese, this means you'll have a stacking 20% chance per combo point of getting an insta-cast Nature spell after landing a finishing a move in Cat, i.e. 100% at 5. In PvP, I expect this will typically be a heal, although Entangling Roots and Hibernate -- versus Hunter pets and other Druids -- come to mind too.
EDIT: I wrote the article at 2:00 this morning and it shows. Analysis fixed up, much love and thanks to the commenters who caught a boneheaded mistake.
Experienced Ferals will recognize this as a version of the Tier 5 two-piece set bonus. To this day, I'm still not sure why they phrased that bonus the way they did, because shaving 2 seconds off a 2-second cast spell = 0 seconds, which to normal people is also known as "insta-cast," but that is all part of the mystery that is Blizzard. Maybe they employ a post-structural theorist as a copywriter there, I don't know. Anyway, the insta-Regrowth was mostly useless for PvE purposes, but to be honest, I rather enjoyed it. It was always fun for soloing, and it saved both me and a few other people on fights like Vashj occasionally. It was also sought as a PvP bonus, to the point where the few dogged PvP Ferals I knew at the time were still running two-piece T5 well into Season 3.
Because it's the PTR, I expect Blizzard is waiting to see whether this addition will measurably impact Feral PvP (which has generally been pretty dismal in arena), so stay tuned.
2n - 1 go left, 2n go right. I don't see enough DoTs! More DoTs now!
Are you ready for the return of Onyxia? With the Brood Mother being revitalized as a 10 and 25 person raid, you'll need to be sure you know everything that's coming at you. WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.2.2 will make sure your set for the next patch!
