Patch 5.3 PTR patch notes for April 22

The latest set of updates to the latest build landed on the Blizzard blog last night, and there are some more pretty big changes coming in on the PTR. As well as the usual class balance fixes, which bring some more number balancing to Atonement for discipline priests, as well as to paladins' Battle Healer, there are some fairly notable quality of life changes being made to the older content in this expansion.

• Experience needed to increase from level 85 to level 90 has been reduced by 33%.

• Players no longer need to have defeated Grand Empress Shek'zeer to enter the Terrace of Endless Spring in Normal difficulty.

And what's more, for current content, there is a substantial change to the acquisition quest for Mogu Runes of Fate.

• Reduced the number of Lesser Charms of Good Fortune needed for the Mogu Runes of Fate weekly quest to 50, down from 90.

The experience nerf and the Lesser Charm change are the most interesting here, and it seems like Blizzard might be rethinking some of their earlier ideas on how hard the grind has to be in order to encourage players to stay and level their alts. What do you think?

Hit the break for the full notes.

• Tranquility now targets 12 raid members (up from 5) each time it heals when used in a 25-player instance. This change also applies to players using the Symbiosis version of Tranquility.

• Ironbark now has a cooldown of 60 seconds, down from 2 minutes.

• Swiftmend's area-of-effect component now heals injured allies within 10 yards, up from 8 yards.

• Wild Mushroom: Bloom: Healing from this spell has been increased by 100%, which includes all bonus healing from Rejuvenation overhealing. In addition, the radius has been increased to 10 yards (up from 8).

• Restoration PvP 4-piece set bonus now reduces the cooldown of Ironbark by 30 seconds (down from 90 seconds).

• Revive Pet now has a cast time of 4 seconds, down from 6 seconds.

• Revival now has a healing cap of 15 raid members (up from 6) when used in a 25-player instance.

• Devotion Aura can now be used while the Paladin is silenced.

• Glyph of the Battle Healer now heals a nearby injured friendly target, excluding the Paladin, for 20% of damage dealt while Seal of Insight is active, down from 30%.

• Glyph of Smite no longer causes the additional 20% damage dealt by Smite to transfer into Atonement.

• Atonement now heals nearby friendly targets for 90% of the damage dealt, down from 100%.

• Penance now deals 10% less damage, but healing done is increased by 10%.

• Divine Hymn now targets 12 raid members (up from 5) each time it heals when used in a 25-player instance.

• Vampiric Embrace now has a healing cap of 15 raid members (up from 6) when used in a 25-player instance.

• Demonic Gateway cast time has been reduced to 4 seconds, down from 5 seconds, gains its first charge after 5 seconds (down from 13 seconds), and gains a new charge every 10 seconds (down from 15 seconds). The summoned gateway has 100% of the summoning Warlock's health, 100% of the Warlock's resilience, and can now be attacked and killed by enemy players.

• Warlock PvP 2-piece set bonus no longer reduces cooldown on Unending Resolve and have been replaced by the former 4-piece set bonus where the Warlock's Twilight Ward absorbs damage from all magical schools.

• Warlock PvP 4-piece set bonus now increases damage dealt by Agony, Corruption, Doom, Immolate, and Unstable Affliction by 10%.

• Pandaren Spirit Pet Supplies now has a chance to drop a family specific rare Battle-Stone.

• A new achievement and reward has been added for characters that complete every Pet Battle daily quest in a single day.

• Protection for bad luck streaks have been added to Battle-Stones from pet supplies bags and wild battles. Each bag or battle that does not provide a stone has a progressively better chance to award a stone to the player.

• Reduced the number of Lesser Charms of Good Fortune needed for the Mogu Runes of Fate weekly quest to 50, down from 90.

• Players no longer need to have defeated Grand Empress Shek'zeer to enter the Terrace of Endless Spring in Normal difficulty.

• Shado-Pan Assault belts now require Friendly reputation to purchase, down from Revered.

• Shado-Pan Assault chest pieces now require Honored reputation to purchase, down from Revered.

• The following PvP trinkets now have a cooldown of 2 minutes, down from 5 minutes.

  • Bequeathed Insignia of the Alliance

  • Bequeathed Insignia of the Horde

  • Inherited Insignia of the Alliance

  • Inherited Insignia of the Horde

  • Inherited Mark of Tyranny

  • Insignia of the Alliance

  • Insignia of the Horde

• The following trinkets have on-use effects reduced by 33%, but have a 100% increase to duration when used in a Battleground or Arena.

  • Fabled Feather of Ji-Kun

  • Renataki's Soul Charm

  • Steadfast Talisman of the Shado-Pan Assault

  • Wushoolay's Final Choice

• The following trinkets have on-use effects reduced by 75%, but have a 400% increase to duration when used in a Battleground or Arena.

  • Delicate Vial of the Sanguinaire

  • Gaze of the Twins

  • Primordius' Talisman of Rage

  • Talisman of Bloodlust

• All other trinkets above ilevel 502 have on-use effects reduced by 50%, but have a 100% increase to duration when used in a Battleground or Arena.