Instead of sleeping like I said I was going to do, I logged into my WoW account and copied my Mage over to the Public Test Realm (both PvP and PvE servers). Then opened up my PTR Client, logged in, and it started the download for the next PTR build. Weighing in at 733mb, it took about 30 minutes to download, and another 15 minutes to patch.

Skimming through the patch notes, I saw some a few things that you probably already have read about, and that I am excited about. Mainly the new raid instance, Ulduar, and the new dual spec feature.

I skip down to the Mage section, and found the Mage section to be… lacking of changes. After we take a look at MMO-Champion’s site, we can see there are a few changes that are not listed. Dual Spec costs 1000g by the way.

MMO-Champion.com has posted up the patch notes and you can read them HERE. As always, here is the important stuff. Also remember, this is only PTR, and is subject to change at anytime.

Arcane

• Arcane Blast stacking effect is no longer considered a Magic effect and will not be dispelled.
• Mage Armor has been increased to allow 50% of your mana regneration to continue while casting. (Previously 30%).
• Polymorph Rabbit: Transforms the enemy into a harmless rabbit, forcing it to scamper around for up to 50 sec. While wandering, the rabbit cannot attack or cast spells but will regenerate very quickly. Any damage will transform the target back into its normal form. Only one target can be polymorphed at a time. Only works on Beasts, Humanoids and Critters.
• Arcane Meditation: Allows 17/33/50% of your mana regeneration to continue while casting. (Previously 10/20/30%).

Fire

• Burnout now only affects Fire Spells. (Previously affected all spells).
• Pyromaniac now allows 17/33/50% of your mana regeneration to continue while casting. (Previously 10/20/30%).

Frost

• Improved Water Elemental: Renamed Enduring Winter. Instead of the Water Elemental increasing Mana regeneration for the Mage’s party, casting Frostbolt now has a 33/66/100% chance to provide the Replenishment buff to up to 10 people in the Mage’s party or raid.

A Look at the Arcane Changes:

Buff: Arcane Blast can no longer be dispelled in PvP.

Buff: More Mana regen for Arcane Mages. With Mage Armor and the new Arcane Meditation, you can have 100% Mana regeneration to continue while casting.

Buff: Now you can be just like the rest of the other Mages on your server and have Polymorph: Rabbit. I’ll stick with my turtle.

A Look at the Fire Changes:

Buff: More Mana regeneration for Fire Mages. Can also reach 100% Mana regeneration to continue while casting with Mage Armor.

Nerf: Burnout now only affects Fire Spells. Well you’re only casting Fire Spells anyways if you are this deep into Fire, but I guess Blizzard no longer gets this bonus.

A Look at the Frost Changes:

According to MMO-Champion’s Talent Calculator, the talent still increases the duration of the Water Elemental by 5/10/15 seconds, as well as the new changes. Here is what I threw together so far: Frost PvE/PvP

The only difference will be how Mana will be returned to the raid, how much Mana will be returned, and to how many people. Buff or nerf? Let’s take a look.

Old Mana Return:

At max rank, the Water Elemental will return 0.6% of their total Mana every 5 seconds to the whole raid while the Water Elemental is out. This effect doesn’t count as a replenishment buff, and will stack with other raid member’s replenishment buffs. The Water Elemental lasts for 1 minute, and has a 2 minute cooldown (with talents and glyph).

New Mana Replenishment:

At max rank, your Frostbolts will have a 100% chance to grant the replenishment buff on 10 players, which will grant 0.25% of their total Mana per second, for 15 seconds. Does not stack with other player’s replenishment buffs.

Is it a Buff or a Nerf?

Buff: If you look at the amount of Mana return, the new version will return 1.25% total Mana every 5 seconds, while the old version only returned 0.6% total Mana every 5 seconds.

Buff: You no longer have to rely on your Water Elemental to be out, or to stay alive. You just have to Frostbolt every 15 seconds.

Buff: Will be a lot easier to keep up than Survival Hunters, Shadow Priests, Destruction Warlocks, and Retribution Paladins.

Nerf: It won’t be able to stack with other replenishment buffs like it used to.

Overall it is a buff to the Frost talent tree, and makes us more attractive as a raider. Still, Blizzard hasn’t address the raid damage output of a Frost Mage. Blizzard did say that they were going to make “Shatter Combos” more viable in raids, but I guess we won’t be seeing that yet.

Related Posts:

• PTR Patch 3.3 Testing: Glyph of Eternal Water
• PTR Patch 3.2 – Living Bomb on Multiple Targets
• PTR Patch 3.3 – Permanent Water Elemental
• PTR Patch 3.3 Testing: 20k Deep Freezes
• PTR Patch 3.3 – Deep Freeze on Bosses