World of Warcraft & WOW CLASSIC – April 2023 Patch Notes

Introduction

In the latest patch notes for April 2023, the Warlock class in the popular game has received some much-needed attention. Specifically, the Demonology specialization has undergone several fixes to address unintended functionality and improve overall gameplay. One of the issues that has been resolved is the persistence of Immutable Hatred while untalented, providing a smoother and more balanced experience for players. Additionally, the problem with Reign of Tyranny applications not being removed when a demon despawns out of line of sight has also been rectified. These fixes are expected to have a minor impact on player power, and the developers will closely monitor the situation for any necessary adjustments.

Furthermore, the patch notes address other classes and quests as well. For Warlocks, the issue where Summon Soulkeeper could be cast while moving has been resolved. In the Demonology specialization, the unintended benefit of Immutable Hatred on Grimoire: Felguard has been fixed, ensuring a fair and consistent gameplay experience. Additionally, players who were previously stuck on the quest “A Difficult Legacy” can now progress by abandoning the quest, as it will reset conversation progress. These updates demonstrate the developers’ commitment to improving the game and providing a more enjoyable experience for all players.

APRIL 18, 2023

Classes

• Warlock
  • Demonology
    • Fixed an issue where Immutable Hatred would persist while untalented.

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APRIL 14, 2023

Classes

• Warlock
  • Demonology
    • Fixed an issue where Reign of Tyranny applications would not be removed if a demon despawns out of line of sight.

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APRIL 13, 2023

Classes

• Warlock
  • Developers’ note: We discovered some unintended functionality with multiple Warlock talents and are fixing those now before the next season starts. We expect the impact of these fixes on player power to be minor, and we’ll monitor and make adjustments if necessary.
  • Fixed an issue where Summon Soulkeeper could be cast while moving.
  • Demonology
    • Fixed an issue where Immutable Hatred would benefit Grimoire: Felguard.

Quests

• Players who were stuck on “A Difficult Legacy” will now be able to progress if they abandon the quest. It will now reset conversation progress.

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APRIL 12, 2023

Classes

• Warlock
  • Demonology
    • Fixed an issue where Annihilan Training, and Antoran Armaments would benefit Grimoire: Felguard.

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APRIL 11, 2023

System

• Gamepad
  • Fixed an issue where some targeted spells were not starting in the correct location while using a gamepad.
  • Fixed an issue where a centered cursor could block mouse input while using a gamepad.
  • Fixed an issue where some targeted spells were unintentionally cancelled while moving or jumping while using a gamepad.
  • Fixed an issue where the targeting reticle could disappear with a centered cursor while using a gamepad.

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APRIL 10, 2023

Classes

• Death Knight
  • Unholy
    • Developers’ notes: At high haste levels it was possible for Summon Gargoyle to lose casts of Gargoyle Strike. To help remedy that we are reducing the cast speed of Gargoyle Strike to 2.5 seconds (up from 2 seconds) while increasing the damage done to compensate for the slower cast time. We are also making some targeted tuning adjustments to Unholy to increase their damage outside of their 3-minute cooldowns.
    • [With weekly restarts] Raise Dead damage increased by 10%.
    • [With weekly restarts] Army of the Dead damage increased by 10%.
    • [With weekly restarts] Scourge Strike damage increased by 20%.
    • [With weekly restarts] Clawing Shadows damage increased by 20%.
    • [With weekly restarts] Death Coil damage increased by 10%. This does not affect PvP combat.
    • [With weekly restarts] Soul Reaper damage increased by 15% Unholy specialization only.
    • [With weekly restarts] Gargoyle Strike cast speed increased to 2.5 sec, up from 2.0 sec and Gargoyle Strike damage increased by 25%.
• Druid
  • Balance
    • [With weekly restarts] Starsurge damage increased by 10%. This does not affect PvP combat.
    • [With weekly restarts] Denizen of the Dream damage increased by 20%.
  • Guardian
    • [With weekly restarts] Health and healing received gain from Mastery: Nature’s Guardian increased to 70% (was 50%).
    • [With weekly restarts] Barkskin cooldown reduced to 45 seconds (was 1 minute).
• Evoker
  • Preservation
    • Developers’ notes: Preservation’s overall throughput is lower than we’d like since the Lifebind and Temporal Anomaly reductions. We’re compensating for this adjustment in other areas, particularly Living Flame where its healing component can sometimes feel lackluster.
    • [With weekly restarts] All healing increased by 3%.
    • [With weekly restarts] Living Flame’s healing increased by 15%.
    • [With weekly restarts] Resonating Sphere now applies Echo to the first 5 allies it passes through (was 4 allies).
• Hunter
  • Beast Mastery
    • [With weekly restarts] All damage dealt reduced by you and your pet’s abilities reduced by 3%.
  • Survival
    • Developer’s notes: This change was intended to have gone live in prior tuning changes, but a data error was made and we are now correcting that. The damage dealt by Mongoose Bite in PvP will be unchanged by this adjustment.
    • [With weekly restarts] Mongoose Bite damage reduced by 10%.
• Paladin
  • [With weekly restarts] Hand of the Protector now increases Word of Glory’s healing by up to 100% when cast on allies (was 250%).
• Priest
  • [With weekly restarts] Holy Nova damage increased by 30%.
  • Discipline
    • Developers’ notes: We are aiming to bring Discipline’s mana consumption in line with other healers, as we’ve observed the spec consistently running out of resources before other healers throughout Dragonflight. Separately, Power Word: Shield has been weaker than intended relative to other Atonement appliers, so we’re increasing its power.
    • [With weekly restarts] Power Word: Shield now costs 2.4% of base mana for Discipline (was 3.1%).
    • [With weekly restarts] Power Word: Shield now absorbs 25% more damage for Discipline.
    • [With weekly restarts] Renew now costs 2.4% of base mana for Discipline (was 2.7%).
    • [With weekly restarts] Fixed a bug causing Renew to not have its healing increased by 25% for Discipline as intended.
    • [With weekly restarts] Power Word: Radiance now costs 4.5% of base mana (was 5.5%).
  • Holy
    • Developers’ notes: Holy’s damage profile is behind other healers in dungeon and raid content, so we are targeting buffs to their overall damage kit.
    • [With weekly restarts] Holy Fire damage increased by 15%.
    • [With weekly restarts] Smite damage increased by 30%.
• Shaman
  • Restoration
    • Developers’ notes: We are happy with the reception of Restoration in 10.0.7. The specialization’s healing power is above our target in all content, so we’re adjusting it in line with our expectations.
    • [With weekly restarts] All healing done reduced by 5.5%.

Player versus Player

• Druid
  • Developers’ note: This is primarily targeted at improving Cyclone’s usability for Druids in PvP, particularly for Restoration Druid as Cyclone’s short range requires them to get close to their enemies.
  • [With weekly restarts] Cyclone’s mana cost has been decreased by 40%.
• Monk
  • Mistweaver
    • Developers’ notes: We are specifically targeting Blackout Kick’s AoE damage potential as we feel Mistweaver’s healing becomes overwhelming when it can cleave its damage. We also feel Mistweaver’s mana regeneration has been too powerful, so we are adjusting Spirit of the Crane heavily.
    • [With weekly restarts] Rising Sun Kick no longer deals increased damage in PvP (was 12.5%).
    • [With weekly restarts] Blackout Kick copies from Teachings of the Monastery no longer deal increased damage in PvP (was 15%).
    • [With weekly restarts] Spirit of the Crane now restores 0.18% mana in PvP Combat (was 0.45%).
  • Windwalker
    • [With weekly restarts] Fixed an issue that caused the copied Blackout Kicks from Teachings of the Monastery to deal 15% increased damage in PvP combat instead of the intended 30%.
• Paladin
  • Holy
    • Developers’ notes: We are targeting buffs to Holy Paladin’s Word of Glory and Holy Shock healing to increase their instant-cast healing.
    • [With weekly restarts] Word of Glory healing increased by 15% in PvP Combat.
    • [With weekly restarts] Holy Shock healing increased by 30% in PvP Combat (was 15%).
  • Retribution
    • Developers’ notes: Retribution Paladin has remained more powerful than we would like in PvP. With this pass we are targeting its burst damage, allied support, and personal survivability.
    • [With weekly restarts] Avenging Wrath now increases damage and healing by 10% in PvP Combat (was 15%).
    • [With weekly restarts] Avenging Wrath: Might now increases critical strike by 10% in PvP Combat (was 15%).
    • [With weekly restarts] Divine Protection now reduces damage taken by 10% in PvP Combat (was 20%).
    • [With weekly restarts] Light’s Celerity now increases the healing of Flash of Light by 20% in PvP Combat (was 50%).
    • [With weekly restarts] Sanctified Plates now grants 50% less Stamina and Avoidance in PvP Combat.
    • [With weekly restarts] Blessing of Sacrifice now transfers 20% of damage taken in PvP Combat (was 30%).
• Warlock
  • Demonology
    • Developers’ notes: We’re toning down the value of Immutable Hatred as it’s providing a significant boost to single target damage in PvP while being difficult to avoid.
    • [With weekly restarts] Immutable Hatred now increases your primary Felguard’s Legion Strike damage by 60% when it damages 1 target in PvP Combat (down from 120%).

Wrath of the Lich King Classic

• Druid
  • Developers’ notes: We are making a follow-up change on the Omen of Clarity adjustment we made last week. We found the change that prevented Gift of the Wild from trigging Omen of Clarity was unnecessary, and will have a negative impact on Balance Druids, so that change is being reverted. The Bear threat multiplier has also been raised slightly.
  • Omen of Clarity now triggers from Gift of the Wild.
  • Slightly increased Bear threat multiplier.

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APRIL 7, 2023

Classes

• Druid
  • Fixed a bug requiring players to shift out and back into Bear Form in order to cast Thrash after having entered certain instances.
• Monk
  • Fixed an issue that allowed Touch of Death to be cast on targets at a higher health threshold than intended.
• Paladin
  • Retribution
    • Execution Sentence’s functionality has changed due to it not working in certain situations as expected. The payoff portion of Execution Sentence will no longer receive damage modifiers. To compensate for this, 30% (up from 20%) of the damage you deal during Execution Sentence is now accumulated and dealt as damage when Execution Sentence triggers.

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APRIL 6, 2023

Classes

• Warlock
  • Affliction
    • Resolved an issue causing Corruption with Absolute Corruption to not be properly reflected back to the Warlock when using Soul Swap Exhale into a spell reflection effect.

Enemies and NPCs

• Rare enemies in the Forbidden Reach now drop Storm Sigils.

Items and Rewards

• Clockwork Azshara will no longer engage in combat.

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APRIL 5, 2023

Classes

• Paladin
  • Retribution
    • All damage reduced by 3%.
    • Instrument of Retribution duration reduced to 9 seconds (was 12 seconds).
    • Fading Light – Blessing of Dusk causes your Holy Power generating abilities to also grant an absorb shield for 3% of damage or healing dealt (was 10%).
    • Aegis of Protection increases the value of Shield of Vengeance by 10% (was 20%).
    • Shield of Vengeance duration reduced to 10 seconds (was 15 seconds).
    • Lightforged Blessing now heals you and your party for 2% of maximum health (was 3%).
    • Developers’ notes: Retribution Paladins have been overperforming both offensively and defensively, so we’re making some adjustments here to bring them more in line with our intentions. Additionally, we have a hotfix coming at a later date related to Execution Sentence and its unintended interactions with various damage boosts.

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APRIL 4, 2023

Classes

• Hunter
  • Marksmanship
    • Fixed an issue where the Find The Mark buff effect could be consumed by Wind Arrows rather than Aimed Shot.
• Paladin
  • Fixed an issue with Blessing of Dawn’s tracking.
• Priest
  • Holy
    • Resolved an issue causing Holy Word: Salvation to not be castable during Divine Ascension nor have its ranged increased by Divine Ascension.

Dungeons and Raids

• Temple of the Jade Serpent
  • Sha of Doubt
    • Fixed an issue that caused Nothingness to not properly scale.
• Vault of the Incarnates
  • Raszageth
    • Raszageth’s health reduced by 5% on Mythic difficulty.
    • Reduced the push effect of Hurricane Wing by 5% on Mythic difficulty.
    • Intermission 1
      • Surging Ruiner health reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
      • Oathsworn Vanguard health reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
      • Stormseeker Acolyte health reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
      • Flamesworn Herald health reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
      • Frostforged Zealot health reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
    • Intermission 2
      • Colossal Stormfiend health reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
      • Electrified Colossal Stormfiend health reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
      • Seeking Stormling health reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.

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APRIL 3, 2023

Classes

• Evoker
  • Fixed an issue causing Ancient Flame to incorrectly be consumed by instant-cast Living Flames, such as from the Burnout talent or Lifespark set bonus.
• Paladin
  • Fixed an issue with the timing of Eye of Tyr’s floating combat text.

Player versus Player

• Classes
  • Paladin
    • Fixed an issue causing Retribution Aura to trigger from incorrect amounts of incoming damage.
    • [With weekly restarts] Judgments of the Pure (PvP Talent) now causes Judgment casts on an enemy to cleanse 1 Poison, Disease, and Magic effect they have caused on you (was allies within your aura).
      • Developers’ note: With Judgment’s cast frequency increasing in patch 10.0.7, Judgments of the Pure has been overperforming as a PvP talent. In a hotfix being applied this upcoming Tuesday, the talent will only apply to the Paladin and no longer have its effect applicable to allies.

Quests

• Heritage
  • During “The New Clessington Estate,” Cecilia Clessington will no longer accuse the player of smelling like rotten blubber when provoked.
• Ohn’ahran Plains
  • Fixed an issue causing some players to be unable to interact with the Waygate at the Shady Sanctuary.
  • The “Waygate Travel” debuff received from using the waygates will now continue to expire while the player is offline.

Wrath of the Lich King Classic

• [With weekly restarts] Fixed a bug that caused tanks to benefit from roughly twice the intended amount of Dodge from the Dodge Rating statistic.
  • Developers’ notes: We’re fixing this to avoid seeing raid groups skew toward maximizing for it. This fix will not change your Dodge % displayed on your character sheet, as the bug was invisible to players.
• [With weekly restarts] Reduced Algalon’s melee damage by 10% in both 10-player and 25-player difficulties.
  • Developers’ notes: We feel that the increase in pressure on tanks and healers from the Dodge bugfix will be manageable in other encounters, but this one needs a compensatory tweak.
• Classes
  • Druid
    • Omen of Clarity will now always trigger when Faerie Fire (Feral) is used on a non-player-controlled target. It will no longer trigger from casting Gift of the Wild.
      • Developers’ notes: This change is intended to make Feral DPS gameplay more accessible to the average WotLK Classic player and resolve many of the design challenges created by “Bear-weaving” and “Flower-weaving” combat strategies. It is expected to be a slight buff to the best Feral DPS players around 5% to 10% depending on encounter, and a larger buff to players who were not employing these strategies.