Feature: This Persistent Life: Is this Blizzard's Redemption?
3) Warlock nerfs
Blizzard's community managers have been ominously silent on the warlock class forums, in contrast to the deluge of information that they released earlier this week to all other members of the player base. Some relevant facts have emerged, though: healing reduction de-buffs like Mortal Strike will affect warlock health-sapping abilities. Drain Life has been the only one confirmed so far, but smart money is on it having similar effects on Siphon Life and Death Coil. Naturally, warlocks aren't too happy, but for some strange reason, everyone else seems to be. So, what shall we make of Blizzard's silence? Even smarter money is on further nerfs, given how eager the company's reps were to share the good news with everyone else.
4) Enhancement shamans might become contenders
The shaman community views itself as generally downtrodden, but melee-focused enhancement shamans consider themselves to be the premier schleps among this pitiful bunch. Blizzard apparently feels that their woes are not unfounded though, and 2.3 will bring some buffs that are sounding pretty good on paper. The class as a whole is seeing some improvements: all shamans will be able to equip two-handed maces and axes, and their dreaded Frost Shock ability's snare effect will no longer suffer from diminishing returns in PvP. Enhancement shamans in particular, though, are getting just what they need: more survivability. On top of its regular effects, Shamanistic Rage, the 41 point Enhancement talent, will decrease all damage taken by the shaman by 30 percent during its duration. Couple this with a new talent called Elemental Focus (which reduces the mana cost of any Shock spell cast following a critical melee strike), and Enhancement shamans just got a bit more viable in arena PvP.
5) Rogues get some mobility, utility
Warriors have always been more nimble than rogues when it comes to PvP, and that is as baffling as it is ironic, given the plate-to-leather disparity. Blizzard plans to remedy this in patch 2.3 by allowing Shadowstep, the 41 point Subtlety talent that allows the rogue to teleport to its target and execute a beefed-up opener, to be usable out of stealth. Logic would dictate that the damage buff component will only work if the ability is used from stealth, but frankly, this is what rogues have been wanting for a great long while. Further, the Dirty Deeds talent will increase the damage dealt by the rogue's special attacks to wounded targets by up to 20 percent, somewhat mimicking the devastating effects of the warrior's Execute ability. In regard to utility, Blind will no longer require an onerous reagent to cast, and its effect is now physical, meaning that counter-measures against poison will no longer dispel it. Deadly Throw is also seeing some changes; the time it takes for the missile to travel to its target will be significantly decreased, making it a much more effective spell interrupt when used in tandem with PvP gloves. On the downside, the ability will no longer trigger the Ruthlessness talent, so say good bye to Deadly Throw spam.
6) Hunter Dispel
Hunters have long moaned about their lack of arena viability, mana-burning priest partners be damned (see: Crimsonlocks). From the sounds of it, one key change in patch 2.3 will be just what the doctor ordered: specifically, Arcane Shot's added offensive-dispel effect. Now, an ability that was an essential component in a Hunter's "shot rotation" will now bring with it a very desirable effect. Hunters will surely be more sparing in its use from here on out.
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