As a patch in between “real” patches, this patch is a more pvp-focused patch and doesn’t have as many changes as we saw for Patch 5.2. In this post we analyze the changes made to the Resto Druid for Patch 5.3, with many of the changes coming in this patch being beneficial rather than detrimental. Changes to such spells as Tranquility and Wild Mushrooms are quite substantial and a big change to our tier 4 level 60 talent Force of Nature.
Mark of the Wild had its mana cost reduced to 5%, down from 10%.
Once again like Patch 5.2, Mark of the Wild, along with most other baseline buffs from all classes, has received a reduction in mana cost. Now 5%, down from 10%, this will make things such as buffing a player after a battle rez much easier on our mana and is a welcome change.
Symbiosis: Intimidating Roar had its cooldown increased to 90 seconds, up from 60 seconds.
This concerns Resto Druids that use their Symbiosis spell on a Warrior and gains the spell Intimidating Roar. It increases the cool down of Intimidating Roar to 1.5 minutes instead of 1 minute. A nerf unfortunately.
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.
This change is a fantastic change for Resto Druids doing any 25-man instances. It heals an extra 7 players from what it used to. It also applies to Shadow Priests that have access to this spell through Symbiosis. This change is to bring it in line with the amount it heals the raid compared to 10 man instances. In 10 mans the percentage of the raid healed is much greater, but this change should bring it more in line.
Talents
- Force of Nature is no longer on global cooldown and summons a single Treant. The Treant no longer has a control bar, immediately uses its special abilities on the Druid’s current target, and accumulates 1 charge every 20 seconds up to a maximum of 3 charges.
- Restoration version of the Treant now casts Swiftmend on the Druid’s target when summoned. This version of Swiftmend does not require or consume a heal-over-time effect on the target.
A very big change to the way this talent works. Essentially, being off the global cool down means you can use this spell anytime you need it. It is also based on a “charges” system. You will have 3 “charges” or 3 treants available for summon at any one time. You can summon all 3 at once or just 1 if you wish. When summoned, each treant will cast Swiftmend on your target immediately, whether there is Rejuvenation on your target or not. Each charge or each individual treant summon will “recharge” after 20 seconds. They will no longer have a control bar but will just continue to heal a nearby injured ally.
We believe there will be many ways to use this talent. You could use them all on one target, or you could use it between the two tanks, or you could use it on raid members for example. We’re very excited for the change as we’ll have a few more options in the way we use it.
Restoration
Ironbark now has a cooldown of 60 seconds, down from 2 minutes.
With our limited amount of single-target & tank cool downs, this is a very welcome change, being able to use this once every minute. Any way we can use a damage reduction ability more often is welcomed with open arms!
Swiftmend‘s area-of-effect component now heals injured allies within 10 yards, up from 8 yards.
A buff to the radius of Swiftmend’s area of effect component by two yards should help us heal those that may have been outside of this area. However the amount of people healed still remains at the 3 most injured allies. This should be a slight increase in healing and should relieve some of the frustration when players are standing just outside that 8 yard area. With a 10 yard radius, that means we’ll now get a Swiftmend AoE component with a circumference of 20 yards up from 16 yards. Essentially it’s 4 yards wider.
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).
Blizzard continues to push the use of these Wild Mushrooms onto Resto Druids, which they have now buffed by 100% including all the bonus healing. The Radius has also been increased to 10 yards up from 8. This means all Mushrooms have an Area of Effect circumference of 20 yards. If seperated completely they can now cover 60 yards in circumference up from 48. Much more area can now be covered.
There will be no excuse not to use these Mushrooms now. Why Blizzard has persisted with this spell we find very interesting. Similar to the Priest’s Lightwell, it seems to be a pet favorite of Blizzard’s and they’ll just keep improving it until players use it. Yes, Mushrooms are now very powerful and should be used, but does that make them fun?
Restoration PvP 4-piece set bonus now reduces the cooldown of Ironbark by 30 seconds (down from 90 seconds).
For those that are interested in PvP, this 4-piece set bonus has been altered to match the change made to Ironbark as previously mentioned. The bonus is the same. Like in Patch 5.2, with 4-pieces of PvP set gear, the cool down on Ironbark will still be 30 seconds.
Well that’s currently it for the Patch 5.3 changes for Resto Druids. As always and as with all changes to Patch notes and changes on the PTR, these notes could change at anytime and may not go live at all.
So what do you think? Are you excited about the changes? What do you think about the change to Force of Nature? Did you take it before, will you take it now? Let us know in the comments below!