In build 26010, we see a change from scaling class abilities with Attack power rather than weapon damage.

Damage reductions scale with the primary stat making raid buffs to those stats more important. The other thematic takeaway from this build is how our characters will grow in power over the life of the expansion. This would be ironic given some of their issues in Legion. With Warriors getting Rage from damage, and the Ignore Pain change, it could indicate Warriors ‘opportunity to shine’ will be on bosses with a heavy Magic Damage profile. The developers want pure damage reductions to be less effective. But it now costs rage, which should make it difficult to spam. Protection Warrior’s Ignore Pain also remains a damage reduction. The exceptions to this are the Brewmaster’s Stagger and Vengeance’s Demonic Wards, but both are half as effective as live. Most tanks are switching from straight damage reduction to a scaling increase of armor. They may not have even decided on the other tanks’ niches yet. They seem to have settled on Warriors, and they’ve adjusted all tanks to create it. In the Developer Watercooler Battle for Azeroth Class Design Overview the developers stated: Their focus right now is working out what each specs strengths and weaknesses are going to be.

They do a ‘numbers pass’ during one of the later builds. The developers aren’t attempting to balance the tanks at this early stage of the development cycle. Death Strike balances Death Knight self-healing. I do realize the coefficients are an important part of tank balance. This would be something like Shear going from 115% of Attack power to 51.75% of Attack power. I’m also going to ignore what I’ll call coefficient changes. I know we’ll use them during leveling, but they’ll be living in our banks by the time we’re level capped. I’m ignoring changes to the Artifacts, traits and Legendaries. I have no practical experience in game with Brewmasters, Blood Death Knights or Vengeance Demon Hunters.

I’ve also played a Guardian Druid and Protection Warrior. My background is as a Protection Paladin. What I’m looking for is design intent.Įveryone comes from somewhere, and my own point of view is in part shaped by the classes I play. The only thing I know with certainty is the 8.0 patch will be quite different from what we have today. I wouldn’t base a decision on this build. Many people are thinking about what they will main in Battle. It’s important to remember this is the first Alpha build. We now have our first look at a host of changes to the tanking classes in Battle for Azeroth.

Best tank in battle for azeroth sco