There are a number of threads right now about the PTR changes for 8.1.5. I'll sum them up quickly here, and will update the guide when it goes live, with what actually happens.
1. All stats to chest enchants are nerfed.
Glorious stats is still going to be the best stat option at +3. Since this is a global nerf, it doesn't change much in the way of balancing things. It means that +4 verse to chest might be considered, but 3stam/3primary is still probably better than 4 verse.
2. Quest blues scale to ilvl 25.
This isn't a huge change, but it might make a few quest items viable. Most of the quest blues aren't particularly great with secondary stats. Any many slots will have to compete with BG crate items (still ilvl 25). Its kind of annoying for many players who did quests for ilvl 23 gear, as those will NOT scale back up to ilvl 25. Random dungeon satchels remain at ilvl 23. We'll have to see what items become viable. For the most part it seems like they might gain ~1 stat from their current form. Most appear to be inferior to BG crate options. I think the main changes from this will be 2h weapons (more viable options and easier to obtain ones than the RNG involved) and perhaps some plate pieces that don't have many options (still probably worse, but easy to get).
3. Shadow Armor nerfed.
Agility users are going to want to switch from shadow armor (will be 1agi/3armor) to stealth (2agi/2dodge). Basically all agility users lose 1 agility. Also makes Gift of Verse not as bad as it used to be. 2agi is still more damage (equiv to 4-6 verse) - but going movespeed isn't as big of a loss.
4. Frag Belt damage nerfed.
While not part of the quick start guide, the grandfathered frag belt will still be annoying with a 3 second stun in a bracket with little CC, but now it deals 1/3 of its former damage give or take. Will make the bracket a bit more welcoming to new twinks.
5. ELEMENTAL FORCE NERFED.
Damage cut by about half. This is a big one. This nerfs so many classes/specs. Rogues, boomkins, arcane mages, survival hunters are going to see their damage drop. Dual wield survival is such a niche option that it may not be useful anymore (remains to be seen). Offensive healers will have their damage reduced (not a bad thing). Less viable classes will also feel these nerfs and be even less viable (WW/locks/enhance/etc). On the bright side, this may open up other enchants like landslide, dancing steel, +spellpower, and 12agi to 2H. We don't have any extra slow weapons to take advantage of PPM unfortunately.
We'll have to see what else gets hit by the nerf though, because it looks like fiery and lifesteal get hit by it, as they are possible replacements. Avalanche was also nerfed.
6. Incendiary ammo, frost ammo?, flintlocke, gnomish xray scope all nerfed.
Not sure what this is going to mean for hunters. Incendiary is an easy fire and forget item. Flintlocke still gives 30agi and gnomish 40AP, but the 40s ICD is annoying to micromanage and harder to justify at less than half the previous buff value. Another option is that BfA enchants can be used on ranged weapons, and can be used on ANY ranged weapons. So ilvl 25 BG crate weapons with ideal stats and slightly higher weapon damage can use those. The enchants themselves are meh, but depending on how nerfed the scope are...
7. Coastal Surge nerfed.
Still does 2/3 of what it used to, and an extra HoT is pretty nice still. +spellpower may compete in terms of throughput now though. I imagine it will depend on the class if the throughput or the hot is preferred.
8. Stats to bracer nerfed.
It used to show +1 on the tooltip, but give +2. Now it actually gives +1. Bracer enchants will likely switch to pure int/agi/str/stam/etc.
9. Crusader is NOT nerfed, still gives 100 str.
Warrior and ret are still somewhat limited classes, but their damage relative to everything else is going up. At higher levels, warrior is going to dominate even more than it already does. For 19s though, we'll see. Lack of mobility, slows, and spammable moves still mean warriors are vulnerable to kiting. A pocket healer is still highly recommended.
We'll see what actually makes it to live and if there are any other changes. Healers are going to be WAAAAAAY harder to kill. Warriors will be dealing more damage relative to other things, but still suffer from the same vulnerabilities. Some minor enchant changes to armor might be needed, but the weapon enchants are going to shake things up. We'll need to dust off some of those old enchants to see what sticks. +9 Spellpower might be comparable throughput for casters. Landslide, mongoose, and dancing steel will need to be tested. Some of the Cata/Wrath enchants with PPM or ICD style enchants might be worth looking into.
