Cataclysm Class Changes - Priest

[Duckhunt]

Class Changes:



PRIEST

• Heal (available at level 16): While priests already have a spell called Heal, the existing version becomes obsolete at higher levels, which is something we intend to change in Cataclysm. Introduced at a low level, the "new" Heal spell will functionally work much like a down-ranked Greater Heal did in the past, adding more granularity to your direct-healing arsenal. If you need to heal someone a moderate amount and efficiency is an issue (making Flash Heal the incorrect spell for the job), then Heal is what you want to use. Heal is intended to be the priest's go-to direct-healing spell unless they need something bigger (Greater Heal) or faster (Flash Heal). We will be following a similar philosophy with all the healing classes.
  
  
  
• All HoTs and DoTs will benefit from Haste and Crit innately. Hasted HoTs and DoTs will not have a shorter duration, just a shorter period in between ticks (meaning they will gain extra ticks to fill in the duration as appropriate).
  
  
  
• While we want to keep the priest's role as a well-rounded healer, we also want to make sure the class is a viable tank healer, which is something priests moved away from a little in Wrath of the Lich King. Greater Heal will probably be the tank-healing spell of choice, though we've also discussed giving Discipline a second shield so that they have a small shield to cast on lots of different targets, and a big, more expensive shield to cast on a tank or anyone else taking a ton of damage.
  
  
  
• Mana will be a bigger consideration for all healers. We aren't trying to make healing more painful; we're trying to make it more fun. When the cost of a spell isn't an issue, then casting the right spell for the job is less of an issue because you might as well just use your most powerful spell all of the time. We are, however, getting rid of the five-second rule, because we don't want to encourage standing around doing nothing. We're also going to cut back on the benefits of buffs such as Replenishment so priests (and all healers) don't feel as penalized when those buffs aren't available.
  

Priest Talent Calculator:

WoW Talent Calculator - Priest



1-19 Priest spells:



Level 18: Holy Fire

Consumes the enemy in Holy flames that cause 98 to 124 Holy damage and an additional 21 Holy damage over 7 sec. 11% of base mana, 30 yd range, 2 sec cast, 10 sec cooldown

Level 16: Heal

Heal your target for 46 to 56. 6% of base mana, 40 yd range, 3 sec cast

Level 14: Resurrection

Brings a dead ally back to life with 35% health and 0% mana. Cannot be cast when in combat. 60% of base mana, 30 yd range, 10 sec cast

Level 14: Power Word: Fortitude

Power infuses all party and raid members, increasing their Stamina by 43 for 1 hr. If target is in your party or raid, all party and raid members will be affected. 69% of base mana, 40 yd range, Instant cast

Level 12: Psychic Scream

The caster lets out a psychic scream, causing 5 enemies within 8 yards to flee for 8 sec. Damage caused may interrupt the effect. 15% of base mana, Instant cast, 30 sec cooldown

Level 9: Mind Blast

Blasts the target for 30 to 34 Shadow damage. 17% of base mana, 30 yd range, 1.5 sec cast, 8 sec cooldown

Level 8: Renew

Heals the target for 45 over 12 sec. 21% of base mana, 40 yd range, Instant cast

Level 7: Inner Fire

A burst of Holy energy fills the caster, increasing the armor value from items by 60% and spell power by 0. Each melee or ranged damage hit against the priest will remove one charge. Lasts 30 min or until 0 charges are used. 14% of base mana, Instant cast

Level 5: Power Word: Shield

Draws on the soul of the friendly target to shield them, absorbing 41 damage. Lasts 30 sec. While the shield holds, spellcasting will not be interrupted by damage. Once shielded, the target cannot be shielded again for 15 sec. 19% of base mana, 40 yd range, Instant cast, 3 sec cooldown

.



Level 4: Shadow Word: Pain

A word of darkness that causes 30 Shadow damage over 18 sec. 22% of base mana, 30 yd range, Instant cast

Level 3: Flash Heal

Heals a friendly target for 16 to 18. 19% of base mana, 40 yd range, 1.5 sec cast

Level 1: Smite

Smite an enemy for 13 to 17 Holy damage. 15% of base mana, 30 yd range, 1.5 sec cast

Level 1? Vampiric Touch

Causes Shadow damage to your target and causes all party members to gain mana equal to a percentage of any Shadow spell damage you deal. 30 yd range, Instant

Spells we're loosing:



Level 26: Dispel Magic

Dispels magic on the target, removing 2 harmful spells from a friend or 2 beneficial spells from an enemy. 16% of base mana, 30/40 yd range, Instant cast

Level 24: Fade

Fade out, temporarily reducing all your threat for 10 sec.

15% of base mana, Instant cast, 30 sec cooldown

Level 22: Cure Diseas

Removes 1 disease from the friendly target. 16% of base mana, 40 yd range

 

[Duckhunt]

reserved again

 

[lindenkron]

Spells we're loosing:



Level 42: Greater Heal

19 priests don't actually have this. We only have "Heal" and "Lesser heal", which it appears as we're keeping. Holy Fire in trade for Dispels? What a horrible trade - There goes all priest viability. Get ready to only roll with shamans as healers from now on people!



Also: We're losing Cure Disease, if it's not on your list. Level 22.

http://cata.wowhead.com/spell=528



Also Wowhead claims Holy Fire is still level 20 Req. MMO champ and Wowhead disagree on a lot of things it would appear.

 

[Grabco]

holy shit priests are losing dispel magic? that is a major nerf. are shammies are the only class that can remove AGM?

 

[lindenkron]

holy shit priests are losing dispel magic? that is a major nerf. are shammies are the only class that can remove AGM?

As it looks now, major yes.

 

[Duckhunt]

19 priests don't actually have this. We only have "Heal" and "Lesser heal", which it appears as we're keeping. Holy Fire in trade for Dispels? What a horrible trade - There goes all priest viability. Get ready to only roll with shamans as healers from now on people!



Also: We're losing Cure Disease, if it's not on your list. Level 22.

Cure Disease - Spell - World of Warcraft



Also Wowhead claims Holy Fire is still level 20 Req. MMO champ and Wowhead disagree on a lot of things it would appear.

thanks, fixed.

 

[Stixnstones]

Vampiric touch!?



I smell dps priests.

 

[Porksoda]

2 of my 3 twinks are getting screwed, priest/warrior. Priest loses Dispel Magic which is critical and warriors lose overpower, shied bash, battle shout as well as getting their shadowfangs crushed. Why use a shield when shield bash is gone and shadowfang is nerfed. the only thing a shield will be good for is the armor. Dispel Magic was a warrior's best friend in arena's with a priest. With the addition of blink and evocation we're gonna have 10x more mages running around which is a warriors worst enemy. My warrior better be able to kill bitches with 2 hits to make up for all this abuse.



I really hope they add cross realm battlegrounds, if they do I wouldn't be supprised if I leveled to 29. Then I'll also get to play my 29 rogue which I haven't touched since they made us turn of xp. sorry for the rant, this cataclysm crap is depressing me

 

[Kore nametooshort]

holy shit priests are losing dispel magic? that is a major nerf. are shammies are the only class that can remove AGM?

prot warriors will be able to, however shamans will do the job better with no CD on purge and it remvoing twice as many effects.

 

[Dye]

hate to break it to you, but the new talent trees are pretty shitty too.

 

[Kore nametooshort]

Holy fire looks DAMN strong. I have the strong urge to make a "shadow" spell power priest in cataclysm, with holyfire, mindflay, mindblast, SWain, fear, smite and possibly vamp touch along with their prettty decent self healing i see them doing well.



Brb, lvling priest to 19

 

[Healingbabe]

Priests need to find a new play style -.- that sucks

 

[Terrlol]

When did people believe that priests are getting Vampiric touch? It's a stupid rumor from a bug on mmo or wowhead spell list. No way priests will get it at lv 1 when it's a talent in the shadow tree, however if they remove the talent, then we can start talking about it. Priests lose dispell and recieve holy fire and flash heal (Both awsome).



The weakness of priests have always been their mobility, and when cata hits it seems dmg is being buffed quite a bit, so i don't think priests will be able to survive to well in arenas compared to other healing classes. Most teams will just tunnel the priest, not only because they are easy targets, but because if you let them, their assist dps seems to be very viable if left alone.