Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Exorcism Nerf

So Exorcism was nerfed. It has been completely removed from PvP, as it no longer functions on players. I believe it still works on totems, and it definitely still works on Warlock pets, so it will remain on everyones bars taking up a spot.

Ret is always falling behind in arena viability, and now with this nerf it only falls further. Ret has the lowest single target damage, and in arenas, that's what you do, damage single targets. Though in a small way Ret Paladins are like casters because their damage output is mostly magical, with the new seal changes it is anyway, so the damage variance between Cloth armor and Plate armor is minimal, while the damage variance for Rogues or Warriors is quite high. DK's are much like Ret in that they can deal a large amount of damage that can't be mitigated.

Removal of Exorcism from PvP lowers Retributions burst even further, and it had already been nerfed leading into 3.1, and then this just kills it. Yes it was a 15 second cool down, but when timed with the right abilities it contributed a good 3k damage to a damage rotation that Ret was able to pump out. Possible even bigger than that, it created a connection. CS, Judge, DS, Exo, CS. A continual 5 part chain as opposed to the often broken 3 piece chain Ret is now stuck with.

Ret is not looking good in 2's. It might end up okay in 3's, though a Shaman is almost going to be a requirement to have any chance against warlocks who will be fearing Rets all over the place. If more warlocks go Destruction over Affliction, then Ret will be a good deal better off, Haunt is a killer, removing the ability for the Ret to cleanse team mates without taking a 5k hit.

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