The Blizzard aim to enhance the gameplay experience for Retribution Paladins in WoW: The War Within by implementing numerous changes. While the upcoming expansion doesn’t introduce any significant innovations to the individual classes and playstyles beyond the hero talent trees, the developers are still committed to refining these talent trees. Although there are no plans for major reworks or complete overhauls, there are still opportunities for improvement.
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The developers meticulously examine the weaknesses of each playstyle in World of Warcraft and seek to address and enhance these weaknesses during the current alpha and subsequent beta phases of WoW The War Within. This scrutiny extends to the Retribution Paladin, which underwent a significant overhaul in Dragonflight, though it didn’t resolve all issues. However, will the upcoming adjustments mark the end of changes for this class?
WoW: Less Frustration and More Choice for Retribution Paladins
The current adjustments aren’t solely about boosting the damage output or performance of Retaliators compared to other classes. The primary focus is on refining the rotation to provide a smoother experience. This also involves granting players greater flexibility in selecting talents, achieved through better balancing within the talent tree.
Moreover, a crucial skill for Retaliators will be targeted differently in the future. The ash wave will now aim in the direction of the camera, rather than where the character is facing, addressing a source of frustration for players.
The developers have officially announced the following changes, some of which have already been implemented in the alpha of WoW The War Within:
Hello, Retribution Paladins.
This week’s update focuses on quality of life improvements:
Ash Wave
The Retribution Paladin heavily relies on Ash Wave, a cornerstone of the Retribution rotation. To enhance its importance, we’ve moved Ash Wave deeper into the talent tree’s hierarchy. Additionally, we’ve addressed the frustration players experienced when aiming Ash Wave while moving sideways, making adjustments to enhance its feel.
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Blade of Justice and Templar Strikes
These abilities are intricately tied to the Holy Power economy, with talent and stat interactions affecting their frequent use. The diminishing value of their damage over time effects upon reapplication led to a suboptimal gameplay experience. To rectify this, we’ve ensured that the remaining damage value of these effects carries over to their subsequent applications, enhancing gameplay fluidity.
Templar Strikes
We’re increasing the cooldown of Templar Strikes to streamline the rotation, reducing the number of button presses required. To compensate for this adjustment, we’re boosting its damage output. This change aims to enhance the playability of the rotation.
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New Talent: Radiant Glory
Replacing Wrathful Vengeance, this talent grants various bonuses upon using Ash Wave. Its synergies with talents from the Herald of the Sun hero talent tree provide additional depth to gameplay. Additionally, it introduces enhancements to existing abilities such as Templar Slasher’s DoT, ensuring smoother transitions between applications.
Overall, these changes aim to refine the Retribution Paladin experience, offering players more meaningful choices and addressing gameplay frustrations. What are your thoughts on these adjustments? Do you believe they are moving in the right direction? Share your opinions below.