Big Changes to Pre-Pull Behavior and Buffs in MoP Classic Raids

In preparation for the next raid test weekend, we’ve implemented changes to how players will approach the start of raid encounters (pre-pull behavior).

We want to discourage the complicated routines that have emerged, where raid teams require players to exit the raid and take different steps to obtain certain resources before a pull. We don’t want players to feel like they’re at a large disadvantage if they don’t participate in pre-pull routines.

We have a goal of doing this without nerfing classes, but rather reducing the obnoxious rituals that can have a rippling negative effect on enjoyment. Of course, some classes are going to be affected by this, but we want to avoid changes that make boss pulls feel clunky, and we want to emphasize the feeling that you just get to play the game.

Everything here is subject to further change and iteration.

We’ve used the following criteria to decide what should and should not be allowed to be brought into an encounter on-pull:

1. Do you need to involve an enemy at all (striking or being struck by) to gain this buff?
   • If so, it will be removed (e.g. Lock and Load, Molten Core, Blood Shield, Wild Imps (Despawn), Vengeance).
2. Does casting the spell require a resource that the player does not generate on their own without using a cooldown?
   • If so, it will be removed (e.g. Shield Barrier, Guard, Inquisition, Slice and Dice).
3. Do you need to take an extra step to manipulate the circumstances for this to work?
   • If so, it will be removed whether it can be performed solo or not (e.g. Twist of Fate).

Now, on-pull, all resources are reset to specific values, with some exceptions where circumstances allow for them to break this rule. On encounter start, resources are set:

• Rage set to 25
• Runic Power set to 20
• Hunter Focus set to Max
• Demonic Fury set to 200
• Burning Embers set to 1 Full Ember
• Soul Shards set to 4 a
• Chi set to 2 b
• Holy Power set to 1 c
• Combo Points set to 0 d
• Death Runes all removed e

Exceptions:

• a Soul Shards are set to 4, but if Soulburn is active when the pull happens, Soul Shards are set to 3.
• b Chi is set to 2, except for Mistweaver Monks. who keep their current Chi instead, even if it is lower than 2. Mistweavers can generate Chi alone and without the use of a cooldown.
• c Holy Power is set to 1, except for Holy Paladins, who you keep their current Holy Power, even if it is lower than 1. Holy Paladins can generate Holy Power alone and without the use of a cooldown.
• d Combo Points are set to 0, unless the Rogue who knows Premeditation and Premeditation is currently on cooldown. In that circumstance, 2 combo points are kept (if you have them). You do not generate 2 combo points, and if you happen to have more than 2 combo points on the target, you do not keep any extra and this goes down to 2.
  • This is not extended to Marked for Death, as it could lead to windows where it can be manipulated. The rogue will have to Marked for Death after combat engages.
• e Death Runes are all removed, BUT if you are a Frost Death Knight you keep your two Death Runes from Blood of the North.

We’re also trying to alleviate the pain of pre-pull gear swaps. The following items no longer function above level 89:

• All non-Mists of Pandaria Tier set bonuses (Tier 1 – Tier 13).
• Felstriker
• Rod of the Sun King
• Heartpiece Heroic
• Heartpiece Normal
• Black Bruise Normal
• Black Bruise Heroic

Here is a list of all of the buffs or effects that are removed from players on boss pull:

Tanks

• Vengeance

Death Knight

• Blood Shield
• Scent of Blood
• Cinderglacier
• Blood Charges
• Runic Empowerment
• Killing Machine
• Chilling Fog
• Sudden Doom
• Shadow Infusion (player)
• Shadow Infusion (pet)
• Dark Transformation (pet)
• Riposte (Death Knight)
• Despawn all Blood parasites

Druid

• Lunar Shower
• Shooting Shars
• Owlkin Frenzy
• Clearcasting
• Predatory Swiftness
• Tooth and Claw
• Savage Defense
• Savage Roar (Unglyphed)
  • If using the Glyphed version of Savage Roar, your Savage Roar buff is checked on pull.
    • If there are more than 12 seconds remaining, it will be set to 12 seconds.
    • If fewer than 12 seconds remaining, the duration is left as is.
    • If no Glyph detected, the Glyphed buff is removed from the Druid.

Hunter

• Thrill of the Hunt
• Steady Focus
• Ready, Set, Aim…
• Bombardment
• Lock and Load
• Frenzy from you
• Frenzy from your pet

Mage

• Arcane Missiles
• Arcane Charge Debuffs
• Heating up
• Pyroblast
• Icicle 1
• Icicle 2
• Icicle 3
• Icicle 4
• Icicle 5
• Fingers of Frost
• Brain Freeze
• Incanter’s Absorption

Monk

• Shuffle
• Elusive Brew
• Power Guard
• Tiger Power
• Serpent’s Zeal
• Muscle Memory
• Mana Tea
• Vital Mists
• Tiger Strike’s
• Guard
• Tigereye Brew
• Tigereye Brew Active
• Combo Breaker: Blackout Kick
• Combo Breaker: Tiger Palm
• Sparring

Paladin

• Supplication
• Bastion of Glory
• Shield of the Righteous
• Grand Crusader
• Long Arm of the Law
• Pursuit of Justice
• Divine Purpose
• Alabaster Shield
• Double Jeopardy
• Glyph of Templar’s Verdict
• Inquisition

Priest

• Twist of Fate
• Surge of Darkness
• Divine Insight (Shadow)
• Evangelism (Disc)

Rogue

• Slice and Dice
• Anticipation
• Recuperate
• Blindside

Shaman

• Clearcasting
• Unleash Elements (Flametongue)
• Unleash Elements (Windfury)
• Lava Surge
• Maelstrom Weapon
• Searing Flames
• Lightning Shield resets to 1 stack

Warlock

• Decimation
• Backdraft
• Soul Swap
• Wild Imps (Despawn)

Warrior

• Taste for Blood
• Sudden Death Execute
• Mortal Strike
• Sweeping Strikes
• Unbridled Rage
• Flurry
• Meat Cleaver
• Bloodsurge
• Shield Barrier
• Shield Block
• Sword and Board
• Ultimatum
• Riposte (Warrior)

Again, this list may be incomplete, and spells may need to be added or removed.

Thank you very much for your testing and feedback!