[pythion]

With the new replays, profile statistics, and captaining pages we've had a surge of Arena fights. In the last 30 days we did more than 660 games and 270 of which were 6vs6 or more.

I'm happy to announce more changes that will even the playing field. There will be a static Realm Rank of 11L0 this season and some future balance targeted towards the classes not being played.

More information is included in the comments below.

[pythion]

General Changes

Realm Rank
• All players have been set to 11L0 and rank will not increase this season.

Bladeturn
• All pulsing bladeturns now have a 2 second frequency, but give an immunity for the duration when pierced.

Arena
• Players will be required to set a permanent nickname before using the Arena. (/arenanickname)

Class Changes

Heavy
• Passive ability "Memories of War" resists reduced 20%-> 15%.
  

Hybrid
• Instant single target snares no longer give an immunity, but had their durations reduced by 60-75%. (Skald, Champion, Reaver, and Valewalker)
  

Support
• Pulsing Wave changed cast time 4s-> 3.5s.
  
• Pulsing Cure I cast time 3.5s-> 3.0s.
• Pulsing Cure II cast time 3.7s-> 3.2s.
• Cure Disease/Poison changed cast time 3.2s-> 2.4s and range 1500-> 2000.

Bainshee
• Sonic Barrier now grants 25% absorb to all groupmates. Duration reduced 45s-> 30s

Bard
• Songs have been made a 1.5s cast. (Power and Endurance have a 30m duration)
• AoE Lullaby now has a 5s reuse.

Blademaster
• Tempest style now matches the Aurora Borealis style. 1.25 growth / 95 heat dd proc.
• Off-hand attacks from Celtic Dual will now always swing.
• Blade Barrier no longer breaks on attack and has had its values adjusted. 25%-> 30% magic absorb / 90%-> 70% parry / 30s 20s dur.

Cleric
• Baseline Smite DD now has an 8s 10% spirit debuff attached.
• Instant 200 radius PBAoE Stat and Haste Debuff removal has been added to Smite specline.
  • Circle of Cleansing - 15 spec / 2m reuse.
  • Circle of Purity - 25 spec / 1m30s reuse.
  • Circle of Serenity - 35 spec / 1m reuse.
  • Circle of Solitude - 45 spec / 30s reuse.

Druid
• All Nature pets have been increased by 10 levels.

Eldritch
• Added access to Ichor of the Deep.
  
• Light Spec Mesmerize spell changes.
  • Paralyzing Wind - 10s-> 28s dur.
  • Paralyzing Veil - 15s-> 31s dur.
  • Paralyzing Cloak - 21s-> 38s dur.
  • Paralyzing Sphere - 26s-> 44s dur.
  • Paralyzing Cloud - 31s-> 52s dur / 47-> 44 spec.

Enchanter
• DPS debuff once again interrupts.

Friar
• Instant Resurrect spell added to 35 Rejuvenation spec.
• Cure Mezz added to 28 Enhancement spec.

Heretic

• Instant DoT spells replaced with Instant Heat Debuff DD.
  
  • Flickering Embers - 21 dmg / 1250 range / 15s reuse / 8s dur / 5% heat debuff
    
  • Smoldering Embers - 30 dmg / 1250 range / 15s reuse / 8s dur / 5% heat debuff
  • Heated Embers - 36 dmg / 1250 range / 15s reuse / 8s dur / 5% heat debuff
  • Molten Embers - 42 dmg / 1250 range / 15s reuse / 8s dur / 10% heat debuff
  • Flaming Embers - 51 dmg / 1250 range / 15s reuse / 8s dur / 10% heat debuff
  • Bursting Embers - 60 dmg / 1250 range / 15s reuse / 8s dur / 15% heat debuff
  • Incinerating Embers - 69 dmg / 1250 range / 15s reuse / 8s dur / 15% heat debuff

Mentalist
• Specline Mentalism mezz is now baseline.
• Instant 200 radius PBAoE Stat and Haste Debuff removal has been added to Mentalism specline.
  • Circle of Cleansing - 15 spec / 2m reuse.
  • Circle of Purity - 25 spec / 1m30s reuse.
  • Circle of Serenity - 35 spec / 1m reuse.
  • Circle of Solitude - 45 spec / 30s reuse.

Mercenary
• Dual Shadows style is now a follow-up to Shadow's Rain and matches the Aurora Borealis style. 1.25 growth / 95 matter dd proc.
• Off-hand attacks from Dual Wield will now always swing.
• Blinding Dust now grants the Mercenary 25% attack speed and magic absorption. Additionally, enemies in the 350 unit radius are nearsighted and fumble debuffed by 25% for 25 seconds.

Minstrel
• Speed songs are now 1.5s cast.
• Power songs are now 1.5s cast and 30 minute duration buffs.

Paladin

• Removed negative effect from Selfless Devotion (RR5).
  
• Shields
  
  • Added Pin to 40 spec.
• Chants
  
  • Taunt reuse 20s-> 15s.
  • All resist chants removed.
  • Damage Add chants now have Celerity and Endurance Reduction attached.
  • Major heals and PBAoE heals from the Valkyrie mending line have been matched and replaced Heal Chant.
  • Added new spell "Purity of Faith".
    
    • This spell removes all forms of crowd-control from the target ally. (Instant / 42 spec / 120s reuse).

Reaver

• Flexible
  
  • Leviathan is now a follow-up to Constrictor and procs a 153 delve dd.
    
• Soulrending
  • Added "Soul Terror" Pet Fear.
    • (40 spec / 45s reuse / 10s dur / 300 radius).
  • Lifetaps no longer share cooldown.
  • Removed Lifesteal offensive procs and DoT spells.

Runemaster
• Added access to Ichor of the Deep.
• Added passive ability "Rune of Asgard".
  • This buff is applied after 3 offensive spell casts.
  • "Grants the Runemaster a 100% chance to critical hit on the next spell for up to 100% of the damage."

Shaman
• Restorative Mind (RR5) duration reduced 30s-> 15s regen values 5%-> 15%.
  
• Spirit Shell absorb value reduced 20%-> 15%.

Skald
• Damage Add songs now have Celerity and Endurance Reduction attached.
  
• Speed songs now have the Ablative songs attached.
• Celerity attached to Damage song has increased.
  
  • Celerity 1 - 3%-> 5%.
  • Celerity 2 - 6%-> 10%.
  • Celerity 3 - 10%-> 18%.
  • Celerity 4 - 15%-> 24%.
• Battlesongs mesmerization spells have had their durations increased.
  
  • Stunning Shout - 11s-> 26s dur.
  • Disabling Shout - 15s-> 31s dur.
  • Crippling Shout - 18s-> 35s dur.
  • Incapacitating Shout - 24s-> 42s dur.
  • Paralyzing Shout - 29s-> 50s dur.
• Instant 200 radius PBAoE Stat and Haste Debuff removal has been added to Battlesongs specline.
  • Circle of Cleansing - 15 spec / 2m reuse.
  • Circle of Purity - 25 spec / 1m30s reuse.
  • Circle of Serenity - 35 spec / 1m reuse.
  • Circle of Solitude - 45 spec / 30s reuse.

Spiritmaster
• Darkness Spec Mesmerize spell changes.
  • Shroud of Gloom - 18s-> 33s dur / 300-> 350 area.
    
  • Shroud of Shadow - 23s-> 39s dur / 300-> 350 area.
  • Shroud of Pitch - 28s-> 46s dur / 300-> 350 area.
  • Umbral Shroud - 33s-> 56s dur / 300-> 350 area / 50-> 44 spec.

Valewalker
• Arboreal DoT spells have been replaced with a 5-15% energy debuff instant dd.

Warrior
• Testudo no longer requires a shield or gives a snare penalty. Duration reduced 45s-> 15s.
  

Warden
• Damage Add chants now have Celerity and Endurance Reduction attached.
  
• Celerity attached to Damage chant has increased.
  
  • Celerity 1 - 3%-> 5%.
  • Celerity 2 - 6%-> 10%.
  • Celerity 3 - 10%-> 18%.
  • Celerity 4 - 15%-> 24%.
• Confuse in the regrowth line spec level reduced 40-> 35.

Wizard
• Added access to Ichor of the Deep.