yaaas they better give huge buffs to the class that needs it the least
it looks like a pretty terrible patch for wizards. i'll probably take a look at the new areas but i can't see myself sticking around tbh.
Demon Hunters actually needed a buff. The class that needed the least buffs were Monks and they definitely got nerfed hard (3 of their builds got hit hard).
As far as Wizards go, they have been buffed substantially as well. I don't know what you are reading there but some of their new items are sick. They got buffed in both defense and offense. Most notably the Firebird set which is potentially too strong if my math on it is correct.
Let's look at all these buffs:
Tal Rasha's Elements
4 pieces: resistance lasts 8 seconds (up from 6).
6 pieces: elemental attacks increase your damage by 200% (up from 150%) for 8 seconds (up from 6).
Moderate buff to Tal Rasha. These buffs makes it hit harder(200% more overall) and easier to play because the buffs last longer. A very welcome change.
Firebird's Finery (reworked)
2 pieces: When you die, a meteor falls from the sky and revives you. This effect has a 60 second cooldown.
6 pieces: Your damage is increased by 100% for each enemy that is burning. Elites that are burning increase your damage by 1500%.
The other pieces got moved up but this new 6 piece bonus is absolutely mind blowing and I can't imagine it's going to stay in the game as is because it's so powerful. The damage is nuts considering in Rifts you can be fighting like 30-40 enemies at once. That's 3000%-4000% damage bonus! Even the elite bonus is pretty very powerful.
Delsere's Magnum Opus
6 pieces: Enemies affected by your Slow Time take 1500% (up from 750%) more damage from your Arcane Orb, Energy Twister, Magic Missile and Shock Pulse abilities.
They doubled it. 1500% damage is still quite insane and now this set has more supportive Legendaries to buff skills like Energy Twister.
Skill changes:
Dominance Shield absorbs 2% of your Life (reworked from 16093) for 3 seconds.
Galvanizing Ward Shields absorb 30% of your Life% in damage (reworked from 81536).
Diamond Skin Absorbs up to 20% of your Life in damage (reworked from 93337).
Crystal Shell : Increases maximum damage absorbed to 40% of your Life (reworked from 186675).
Magic Weapon
Deflection : When you perform an attack, gain a shield that absorbs 4% of your Life in damage (reworked from 10728).
Wizard got a ridiculous defensive buff with all these skill changes. All these skills used to be abysmal when you cranked up the difficulty in GR but now they scale extremely well with higher GRs.
New Legendary items:
P4_ItemPassive_Unique_Ring_009: Your Signature Spells attack 50% faster and restore {c_magic}{VALUE1}{/c_magic} Arcane Power.
This is the new Belt for Wizards and it's a very strong Signature spell Belt if you want to create builds focused around Signature skills. Stuff like triple Magic Missiles.
P4_ItemPassive_Unique_Ring_017: Arcane Orb's explosion triggers an additional time.
Essentially a double up on its damage. This buffs the Delsere's set.
P4_ItemPassive_Unique_Ring_027: Energy Twister damage is increased by {c_magic}[{VALUE1}*100]%{/c_magic} for each Energy Twister you have out.
A buff to Energy Twister and the Delsere set. This is a pretty substantial damage bonus on a single Legendary.
P4_ItemPassive_Unique_Ring_039: While channeling Whirlwind, Rapid Fire, Strafe, Tempest Rush, Firebats, Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, or Ray of Frost, you deal {c_magic}[{VALUE1}*100]% increased damage and take 25% reduced damage.
Damage bonus and damage mitigation for using the channeling spells which are in dire need of buffs. This allows for more build diversity within the Tal Rasha set (as that's the set most likely to support the channeling Wizard spells).
P4_ItemPassive_Unique_Ring_057: While moving, damage taken is reduced by up to [{VALUE1}*100]%.
P4_ItemPassive_Unique_Ring_058: While standing still, damage dealt is increased by up to 100%
This is the new Ring + Amulet set combo that is built for Channeling spells. Now it gives 100% damage bonus to channeling spells essentially (as you need to use them standing still) and while it may not be competitive with F+R yet, it might be in the future with some number tweaking. Anything that gives you an alternate to F+R is good in my book and especially one that buffs the standing still channeling skills.
P4_ItemPassive_Unique_Ring_065: Elemental Exposure's damage bonus per stack is increased to [{VALUE1}*100]%.
I don't know how high the value on this is but this is definitely an item meant to synergize with Tal Rasha with its multi element set up. Could be a strong bonus if the values are high.
P4_ItemPassive_Unique_Ring_066: Your Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, and Ray of Frost also cast your other damaging Arcane Power Spenders every second.
Now we are talking. This is a very powerful Legendary ability and might actually make Channeling Tal Rasha builds viable. Summoning meteors every time you channel Arcane Torrent? Sounds ridiculous to me.
P4_ItemPassive_Unique_Ring_074: While channeling Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, or Ray of Frost, all damage is increased by {c_magic}[{VALUE1}*100]%{/c_magic}.
P4_ItemPassive_Unique_Ring_072: Reduces the Arcane Power cost of Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, and Ray of Frost by {c_magic}[{VALUE1}*100]%{/c_magic}.
Every more items that buff channeling skills and that are very specific to Wizards.
I am not sure what else Wizards actually need right now. They got like 5 items to buff channeling skills, Legendaries to buff both Delsere and Tal Rasha then they got extreme buffs to their non Archon set. Furthermore they got substantial boost in their defensive skills (Wizard always had great offensive skills).
