Project Lore

Maintenance day is always a good time for implementing hotfixes and this one is no exception. Several tweaks and (dare I say it) "nerfs" to Heroic Trial of the Crusader have been deployed onto servers, amongst other things. Here is a run-down of the changes: Northrend Beasts:

• Fixed a bug where the flag that prevents a creature from gaining attack speed after a parry was inadvertently left off Gormok the Impaler. This bug is fixed in normal mode as well.
• Gormok the Impaler no longer attacks quickly after a parry in any difficulty.
• Icehowl receives his fair share of change in the latest round of hotfixes. Increased the amount of time players have to defeat the encounter before Icehowl berserks.
• You have an extra half second to get out of the way of a very angry charging Yeti. Players with high ping rejoice.
• Icehowl will become tauntable. (This particular element isn't hotfixed quite yet, but should be shortly).
• Icehowl takes a bit longer to enter the arena in 10- and 25-player Heroic modes.
• Icehowl takes longer to berserk in both 10- and 25-player Heroic modes.

Lord Jaraxxus:

• Infernal Eruption will now spawn an additional Felflame Infernal the instant the eruption occurs.
• Nether Portal now summons Mistresses of Pain slightly more often.
• For both 10- and 25-player heroic modes, the Felflame Infernals and Mistresses of Pain will spawn a little quicker in the Lord Jaraxxus encounter.

Other

• Relentless Gladiator ranged weapons damage has been adjusted to the appropriate value for their item level.
• Holy Wrath now has diminishing returns and shares this with all other stuns (Blue poster, Daelo expands upon this in an additional post).

Seems like most of the changes are to the first two encounters which likely represent the wall most guilds are hitting when they attempt Heroic mode. While these aren't hardcore tweaks or anything (more issues of timing than, say, reducing health or damage dealt), I certainly hope they don't make these fights significantly easier in practice. I know my guild was quite happy to be presented with a fresh challenge, even if we wiped on Northrend Beasts for a good hour-and-a-half. Hard modes are supposed to be hard, right Blizz? What say you of these hotfixes, readers? I know they aren't drastic, but I'm always afraid of the slippery slope that even the smallest of nerfs can send us sliding down.

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