This is always the key to any discussion with buffs and nerfs. If you didn’t see the rediculous exchange I had in the other thread with a couple people, obviously some people disagree with my rather “mild” sentiment on how blizzard handles buffing classes (I was relatively close to how in my prediction of how much they would be us by, but they hit destro slightly more than I thought).
I saw on reddit, I think, where somebody said blizzard buffs with a feather but nerfs with a hammer, I think that’s a valid statement – particularly with tuning patches and not content patches (anything hotfix related).
Otoh, I don’t think this buff will shift the meta, but meta defining classes are so extremely rigid in todays game that unless you’re being brought in the top comps in m+, people see your class as worthless which is just absolutely rediculous. I’m convinced that if they give locks easily accessible curses we’d have slightly more m+ utility, but there’s a 0% chance we’d even still be meta with how enhance and dk are performing right now + utility.
anyway, long story short, these buffs should significantly move the needle for destro and demo and definitely put is close to “very good” in raid which I’m happy with. It won’t make us meta, but lock will never be meta in m+ or have people clamoring to take us unless we have some form of utility.
Oh, and btw, 8% actually is an enormous buff for any spec in any hotfix tuning notes. Even with the 6% buff earlier this tier, destro saw a humungous uplift in participation rates and success in early progression. I’m curious to see how this swings as the raid buff slowly ramps, and progression tapers off for hall of fame. I wouldn’t be shocked if affliction continues to be on their buff radar when they revisit tuning 2 weeks from now.