I’ve never really played disc, or priest for that matter. I only recently started playing shadow seriously, so I’m not the most knowledgeable on priest history
However, today I was remembering my time playing in wrath, and I realized something. Disc has changed from being focused on shields, and preventing damage, to healing by causing damage.
Then I thought about it, and I don’t remember when exactly disc priests were shifted from preventing damage, to damaging enemies to heal.
When did this happen? Did it happen slowly and I just didn’t notice? (Probably because I always played dps/tank) Was it just an overhaul for legion/BFA?
Also, side question, why did it happen? I think playing a shield based healer would be a lot more interesting than a dps based one. Could be wrong there, but it seems like it would be less complex to balance, and easier to heal with. Not saying I hate current disc, but you have to admit, it is a very odd healing style.
It got a complete rework going into Legion, changing from a shield-based healer to an atonement based one. It’s had minimal changes since then.
As for why, shields were incredibly difficult to balance. The main issue is they sniped other healers (absorbing damage via shields meant there was no damage for other healers to heal). Shields would scale throughout an expac and have to be nerfed repeatedly, and they’d still be overpowered by the end. Disc was way overpowered in MoP and WoD with the shields, and ridiculously easy to boot (it was a degenerative playstyle of thoughtlessly casting shield over and over and over and over again on everyone in the raid).
Discipline, like a lot of specs got a revamp in Legion.
Here’s my issue.
Disc has been nerfed every single patch since the launch of BfA. Every single patch they have made the “damage to heal” playstyle weaker and weaker. They claim that their niche is doing damage to heal, then nerf it because compared to other healers they do too much damage to heal.
If they don’t know how to properly balance atonement, they should go back to old Disc. Because currently slapping the spec with nerfs over and over might make them more balanced in mythic raiding sure, but mythic raids aren’t the only form of content in the game.
It’s totally fine that you don’t enjoy every single spec, the game has to cater for a wide variety of people.
I used to play Monk a lot in Legion, it was my co-main along with my priest but in BFA I don’t really like how MW plays in raids, which is fine because other people do. I simply started playing it less and started playing my Pally instead.
There are many other specs I don’t enjoy: Frost DK, Havoc DH, Enh Shaman, any Hunter spec… And again, that’s fine, other people like playing those, luckily there are also plenty of specs that I do enjoy
People liked the one button spam disc. I would say thats an indictment on you personally. Kinda like having 4 training wheels on bike. Its easy with the added side affect of it upset the other healers because no healer should be top healer by spamming one button and skill has no play in the matter.
current disc requires some skill. Those who ARE good at it will do very well in whatever content they play. Disc spec itself might not be great for mythic plus but those who master it will do well. Its not just meta in the world first races, its fine in heroic and mythic raiding as well.
instead of asking for the training wheels back on so you can feel a sense of pride in topping meters using one spell maybe people should stretch themselves
But if you dont like it, thats fine, find a healer you DO like and enjoy that. But disc will never go back to the training wheels. Move on and grow
I dont find disc to be hard. People are dying? Pw:shield a few times and hit stuff. People arent dying? Pw: shield a few times and hit stuff. Occasionally use your cooldowns and leap of faith some afk guy out of the fire.
