Worried about the new an "improved" Unholy Blight passive

Classes Death Knight
1

I’m glad Blizzard is moving towards a less button-bloated rotation. Kudos for that! However, the pet AI remains a significant issue, and I don’t see it being fixed anytime soon. When first summoned, it takes the ghoul three seconds before it starts doing anything. Additionally, there are fights where pets just disappear or bug out.

While I appreciate the streamlined rotation, I don’t understand why the Unholy Blight talent applies its effects only to the ghoul. It would make more sense for the Death Knight—or even both the Death Knight and the ghoul—to be covered in blight. Previously, with the ability as a buff on the Death Knight, I had full control over where and what adds were going to be stung and infected with Virulent Plague and an unholy disease. Now, with the ability cast on the ghoul, I have to ensure that the ghoul is in the right position to affect the correct targets, which is complicated by unreliable pet AI.

This issue is particularly frustrating in certain boss fights known for causing pet problems. For example, in the Kil’jaeden encounter in Tomb of Sargeras, pets often despawned or failed to navigate properly during the intermission phase, leading to significant DPS losses. Similarly, in the N’Zoth fight in Ny’alotha, pets struggled with the teleportation mechanics, sometimes becoming stuck or failing to engage the correct targets. Such issues highlight the inconsistency and unreliability of pet AI in complex encounters.

Enhancing the Unholy Blight talent to affect the Death Knight directly would make gameplay more intuitive and satisfying. It would allow us to leverage our abilities effectively without the frustration of relying on pet positioning and AI issues.

3 Likes
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I saw this as a niche but potentially large issue as well.
Honestly I think Dark transformation should cause your ghoul to charge your target and if out of range or dismissed automatically summon your ghoul in its empowered form to your side then charge.
Without a delay timer because of the outdated ghoul summon animation. That animation needs to be yeeted.

6 Likes
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This just makes too much sense for Blizzard to do. Just look at how druids have to talent into Fluid Form even though it feels like it should be baseline and some spell already do what it does.

Facts.

1 Like
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How can a pet with no brains have better AI?

Muh immersion…:brain:

2 Likes
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Shhh don’t spook the devs, we still need them to axe Vile Contagion.

Yes pet AI is gross and is an ever-present problem for Unholy, but I’d still rather have this change than not. If they don’t make improvements, you can probably work around this with a bit of pet micro.

1 Like