Frost has received new target caps on a total of three abilities. This is both big nerfs (
서리낫) but also big buffs (
신드라고사의 숨결).
서리낫 is now capped at 5 targets, a significant nerf to the ability on multiple levels.
- Damage doesn't scale past 5 targets.
- 칼날얼음 application isn't done as effectively (Previously spread to all targets with 칼날얼음 equipped on your mainhand).
- Fewer hits means fewer crit opportunities. 만년설 CD reduction now doesn't scale past 5 targets.
The damage reduction is in itself very significant. With a 2H equipped, the total damage of a
도살기 buffed
서리낫 on 5 targets is only ~25% more than a single target
절멸 도살기 Critical Strike. With Dual Wield, the damage difference is 55% in
서리낫's favor. This will definitely open up for other talent combinations. Neither
눈사태 nor
얼어붙은 파동 has an AoE cap.
칼날얼음 application can be done with
빙하 진군 instead, pushing this talent forward in the new meta!
신드라고사의 숨결 and
울부짖는 한파 now follow the sqrt-formula
The total damage output of an ability that scales with the sqrt-formula is the following:
damage ~ 1 + (n - 1) / sqrt(n)
Where n is the number of targets. The abilities deal the same amount of damage to a single target, but scale differently on subsequent targets. This used to be linear.
In our case,
울부짖는 한파 will be somewhat better at 3 or fewer targets, equal at 4 and worse beyond.
신드라고사의 숨결 will be significantly better at low target counts. It's only at 11 targets that it'll deal less damage than the BFA version. The overall output at 2 targets is
30% higher compared to BFA. It looks to me like
신드라고사의 숨결 will be the king of cleave in Shadowlands!