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12.1 PTR Development Notes: Class Tuning Pass

Blizzard’s July 31 Curse of Ula’tek PTR notes buff Havoc, Rogues, and Demonology, nerf Unholy AoE and Balance, and retune Season 2 sets, Delves, and PvP.

Blizzard posted a fresh round of Curse of Ula’tek (12.1) PTR development notes on July 31, 2026, focused on class tuning, Venomous Abyss set bonuses, outdoor Season 2 rewards, and PvP adjustments.

These changes are still on the Public Test Realm and may shift before the August 11 live patch.

Combat systems still on PTR

Earlier 12.1 PTR notes also outline the broader tuning direction landing with the patch:

  • +25% player health and enemy damage at max level (less spiky healing)
  • DPS cooldown smoothing — less power in major burst windows, more in baseline rotation
  • Missed interrupt visual and sound when a kick lands on a non-casting target

Class tuning highlights (July 31)

Buffs

  • Havoc Demon Hunter — Blade Dance, Chaos Strike, The Hunt, Essence Break, and related abilities up
  • Assassination / Subtlety Rogue — all damage +10% (Subtlety PvE only for the global bump; Outlaw +6% PvE)
  • Demonology Warlock — large Shadow Bolt / Demonbolt / Gloomhound increases
  • Arcane Mage — Arcane Blast +20%; Spellslinger Orb tuning
  • Guardian Druid and Protection Warrior — all damage up
  • Holy Paladin / Holy Priest — healing +5%

Nerfs / retunes

  • Unholy Death Knight — AoE DoTs down; auto-attacks and set bonus up to shift the profile
  • San’layn Blood — Blood Beast and Frenzied Bloodthirst pulled back in cleave
  • Balance Druid — overall damage down, especially spread cleave tools
  • Beast Mastery / Marksmanship Hunter — Cobra Shot and Explosive Shot cuts after bug fixes
  • Devastation Evoker — unintended Scintillation / 2-set interaction fixed, with baseline spell buffs to compensate
  • Farseer Elemental — Ancestor Lava Burst / Chain Lightning reduced
  • Destruction — Havoc cleave share reduced; single-target spells buffed

Systems and rewards

  • Delves: more Coffer Key Shards from Prey and Coiled Isle world quests
  • Ritual Sites, Void Assaults, and Val/Naigtal reward tracks updated toward Season 2 crests and caches
  • PvP: Gladiator’s Distinction primary-stat / stamina split retuned; several healer and DH PvP modifiers adjusted

Read the full notes

Official thread: Midnight: Curse of Ula’tek PTR Development Notes
July 31 class pass mirror: MMO-Champion summary