What To Expect From Patch 4.1

Some new content and class changes are coming in patch 4.1.  Here are a some things that priests will need to know:

New 5-man Dungeons:

• Zul'Aman has returned as a level 85 5-player heroic dungeon featuring a revamp of the original dungeon and improved loot!
• Zul'Gurub has returned as a level 85 5-player heroic dungeon featuring all-new encounters, achievements, and improved loot!
• Both dungeons will be in a new dungeon finder difficulty tier above the current level 85 heroic dungeons and offer epic-quality item level 353 loot.

 Priests

• Divine Aegis duration has been increased to 15 seconds, up from 12.

A small buff for Discipline priests, still 3 seconds won't be a game changer, especially when we tank heal (Divine Aegis gets eaten very quickly and is absorbed before Power Word: Shield.)

• Dispel Magic can only be used on the casting priest as a baseline effect.

The GREAT DISPEL MAGIC NERF OF 4.1.  According to this post, we will only be able to dispel magic defensively on ourselves. This is a major nerf to PvP Shadow priests.  Discipline and Holy priests will still be able to dispel defensively from allies. All priests will still be able to dispel offensively, but only 1 magic effect will be dispelled now.

• Holy Word: Sanctuary has a new spell effect.

 It's unfinished on the PTR.  Oestrus over at The Stories of O has a cool video of the effect.  I like the concept, but I'll wait till it's finished to get more of a feel for it.

• Power Word: Shield duration has been reduced to 15 seconds, down from 30.

 This was intended to discourage Discipline priests from spamming Power Word: Shield.  It's a little bit of a nerf to PvP and a big one for PvE.  We won't see a difference with tank healing, but for raid healing Disc priests, it's gonna hurt a bit.

• Talent Specializations
  • Discipline
    • Absolution (new passive) enables priests to use Dispel Magic on up to 2 harmful effects on friendly targets.
  • Holy
    • Absolution (new passive) enables priests to use Dispel Magic on up to 2 harmful effects on friendly targets. 

This addition is to keep the priest healing trees in line with the rest of the healing classes after the Dispel Magic nerf.  The only thing Disc and Priests will be losing is an extra offensive dispel effect.  We will only be able to offensively dispel 1 effect instead of 2.  Shadow priests will be hit the most.  They will only be able to offensively dispel 1 effect and defensively dispel 1 effect from THEMSELVES ONLY.  This reduces Shadow priest utility, but also brings them in line with other dps classes.

I'll bring up more changes as they keep rolling out on the PTR.