I've noticed a few things while PVPing yesterday after waiting for that stupid update to load. BTW it's my first time posting in here.
Please remember that all this info is from the perspective of my ret pally. So I guess I'm writing this so you're aware of how to fight me(ret pallies) and what to expect while fighting with me.
1) Ret pallies ARE over powered now. With the new talent trees we have access to an ability called Divine storm.
"An instant weapon attack that causes Holy damage to up to 4 enemies within 8 yards. The Divine Storm heals up to 3 party or raid members totaling 20% of the damage caused."
So not only do we hit hard, we can heal too??? Divine storm has a 10 second cool down. With the appropriate buffs I was hitting ppl with this, crusader strike, AND seal of command for a combined total of about 5k pretty consistently (without hitting crits).
They also changed the hammer of wrath spell
"Hurls a hammer that strikes an enemy for [1139 + 0.15 * SPH + 0.15 * AP] to [1257 + 0.15 * SPH + 0.15 * AP] Holy damage. Only usable on enemies that have 35% or less health."
which is a MAJOR BUFF because before, it had a 3 sec cast time. Now it's instant. So if you're low on health it maybe game over as a pally will be dropping the "hammer."
If you run into a ret pally in a bg or arena the best thing to do is stun them if possible or DISARM. Rogues and warriors seem to be able to that frequently now. Take advantage of this as our movement trinkets do not reequip us (although the bubble can).
2) Watch for a ret pallies healer. As always killing healers first is a must. However I've noticed yesterday that ppl are freaking out and attacked the pally first. While this is understandable you're better off killing that priest or druid or shammy that's hiding behind the pally as you hopeless try to kill a plate wearing madman that will bubble in about 2 seconds anyways.
Normally I top the damage charts and kills in Arathi and EOTS but yesterday was ridiculous because in one game i had a dedicated healer and I simply could not die...
3)Improved ret healing. I dunno how this happened and though I don't heal well to begin with. I've noticed with an ability called sheath of light that my heals have improved. Another level of concern while fighting pallies.
4)Judgments- Before a pally would release a "seal" doing some type of effect or damage. With the update there are apparently 3 types of judgments. They give different effects so now as you're getting burst damage (holy damage btw), the judgment will either slow you down, cause you your attacks to give the pally health, or cause your attacks to give the pally mana.
5)So many ret pallies... It appears that a lot pallies have opted to re-spec as ret pallies for the moment. Which is good in the sense that they most likely do not have ret great. But if you're facing a dedicated ret pally with the new changes (like me) you may be in trouble.
Yesterday a few of us went to SW to duel. Out of the 15 some duels i had I lost only one (to a shammy and I had not recharged my mana fully). Although big props to Tia because her PROT warrior almost downed me. So be aware at the moment most classes will not be able to take on a decent ret pally player one on one.
So in a nutshell mages and shammies seem to be doing the best against pallies provided they can stay away from their attacks.
ALSO a one more non-related pally note. It seems the troll shammies have an ability (and this may be all shammies but didnt see alliance do it) call thunder slap (i think). It basically can knock u back. This is BIG trouble at the LM in arathi as i saw (and experienced) a shammy running into the middle of a fray and knocking 3 of us off the cliff.
