Dragonkin Racial Nerfed Hard

[Tatlreach]

So just noticed that the Racial (Dragonkin deal +50% damage after bringing a target blow 25% hp) no longer triggers on the killing blow of pet. That means they do not have the +50% damage increase for the turn that the opponents pet is swapped in.

Because most of the time a large amount of the +50% damage buff is wasted in over-killing a pet, the original form was balanced. Imo, this nerf makes the racial nigh useless in most scenarios.

[Ryazan]

So just noticed that the Racial (Dragonkin deal +50% damage after bringing a target blow 25% hp) no longer triggers on the killing blow of pet. That means they do not have the +50% damage increase for the turn that the opponents pet is swapped in.

Because most of the time a large amount of the +50% damage buff is wasted in over-killing a pet, the original form was balanced. Imo, this nerf makes the racial nigh useless in most scenarios.

Mmm no, it wasn't a nerf, merely a fix. Dragonkin racial hasn't worked "right" before 5.2: it gave the damage bonus for two rounds instead of the intended one.

Buff does trigger from the killing blow but that requires your pet killing the directly instead of the leaving the pet below 25%. The buff can't refresh itself so basically you always want to try to kill the pet directly to have the buff up for the next pet. Or wait one round so it will proc from the killing blow afterwards.

[Gilneas]

If your killing blow is from a % greater than 25% -> 0%, you will have the racial up for the next pet. Tested that on the DM tamer today.

Edit: The DM tamer who... was nice enough to give me my eye today when I finally remembered to open the bag!

[Thundr]

Buff does trigger from the killing blow but that requires your pet killing the directly instead of the leaving the pet below 25%. The buff can't refresh itself so basically you always want to try to kill the pet directly to have the buff up for the next pet. Or wait one round so it will proc from the killing blow afterwards.

The way it "works" now has to be a bug. I can't imagine that this is "working as intended" since it has inconsistent behavior (and makes the dragonkin racial valueless compared to all the other racials).

What works:
If you don't have the buff and you bring the target below 25% you get the buff. -> check!
If you don't have the buff and you hit/kill the target when they are below 25% you get the buff. -> check!

The bug is that it won't refresh the buff. Probably they coded the "turn buff on under 25%" to occur before they coded "deactivate buff if it was on last round" or something similar.

For now, your best bet is to bring the enemy below 25% then use one turn to heal yourself, renew your buffs, etc and then kill them.

[Tatlreach]

I understand that the 5.1 version was probably not intended. My point is that in it's current state, it's incredibly weak.

You can capitalize on the +50% buff is if you kill a pet from a hp +25% -> 0% to recieve the buff on the next swapped pet. This is obviously a bug which is ironic because this racial has had time put into to be "fixed".

The only other way capitalize on this racial is for you get lucky with landing an enemies %hp into the small range of hp where the next turn would need the +50% to kill it.
By the Pet Battles and Math post on the forum your pet does a range ~25%-16% of damage in a turn. If your Dragonkin does roughly 16% damage in a turn, you have roughly 10% chance to save 1 turn. However, high damagers benefit naught. Thats also ironic because the racial only really shines against pets heal-over-times but, is where high damagers shine.

For now, your best bet is to bring the enemy below 25% then use one turn to heal yourself, renew your buffs, etc and then kill them.

No, waiting a turn only drops the +50% damage buff.

[Ryazan]

For now, your best bet is to bring the enemy below 25% then use one turn to heal yourself, renew your buffs, etc and then kill them.

No, waiting a turn only drops the +50% damage buff.

Yes but I wasn't going after this. I meant if you want to ensure you have the buff up for the next pet then you have to wait for the buff to fade away first by either passing or using a heal etc. I at least always prefer having it up for the next pet (Time Lapse etc.) instead of "wasting" it for already a sure kill.

[Tahsfenz]

Yeah if my heal is up, I'll use that, kill the opponent without the buff to have it up next.

[Thundr]

FWIW, I filed a bug on this today. Feel free to join in... it just takes a minute to do in-game.

[Formerruling]

FWIW, I filed a bug on this today. Feel free to join in... it just takes a minute to do in-game.

The racial is behaving the exact same it always has for me with one exception - It now correctly only lasts one turn as the tooltip has always stated.

Some other posters are stating they no longer are receiving the buff if they kill a pet that was under 25% health...but I cannot reproduce this bug, it has worked properly every time I have tested it. I think the problem is people are trying to refresh the buff, if you kill the pet on the turn you are buffed, the buff will not refresh, this has always been an intended effect.

[Poofah]

I think the problem is people are trying to refresh the buff, if you kill the pet on the turn you are buffed, the buff will not refresh, this has always been an intended effect.

This is how it has worked since MoP launch, but why do you think it's intended?

[Formerruling]

I think the problem is people are trying to refresh the buff, if you kill the pet on the turn you are buffed, the buff will not refresh, this has always been an intended effect.

This is how it has worked since MoP launch, but why do you think it's intended?

True one cant say with 100% certainty that it was intended, but I think it was for one major and one minor reason.

Major Reason: From a balance angle it just makes sense. A dragon that could "chain" the buff would make it an absurd racial. Minor reason: They specifically fixed the obvious bug with the ability while leaving that functionality in tact, weak evidence I know but thats why its only the minor reason.