The WoW Forever November 10 hotfix nerfs Enhancement Shaman, buffs Affliction Warlock, and adds gold to high-level quests. What changed, and should you adjust your class or professions? This guide covers the confirmed patch notes, from the lowered auction house deposit to Hunter pet fixes and vendor price cuts. It suits leveling players, returning players, and anyone planning gear for the upcoming raid. You will learn which changes help your class, which nerfs to plan around, and what to do first. Blizzard says further hotfixes will be added to the same patch note page.
Key Hotfix Changes
Auction Deposit Drops
The biggest universal change is that the minimum auction house deposit fell from one silver to one copper. Low-level characters can now list several auctions without running out of money. A bug that labeled unread mail as coming from the Stormwind Auction House is also fixed. This matters most to leveling players and new alts.
Shaman Nerfs Explained
Enhancement Returns to Windfury
Enhancement Shaman took clear nerfs meant to move the spec back toward Windfury. The developer note says beta changes pushed it too far toward spell power and intellect, and Blizzard wanted to fix gearing before raids open. Storm Strike now deals 100% weapon damage instead of 150%, and its cooldown rises from six to eight seconds. The Mental Dexterity intellect-to-attack-power ratio is also reduced.
Maelstrom Weapon now gives its cast time and mana cost reduction from the first rank, but its proc chance rises with rank. The old 20 procs per minute at every rank is roughly halved at the top rank. On the positive side, weapon imbues and weapon totems now work together, so Windfury Weapon and Windfury Totem stack. Community reaction is negative, and further shaman changes are not confirmed. Enhancement players should avoid chasing contested raid gear until the situation settles.
Class Changes Compared
Who Gained or Lost
This table compares the main class changes in the November 10 hotfix.
|
Class |
Change |
Direction |
Best For |
|
Enhancement Shaman |
Storm Strike and Maelstrom Weapon nerfs; Windfury stacking |
Mostly nerf |
Windfury-focused melee |
|
Affliction Warlock |
Rack speeds up periodic damage |
Buff |
DoT-focused play |
|
Hunter |
Pet health fix; Arcane Shot and Summon Hawk cost 11% of base mana |
Mixed |
Mid-level mana efficiency |
|
Restoration Druid |
Nature’s Swiftness makes Wild Growth instant |
Buff |
Healers |
|
Arms Warrior |
Sweeping Strikes keeps charges with no second target |
Buff |
AoE leveling |
Affliction Warlock and Restoration Druid received the clearest upgrades.
Affliction’s Rack now speeds up periodic damage instead of adding a percentage bonus, so stopping the channel early no longer wastes the benefit. Rack’s own damage drops 30%, and Warlock pets gain 15% health. Hunters should note that the pet health fix makes pets less tanky, while Summon Hawk’s melee damage rises about 80%. Warlock players benefit most.
WOW Gold and Economy
Quests Pay, Crafting Slows
Quests at level 48 and higher now reward additional WOW Gold, except those that already give valuable items, repeatable quests, and trivial ones. The XP-to-gold conversion for level 60 quests is still not included, so there is no reason to hold turn-ins. Vendor prices dropped for some crafted armor from leatherworking, tailoring, and blacksmithing. Iron Grenades now sell for 1 silver 25 copper instead of 5 silver, and Minor Arcane Elixir drops to 5 copper from 25. Vendor-flipping crafts are no longer a reliable money source. This matters most to leveling players and crafters.
Common Questions
Is Enhancement Shaman Worth Playing After the November 10 Hotfix?
It is situational. Storm Strike and Maelstrom Weapon took direct hits, though Windfury stacking helps. Players who enjoy Windfury-focused melee can still play it, but they should wait for follow-up hotfixes before investing in contested raid gear.
How Does Rack Work in the November 10 Hotfix?
Rack makes Siphon Life, Corruption, and Bane of Agony deal periodic damage twice as often while you channel it. Bane of Agony still lasts 24 seconds. Time skipped by the speedup is kept after the channel ends or is interrupted, so the spell is far more forgiving.
Do Level 48+ Quests Give More Cheap WOW Gold in WoW Forever Now?
Yes, most do. Quests at level 48 and higher now reward extra gold, excluding repeatable quests, trivial quests, and those with valuable item rewards. You still cannot bank bonus XP for gold at level 60.
Final Checklist
Quick Tips
· Recheck the patch note page before big gear decisions, since more hotfixes may arrive.
· List more auctions on low-level characters now that the deposit is one copper.
· Turn in level 48+ quests as you go instead of saving them.
· Do not rely on vendoring crafted armor, grenades, or elixirs for profit.
· Hover over Maelstrom Weapon to see your proc chance based on main-hand weapon speed.
Who Benefits Most?
· Leveling players: Quest gold and cheaper deposits ease early money problems.
· Warlock and Druid players: Rack and instant Wild Growth are clear upgrades.
· Raid-focused Shamans: Hold off on Enhancement gear until Blizzard responds to feedback.
The November 10 hotfix helps leveling and DoT-focused players most, while Enhancement Shaman face a rough start. Use the new gold and deposit changes now, but treat shaman gearing as unsettled. Recheck the patch notes regularly, since more adjustments could arrive quickly.