Upcoming Healer Changes in PTR 4.1

Druids

• Cyclone duration has been reduced to 5 seconds, down from 6.
• Efflorescence has a new spell effect.
• Lifebloom's bloom effect has been reduced by 20%.
• Stampeding Roar's duration has been increased to 8 seconds, up from 6. The movement speed effect has been increased to 60%, up from 40%.
• Restoration
• Gift of Nature (passive) also reduces Tranquility’s cooldown by 2.5/5 minutes.

Arena Druids

The latest patch notes has been released and we can already see some large changes done to the Druid class. The first and most important change is the new cyclone duration. The changes certainly comes as a nerf to the Druid class as a whole, but it greatly effects Moonkins and Ferals the most. As of right now, a druid landing three cyclones in a row on one player could lock him out of the game for a total of 11.25 seconds until diminishing returns has faded. The new duration of cyclone will be 5/2.5/1.875 seconds as long as there is diminishing returns. This is a total of 9.375 seconds of crowd control on an opponent. A net loss of 1.875 seconds of control compared to the current cyclone, the total amount of time lost for the new cyclone is equal to one entire cyclone on its third diminishing return. That is a huge buff for teams facing off against Druid teams!

The Lifebloom's bloom effect has been reduced by 20%. This is another substantial nerf to Restoration Druids. At first, Blizzard increased the base mana cost of Lifebloom to 11% up from 7%. Although, the numbers looks small at first glance. This is actually a 57% mana cost increase for Resto Druid on a spell they need to spend three globals to get full effect of. The nerf to healing will also require Druids to spam more heals on their target to keep their health up. Does this mean we may actually see Druids go out of mana for once? Unfortunately, Blizzard reverted the change because they didn't think it was the right way to do it. However, I agree that nerfing the mana cost of Lifebloom isn't the right way to go about it. The play style of Resto Druids would change dramatically. Thanks to Nature's Bounty and Empowering Touch. You may actually see Druids start refreshing their Lifeblooms by using heals with a cast time. This is not something that is reliable and it would make Druids too susceptible to train down if you don't allow them to refresh their Lifebloom stacks or quickly run them oom by forcing them to cast nothing but Lifebloom. 

I believe these changes were made for the upcoming defensive CDs they are about to give Druids. Druids can probably expect to see more nerfs coming in the future patch notes. On the same note, I believe Restoration Shamans can expect to see some unpleasant changes this patch for their new defensive CD as well. 

Priests

• Divine Aegis duration has been increased to 15 seconds, up from 12.
• Dispel Magic can only be used on the casting priest as a baseline effect.
• Holy Word: Sanctuary has a new spell effect.
• Inner Will and Inner Fire now last until canceled.
• Power Word: Shield duration has been reduced to 15 seconds, down from 30.
• Talent Specializations
• Discipline
  • Absolution (new passive) enables priests to use Dispel Magic on up to 2 harmful effects on friendly targets.
  • Power Word: Barrier's cooldown has been increased to 3 minutes, up from 2, and its effect has been reduced to 25%, down from 30%.
  • It is now possible to remove Weakened Soul effects that were a result of another priest's Power Word: Shield through Strength of Soul.
• Holy
• Absolution (new passive) enables priests to use Dispel Magic on up to 2 harmful effects on friendly targets.

Most of the Priest changes were due to PvE. Casting Power Word: Shield before jumping into a fight gives a Priest close to 200k absorb before the fight started, and at the cost of 0 mana because you can drink for the first few seconds of the pull. The same idea applies to PvP. You're typically getting a free 20-30k absorb for free before a fight start. 

The change to Power Word: Barrier cooldown and effectiveness was toned down because of the change to Weakened Soul. The ability to remove another weakened soul through Strength of Soul talent would allow raids to start stacking Disc Priests due to the immense amount of CDs they possess, this would also encourage the use of chaining Power Word: Barrier. 

Holy Paladins are still in need of a few changes. Personally, I think they just need extra cushion in the form of more absorb or a HoT of some sort. Allowing the absorption from Illuminated Healing to stack is probably the best way to go about it. Similar to the effect you get from the legendary Valanyr weapon from Ulduar.