Diminishing returns means that certain spells and abilities become less effective against a target if used frequently within a short period of time. While diminishing returns mostly applies to player characters, some abilities also have diminishing returns in PvE. The table below contains a list of abilities that are affected by DR, and under what circumstances. In addition, DR categories are listed. Effects within the same category share diminishing returns.
When a spell with diminishing returns is used against a target in PvP, the first effect has full duration. If the same category of spell (e.g. slowing) is used on that target within 15 seconds, that spell's duration is reduced by 50%. On the third use, the duration is reduced by 75%. After this, the target is immune from all spells in that category for the next 15 seconds.
Spells must be used on the same target within 15 seconds of the *end* of the duration in order to be diminished. In other words, if a target hasn't had a slowing spell active on them for more than 15 seconds, this category of diminishing returns will be reset on the target, and the next slowing spell will have full effect.
Table
| Class | Talent | Effect | PvP |
PvP Duration (s) |
PvE |
PvE Duration (s) |
DR Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Death Knight | Unholy (Base) |
 [Gnaw] (Pet) |
Yes | 3 | Yes | 3 | Controlled Stun |
| Death Knight | Frost (T7) |
 [Hungering Cold] |
Yes | 8 | No | 10 | Disorient |
| Death Knight | No |
 [Strangulate] |
Yes | 5-7 | No | 5-7 | Silence |
| Druid | No |
 [Bash] |
Yes | 4-5 | Yes | 4-5 | Controlled Stun |
| Druid | No |
 [Cyclone] |
Yes | 6 | Yes | 6 | None |
| Druid | No |
 [Entangling Roots] |
Yes | 10 | No | 30 | Controlled Root |
| Druid | No |
 [Hibernate] |
Yes | 10 | No | 40 | Disorient |
| Druid | No |
 [Maim] |
Yes | 1-5 | Yes | 1-5 | Controlled Stun |
| Druid | No |
 [Pounce] |
Yes | 3-4 | No | 3-4 | Opener Stun |
| Hunter | No |
 [Clench] (Pet) |
Yes | 10 | No | 10 | Disarm |
| Hunter | Survival (T2) |
[Entrapment] |
Yes | 4 | No | 4 | None |
| Hunter | No |
 [Freezing Trap] |
Yes | 10 | No | 20 | Disorient |
| Hunter | No |
 [Pin] (Pet) |
Yes | 4 | No | 4 | Controlled Root |
| Hunter | No |
 [Scare Beast] |
Yes | 10 | No | 20 | Fear |
| Hunter | No |
 [Scatter Shot] |
Yes | 4 | No | 4 | None |
| Hunter | Beast Mastery (Base) |
 [Intimidation] |
Yes | 3 | Yes | 3 | Controlled Stun |
| Hunter | Marksmanship (T3) |
 [Silencing Shot] |
Yes | 3 | No | 3 | Silence |
| Hunter | No |
 [Sonic Blast] (Pet) |
Yes | 2 | Yes | 2 | Controlled Stun |
| Hunter | No |
 [Snatch] (Pet) |
Yes | 6 | No | 6 | Disarm |
| Hunter | Survival (T5) |
 [Wyvern Sting] |
Yes | 6 | No | 30 | Disorient |
| Mage | Frost (T7) |
 [Deep Freeze] |
Yes | 5 | Yes | 5 | Controlled Stun |
| Mage | Fire (T5) |
 [Dragon's Breath] |
Yes | 5 | No | 5 | Disorient |
| Mage | Frost (Base) | Freeze (Pet) | Yes | 8 | No | 8 | Controlled Root |
| Mage | No |
 [Frost Nova] |
Yes | 8 | No | 8 | Controlled Root |
| Mage | Fire (T2) |
 [Impact] |
Yes | 2 | Yes | 2 | Random Stun |
| Mage | Arcane (T1) |
 [Improved Counterspell] |
Yes | 4 | No | 4 | Silence |
| Mage | No |
 [Polymorph] |
Yes | 10 | No | 50 | Disorient |
| Mage | Frost (T5) |
 [Shattered Barrier] |
Yes | 8 | No | 8 | Random Root |
| Mage | Arcane (T5) |
 [Slow] |
No | 15 | No | 15 | None |
| Paladin | No |
 [Hammer of Justice] |
Yes | 6 | Yes | 6 | Controlled Stun |
| Paladin | No |
 [Holy Wrath] |
Yes | 3 | Yes | 3 | Controlled Stun |
| Paladin | Retribution (T5) |
 [Repentance] |
Yes | 6 | No | 60 | Incapacitate |
| Paladin | No |
 [Turn Evil] |
Yes | 10 | No | 20 | Fear |
| Priest | No |
 [Psychic Scream] |
Yes | 8 | No | 8 | Fear |
| Priest | No |
 [Mind Control] |
Yes | 8 | No | 60 | None |
| Priest | Shadow (T6) |
 [Psychic Horror] |
Yes | 3 | No | 3 | Horror |
| Priest | Shadow (T6) |
[Psychic Horror] (Disarm Effect) |
Yes | 10 | No | 10 | Disarm |
| Priest | No |
[Shackle Undead] |
Yes | 10 | No | 50 | Disorient |
| Priest | Shadow (T4) |
 [Silence] |
Yes | 5 | No | 5 | Silence |
| Priest | Holy (Base) |
 [Holy Word: Chastise] |
Yes | 3 | No | 3 | Disorient |
| Rogue | No |
 [Blind] |
Yes | 10 | No | 10 | Fear |
| Rogue | No |
 [Cheap Shot] |
Yes | 4 | No | 4 | Opener Stun |
| Rogue | No |
 [Dismantle] |
Yes | 10 | No | 10 | Disarm |
| Rogue | No |
 [Garrote] |
Yes | 3 | No | 3 | Silence |
| Rogue | No |
 [Gouge] |
Yes | 4-5.5 | No | 4 | Disorient |
| Rogue | Combat (T2) |
 [Improved Kick] |
Yes | 2 | No | 2 | Silence |
| Rogue | No |
 [Kidney Shot] |
Yes | 2-6 | Yes | 6 | Controlled Stun |
| Rogue | No |
 [Sap] |
Yes | 10 | No | 60 | Disorient |
| Shaman | Enhancement (T7) |
[Bash] (Pet) |
Yes | 2 | Yes | 2 | Controlled Stun |
| Shaman | Elemental (T5) |
[Earth's Grasp] |
Yes | 5 | No | 5 | Controlled Root |
| Shaman | No |
 [Frost Shock] |
No | 8 | No | 8 | None |
| Shaman | Enhancement (T4) |
 [Frozen Power] |
Yes | 5 | Yes | 5 | Controlled Root |
| Shaman | No |
 [Stoneclaw Totem] |
Yes | 3 | Yes | 3 | Random Stun |
| Shaman | No |
 [Hex] |
Yes | 10 | No | 60 | Disorient |
| Warlock | Demonology (Base) |
 [Axe Toss] (Pet) |
Yes | 4 | Yes | 4 | Controlled Stun |
| Warlock | No |
 [Banish] |
Yes | 6 | No | 30 | None |
| Warlock | No |
 [Death Coil] |
Yes | 3 | No | 3 | Horror |
| Warlock | No |
 [Fear] |
Yes | 10 | No | 20 | Fear |
| Warlock | No |
 [Howl of Terror] |
Yes | 8 | No | 8 | Fear |
| Warlock | No |
[Seduction] (Pet) |
Yes | 10 | No | 30 | Fear |
| Warlock | Destruction (T5) |
 [Shadowfury] |
Yes | 3 | Yes | 3 | Controlled Stun |
| Warlock | No |
 [Spell Lock] (Pet) |
Yes | 3 | No | 3 | Silence |
| Warrior | No |
 [Charge] |
No | 1.5 | No | 1.5 | None |
| Warrior | Protection (T3) |
 [Concussion Blow] |
Yes | 5 | Yes | 5 | Controlled Stun |
| Warrior | No |
 [Disarm] |
Yes | 10 | No | 10 | Disarm |
| Warrior | Protection (T2) |
 [Gag Order] |
Yes | 3 | No | 3 | Silence |
| Warrior | No |
 [Intercept] |
Yes | 2 | Yes | 2 | Controlled Stun |
| Warrior | No |
 [Hamstring] |
No | 10 | No | 15 | None |
| Warrior | Arms (T3) |
[Improved Hamstring] |
Yes | 5 | No | 5 | Random Root |
| Warrior | No |
 [Intimidating Shout] |
Yes | 8 | No | 8 | Fear |
| Warrior | Protection (T7) |
 [Shockwave] |
Yes | 4 | Yes | 4 | Controlled Stun |
| (Racial) | No |
 [Arcane Torrent] |
Yes | 2 | No | 2 | Silence |
| (Racial) | No |
 [War Stomp] |
Yes | 2 | Yes | 2 | Controlled Stun |
- Controlled Root - Freeze (Water Elemental), Pin (Crab), Frost Nova, Entangling Roots, Earthgrab (Storm, Earth and Fire)
- Controlled Stun - Bash, Concussion Blow, Deep Freeze, Demon Charge, Gnaw, Holy Wrath, Inferno Effect (Doomguard summon), Hammer of Justice, Intercept (Felguard), Intercept (Warrior), Intimidation, Kidney Shot, Maim, Ravage, Shadowfury, Shockwave, Sonic Blast, War Stomp
- Disarm - Chimera Shot - Scorpid, Disarm, Dismantle, Psychic Horror (Disarm effect), Snatch
- Disorient - Dragon's Breath, Freezing Arrow, Freezing Trap, Gouge, Hex, Hibernate, Hungering Cold, Polymorph, Repentance, Sap, Shackle, Wyvern Sting
- Fear - Blind, Fear (Warlock), Howl of Terror, Intimidating Shout, Psychic Scream, Scare Beast, Seduction (Pet), Turn Evil
- Horror - Death Coil, Psychic Horror
- Opener Stun - Cheap Shot, Pounce
- Random Root - Frostbite, Improved Hamstring, Shattered Barrier
- Random Stun - Impact, Revenge Stun, Seal of Justice, Stoneclaw Stun
- Silence - Arcane Torrent, Gag Order (Warrior talent), Garrote, Improved Counterspell, Nether Shock, Silencing Shot, Improved Kick, Shield of the Templar, Silence (Priest), Spell Lock, Strangulate
- Taunt - Angered Earth, Challenging Howl, Challenging Roar, Challenging Shout, Dark Command, Death Grip, Distracting Shot, Growl (Druid), Hand of Reckoning, Mocking Blow, Righteous Defense, Taunt (Pet),Taunt (Warrior)
Banish, Charge, Cyclone, Entrapment, Scatter Shot, and Mind Control are on diminishing returns with themselves.
Recent comments