The issue of Warlocks having infinite resources requires immediate attention. For those who may not be familiar with the problem, prior to Patch #1, the ability of Warlocks to heal themselves infinitely wasn't as concerning, as curses would ultimately drain an enemy's HP and lead to their demise. While there were two instances of infinite healing loops (two Warlock teammates healing each other and a Warlock healing from a teammate Wizard's Arcane Barrier), they were relatively rare occurrences. However, the situation has changed, and Warlock has evolved into a class that no longer faces resource limitations, allowing them to cast spells and heal infinitely as long as they have a target.

The primary contributors to this issue are:

1, Eldritch Shield: For a mere 5HP, a Warlock can prevent their target from taking damage caused by Curse of Pain or Power of Sacrifice. While this synergy allows for some interesting dynamics, such as buffing a teammate with Bloodstained Blade and Power of Sacrifice, it also enables a Warlock to heal themselves endlessly when they have at least one NPC following them or a nearby teammate. This presents a significant problem, as it renders Warlocks nearly impossible to attrition.

2, Summon Hydra: Although this spell adds an intriguing element to the game, the ability to summon a Hydra and subsequently cast Curse of Pain and Power of Sacrifice to heal is overpowered. Warlocks with magical healing greater than +3 can effectively ignore the rules of the Swarm. They can venture outside the Swarm, loot freely, and utilize Summon Hydra for healing, irrespective of the associated HP cost or enemy presence. In combat, a Hydra functions not only as a stationary, stealth-detecting turret but also as an immobile target for Curse of Pain and Power of Sacrifice, facilitating Warlock healing.

Ironmace has expressed the intent to make "damage taken in the dungeon matter" in line with the latest healing rework. However, this objective starkly contrasts with the current state of the Warlock class. It's crucial to acknowledge that these issues pose significant challenges when there are eight other classes in the game that operate within the constraints of finite resources.

To address these problems, immediate fixes for the aforementioned tactics include:

1, Torture Mastery Change: Healing from Curse of Pain or Power of Sacrifice will not occur if they don't deal direct health damage. This adjustment would prevent Eldritch Shield from being exploited for infinite healing with a teammate or NPC, while also introducing counter-play opportunities by allowing Wizard's Arcane Barrier or an enemy Warlock's Eldritch Shield to block healing for a duration.

2, Friendly Summon Modification: Healing from Curse of Pain or Power of Sacrifice will not occur if these spells are cast on friendly summons.

Both of these changes are essential and encourage Warlocks who wish to heal to actively participate in combat rather than relying on the complete safety provided by teammates and Hydra. Do you like the changes? Feel free to discuss. MMOexp.com for more DaD news and Dark and Darker Gold help. Have a good game.