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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 an ability with diminishing returns is used against a target in PvP, the first effect has full PvP duration. If the same category of effect (e.g. root) is used on that target within 18 seconds, that effect's duration is reduced by 50%. On the third use, the duration is reduced by 75%. After this, the target is immune from all effects in that category for the next 18 seconds. Note that when used against another player, effects will only last for their PvP duration, often far shorter than the duration stated in the ability's tooltip. The maximum PvP duration is 8 seconds.

Spells must be used on the same target within 18 seconds of the * end* of the duration in order to be diminished. In other words, if a target hasn't had a root spell active on them for more than 18 seconds, this category of diminishing returns will be reset on the target, and the next rooting spell will have full effect.

Diminishing returns for knockback effects and taunts are a special case with different timings. Knockbacks are immediately immune after first usage, and reset after 10 seconds versus 18 seconds. Taunts that force aggro from mobs or pets reset after 18 seconds like usual, but they only become immune after fifth usage instead of after the third.

Table[]

The table below has been sorted out into diminishing returns categories. Each ability shares diminishing returns with the other abilities it has been listed with, and no others unless otherwise stated.

Note that the table data is for World of Warcraft Shadowlands only, not Classic.

Values marked with ?! are not sure to be the real. Modify if you know the correct ones.

Category Class Ability PvP Duration
Roots Death Knight Spell frost frostarmor [Deathchill] 4 sec
Druid Spell nature stranglevines [Entangling Roots] 8 sec
Druid Spell nature stranglevines [Entangling Roots] from Spell nature natureswrath [Nature's Grasp] 8 sec
Druid Spell druid massentanglement [Mass Entanglement] 8 sec
Hunter Spell shaman bindelemental [Binding Shot] 8 sec
Hunter Ability hunter steeltrap [Steel Trap] 8 sec
Hunter Ability hunter harpoon [Harpoon] (?!) 3 sec
Hunter Inv misc net 01 [Tracker's Net] 6 sec
Mage Freeze (Water Elemental) 8 sec
Mage Spell frost frostarmor [Frostbite] 4 sec
Mage Spell frost frostnova [Frost Nova] 8 sec
Mage Tormenting Backlash (+Silence) 4 sec
Monk Ability shockwave [Disable] 8 sec
Monk Ability monk clashingoxcharge [Clash] 4 sec
Shaman Spell nature stranglevines [Earthgrab Totem] 8 sec
Shaman Spell frost frostshock [Frost Shock] with Surge of Power 6 sec
Warlock Spell fire fireball [Conflagrate] with Ability rhyolith magmaflow wave [Entrenched in Flame] 3 sec
Stuns Death Knight Ability deathknight asphixiate [Asphyxiate] (Frost, Unholy) 4 sec
Death Knight Ability deathknight asphixiate [Asphyxiate] (Blood) 5 sec
Death Knight Achievement boss sindragosa [Frostwyrm's Fury] with Spell fire blueflamering [Absolute Zero] 3 sec
Death Knight Spell deathknight gnaw ghoul [Gnaw] (Ghoul) 1 sec
Death Knight Monstrous Blow 2 sec
Death Knight Ability deathknight remorselesswinters2 [Dead of Winter] 4 sec
Death Knight Ability deathknight reanimation [Reanimation] 3 sec
Demon Hunter Spell fire felfirenova [Chaos Nova] 2 sec
Demon Hunter Ability demonhunter illidansgrasp [Illidan's Grasp] 6 sec / 3 sec
Demon Hunter Ability bossfellord felspike [Fel Eruption] 4 sec
Demon Hunter Ability demonhunter metamorphasisdps [Metamorphosis] / Ability demonhunter metamorphasistank [Metamorphosis] (PvE only) 3 sec
Druid Ability druid mangle [Maim] 1-5 sec
Druid Ability druid bash [Mighty Bash] 4 sec
Druid Ability druid disembowel [Rake] (Rank 2) 4 sec
Druid Ability druid overrun [Overrun] (+Knockback) 3 sec
Hunter Spell frost stun [Consecutive Concussion] 4 sec
Hunter Ability devour [Intimidation] 5 sec
Monk Archaeology 5 0 emptykegofbrewfatherxinwoyin [Double Barrel] 3 sec
Monk Ability monk legsweep [Leg Sweep] 3 sec
Paladin Spell holy sealofmight [Hammer of Justice] 6 sec
Paladin Inv sword 2h artifactashbringerfire d 03 [Wake of Ashes] (PvE only) 5 sec
Priest Spell shadow psychichorrors [Psychic Horror] 4 sec
Priest Spell holy chastise [Holy Word: Chastise] with Spell holy eyeforaneye [Censure] 4 sec
Rogue Ability cheapshot [Cheap Shot] 4 sec
Rogue Ability rogue kidneyshot [Kidney Shot] 2-7 sec
Shaman Shaman pvp lightninglasso [Lightning Lasso] 1-5 sec
Shaman Spell nature brilliance [Capacitor Totem] 3 sec
Shaman Spell druid malfurionstenacity [Pulverize] (Primal Earth Elemental) 4 sec
Warlock Ability warrior titansgrip [Axe Toss] (Felguard) 4 sec
Warlock Ability warrior titansgrip [Axe Toss] (Wrathguard) (?!) 4 sec
Warlock Meteor Strike (Infernal) 3 sec
Warlock Meteor Strike (Abyssal) 3 sec
Warlock Ability warlock shadowfurytga [Shadowfury] 3 sec
Warrior Ability warrior shockwave [Shockwave] 2 sec
Warrior Warrior talent icon stormbolt [Storm Bolt] 4 sec
Warrior Inv helm plate draenorquest95 b 01 [Warpath] 3 sec
Highmountain Racial Ability racial bullrush [Bull Rush] 1.5 sec
Kul Tiran Racial Haymaker (+Knockback) 3 sec
Covenant Ability Ability druid overrun [Wild Hunt's Charge] 5 sec
Soulbind Ability Sparkling Driftglobe Core 3 sec
Tauren Racial Ability warstomp [War Stomp] 2 sec
Incapacitates Demon Hunter Ability demonhunter imprison [Imprison] 8 sec
Demon Hunter Ability demonhunter imprison [Imprison] with Inv misc steelweaponchain [Detainment] 5 sec
Druid Spell nature sleep [Hibernate] 8 sec
Druid Ability druid demoralizingroar [Incapacitating Roar] 3 sec
Hunter Spell frost chainsofice [Freezing Trap] 8 sec
Hunter Freezing Trap (Diamond Ice) 5 sec
Hunter Ability golemstormbolt [Scatter Shot] 4 sec
Hunter Inv spear 02 [Wyvern Sting] (?!) 8 sec
Mage Spell nature polymorph [Polymorph] 8 sec
Mage Spell frost ring of frost [Ring of Frost] 8 sec
Monk Ability monk paralysis [Paralysis] 4 sec
Paladin Spell holy prayerofhealing [Repentance] 8 sec
Priest Spell holy chastise [Holy Word: Chastise] 4 sec
Priest Spell nature slow [Shackle Undead] 8 sec
Rogue Ability gouge [Gouge] 4 sec
Rogue Ability sap [Sap] 8 sec
Shaman Spell shaman hex [Hex] 8 sec
Shaman Sundering 2 sec
Warlock Spell shadow cripple [Banish] 8 sec
Warlock Ability warlock mortalcoil [Mortal Coil] 3 sec
Pandaren racial Pandarenracial quiveringpain [Quaking Palm] 4 sec
Disorients Death Knight Spell frost chillingblast [Blinding Sleet] 5 sec
Demon Hunter Ability demonhunter sigilofmisery [Sigil of Misery] 8 sec
Druid Spell nature earthbind [Cyclone] 6 sec
Hunter Ability druid cower [Scare Beast] 8 sec
Mage Inv misc head dragon 01 [Dragon's Breath] 4 sec
Monk Song of Chi-ji 8 sec
Monk Inv misc fireink [Incendiary Breath] 4 sec
Paladin Ability paladin blindinglight [Blinding Light] 6 sec
Paladin Ability paladin turnevil [Turn Evil] 8 sec
Priest Spell shadow mindbomb [Mind Bomb] 6 sec
Priest Spell shadow shadowworddominate [Mind Control] 8 sec
Priest Spell shadow psychicscream [Psychic Scream] 8 sec
Rogue Spell shadow mindsteal [Blind] 8 sec
Warlock Spell shadow possession [Fear] 8 sec
Warlock Ability warlock howlofterror [Howl of Terror] ?? sec
Warlock Spell shadow seduction [Seduction] (Grimoire of Sacrifice) 8 sec
Warlock Spell shadow seduction [Seduction] (Succubus pet) 8 sec
Warrior Ability golemthunderclap [Intimidating Shout] 8 sec
Soulbind Ability Spell shadow deathsembrace [Agent of Chaos] 6 sec
Silences Death Knight Spell shadow soulleech 3 [Strangulate] 4 sec
Demon Hunter Ability demonhunter sigilofsilence [Sigil of Silence] 6 sec
Druid Ability vehicle sonicshockwave [Solar Beam] (?!) 8 sec
Hunter Hunter pvp spidersting [Spider Sting] 4 sec
Hunter Spider Venom 3 sec
Paladin Spell holy avengersshield [Avenger's Shield] with Inv shield 60 [Shield of Virtue] 4 sec
Priest Ability priest silence [Silence] 4 sec
Rogue Ability rogue garrote [Garrote] 3 sec
Warlock Spell shadow unstableaffliction 3 [Unstable Affliction] 4 sec
AoE Knockbacks Death Knight Ability deathknight aoedeathgrip [Gorefiend's Grasp] N/A
Druid Ability druid overrun [Overrun] N/A
Druid Ability druid typhoon [Typhoon] N/A
Druid Spell druid ursolsvortex [Ursol's Vortex] N/A
Hunter Ability hunter burstingshot [Bursting Shot] N/A
Hunter Hi-Explosive Trap N/A
Mage Spell holy excorcism 02 [Blast Wave] N/A
Monk Spell monk ringofpeace [Ring of Peace] (?!) N/A
Priest Ability paladin blindinglight2 [Shining Force] N/A
Shaman Spell shaman thunderstorm [Thunderstorm] N/A
Kul Tiran Racial Haymaker (?!) N/A
Disarm effect Druid Spell druid swarm [Faerie Swarm] 5 sec
Monk Ability warrior disarm [Grapple Weapon] 6 sec
Rogue Ability rogue dismantle [Dismantle] 6 sec
Warrior Ability warrior disarm [Disarm] 6 sec

In PvE[]

Many types of crowd control also suffer from diminishing returns versus NPCs, usually stuns. Diminishing returns do not count per player but per creature; every creature has its own diminishing return for each group of CC and all players in your party / raid will be affected by that diminishing return.

Warlords of Draenor[]

Warlords of Draenor will see dramatic adjustments to existing diminishing returns categories.

  • All Roots now share the same DR category.
    • Exception: Roots on 'Ability warrior charge [Charge]' types of abilities have no DR category, but have a very short duration instead.
  • All Stuns now share the same DR category.
  • All Incapacitate effects now share the same DR category, and have been merged with the Horror DR category.
  • The Fear DR category has been merged with the Disorient DR category.
  • Numerous abilities have been moved to different DR categories.

6 diminishing returns categories remain:

Abilities list[]

Roots[]

  • Death knight
    • Chains of Ice (with Chilblains)
  • Druid
    • Entangling Roots
    • Mass Entanglement
  • Hunter
    • Charge (Tenacity pet)
    • Entrapment
    • Narrow Escape
  • Mage
    • Freeze Water Elemental
    • Frost Nova
    • Ice Ward
  • Monk
    • Disable
  • Priest
    • Glyph of Mind Blast
    • Void Tendrils
  • Shaman
    • Earthgrab Totem
    • Frost Shock (with Frozen Power)

Stuns[]

  • Death knight
    • Asphyxiate
    • Gnaw (Ghoul)
    • Monstrous Blow (Ghoul w/ Dark Transformation active)
    • Remorseless Winter
  • Druid
    • Maim
    • Mighty Bash
    • Rake
  • Hunter
    • Binding Shot
    • Intimidation
  • Mage
    • Deep Freeze
  • Monk
    • Charging Ox Wave
    • Fists of Fury
    • Leg Sweep
  • Paladin
    • Fist of Justice
    • Hammer of Justice
    • Holy Wrath
  • Rogue
    • Cheap Shot
    • Kidney Shot
  • Shaman
    • Pulverize (Primal Earth Elemental)
    • Static Charge (Capacitor Totem)
  • Warlock
    • Axe Toss (Felguard)
    • Shadowfury
    • Summon Infernal
  • Warrior
    • Shockwave
    • Storm Bolt
  • Racial
    • War Stomp

Incapacitates[]

  • Druid
    • Incapacitating Roar
  • Hunter
    • Freezing Trap
    • Wyvern Sting
  • Mage
    • Dragon's Breath
    • Polymorph
    • Ring of Frost
  • Monk
    • Glyph of Breath of Fire
    • Paralysis
    • Ring of Peace
  • Paladin
    • Repentance
  • Priest
    • Dominate Mind
    • Holy Word: Chastise
    • Psychic Horror
  • Rogue
    • Gouge
    • Sap
  • Shaman
    • Hex
  • Warlock
    • Banish
    • Blood Horror
    • Mortal Coil
  • Racial
    • Quaking Palm

Disorients[]

  • Druid
    • Cyclone
  • Paladin
    • Turn Evil
  • Priest
    • Psychic Scream
  • Rogue
    • Blind
  • Warlock
    • Fear
    • Howl of Terror
    • Mesmerize (Shivarra pet)
    • Seduction (Succubus pet)
  • Warrior
    • Intimidating Shout

Silences[]

  • Death knight
    • Strangulate
  • Druid
    • Glyph of Fae Silence
  • Mage
    • Frostjaw
  • Paladin
    • Avenger's Shield
  • Priest
    • Silence
  • Rogue
    • Garrote
  • Racial
    • Arcane Torrent

AoE knockbacks[]

  • Death knight
    • Gorefiend's Grasp
  • Druid
    • Typhoon
    • Ursol's Vortex
  • Hunter
    • Glyph of Explosive Trap
  • Shaman
    • Thunderstorm
  • Warlock
    • Fellash
    • Whiplash

Patch changes[]

  • Shadowlands Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Diminishing returns now affect secondary stats. (Crit, Haste, Mastery, and Versatility)
  • Mists of Pandaria Patch 5.4.0 (2013-09-10):
    • There are now diminishing returns on Vengeance gains while tanking multiple targets. Each additional target grants progressively less Vengeance.
    • Area knockback effects now all share a diminishing return category. After a player has been moved by one of these spells, the player will be immune for 10 seconds. This new category applies to: Inv misc volatilelife green [Fellash], Ability deathknight aoedeathgrip [Gorefiend's Grasp], Inv glyph majorhunter [Glyph of Explosive Trap], Spell shaman thunderstorm [Thunderstorm], Ability druid typhoon [Typhoon], Spell druid ursolsvortex [Ursol's Vortex], and Ability warlock whiplash [Whiplash].
    • Spell priest divinestar [Divine Star]'s healing is no longer affecting by diminishing returns when used on multiple targets.
    • Ability priest halo [Halo]'s healing is no longer affecting by diminishing returns when used on multiple targets.
  • Mists of Pandaria Hotfix (2013-10-11): We've seen some confusion recently about exactly which crowd control effects share diminishing returns. To hopefully clear that up, we're providing the following, categorized lists of all of the CC effects in the game. [...]
  • Mists of Pandaria Patch 5.3.0 (2013-05-21): Spell monk ringofpeace [Ring of Peace] had been redesigned. The ability forms an 8-yard sanctuary around a friendly target for 8 seconds, instantly disarming and silencing enemies within the area-of-effect for 3 seconds. Enemies that use abilities other than auto-attacks or cast spells on allies within the Ring of Peace will be disarmed and silenced for 3 seconds. Disarm and silence effects are subject to diminishing returns.
  • Mists of Pandaria Patch 5.2.0 (2013-03-05): Ability warrior warbringer [Warbringer] now reduces the target's movement by 50% for 15 seconds (8 seconds in PvP), in addition to its other effects. The 3-second stun/knockdown is now in the diminishing returns category for stuns (same as Ability warrior shockwave [Shockwave] and Warrior talent icon stormbolt [Storm Bolt]), and not the proc stun diminishing returns category.
  • Mists of Pandaria Patch 5.1.0 (2012-11-27): The Ability physical taunt [Growl] pet ability will no longer cause diminishing returns against bosses that are immune to its effect.
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.2.0 (2011-06-28):
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.1.0 (2011-04-26):
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.0.6 (2011-02-08):
    • Hunter Pet Fix: Ravage no longer counts toward stun diminishing returns.
    • Ability warrior charge [Charge] now shares diminishing returns with stun effects.
    • Ability warrior charge [Charge]'s stun continues to not trigger diminishing returns for Protection warriors who have the Ability warrior warbringer [Warbringer] talent.
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Spell nature polymorph [Improved Polymorph] now correctly shares diminishing returns with controlled stuns.
  • Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.3.0 (2009-12-08): Taunt Diminishing Returns: We've revised the system for diminishing returns on Taunt so that creatures do not become immune to Taunt until after 5 Taunts have landed. The duration of the Taunt effect will be reduced by 35% instead of 50% for each taunt landed. In addition, most creatures in the world will not be affected by Taunt diminishing returns at all. Creatures will only have Taunt diminishing returns if they have been specifically flagged for that behavior based on the design of a given encounter.
  • Wrath-Logo-Small Hotfix (2009-09-09): We just deployed a hotfix to modify Spell holy excorcism [Holy Wrath] so this spell has the same diminishing return mechanics that other player stun spells and abilities currently have. This will prevent Undead creatures that we wish to be susceptible to stun from being permanently stunned if you include enough Paladins in your raid who then rotate their Holy Wrath casts.

    This will affect the difficulty of Mob Anub'arak, but we didn't want the "right way" to defeat this fight to involve bringing five Paladins who used Inv glyph majorpaladin [Glyph of Holy Wrath] on their Holy Wrath spell.

  • Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.0.8 (2009-01-20): All Silence spells now have diminishing returns. This includes: Spell shadow teleport [Arcane Torrent], Ability rogue garrote [Garrote] silence effect, Spell frost iceshock [Improved Counterspell] effect, Ability kick [Improved Kick] effect, Ability priest silence [Silence], Inv axe 66 [Gag Order], Ability theblackarrow [Silencing Shot], Spell shadow mindrot [Spell Lock], and Spell shadow soulleech 3 [Strangulate].
  • Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Melee mitigation stats also have diminishing returns.
  • Bc icon Patch 2.3.0 (2007-11-13):
    • Spell shadow mindsteal [Blind] is now a physical (no longer a poison) attack. Reagent requirement removed. Now shares the same diminish category as Spell nature earthbind [Cyclone] and is now diminished in PvE as well as PvP.
    • Ability warrior challange [Riposte] is now subject to diminishing returns in PvP.
    • Spell frost frostshock [Frost Shock] is no longer subject to diminishing returns.
    • Spell shadow unstableaffliction 3 [Unstable Affliction]: The silence from this ability is now subject to diminishing returns.
    • Ability warrior disarm [Disarm] is now subject to diminishing returns in PvP.
  • Bc icon Patch 2.1.0 (2007-05-22):
    • Spell nature stranglevines [Entrapment] (Survival): Effect duration reduced to 4 seconds and is now subject to diminishing returns in PvP.
    • Spell frost frostarmor [Frostbite] effect is now subject to diminishing returns in PvP.
    • Spell shadow deathcoil [Death Coil] is now is now subject to diminishing returns in the Horror category.
    • Reputation: Players will experience diminished gains in reputation from killing outdoor mobs while in raids larger than five players.
  • WoW Icon update Patch 1.9.0 (2006-01-03): The stun effect's duration no longer diminishes or is diminished by controlled stun abilities and spells:
  • WoW Icon update Patch 1.4.0 (2005-04-19): A handful of spells were added to the list of spells subject to diminishing returns in PvP. It is our goal to set as few spells as possible to be diminished. We've identified this short list of spells as having durations and cooldowns sufficient to almost permanently slow or immobilize targets but without adequate controls or other limiting factors. When a spell with diminishing returns is used against a target in PvP, the first effect has full duration. On the second use of the same category of spell (e.g. slowing), that spell's duration is reduced by 50%. On the third use, the duration is reduced by 75%. On the fourth attempt, the target becomes immune to the spell. 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, the next slowing spell will have full effect. The list of affected spells is:
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