Diminishing returns

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.

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.

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

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 '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:


 * Roots
 * Stuns
 * Incapacitates
 * Disorients (previously sometimes known as Mesmerize)
 * Silences
 * AoE knockbacks

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