World of Warcraft’s August 27 Hotfixes Tackle Vashnik, Class Bugs, and Saddle Progress

Blizzard’s August 27, 2026 hotfixes for World of Warcraft focus on Raid Finder adjustments, class bugs, and progression problems. Vashnik the Malignant received several changes in The Venomous Abyss, while players can once again earn progress toward their next Vicious Saddle.

In Raid Finder, Vashnik’s Siphoning Infection and Siphon Blood now deal 33% less damage. The healing reduction value is 80%, down from 100%. Siphoning Infection’s healing was also increased by 500% on Raid Finder difficulty and by 10% on Normal difficulty, so the encounter has more than one kind of adjustment in this pass.

The Venomous Abyss also received fixes for all three encounters mentioned in the notes. The Twin Fangs will no longer clear the Caustic Globule and Barbed Bulwark indicators before their missiles land, and Zul’jan can now be killed properly after reaching 1 health during the intermission. A separate Temple of Sethraliss issue involving the Voidbound Emisssary Mythic+ affix and Galvazzt was addressed as well.

Class updates cover Demon Hunter, Evoker, Rogue, Paladin, and Warlock abilities. Blur’s recent PvP adjustments will no longer affect PvE damage reduction, while Evoker’s Lifecinders description and Emerald Communion visuals received separate fixes. Rogue players should also see Deathstalker’s Mark behave correctly when a target becomes unattackable.

Outside combat, the hotfixes restore Vicious Saddle progress, allow Contract: Zul’jarra’s Forces to apply across an entire Warband, and reduce the size of the Sszorak’s Ferocity poison tornado for everyone except its wearer. Several writhe mounts are now larger, and Mislaid Curiosities can spawn correctly in The Darkway variant of Eggsplosive Growth.

The raid is opening in stages, with the Venomous Abyss release schedule placing its remaining Raid Finder wings across successive weekly resets. Blizzard published the complete hotfix information on the official World of Warcraft forums.

World of Warcraft August 27 Hotfix Notes

The largest gameplay changes affect Vashnik’s Raid Finder encounter, but the list also includes class corrections, dungeon and raid bug fixes, item updates, mount sizing changes, and the return of Vicious Saddle progress.

• Classes
  • Demon Hunter
    • Fixed an issue that allowed Blur’s recent PvP adjustments to affect PvE situations. Blur damage reduction outside of PvP is restored to previous intended values.
  • Evoker
    • Flameshaper: Fixed an issue where Lifecinders incorrectly stated that it required Renewing Blaze.
    • Preservation
      • Fixed an issue where Emerald Communion would loop its visual even after the effect had ended.
  • Rogue
    • Deathstalker: Fixed an issue where Deathstalker’s Mark would be removed when a target becomes unattackable. Darkest Night will now be granted when Deathstalker’s Mark is removed from an unattackable target.
  • Paladin
    • Protection
      • Fixed an issue where Blessed Hammer could not hit Ula’tek’s Venomous Heart.
  • Warlock
    • Destruction
      • Fixed an issue where Mayhem would sometimes become untracked when refreshed while active.
• Delves
  • Fixed an issue that caused Mislaid Curiosities to not spawn in The Darkway variant Eggsplosive Growth.
• Dungeons and Raids
  • Temple of Sethraliss
    • Fixed an issue where the Voidbound Emisssary M+ affix creature could cause Galvazzt to despawn.
  • The Venomous Abyss
    • Vashnik the Malignant
      • Reduced the damage of Siphoning Infection by 33% on Raid Finder difficulty.
      • Reduced the damage of Siphon Blood by 33% on Raid Finder difficulty.
      • Reduced the healing reduction 80% (was 100%) on Raid Finder difficulty.
      • Increased the healing of Siphoning Infection by 10% on Normal difficulty.
      • Increased the healing of Siphoning Infection by 500% on Raid Finder difficulty.
    • The Twin Fangs
      • Resolved an issue that could cause Caustic Globule/Barbed Bulwark world indicators to clear prior to the missile impact.
    • The Coiled Altar
      • Fixed an issue where bringing Zul’jan to 1 health at the end of the intermission would prevent him from being killable during phase 3.
• Items
  • Fixed an issue that prevented Contract: Zul’jarra’s Forces from applying to your entire Warband.
  • Sszorak’s Ferocity – The Tempest poison tornado effect is now only visible to the trinket wearer and its size has been reduced.
• Mounts
  • Increased the size of several writhe mounts to be more consistent.
• Player versus Player
  • Fixed an issue that prevented players from earning progress towards their next Vicious Saddle.

Which of these hotfixes will affect your next run, and do you think Vashnik’s Raid Finder changes go far enough? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.