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.
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 	Deathchill 	4 sec 	
Roots 	Druid 	Entangling Roots 	8 sec 	
Roots 	Druid 	Entangling Roots from Nature's Grasp 	8 sec 	
Roots 	Druid 	Mass Entanglement 	8 sec 	
Roots 	Hunter 	Binding Shot 	8 sec 	
Roots 	Hunter 	Steel Trap 	8 sec 	
Roots 	Hunter 	Harpoon (?!) 	3 sec 	
Roots 	Hunter 	Tracker's Net 	6 sec 	
Roots 	Mage 	Freeze (Water Elemental) 	8 sec 	
Roots 	Mage 	Frostbite 	4 sec 	
Roots 	Mage 	Frost Nova 	8 sec 	
Roots 	Mage 	Tormenting Backlash (+Silence) 	4 sec 	
Roots 	Monk 	Disable 	8 sec 	
Roots 	Monk 	Clash 	4 sec 	
Roots 	Shaman 	Earthgrab Totem 	8 sec 	
Roots 	Shaman 	Frost Shock with Surge of Power 	6 sec 	
Roots 	Warlock 	Conflagrate with Entrenched in Flame 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Death Knight 	Asphyxiate (Frost, Unholy) 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Death Knight 	Asphyxiate (Blood) 	5 sec 	
Stuns 	Death Knight 	Frostwyrm's Fury with Absolute Zero 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Death Knight 	Gnaw (ghoul ability) (Ghoul) 	1 sec 	
Stuns 	Death Knight 	Monstrous Blow 	2 sec 	
Stuns 	Death Knight 	Dead of Winter 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Death Knight 	Reanimation 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Demon Hunter 	Chaos Nova 	2 sec 	
Stuns 	Demon Hunter 	Illidan's Grasp 	6 sec / 3 sec	
Stuns 	Demon Hunter 	Fel Eruption 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Demon Hunter 	Metamorphosis (Havoc) / Metamorphosis (Vengeance) (PvE only)	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Druid 	Maim 	1-5 sec 	
Stuns 	Druid 	Mighty Bash 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Druid 	Rake (Rank 2) 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Druid 	Overrun (+Knockback) 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Hunter 	Consecutive Concussion 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Hunter 	Intimidation 	5 sec 	
Stuns 	Monk 	Double Barrel 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Monk 	Leg Sweep 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Paladin 	Hammer of Justice 	6 sec 	
Stuns 	Paladin 	Wake of Ashes (PvE only) 	5 sec 	
Stuns 	Priest 	Psychic Horror 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Priest 	Holy Word: Chastise with Censure 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Rogue 	Cheap Shot 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Rogue 	Kidney Shot 	2-7 sec 	
Stuns 	Shaman 	Lightning Lasso 	1-5 sec 	
Stuns 	Shaman 	Capacitor Totem 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Shaman 	Pulverize (Primal Earth Elemental) 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Warlock 	Axe Toss (Felguard) 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Warlock 	Axe Toss (Wrathguard) (?!) 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Warlock 	Meteor Strike (Infernal) 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Warlock 	Meteor Strike (Abyssal) 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Warlock 	Shadowfury 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Warrior 	Shockwave 	2 sec 	
Stuns 	Warrior 	Storm Bolt 	4 sec 	
Stuns 	Warrior 	Warpath 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Highmountain Racial	Bull Rush 	1.5 sec 	
Stuns 	Kul Tiran Racial 	Haymaker (+Knockback) 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Covenant Ability 	Wild Hunt's Charge 	5 sec 	
Stuns 	Soulbind Ability 	Sparkling Driftglobe Core 	3 sec 	
Stuns 	Tauren Racial 	War Stomp 	2 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Demon Hunter 	Imprison 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Demon Hunter 	Imprison (Detainment) with Detainment 	5 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Druid 	Hibernate 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Druid 	Incapacitating Roar 	3 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Hunter 	Freezing Trap 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Hunter 	Freezing Trap (Diamond Ice) 	5 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Hunter 	Scatter Shot 	4 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Hunter 	Wyvern Sting (?!) 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Mage 	Polymorph 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Mage 	Ring of Frost 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Monk 	Paralysis 	4 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Paladin 	Repentance 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Priest 	Holy Word: Chastise 	4 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Priest 	Shackle Undead 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Rogue 	Gouge 	4 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Rogue 	Sap 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Shaman 	Hex 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Shaman 	Sundering 	2 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Warlock 	Banish 	8 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Warlock 	Mortal Coil 	3 sec 	
Incapacitates 	Pandaren racial 	Quaking Palm 	4 sec 	
Disorients 	Death Knight 	Blinding Sleet 	5 sec 	
Disorients 	Demon Hunter 	Sigil of Misery 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Druid 	Cyclone 	6 sec 	
Disorients 	Hunter 	Scare Beast 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Mage 	Dragon's Breath 	4 sec 	
Disorients 	Monk 	Song of Chi-ji 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Monk 	Incendiary Breath 	4 sec 	
Disorients 	Paladin 	Blinding Light 	6 sec 	
Disorients 	Paladin 	Turn Evil 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Priest 	Mind Bomb 	6 sec 	
Disorients 	Priest 	Mind Control 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Priest 	Psychic Scream 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Rogue 	Blind 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Warlock 	Fear 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Warlock 	Howl of Terror 	?? sec 	
Disorients 	Warlock 	Seduction (Grimoire of Sacrifice) 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Warlock 	Seduction (Succubus pet) 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Warrior 	Intimidating Shout 	8 sec 	
Disorients 	Soulbind Ability 	Agent of Chaos 	6 sec 	
Silences 	Death Knight 	Strangulate 	4 sec 	
Silences 	Demon Hunter 	Sigil of Silence 	6 sec 	
Silences 	Druid 	Solar Beam (?!) 	8 sec 	
Silences 	Hunter 	Spider Sting 	4 sec 	
Silences 	Hunter 	Spider Venom 	3 sec 	
Silences 	Paladin 	Avenger's Shield with Shield of Virtue 	4 sec 	
Silences 	Priest 	Silence 	4 sec 	
Silences 	Rogue 	Garrote 	3 sec 	
Silences 	Warlock 	Unstable Affliction 	4 sec 	
AoE Knockbacks	Death Knight 	Gorefiend's Grasp 	N/A 	
AoE Knockbacks	Druid 	Overrun 	N/A 	
AoE Knockbacks	Druid 	Typhoon 	N/A 	
AoE Knockbacks	Druid 	Ursol's Vortex 	N/A 	
AoE Knockbacks	Hunter 	Bursting Shot 	N/A 	
AoE Knockbacks	Hunter 	Hi-Explosive Trap 	N/A 	
AoE Knockbacks	Mage 	Blast Wave 	N/A 	
AoE Knockbacks	Monk 	Ring of Peace (?!) 	N/A 	
AoE Knockbacks	Priest 	Shining Force 	N/A 	
AoE Knockbacks	Shaman 	Thunderstorm 	N/A 	
AoE Knockbacks	Kul Tiran Racial 	Haymaker (?!) 	N/A 	
Disarm effect 	Druid 	Faerie Swarm 	5 sec 	
Disarm effect 	Monk 	Grapple Weapon 	6 sec 	
Disarm effect 	Rogue 	Dismantle 	6 sec 	
Disarm effect 	Warrior 	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 '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
===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
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Category:PvP
Category:Combat