Dispel

Dispel refers to the general game mechanic of removing Buffs and Debuffs. All of these effects belong to a Dispel Type. Most dispel abilities remove effects from a specific dispel type, but in some cases they remove depending on a specific mechanic (for example,  [Luffa] removes bleed effects).

For a list of dispel abilities for specific dispel types, see Curse, Disease, Magic, Poison, and Typeless.

Resists

Dispels can be resisted. In fact, there are two different types of resist-like effects:

• Resists (caused by spell hit and resistances)
• Fails (caused by what is commonly referred to as "dispel resistance")

Normal resists do only exist for offensive dispels and follow the same rule as any other spell. When a dispel is normally resisted, it does not remove any buffs.

Fails are treated differently. They are calculated per buff and can also occur when dispelling friendly targets. There is an innate chance that this happens (however, this might be a bug). In addition, dispel resistance can be used to increase the chance, such as from [Silent Resolve]. Due to fails being calculated separately for each buff, a dispel which would remove two buffs could eliminate one buff while retaining the other. On spell hit procs are not affected by fails. As such, a Dispel Magic (rank 2) can trigger a proc even though it fails at removing both buffs.

List of Player Abilities with the Dispel Mechanic

• Death Knight
  • None.
• Druid
  • [Abolish Poison] (Poison)
  • Cure Poison (Poison)
  • Remove Curse (Curse)
• Hunter
  • [Tranquilizing Shot] (Magic & Enrage; only from enemy targets)
• Mage
  • Remove Curse (Curse)
  • [Spellsteal] (Magic; only from enemy targets)
• Paladin
  • [Cleanse] (Disease, Poison, and Magic)
  • [Purify] (Disease and Poison)
• Priest
  • [Abolish Disease] (Disease; Poison on self if improved through [Body and Soul])
  • Cure Disease (Disease)
  • [Dispel Magic] (Magic; both from friendly and enemy targets)
  • [Mass Dispel] (Magic; both from friendly and enemy targets; affects immunities)
• Rogue
  •  [Anesthetic Poison] (Enrage; only from enemy targets)
• Shaman
  • [Cure Toxins] (Poison and Disease)
  • [Cleanse Spirit] (Poison, Disease, and Curse; talented)
  •  [Cleansing Totem] (Poison and Disease)
  • [Purge] (Magic; only from enemy targets)
• Warlock
  • Felhunter's [Devour Magic] (Magic; both from friendly and enemy targets)
  • Doomguard's Dispel (Magic; both from friendly and enemy targets)
• Warrior
  • [Shield Slam] (Magic; only from enemy targets)
  • [Shattering Throw] (Immunities)

Note: Currently, all Poison, Disease, and Curse removing effects can only be cast on friendly targets. For Magic-removing effects, the possible targets are mentioned explicitly.

List of Player Talents that Counter the Dispel Mechanic

Note: The most common dispel-countering mechanic is dispel resistance; talents which provide it have a specific tag in this list. The remaining spells and talents have individual effects.

• Death Knight
  • [Virulence] (Dispel resistance)
• Druid
  • [Improved Barkskin] (Dispel resistance)
  • [Lifebloom]
  • Subtlety (Dispel resistance)
• Hunter
  • [Improved Stings] (Dispel resistance)
  • [Noxious Stings]
• Mage
  • [Arcane Subtlety] (Dispel resistance)
• Paladin
  • [Guarded by the Light] (Dispel resistance)
  • [Stoicism] (Dispel resistance)
• Priest
  • [Shadow Affinity]
  • [Silent Resolve] (Dispel resistance)
  • [Vampiric Touch]
• Rogue
  • [Vile Poisons] (Dispel resistance)
• Shaman
  • [Healing Grace] (Dispel resistance)
  • [Lava Flows]
• Warlock
  • [Contagion] (Dispel resistance)
  • Haunt
  • [Unstable Affliction]
• Warrior
  • None.