I again ask, why is the combat team pushing ahead so blindly with the objectively terrible change for Sorcerers "unique class buff" that completely deletes the tiny amount of remaining synergy the class lines had with each other. Especially since ZOS already removed the main reason to bring a Sorcerer at all into groups by giving DK Major berserk but with better uptime, better skills, and easier to activate conditions than Sorcerers Storm Atronach Ultimate had for that same buff.

Sorcerers class masteries and passives already synergize far better with non-class and sub-classed abilities than they do with Sorcerers own class skills and the removal of minor Prophecy for a penetration buff (which doesn't tie in at all with any of Sorcerers class skills, or other passives, and is completely useless for group PvE content which is already at penetration cap without this buff) is just the cutting that final lingering thread of synergy the class lines had with each other, all for what? Just to be unique? Why not give Nightblade a unique crit damage buff and make Sorc the class for crit chance, since Sorcerer has abilities directly tied to high crit chance and Nightblade has abilities (and masteries) directly tied to max crit damage.

Someone from the combat team needs to come onto the forums, explain their reasons and expected goals for this change, why they think the removal of this last bit of in-class synergy was needed and actually do what @ZOS_NickG said ZOS would be focusing on in his most recent letter, communication and transparency.

U51 Sorcerer and Templar Changes – A Clear Nerf, not an increase in options or a unique buff.

This change is a direct nerf, not an improvement. A class’s power comes from its own damage, survivability, and group utility. Replacing the Sorc’s critical buff with a pen buff cuts a core stat(or Temple's damage trade to armor)—no matter what other benefit is added.

1. Pen does not replace critical value.(Armor either cant replace damage)
In PvE, pen/armor is easy to cap via gear and passives; critical / damage is always scarce. If pen/armor is already capped, the buffs are wasted.

2. “More flexibility” actually removes choice.
Previously, groups could freely pick which critical / damege buff to bring (Sorc or NB)/(DK or Temple), and it benefited the class itself. Now the new change is forced, Temple and Sorcs lose their own damage / critical, and the armor/pen may be irrelevant to the group. This isn’t adding options—it’s replacing a proven setup with an inferior one. If the change goes live,Temple / Sorcs will struggle as competitive DPS for the foreseeable future.

3. Sorc's skill redundancy remains unaddressed.
This update emphasizes "Hybridization," aiming to reduce redundancy and homogenization, but ignores the long-standing overlap in Sorc skills (multiple immobilizes, resource passives).
Sorc currently possesses:

a. Gaining 5-10% maximum resources across multiple passive abilities (Blood Magic, Expert Summoner)

b. Reduced resource consumption across multiple passive abilities (Unholy Knowledge, Persistence)

c. immobilize across multiple active abilities (Encase, Daedric Tomb)

d. Resource recovery across multiple active and passive abilities (Endless Fury, Energy Overload、Rebate) So why add this "unique Offensive Penetration" to Sorc? Sorc could already obtain a similar buff from Crystal Weapon (although the skill has flaws and low values, it can be easily adjusted).

Instead of this perfunctory, one-size-fits-all replacement, what Sorc really needs is a rework of the Exploiter or an integration of dark magic that allows warlocks to provide area-of-effect penetration while maintaining critical strike chance. The current approach isn't balanced—it's just a superficial nerf.Furthermore, after this change, Sorc's Exploiter will be completely unable to compete with NB's Hemorrhage.

4. Player feedback was dismissed.
Extensive objections were raised during before the PTS cycle, pointing out these exact issues. They were completely ignored in the final update. There’s no data or developer insight showing pen outperforms critical(or armor outperforms damage)—this feels like forcing Hybridization at the cost of Sorc and Temple’s identity.

5.In short: If a change forces you to re‑stack an easily overcapped stat while taking away a linearly scaling offensive stat, it’s a nerf—regardless of the wording.

Although there is nothing wrong with this Hybridization adjustment itself, it's a severe nerf to Sorc and Templars. Please at least add a corresponding buff to each of these classes on the same class line as compensation , until both classes are refreshed

For example: Blood Magic: When you cast a Dark Magic ability with a cost, you heal for 1600 Health if you are not at full Health. This portion of the ability scales off your Max Health. Provides you with 6% criticality.

Enduring Rays: Increases the duration of your Sun Fire, Eclipse, Solar Flare, and Nova abilities by 2 seconds and grants you 10% weapon and spell damage.

I believe most players understand the design goal of providing every class with a unique group utility to ensure Trial desirability, the current implementation results in severe net nerfs to personal damage, survivability, and build cohesion for both classes.
And we all know since it is known that there will be no class refresh this year, the next few temporary class balance adjustments will be crucial and will likely determine whether players wait for the class refresh, continue to support the game, or leave.

Key Issues with the Update 51 Utility Swaps
1. Sorcerer: Penetration Oversaturation vs. Critical Chance Scarcity
In optimized 12-man Trial groups, Penetration is one of the easiest stats to cap (18,200). Between standard debuffs (Major/Minor Breach for 8,922), Crusher enchants (2,108), CP passives, and ubiquitous support/tank sets like Alkosh, Crimson Oath, or Tremorscale, group penetration regularly reaches the cap.

The Math: When Penetration is already capped, an additional 2,974 Penetration yields 0% DPS increase.

Consequences: Trading a frequently unprofitable attribute for a linearly increasing and non-dilutable attribute (such as 6% critical strike chance) would result in a severe DPS loss for all teams without a NB and reduce Sorc's chances of playing DPS, thereby reducing the team's diversity.

Collateral (Critical Surge): Sorc usually uses Critical Surge as their primary passive healing engine, which requires critical hits to trigger. Stripping Critical Chance directly compromises Critical Surge uptime and passive survivability.

2. Templar: Loss of Core Damage Boosts for Irrelevant Armor Utility
Similar to the Sorcerer, the Templar's trade-off replaces core personal offensive stats with a unique group Armor/Resistance buff.

Redundant Utility: Defensive armor buffs in PvE are largely unnecessary outside of specific progression scenarios. Endgame groups prioritize offensive utility, damage mitigation percentages, or shields over raw armor values.

Severe Personal DPS Loss: Again, it similar to the Sorcerer Stripping Templars of personal damage passives cripples their baseline DPS output( no DK in group). Giving a damage-oriented class a purely defensive group passive—while stripping their own damage—leaves Templars in a worse position for both solo and group content.

3. Unnecessary Sacrifice
Swapping the offensive attributes of these two classes (which have no upper limit) for attributes or defensive attributes that are easily reached at this stage, forcing them to rely on another class to obtain their original attributes, is a clear form of deprivation and inequality, while also reducing the diversity of team choices. This could have been avoided; many players had already warned about this a month ago.

4. Ignored Skill Redundancy
Both classes already suffer from redundant skills and passives . Simply overwriting core offensive passives with redundant group stats fails to address the underlying mechanical bloat and weakness of either class.

Proposed Constructive Solutions
Option A: Decouple Group Utilities from Personal Offensive Passives
Restore their passives and move the new group utility effects to active skill interactions—for example, granting group Penetration or Armor for 10 seconds upon casting a Dark Magic or Aedric Spear ability with a cost.

Option B: Replace Penetration/Armor with Non-Capped Offensive Utility
If unique group passives are intended, replace Penetration and Armor with offensive stats that never suffer from a hard cap. Examples include:Unique % Critical or % Damage (similar to Minor Berserk or Minor Slayer mechanics).

Conclusion
Forcing easily oversaturated stats or irrelevant defensive stats (Armor) onto Sorcerers and Templars does not create true group value—it creates a net-negative trade-off that harms both casual and endgame players. I hope the combat team to reconsider these changes before Update 51 goes live.