WoW Classic just dropped some exhilarating updates with the latest hotfix for the Season of Discovery. Get ready to explore class balance changes, as well as the introduction of Core Forged and Draconic Exchange. These tweaks are bound to shake things up!
This hotfix is all about refining gameplay. The class balance changes aim to make sure that every role feels workable. I mean, who doesn’t love feeling powerful while slaying mobs? It’s like a breath of fresh air! But let’s be real, not everyone will be happy with these shifts. Players who have mastered their classes might feel uneasy seeing their hard work recalibrated.
The addition of Core Forged, which allows players to craft unique items tailored to their playstyle, is another exciting twist. This allows everyone to personalize their gear more than ever before. Talk about customization galore! However, it could also lead to debates within the community about what “optimal” really means. Doesn’t love some friendly competition?
Draconic Exchange, in contrast, introduces new ways for players to get rare materials by trading with NPCs. This could become a game-changer for those looking to level up their crafting skills or find that elusive piece they’ve been hunting forever! Imagine going from zero to hero just by making a few trades!
Season of Discovery
- Anachronos will now allow you to get another Scepter of the Shifting Sands if yours is misplaced.
- The Season of Discovery versions of the original Darkmoon Cards are now obtainable from their quests.
- Songflower Lullaby, Dark Fortune of Damage, and Blessing of Neptulon will no longer cancel when entering instances.
- Players can now go into Blackwing Lair and change any Tier 2 items with Tier 1 set bonuses back into the Tier 2 item with Tier 2 set bonuses.
- Draught of the Sands for Hunters and Rogues will no longer erroneously stack under certain conditions.
- Unbalancing Strike from the Twin Emperors encounter in the Temple of Ahn’Qiraj will no longer affect the bonus attack power or spell damage gained from Defender’s Resolve. You will always gain these stats based on your pre-Unbalancing Strike defense skill.
- Druid
- Moonkin Form now grants 3 spell damage per level (was 2).
- Hunter
- Tranquilizing Shot will no longer consume a stack of Lock and Load.
- Resourcefulness no longer erroneously reduces the cooldown of Deterrence.
- Tranquilizing Shot will once again correctly work against the SIlithid Darter during the Hunter Quest chain.
- Swapping off of Rapid Killing to Lock and Load now prevents the use of Lock and Load for 60 seconds.
- Mage
- Fire Mage Tier 2.5 4-piece bonus decreased to 10% (was 20%).
- Fire Mage Ruins of Ahn’Qiraji 3-piece set bonus decreased to 9% (was 20%).
- Living Bomb now has an additional line of text that reads: “Living Bomb benefits from all talents and effects that trigger from or modify Scorch” allowing ticks of Living Bomb and the Explosion to apply Fire Vulnerability if talented.
- Fingers of Frost has a 25% chance to activate (was 15%).
- Ice Lance damage from spell power increased by 300%.
- Ice Lance deals 400% damage to frozen targets (was 300%).
- The Ice Lance rune now has a passive that states “When your other frost spells deal damage to a non-player-controlled target, they increase the target’s damage taken from your next Ice Lance by 20%. This effect stacks up to 5 times and requires the Winter’s Chill talent.”
- Wrath of Cenarius will now correctly proc from Balefire Bolt, Spellfrost Bolt, and Frozen Orb.
- Mages can no longer consume another mage’s Glaciate stacks.
- Priest
- The T2.5 Shadow Priest 4-piece set bonus has been decreased to 10% increased Mind Spike damage (was 20%).
- The T1 6-piece Shadow set bonus will now correctly consume the Melting Faces buff after casting Mind Flay.
- Rogue
- The Draught of the Sands now has a version for Rogues available from vendors.
- Unbalancing Strike from the Twin Emperor’s encounter in the Temple of Ahn’Qiraj will no longer cause the Rogue to lose any of their Physical Damage Reduction gained through their defense skill and Blade Dance.
- Shaman
- Different ranks of Flame Shock will no longer stack.
- Flame Shock’s original sound effect has been restored.
- Lava Lash’s bonus damage from Flametongue Weapon reduced from to 100% (was 125%).
- Warlock
- Scythe of Chaos will no longer kill your pet, but instead dismiss it, allowing it to retain its buffs when resummoned.
- Warlock pets will now correctly inherit their master’s Fire or Shadow spell hit chance based on whichever is higher.
- Warlock pets will now correctly gain full value of spell hit chance for their spells.
- Warlock pets will now correctly gain 80% of their master’s spell hit as physical hit.
- Warlock pets will gain -0.5 reduction to their chance to be dodged or parried if any ring rune is engraved on their master.
- The Tank Warlock T2 two-piece set bonus will no longer use the target’s health to life tap if you are in a neutral city.
- If Mark of Chaos is applied by Curse of Agony, Mark of Chaos will now linger for 3 seconds after the Curse of Agony aura fades.
- Developers’ notes: This is to allow Warlocks who are using Curse of Agony to have a window where they can let their Curse of Agony fully fade, and not lose the raid’s Mark of Chaos debuff before they reapply it. This will eliminate the need to clip the end of a Curse of Agony in order to benefit the raid.
This update has sparked plenty of chatter across forums and social media platforms. Players are excited yet cautious about how these changes will affect their favorite classes and all in all gameplay dynamics. It’s always interesting to see how Blizzard listens (or sometimes doesn’t) to player feedback during such pivotal moments.
This update sets the stage for future developments in WoW Classic. With ongoing adjustments and new features rolling out regularly, it’s clear that Blizzard is committed to keeping things fresh and us on our toes!
