It took almost 2 decades, and now Blizzard is reworking the ancient honor system from World of Warcraft Classic. The days of the “endless grind” are over.
The honor system in World of Warcraft Classic is one of the oldest systems in MMORPGs. Even back then, it was viewed critically, as in its “Vanilla” version, it is based not on skill but solely on answering the question: Who can grind the most and do PvP 24/7? For only characters who earn the most honor in a week can rise to the top ranks.
This has already led to toxic and undesirable behavior in the past. For those with a job or any other hobby who still wanted to snag good PvP rewards, they had to use bots or engage in account-sharing to maximize their playtime in PvP.
Back then, it was mockingly said: “If you want rank 14 in PvP, you’d better take 4 weeks off, be unemployed, or be a student” – and that was often more true than not.
What is Blizzard changing now? Blizzard is removing the “Decay” system, that is, the automatic decay of honor ranks.
Those who have previously stopped participating in PvP activities have lost ranks over time. Thus, it was nearly impossible to maintain “Rank 14” for several weeks in a row. In the future, this should be easier, as you can always work on your PvP rank whenever you have a little time. This way, you can gradually work your way up to rank 14 and play intensively or less intensively.
However, the leap from rank 13 to rank 14 will probably still require a very intense week full of PvP, as the thresholds do not change.
You will never automatically lose an honor rank. Once you reach rank 12, you will be rank 12. With one exception:
Can you still lose ranks? Yes, it is still possible, but only if you accumulate “Dishonorable Kills”. So if you kill defenseless quest-giving NPCs or civilians, you can still diminish your PvP rank. So be mindful in the future of whom you beat up – and which NPCs might be around.
This is how the community reacts: In the WoW Classic subreddit and various forums, the topic is being discussed animatedly. While some believe that “everything is now being handed to you” because you no longer have to play for 6 weeks straight without a break, others see the advantages.
Many are looking forward to being able to work on a high PvP rank at their own pace. The automatic “setback” in PvP feels like a relic from another time and has never been enjoyable.
The change applies both to the Classic era and the new season of discoveries.
