Blizzard is testing the Azerite armor in the Alpha of Battle for Azeroth. However, many WoW fans find the feature rather modest so far.
In the current version of the Alpha of Battle for Azeroth, Blizzard is testing the first items of the Azerite armor. This is one of the major features of the latest expansion of World of Warcraft and is intended to enable a completely new way of progression.
To summarize briefly: All players receive the “Heart of Azeroth” in Battle for Azeroth – a piece of jewelry for which they collect Azerite to level it up. Depending on the level of the Heart of Azeroth, additional abilities can then be unlocked in specific equipment slots (chest, shoulders, pants).
In the first preview of this feature, fans have, however, not said anything good about the system – and that is understandable.
Azerite is one of the 5 major innovations of Battle for Azeroth – we show you the others here!
Fixed selection forces into specific specializations
At the lowest level, every Azerite armor has four possible upgrades. One for each specialization and a neutral one that benefits in every specialization. So if you play a Retribution Paladin, you will probably choose the trait that increases damage of Retribution abilities.
Here comes the first problem: The selection is permanent. If the player changes their specialization, for example from Retribution to Holy, they still retain the bonus for the Retribution ability – which they cannot use. The upgrade becomes useless in this case.
The upgrades at the next levels are also very specific:
- For example, mages can deal additional physical damage when enemies are below 30% health.
- Alternatively, a permanent bonus on mastery and leech can be chosen.
- Or would you prefer a proc that randomly increases one of the secondary attributes for a few seconds?
Those wanting to choose the optimum here will have to do a lot of theorycrafting or run their character through several simulations again.
Intuitive looks different.
The YouTube channel Thete Gaming has presented a small preview of the abilities:
Azerite armor, the all-in-one – just without eggs, wool, milk, or meat
The biggest criticism is that the Azerite armor wants to be too much at once. No wonder, as you not only have to gather the artifact weapons from Legion, but also the legendary items and the Netherlight Crucible from Patch 7.3. All these mechanics and bonuses are more or less integrated into the Azerite armor.
This leads to many problems. Players need to have multiple sets of chest, shoulder, and leg armor ready to be optimally prepared for every situation. Is a fight requiring a lot of area damage? Then I take the Azerite armor with the small area damage spell. Is a fight entering a critical “Enrage” phase? Then I need bonus damage in the last 30% of the fight.
Those wanting to get the most out of their class will therefore need three, four, or even five sets – and that only for one specialization. For those who also like to switch roles, the number of necessary items increases even further.
If the system comes in its current form, the inventory slots of the characters will likely be filled again with second, third, and fourth equipment.
However, it must be noted that Azerite armor is still in a very early testing phase and the system is not fully implemented yet. So far, there is only one item per class, and the design is – presumably – still far from final.
What is your opinion on Azerite armor? A cool feature that will somewhat offset the loss of artifact weapons? Or do you see it like the critics and fear that it will become an endless grind that no longer allows secondary specializations?
