The gearing system in World of Warcraft is undergoing a drastic overhaul. With patch 10.1, it will get complicated – and yet so much simpler.

In many MMORPGs, and especially in World of Warcraft, the endgame is primarily about the hunt for better loot. The strongest weapon, the most effective trinket, and of course an impressive set of gear with as high an item level as possible. However, how equipment can be upgraded in WoW has been revised multiple times over the past years. With patch 10.1 Flames of Neltharion, the developers are once again trying a major rework of the upgrade mechanics – and incidentally removing the valor points.

WoW aims to simplify everything, introducing two new currencies

Even though it may initially seem like a “typical Blizzard move” to introduce more and new currencies while simplifying things, the system makes sense. Instead of the many different currencies used to upgrade various types of PvE gear, everything is being consolidated into a unified system. There are two new currencies:

• Flightstones: The Flightstone (approximately: “Squad Stones”) can be obtained from almost all PvE content. Whether it be world quests, treasures, dungeons, or raids, every PvE activity can yield Flightstones. This is the primary currency for upgrading items.
• Shadowflame Crests: The second currency, the Shadowflame Crests (approximately: “Emblems of Shadowflame”) come from world events, dungeons, and raids. They exist in four varieties:
  • Whelpling’s Shadowflame Crest (LFR level)
  • Drake’s Shadowflame Crest (Normal level)
  • Wyrm’s Shadowflame Crest (Heroic level)
  • Aspect’s Shadowflame Crest (Mythic level)

With these two currencies, almost all equipment you obtain in patch 10.1 from PvE content can be upgraded.

Which items are not included in the system? Even though the system aims to encompass a large portion of items in WoW, there are some items that are excluded, either relying on a different system or not being upgradable. These include:

• PvP items: PvP rewards continue to use the upgrade system tied to honor and personal PvP rating.
• Crafted items: Items crafted through professions will continue to be upgraded as before through “recrafting”.
• Mythic raid items: Equipment at the level of mythic raids cannot be upgraded further. The very best items at the “item level cap” are thus only available through direct drops and the weekly cache – just as before.

How does the upgrading work? Although it may seem like a lot of information and overwhelming at first glance, the system is relatively simple once you get accustomed to it.

When an item is created (i.e., when you loot an item level), a category and an upgrade rank are assigned to it. Thus, most items can be upgraded between 4 and 8 times.

Each upgrade requires both new resources for each upgrade step. The flightstones effectively act as a replacement for valor points. They are the “mass currency” that you can accumulate.

Shadowflame Crests, on the other hand, are required for upgrading when you want to raise an item level to one that you do not yet possess. Higher-level items require better Shadowflame Crests (from “Whelpling” to “Aspect”). The Shadowflame Crests are limited to 10 of each type per week; however, it is expected that “this will be so much that most players will not reach this limit.” Moreover, the cap increases. If you don’t play in the first week, you can collect 20 Shadowflame Crests in the second week.

However, upgrading is significantly cheaper if you already own an item in the same slot with a higher item level, as then the Shadowflame Crests are waived and the costs of the flightstones are halved.

This system also works similarly for twinks. There is thus a built-in “twink-friendliness”, where costs for second characters are reduced as long as their item level is lower or equal to that of your best character. However, the costs for Shadowflame Crests still apply.

What is the goal of the system? Basically, Blizzard is trying to make every gameplay content rewarding. Since you can acquire flightstones almost everywhere, it can be worth assisting friends at a lower raid level or supporting them with lower “Mythic+” keystones. While tougher content yields more of this currency, lower content is still worthwhile to a certain extent.

Furthermore, Blizzard emphasizes that the same amount of loot is still being awarded. The goal is simply to create a more unified system for upgrading that accommodates as many playstyles as possible.

Will the system last forever? No, not necessarily. Blizzard wants to test this type of upgrade system mainly in season 2 of Dragonflight and listen to the feedback from players. If it is well received, it could become the new standard. If not, there will be adjustments or even a return to the old model.

What is your first impression of this system? A good evolution and solid solution? Or complicated and cumbersome?

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In Patch 10.1 Glut von Neltharion gibt es eine Mechanik, die nur noch die ältesten Veteranen von World of Warcraft kennen. Die beliebten „Class Calls“ kommen zurück.

In World of Warcraft gibt es zahlreiche Kämpfe, die Spielern wohl für viele Jahrzehnte in Erinnerung bleiben werden – vor allem wegen der interessanten Mechaniken. So eine sind auch die „Class Calls“, die den Spielern zuletzt im Jahr 2005 begegnet sind. Diese feiern mit Patch 10.1 im Raid „Aberrus, der Schattentiegel“ eine Rückkehr.

Was sind die „Class Calls“? Die sogenannten „Class Calls“ dürften WoW-Fans der ersten Stunde noch in Erinnerung haben. Denn damals konnte im Pechschwingenhort (BWL) der Endboss Nefarian diese Fähigkeit einsetzen. Er rief eine zufällige Klasse auf und zwang sie, bestimmte Fähigkeiten einzusetzen. So wurden Paladine etwa gezwungen, Nefarian mit positiven Segen zu belegen, während Magier ihre Teamkollegen mittels Polymorph in verschiedenste Tiere verwandelten.

Da Neltharion der Vater von Nefarian war, ist es nur passend, dass sein Überbleibsel ebenfalls von einer solchen Mechanik Gebrauch macht. Denn einer der Bosse in Aberrus ist ein Abbild von Neltharion, das die Zeiten offenbar überdauert hat.

Was machen Neltharion’s Class Calls? Die Auswirkungen der Class Calls gibt es bereits dank des Dataminings. Diese Effekte könnt ihr künftig erwarten:

• Krieger: Neltharion zwingt Krieger für 30 Sekunden alle 6 Sekunden in einen Wilden Klingensturm, wodurch sie allen Spielern und Kreaturen innerhalb von 8 Metern jede Sekunde für 4 Sekunden hohen Schaden verursachen.

• Paladin: Neltharion verdirbt den Glauben der Paladine und zwingt sie für 30 Sekunden alle 6 Sekunden Rechtschaffene Hämmer zu entfesseln, der allen Spielern und Kreaturen in ihrem Pfad hohen Schaden zufügt.

• Jäger: Neltharion zwingt Jäger dazu, verderbte Begleiter aus ihrem Stall zu rufen und sie angreifen zu lassen. Bei ihrem Tod lösen die Begleiter „Entfesselte Dunkelheit“ aus und verursachen extrem hohen Schaden an allen Kreaturen innerhalb von 10 Metern.

• Schurke: Neltharion verdirbt die natürliche Gerissenheit der Schurken und sorgt dafür, dass sie alle 10 Sekunden einen Schattenschritt auf einen Verbündeten wirken und diesem für hohen physischen Schaden in den Rücken stechen.

• Priester: Neltharions Verderbnis sorgt dafür, dass der Glaube der Priester ins Wanken gerät, was sie dazu zwingt, für 30 Sekunden alle 6 Sekunden einen Verzweifelten Schrei auszustoßen, der Spielern im direkten Umkreis für 6 Sekunden jede Sekunde mittleren Schaden zufügt und sie in Angst fliehen lässt.

• Todesritter: Neltharion bemächtigt sich der Macht über den Untod der Todesritter und zwingt sie für 30 Sekunden, alle 6 Sekunden Verbündete mit Todesgriff zu sich zu ziehen.

• Schamane: Neltharion zwingt die Schamanen, ein Totem zu stellen, das ein Schattenelementar beschwört und bindet, das Spieler angreift. Bei seinem Tod löst das Schattenelementar „Entfesselte Dunkelheit“ aus und verursacht extrem hohen Schaden an allen Kreaturen innerhalb von 10 Metern.

• Magier: Neltharion verdirbt den Fluss der arkanen Energien im Magier und zwingt sie für 30 Sekunden, alle 6 Sekunden in wilder Magie auszubrechen und für 4 Sekunden alle 0,5 Sekunden hohen Schaden an allen Spielern und Kreaturen innerhalb von 10 Metern zu verursachen.

• Hexenmeister: Neltharion zwingt die Hexenmeister, eine Gefräßige Leerenbestie zu beschwören, die während ihrer Lebensdauer alle 5 Sekunden für Schattenschaden an allen Spielern pulsiert. Bei ihrem Tod löst die Leerenbestie „Entfesselte Dunkelheit“ aus und verursacht extrem hohen Schaden an allen Kreaturen innerhalb von 10 Metern.

• Mönch: Neltharion verdirbt die Essenz des Mönchs und splittert drei Geister von ihm ab, die außerhalb ihrer Kontrolle angreifen und zufällige Spieler mit Fliegender Geistertritt anspringen. Wenn sie sterben, lösen die Geister „Entfesselte Dunkelheit“ aus und verursachen extrem hohen Schaden an allen Kreaturen innerhalb von 10 Metern.

• Druide: Neltharion nutzt die Verbindung der Druiden zur Natur aus und zwingt sie für 30 Sekunden, sich alle 6 Sekunden in eine zufällige Tiergestalt zu verwandeln.

• Dämonenjäger: Neltharion zwingt die Dämonenjäger für 30 Sekunden alle 6 Sekunden in chaotische Klingentänze auszubrechen, die mehrfach hohen Chaosschaden an allen Spielern und Kreaturen innerhalb von 8 Metern verursachen.

• Rufer: Neltharion ergreift die Kontrolle über die Rufer und zwingt sie für 30 Sekunden, alle 6 Sekunden einen Wilden Atem zu zaubern, der mittleren Schaden an allen Spielern anrichtet, während sie über das Schlachtfeld fliegen.

Was haltet ihr davon? Coole Sache, dass diese Mechanik abgewandelt zurückkommt? Oder ist das nur „altes wieder aufgewärmt“?

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The latest class in World of Warcraft is getting even bigger – at least that’s what the data mining suggests. A questline promises Dracthyr a third talent tree.

Although Patch 10.0.7 will be released in just a few days, data mining for Patch 10.1 Fury of Neltharion is already in full swing. A still incomplete questline has attracted special attention, as it teases a new specialization for the Evoker class in World of Warcraft. We reveal what it’s all about – and how likely it is.

Spoiler warning: This article contains details about a possible questline in Patch 10.1 – but you should have already noticed that while reading the introduction.

What was found? In the game data of Patch 10.1, the colleagues from wowhead uncovered some exciting details about an incomplete questline. The questline currently only exists in outlines, and the quest text is incomplete. Instead of the actual quest text, there is a summary of what is supposed to happen during the quest. Particularly suspicious is the first quest, as it states (translated):

Only for Evokers. Upon login, you will be greeted with the message “REMINDERS OF A NEW SPECIALIZATION”. This quest appears at the mailbox and is from Emberthal, who wants you to travel to the Forbidden Island. The secret revealed in Patch 10.0.7 (does not need to be completed for this quest) will unfold and she needs your help to dissuade Ebyssian, whom she views as futile.

The next quest step is a longer RP event where the player character activates some objects while Ebyssian and Emberthal have a conversation. It gets interesting again only during the next quest.

In the currently last step, Adamanthia must be subdued and the Evoker hero must assist Ebyssian and Emberthal. The description states that you should either “boost/heal Ebyssian and Emberthal (most efficient method) or deal damage to Adamantia.”

What does this mean? The interpretation from wowhead is that Evokers may receive another “Support” specialization, focusing on empowering and enhancing allies – so it would likely be a healer specialization with additional boosting effects. However, this is still just data mining and in a very early state. It also occasionally happens that initiated and later discarded ideas still exist in parts within the game data. Until more information is available, this information should be taken with caution.

How likely is a new specialization? That Blizzard would provide a wholly new specialization during a class expansion seems quite odd at first glance. However, since this would be a specialization for the Evoker, which was implemented with Dragonflight, the likelihood does increase somewhat. It could give the class an additional boost, and if this comes true, Blizzard likely planned it a long time ago.

Has Blizzard done something like this before? To a smaller extent, yes. Blizzard once split the druid specialization “Feral” into two new specializations, namely Guardian and Feral – previously the same talent tree with many overlaps. This made druids the first class with 4 specializations and strictly speaking, the first class to receive a “new” specialization – even though it had been playable before.

Would you be excited about a third Evoker specialization? What should it look like to make the Evoker class interesting for you?

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