Legion will fundamentally change the PvP of World of Warcraft – but what exactly is happening here?
Old game in new guise?
With the upcoming expansion “Legion”, the PvP of World of Warcraft will be completely revamped. Not only will the old Honor and Valor system be retired, but a host of new PvP talents will also be introduced. We will explain how the new systems work and what Blizzard had in mind.
PvP Talents and Honor Levels
The biggest change is probably the introduction of Honor levels. Honor points will now be accumulated like experience and used to level up. Step by step, you will rise with every level gain up to 50, unlocking gold rewards and PvP talents along the way. These talents will only apply in PvP and will act in addition to a character’s normal talents!
For example, a druid could improve their Entangling Roots so that they are not removed upon taking damage. Monks can modify their “Tiger Palm” ability so that it becomes a charge that slows the affected enemy. Each class and specialization will have its own talents that will be particularly significant in PvP situations.
As Honor points disappear, the old PvP gear will no longer be purchasable with them. But don’t worry, Blizzard will make it accessible in other ways – probably just for a fixed amount of gold.
Is equipment irrelevant?
In the current PvP system, equipment still plays a significant role. A difference of 25 item levels can represent about a 25% difference in character strength in PvP. In Legion, the significance of equipment will be minimized. Thus, each item level will only provide a power increase of 0.1% in PvP. The remaining stats will come from a template that Blizzard creates separately for each class and specialization.
Essentially, all shadow priests will have the same stats. This allows Blizzard to quickly address imbalances between different classes and strengthen or weaken individual specializations as needed.
Does that make equipment completely irrelevant in PvP? Not entirely. Equipment still makes you a few percentage points stronger. At the same time, PvP gear will also perform quite well in PvE. So for those who want to be raid-ready through PvP, there is nothing stopping them.
Prestige – For those who want the fun multiple times
If you prefer to spend your time all day in the battlegrounds, enjoy titles, mounts, and companions, then you won’t be able to avoid the Prestige system. Once you reach Honor level 50, you can choose to reduce your level back to 1. In doing so, you will lose all unlocked talents, but in return, you’ll receive rewards in the form of certain titles and other cosmetic upgrades.
This can be repeated multiple times to unlock new and better things each time. Among other rewards, a faction banner awaits, which heroes can carry into battle, and your portrait will become increasingly imposing – friends and enemies will be able to recognize immediately who they are dealing with!
Finally, a glance was cast at the upcoming new arenas – at least two will be included in World of Warcraft: Legion.
