These old abilities are returning in WoW: Battle for Azeroth

With Battle for Azeroth, many abilities return that were removed from World of Warcraft. We will tell you which skills these are.

Over the years and many expansions, classes in World of Warcraft have fundamentally changed several times. There have been new talents and fresh abilities, while old talents and skills disappeared. Especially with Cataclysm, Warlords of Draenor, and Legion, Blizzard removed some abilities from the game.

The reasons were varied. Some abilities had too little utility or were only supposed to be available to certain specializations. Other abilities were too powerful and made all classes feel “the same” because they could all stun.

With Battle for Azeroth, the next WoW expansion, Blizzard is reversing course and bringing back some of the previously removed abilities. We will tell you which abilities will soon be available again:

Mage

• Arcane Intellect: The popular group buff from Classic returns. The intelligence value of all affected targets (group or raid) is increased by 10% for 60 minutes.

Warlock

• Shadow Fury: The area stun is no longer a talent and is now available to all Warlocks.
• Shadow Bolt: Affliction Warlocks get Shadow Bolt back. This gives them “one more button” to press – they especially suffered from having too few useful abilities.

Priest

• Power Word: Fortitude: All Priests regain the buff that increases the stamina of the group or raid by 10% for 60 minutes.
• Leap of Faith: Shadow Priests will once again be able to protect (or troll) their teammates – because Leap of Faith returns. This allows the Shadow Priest to pull a friendly player to their own position.

  

Warrior

• Battle Cry: All Warriors receive Battle Cry as a “new” buff. Battle Cry increases the strength and agility of all group and raid members by 10% for 60 minutes.
• Overpower: Arms Warriors get Overpower back after it was previously a talent. The attack cannot be blocked, dodged, or parried and increases the damage of the next Execute or Mortal Strike by 30%.

Shaman

• Totem of Tidal Waves: This mass stun is available to every Shaman. A totem that activates after two seconds and stuns all enemies in the vicinity. Currently, this is still a talent.
• Tremor Totem: This totem is also returning. For 10 seconds, the totem persists and removes fear, charm, and sleep from all group or raid members.

Druid

• Hibernate: Druids will soon be able to put dragons and wild animals to sleep for 40 seconds. This also works with Druids in shapeshift form, leading to funny situations in PvP.
• Soothing: All Druids will be able to remove rage effects from enemies. This affects abilities from NPC opponents, but also Warriors in PvP who are much tamer without rage.

Monk

• Sweeping Strikes: Windwalker Monks get Sweeping Strikes for free – it no longer requires a talent. Enemies within 5 meters are knocked back and stunned for a few seconds.
• Ring of Peace: Also free for Windwalkers is the Ring of Peace, which was previously a talent as well. The Monk creates a large ring for 8 seconds. When enemies enter it, they are knocked back out of it.

Please note that this is still information from the Alpha version of Battle for Azeroth. Therefore, things may change until release.

What do you think about these abilities returning? Are you looking forward to it? Or was it good that things like the Tremor Totem disappeared from the game because they were too powerful?

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You can find all information about Battle for Azeroth in our comprehensive overview.