Cortyn from MeinMMO was exploring Torghast and explains why the new feature in WoW: Shadowlands is so much fun.
The Tower of Torghast was introduced at BlizzCon 2019 as one of the few major features of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. An almost endless tower with mobs and great bonus effects. However, it didn’t take long for initial voices to say that it was basically just “Disturbing Visions in a new outfit.” So it was time to take a closer look at Torghast. Since I, Cortyn from MeinMMO, can already participate in the alpha, I did just that.
To summarize: I am addicted, and Torghast is the coolest thing that could happen to WoW.
The structure of Torghast is great: Currently, Torghast exists in an early raw version in the alpha. An almost endless dungeon consisting of numerous layers. At the end of each floor is a portal that leads to the next floor. Which one it is, will probably be determined by chance.
However, not all floors are identically structured. Here are a few examples of what I have discovered so far:
- Floors with many enemies and a clear, unambiguous path.
- Floors with many nested paths.
- Floors with trapped NPCs who need help and offer small mini-quests.
- Floors with countless traps, like swinging axes, fire traps, or projectiles.
- Floors with a vendor where you can buy new Anima powers.
Each floor feels a little different. Even though the floors may start to resemble each other after a while, the system is virtually endlessly scalable. Blizzard can simply develop and add new floors, perhaps over the course of several patches.
Why go to Torghast? Basically, you collect components for legendary gear in Torghast – that is the primary purpose. There are currently no other rewards in the alpha, but they are expected to come.
However, the rewards are not what makes the mode so great. It’s simply fun, without additional incentives in the form of gear.
Additionally, you unlock numerous Anima powers that only apply for this one run. There are a variety of effects, and in my first visit alone, I had over 20 cool buffs and bonuses that enhanced my character. This ranged from simple improvements like “3% more versatility” to effects like “You can choose another talent from your specialization.”.
Eye Beam as an Unbeatable Power
Anyone who knows me a little may have also read my column on the Demon Hunter and knows that I regard Eye Beam as the panacea for the Demon Hunter. In Torghast, Blizzard apparently thought, “There’s more to it” and correspondingly cool Anima bonuses were implemented. Here are a number of effects from the Demon Hunter that I was lucky enough to receive in my first run:
- The cooldown of Eye Beam is reduced by 85% during Metamorphosis.
- Eye Beam has a 20% chance not to trigger a cooldown.
- While using Eye Beam, you are immune to all damage.
- Critical strike damage is increased by 20% (Eye Beam always crits).
The combination of these bonuses allows me to melt bosses through a skillful “Eye Beam rotation” where I don’t use any other spells and save my Metamorphosis for it.
The whole thing can be taken even further. I can also choose a bonus that ensures that my Metamorphosis is extended by 6 seconds each time I kill a specific enemy. This means that on some floors I don’t have to leave Metamorphosis at all.
Risky buffs make it exciting: However, there are also buffs that offer a strong effect but come with a drawback. These should be used thoughtfully. One effect, for instance, causes me to deal all damage taken back to enemies in the vicinity – but I can no longer move backwards. As a melee fighter who often rushes towards an enemy and then takes a step or two back to reposition, this is unusual.
Another effect causes my Fel Rush to deal 400% more damage – however, it costs me 15% of my health points if I do not hit an enemy. These are cool, interesting decisions, but they are never permanent. Because after a run, all bonuses are gone, and I collect new ones.
Clearly better than visions: Unlike the Disturbing Visions, Torghast improves or at least changes several aspects. There is no real time pressure. Additionally, at the beginning of each new floor, you can take a short break, because there is a rest zone there. Also, after a death, it is not immediately over. Each player or the entire group (because Torghast can be played with 1-5 players) has a pool of deaths allowed. Only after that does a limit come into play, making the tower so strong that you can hardly continue.
The pure “flow” of Torghast is more fun. Discovering abilities along the way always leads to little moments of joy. The floors with traps can be quite challenging and require good timing. At the vendor, I can shop in peace and acquire new strong buffs or increase the number of my remaining lives.
Torghast is fun, even without rewards
The absurdity is that the feature is already incredibly fun. Even though I know that rewards are not yet implemented and things earned in an alpha always have the dull flavor of “I will lose this anyway”, I don’t mind. Torghast is grand. Torghast is a feature that can individually make WoW: Shadowlands interesting for many months if Blizzard continues down this path. I haven’t had this much fun with a new feature in a long time and can’t wait to finally experience it in live play.
If Blizzard has designed the Anima bonuses of the other classes just half as cool as with the Demon Hunter, then I will probably come to nothing other than Torghast. Especially if the developers put in as many (cosmetic) rewards into the system as they did in BfA with the island expeditions.
And if you would excuse me now, I have work to do. Just one more floor…
