Patch 9.1.5 of World of Warcraft brings a lot that players have been wishing for. We have all the content and novelties here for you.
The content of Patch 9.1 has become stale for many players of World of Warcraft, and there has been eager anticipation for the update 9.1.5. The patch is finally live and has brought many improvements, fulfilling the community’s wishes. This aims to make the time spent in the Shadowlands more pleasant. We will tell you everything that has changed with Patch 9.1.5.
Note: The article will be regularly updated with new information when changes occur in Patch 9.1.5. Currently, it is up to date as of 03.11.2021 – the release date of the patch.
Quick Overview of Patch 9.1.5
When is the release date? The patch went live on 03.11.2021. You can already play it.
Are there new zones, dungeons, or raids? No. Patch 9.1.5 is a “minor” patch that mainly brings improvements to existing content.
What are the highlights? Factions can be switched without penalty, Legion Timewalking comes along with the Mage Tower, and the AoE cap will be removed again.
New Content in Patch 9.1.5
Even though there are no particularly large content updates like new raids, dungeons, or areas, there are a few novelties in the form of fresh or rehashed content to keep players entertained.
Timewalking: Legion: Particularly noteworthy here is the Timewalking: Legion, which will run for the first time for 2 weeks and then integrates into the usual rhythm. Unusually this time, the dungeons will also be available in their “Mythic+” version, offering great rewards that you can upgrade with Valor Points. The following dungeons will return with Timewalking:
- The Ravencrest
- The Eye of Azshara
- The Darkheart Thicket
- The Vortex Pinnacle
- Neltharion’s Lair
- The Court of Stars
In the “Mythic+” timewalking, these dungeons will all have their own affixes, separate from the rest of the “Mythic+” system.
Return to the Mage Tower: The Mage Tower from Legion will reopen in Patch 9.1.5 – at least during Timewalking: Legion. There are the familiar challenges for all classes to overcome, but now with new rewards in the form of a set. A special treat awaits Guardian Druids, as they can earn a new skin of the “Bear Form”.
More Timewalking Dungeons: Even though “Timewalking: Legion” is one of the highlights of Patch 9.1.5, work is also being done on other timewalking periods and new content will be added. In total, 9 old dungeons will return in addition to the existing ones and ensure that old instances from Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, and others can soon be tackled meaningfully again.
New Character Customizations: A few races can look forward to new options for how their character can look. Especially Nightborne, Lightforged Draenei, and Void Elves will receive additional cosmetic options that you can select at your trusted barber in the future. These include varying ear lengths, new hair colors for Void Elves, different tail lengths for Draenei, and new tattoos for Nightborne.
New Forms for Druids and Night Fae: Followers of the Night Fae covenant can be particularly happy, as they will receive even more soul shapes to choose from. Additionally, there will be “small creature forms,” such as squirrels or Corgis. However, these can only be used in rest areas. Druids are also expected to receive new travel forms, but details are still missing.
Improvements in Patch 9.1.5
Aside from these larger improvements and novelties, there are also a lot of small tweaks and adjustments that are not that significant and may only interest a fraction of players. But due to the abundance, there is likely to be something for every player.
Improvements to Shadowlands
Probably the biggest changes will be made by Blizzard to the covenant system. After nearly a year of criticism, the developers accept the community’s feedback and ensure that switching covenants is possible without issues. This comes with a whole series of further changes:
- Covenants can be freely switched at a certain renown level – without penalties. This way, every character can earn the cosmetic items of each covenant and swap all covenant abilities at will.
- Redeemed souls can now be farmed much more efficiently, as the weekly limit is removed.
- Conduit Energy will be abolished.
- Heirlooms can be upgraded further and also be worn in Shadowlands.
- The covenant campaign can be skipped if a character on the account has already completed that campaign.
- The grind is generally weakened; many things go faster now
However, much attention is also being paid to feedback and criticism outside of the covenants. The experience in the dungeons is drastically improved. The AoE cap on many abilities is removed, and the worst affixes are made significantly more bearable.
- The AoE cap is removed, and over 40 abilities are adjusted accordingly.
- The 3 most annoying affixes are weakened: Inspiring, Angry, and Necrotic.
- The Maw intro can be skipped.
- Characters can now level in Torghast.
- Legendary items can be “recycled” to obtain the resources back.
- Characters can farm unlimited Soul Ash and Soul Cinders – every day. There is no longer a daily cap.
- Hunters can tame 3 new types of pets and add them to their stable.
- Dying will be more pleasant, as you can fly as a ghost.
- Korthia will be more pleasant for twinks, as they will receive more reputation and loot.
Improvements to old content
Furthermore, there are adjustments for actually outdated content that is still visited, for example, to collect transmog or mounts. This includes:
- Island Expeditions can now also be started solo. This way, all the rewards are farmable for solo players, and you are no longer dependent on a whole group.
- Warfronts can now be triggered with at least 5 players teaming up. It is no longer necessary to have at least 15 players.
- Players only need to complete the achievement “Assault on the Tomb” once per account to unlock the class mounts. The rest of the quests must still be completed.
- Legacy raids will be adjusted so they are easier for solo players to handle. Alone 10 bosses will be drastically nerfed in Legion to be beatable for solo players.
Changes to Classes
With a new patch, many new balance changes also come into play. While these are not as plentiful in Patch 9.1.5 as players are used to, there is still much to report.
The biggest change is the adjustment of the AoE cap on many abilities of almost all classes. Classes were previously limited to dealing damage to a maximum of 5 targets with one ability, but this cap is now removed or significantly expanded. This means that additional targets will take less damage, but at least all targets will be hit. As a result, all classes are at least somewhat viable in all situations.
Real buffs are given, for example, to the Frost Mage, whose three most important abilities now deal 10% more damage on average.
If you’re interested in all class changes in detail, this article delivers all the information about class adjustments.
Other Innovations
Besides that, there are also a few adjustments that do not directly relate to gameplay but are more aimed at fostering a more sociable interaction. In the future, Blizzard will send a warning to all players who have been reported too often, perhaps for spam or offensive language. If the behavior does not improve, there will be consequences. Players who report such incidents will also be informed that their report resulted in a sanction.
Controversial Adjustments
In addition to sensible changes to gameplay, there are also a number of decisions that are viewed skeptically by the community. For example, Blizzard is altering some representations of women in the game and even removing an ancient emote.
- The “Spitting” emote is being removed from the game
- 2 suggestive achievements have been renamed
- Images of 2 women will be altered, one will be changed to fruit
- WoW is changing the “Pink Love Rocket” and the story
- Further emotes are being removed and altered, but there will also be new ones
- Blizzard is changing the legendary “Sex Paradise” of Illidan, adding men
- 74 jokes and flirt lines are being removed without replacement
When will Patch 9.1.5 be released? The patch has already been released, officially on November 3, 2021, in Europe, including Germany. Americans usually got to enjoy the update already on November 2 due to maintenance work and time differences.
What do you think of Patch 9.1.5 and are you looking forward to it again? Or are you rather waiting for the next big update 9.2, which will likely be more extensive?
