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Category: Battle for Azeroth

Bring Home the BlizzCon® WoW® Classic Demo With the Virtual Ticket, Hotfixes: September 25, 2018

The WoW bonuses for the virtual ticket have been announced! Not only will you get faction capes and banners ingame, you will also be able to play the demo of WoW Classic! In addition to that more hotfixes were applied last night. In addition to that the class/azerite balance changes have gone into effect on the EU servers.

Bring Home the BlizzCon® WoW® Classic Demo With the Virtual Ticket

Quote from: Blizzard

The BlizzCon 2018 Virtual Ticket is now available for purchase and if you’re a World of Warcraft fan you won’t want to miss a moment of the event—or the WoW extras that come with it, including epic in-game goodies and access to the Blizzcon WoW Classic demo at home!

World of Warcraft® Classic BlizzCon® Demo

Every BlizzCon, we look for opportunities to bring new aspects of the experience to our community around the world. This year, we’re excited to announce that for the first time ever, BlizzCon Virtual Ticket holders will join BlizzCon attendees as the first people to play the World of Warcraft Classic demo we’re creating for BlizzCon at home.

Shortly after the BlizzCon opening ceremony on November 2 (on or around 1pm PDT), players will be able to download the same in-development BlizzCon WoW Classic Demo that will be playable on the show floor. Players will have a chance to explore and enjoy a limited questing experience through a pair of classic early-level zones—one Horde and one Alliance—and experience firsthand our recreation of the original Azeroth.

Once the demo is live, you’ll be able to play until 10am PST on November 8, giving BlizzCon attendees a chance to check it out again once they get back home.

Get the Virtual Ticket

Declare Your Allegiance With BlizzCon In-Game Loot

In addition to access to the BlizzCon WoW Classic Demo, starting today BlizzCon attendees and Virtual Ticket holders will receive commemorative in-game items that will help them proudly display their Horde or Alliance pride as the Battle for Azeroth rages on:

  • War Mantle of the Alliance & War Mantle of the Horde: Show all of Azeroth where your allegiance lies with a pair of faction-themed cosmetic cloaks—one for Horde characters, and one for Alliance.
  • Stormwind Champion’s War Banner & Orgrimmar Hero’s War Banner: Strike fear into your enemies and stand your ground when you plant your faction’s banner on the battlefield.

In addition to this year’s WoW items and access to the BlizzCon WoW Classic demo, the Virtual Ticket provides plenty of great BlizzCon content for your viewing pleasure along with additional in-game goodies from Overwatch®, Diablo® III, Hearthstone®, Heroes of the Storm®, and StarCraft® II.

Get the Virtual Ticket

Hotfixes: September 24/25, 2018

Quote from: Blizzard

September 25, 2018

Items

  • Fixed some scaling and tuning issues with the Brewmaiden trinkets from the Coren Direbrew.
  • Heart of Azeroth
    • Laser Matrix should now hit targets that are within striking distance of a typical ranged damage dealer, as intended.

Player versus Player

  • Demon Hunter
    • Havoc
      • Thirsting Blades (Azerite Trait) additional Chaos Strike damage now diminishes per stack of its buff when in combat with enemy players.

Timewalking

  • Fixed a bug that caused Warforged Timewalking items to not have the intended item level.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Azerite Power from dropping in Timewalking dungeons for players with a Heart of Azeroth.
  • Increased player gear power, and greatly lowered damage and health of many creatures and spells in End Time.
  • Timewalking vendor items now scale to item level 320 at player level 120.
  • Legion Timewalking quests should no longer be offered by Archmage Timear in Dalaran. For the Battle for Azeroth Timewalking quest, seek out Chronicler Shoopa in Dazar’alor or Chronicler Toopa in Boralas.

Hotfixes

September 24, 2018

Achievements

  • The criteria for Azerite Admiral, Tell Me a Tale, and Helping Hand should now combine progress from multiple characters on the same account. Please log in on every character that has progress toward these achievements to be credited.

Characters

  • You can now whistle at Cap’n Crackers to have him ride on your shoulder.

Classes

  • Druid
    • Balance
      • Starsurge and Starfall damage increased by 15%.
  • Mage
    • Arcane
      • All damage increased by 3%.
  • Shaman
    • Tremor Totem should no longer take an unintended amount of additional damage when players attack it.
  • Warlock
    • Destruction
      • Conflagrate, Incinerate, and Immolate damage all increased by 10%.
  • Warrior
    • Fury
      • All damage increased by 6%.

Items

  • Heart of Azeroth
  • Ephemeral Recovery mana increased by 15%.
  • Savior trigger threshold increased to 50% health (was 35%).
  • Death Knight
    • Bone Spike Graveyard damage increased by 100%.
    • Unholy
      • Festering Doom damage increased by 25%.
  • Demon Hunter
    • Havoc
      • Eyes of Rage damage increased by 20%.
      • Furious Gaze haste increased by 40% and duration increased to 12 seconds (was 8 seconds).
      • Revolving Blades damage reduced by 35%.
      • Thirsting Blades damage increased by 70%.
  • Vengeance
    • Revel in Pain absorption increased by 20%.
  • Druid
    • Craggy Bark absorption increased by 15%.
    • Masterful Instincts bonuses increased by 10%.
    • Balance
      • Dawning Sun damage increased by 40%.
      • Streaking Stars damage reduced by 40%
      • Sunblaze damage bonus increased by 35% against non-players.
    • Feral
      • Iron Jaws damage increased by 66% against non-players.
    • Guardian
      • Gory Regeneration healing increase increased by 15%.
  • Hunter
    • Rapid Reload damage increased by 25%, and tooltip corrected to read “more than 2 targets”.
    • Beast Mastery
      • Pack Alpha damage increased by 60% against non-players.
      • Dance of Death agility increased by 20%.
    • Marksmanship
      • Unerring Vision critical strike increased by 100%.
      • Focused Fire damage increased by 30%.
    • Survival
      • Blur of Talons agility increased by 65%.
      • Up Close and Personal damage increased by 40%.
  • Mage
    • Arcane
      • Galvanizing Spark damage reduced by 30% against non-players.
      • Explosive Echo damage reduced by 35%.
    • Frost
      • Frigid Grasp intellect increased by 100%.
      • Packed Ice damage increased by 120%, and increased by 45% if used with Splitting Ice. Damage reduced by 50% against players.
      • Glacial Assault proc chance increased to 20% (was 10%).
  • Monk
    • Mistweaver
      • Burst of Life healing increased by 20%.
    • Windwalker
      • Open Palm Strikes damage increased by 60% against non-players.
  • Paladin
    • Protection
      • Dauntless Divinity block increased by 20%.
      • Judicious Defense absorption increased by 10%.
    • Retribution
      • Divine Right strength increased by 40%, and duration increased to 15 seconds (was 10 seconds).
      • Expurgation damage increased by 15%.
  • Priest
    • Depth of the Shadows healing increased by 20%.
    • Holy
      • Blessed Sanctuary bonus increased by 10%.
      • Permeating Glow bonus increased by 15%.
    • Shadow
      • Spiteful Apparitions damage bonus is increased by 75% if you don’t have Auspicious Spirits talent.
      • Searing Dialogue damage increased by 150%.
  • Rogue
    • Assassination
      • Poisoned Wire critical strike increased by 50%.
      • Sharpened Blades benefit from having multiple copies of this trait active has been reduced.
    • Outlaw
      • Brigand’s Blitz haste increased by 50%.
    • Subtlety
      • Blade in the Shadows damage reduced by 25%.
      • Sharpened Blades damage reduced by 30% (unchanged in PvP). The benefit of having multiple copies of this trait active is reduced.
      • The First Dance now grants 2 stacks of the buff, and critical strike bonus reduced by 25%.
  • Shaman
    • Enhancement
      • Strength of Earth damage increased by 60%.
      • Roiling Storm damage increased by 100% against non-players.
    • Restoration
      • Soothing Waters healing increased by 10%.
  • Warrior
    • Arms
      • Executioner’s Precision damage increased by 75% against non-players.
      • Test of Might strength reduced by 15%.
    • Fury
      • Bloodcraze critical strike increased by 100%.
      • Reckless Flurry damage reduced by 25%.
    • Protection
      • Reinforced Plating dtrength increased by 10%.
  • Warlock
    • Affliction
      • Dreadful Calling damage increased by 30%.
    • Demonology
      • Forbidden Knowledge damage increased by 66% against non-players, and the benefit of having multiple copies of this trait active is reduced.
      • Umbral Blaze damage increased by 20%.
      • Explosive Potential buff duration increased to 15 seconds (was 6 seconds).
    • Destruction
      • Accelerant duration increased to 12 seconds (was 8 seconds).
      • Crashing Chaos damage reduced by 30% against non-players.
      • Rolling Havoc duration increased to 15 seconds (was 10 seconds).

Player versus Player

  • Razdunk’s Big Red Button now deals 25% less damage in PvP combat.
  • Death Knight
    • Unholy
      • Last Surprise (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 35% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Druid
    • The healing of Rejuvenation, Swiftmend, and Wild Growth provided by Restoration Affinity is reduced by 30% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
    • Regrowth healing reduced by 25% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
    • Feral
      • Raking Ferocity (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 50% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
    • Restoration
      • All Restoration Druid healing reduced by 10% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
      • Focused Growth increases the healing of Lifebloom by 15% (was 25%).
      • Focused Growth reduces the mana cost of Lifebloom by 15% (was 40%).
      • Grove Tending (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 25% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Hunter
    • Beast Mastery
      • Damage done by the Hunter’s pet reduced by 18% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
    • Survival
      • Latent Poison (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 30% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Monk
    • Mistweaver
      • Mana regeneration reduced by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 30%).
  • Paladin
    • Holy
      • Mana regeneration reduced by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 30%).
  • Priest
    • Discipline
      • Mana regeneration reduced by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 30%).
      • Focused Will decreases damage taken by 10% per stack when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 20%).
  • Shaman
    • Elemental
      • Lava Shock (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 35% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
    • Restoration
      • Rippling Waters healing reduced by 33%.
      • Riptide healing reduced by 15% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
      • Spirit Link mana increased by 50%.
      • Spirit Link now has a 1.5 second cast time and redistributes 25% damage (was 35%).
      • Surging Tide (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 25% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Warrior
    • Arms
      • Defensive Stance reduces damage dealt by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 10%).
      • Lord of War (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 55% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 40% reduced).

Professions

  • Herbalism
    • Herbalists will now receive more Anchor Weed from nodes at rank 2 and 3.

Quests

  • The ability Throw Rock should no longer one-shot targets on “Matchmaker”.

World Quests

  • Resolved an issue that could cause the “Set Sail” to not properly display the quest objective.

Azerite Trait Tuning – September 25

While there were no hotfixes last night, the list of azerite trait balances has been expanded to include dps azerite traits. In addition to that Arcane Mages, Balance Druids, Destruction Warlocks and Fury Warriors will see buffs as a whole. They will go into effect during the weekly reset.

Quote from: Blizzard
With scheduled maintenance this week, we intend to make some targeted adjustments to Azerite Traits:

All Classes

  • (Healer) Ephemeral Recovery mana increased by 15%.
  • (Healer) Savior trigger threshold increased to 50% health (was 35%).

Death Knight

  • (Blood/Unholy) Bone Spike Graveyard: damage increased by 100%.
  • (Unholy) Festering Doom: damage increased by 25%.

Demon Hunter

  • (Havoc) Eyes of Rage: damage increased by 20%.
  • (Havoc) Furious Gaze: Haste increased by 40% and duration increased to 12 sec.
  • (Havoc) Revolving Blades: damage reduced by 35%.
  • (Havoc) Thirsting Blades: damage increased by 70%.
  • (Vengeance) Revel in Pain: absorption increased by 20%.

Druid

  • (Balance, Guardian, Restoration) Craggy Bark: absorption increased by 15%.
  • (Balance) Dawning Sun: damage increased by 40%.
  • (Balance) Streaking Stars: damage reduced by 40%.
  • (Balance) Sunblaze: damage increased by 35% (unchanged in PvP).
  • (Feral) Iron Jaws: damage increased by 66% (unchanged in PvP). The benefit of having multiple copies of this trait active is reduced.
  • (Guardian) Gory Regeneration: healing increase increased by 15%.
  • (Guardian, Feral) Masterful Instincts: bonuses increased by 10%.

Hunter

  • (Beast Mastery, Marksmanship) Rapid Reload: damage increased by 25% and tooltip corrected to say “more than 2 targets.”
  • (Beast Mastery) Pack Alpha: damage increased by 60% (unchanged in PvP).
  • (Beast Mastery) Dance of Death: Agility increased by 20%.
  • (Marksmanship) Unerring Vision: Critical Strike increased by 100%.
  • (Marksmanship) Focused Fire: damage increased by 30%.
  • (Survival) Blur of Talons: Agility increased by 65%.
  • (Survival) Up Close and Personal: Damage increased by 40%.

Mage

  • (Arcane) Galvanizing Spark: damage reduced by 30% (unchanged in PvP).
  • (Arcane) Explosive Echo: damage reduced by 35%.
  • (Frost) Frigid Grasp: Intellect increased by 100%.
  • (Frost) Packed Ice: Damage increased by 120% (+45% if used with Splitting Ice). Reduced by 50% against players.
  • (Frost) Glacial Assault: Chance to activate increased to 20%.

Monk

  • (Mistweaver) Burst of Life: healing increased by 20%.
  • (Windwalker) Open Palm Strikes: damage increased by 60% (unchanged in PvP).

Paladin

  • (Protection) Dauntless Divinity: block increased by 20%.
  • (Protection) Judicious Defense: absorption increased by 10%.
  • (Retribution) Divine Right: Strength increased by 40%, duration increased to 15 sec.
  • (Retribution) Expurgation: damage increased by 15%.

Priest

  • (Discipline, Shadow) Depth of the Shadows: healing increased by 20%.
  • (Holy) Blessed Sanctuary: bonus increased by 10%.
  • (Holy) Permeating Glow: bonus increased by 15%.
  • (Shadow) Spiteful Apparitions: damage bonus increased by 75% when the Auspicious Spirits talent is not selected.
  • (Shadow) Searing Dialogue: damage increased by 150%.

Rogue

  • (Assassination, Subtlety) Sharpened Blades: damage reduced by 30% (unchanged in PvP). The benefit of having multiple copies of this trait active is reduced.
  • (Assassination) Poisoned Wire: Critical Strike increased by 50%.
  • (Outlaw) Brigand’s Blitz: Haste increased by 50%.
  • (Subtlety) Blade in the Shadows: damage reduced by 25%.
  • (Subtlety) The First Dance: Now grants 2 stacks of the Critical Strike bonus when activated. Critical Strike bonus reduced by 25%.

Shaman

  • (Enhancement) Strength of Earth: damage increased by 60%.
  • (Enhancement) Roiling Storm: damage increased by 100% (unchanged in PvP).
  • (Restoration) Soothing Waters: healing increased by 10%

Warrior

  • (Arms)Executioner’s Precision: damage increased by 75% (unchanged in PvP).
  • (Arms) Test of Might: Strength reduced by 15%.
  • (Fury) Reckless Flurry: damage reduced by 25%.
  • (Fury) Bloodcraze: Critical Strike increased by 100%.
  • (Protection) Reinforced Plating: Strength increased by 10%.

Warlock

  • (Affliction) Dreadful Calling: damage increased by 30%.
  • (Demonology) Forbidden Knowledge: damage increased by 35% (unchanged in PvP). The benefit of having multiple copies of this trait active is reduced.
  • (Demonology) Umbral Blaze: damage increased by 20%.
  • (Demonology) Explosive Potential: duration increased to 15 sec.
  • (Destruction) Accelerant: duration increased to 12 sec.
  • (Destruction) Crashing Chaos: damage reduced by 30% (unchanged in PvP).
  • (Destruction) Rolling Havoc: duration increased to 15 sec.

Alongside these changes, we plan to increase the damage output of a few affected specs:

  • Arcane Mage: all damage increased by 3%.
  • Balance Druid: Starsurge and Starfall damage increased by 15%.
  • Destruction Warlock: Incinerate, Conflagrate, and Immolate damage increased by 10%.
  • Fury Warrior: all damage increased by 6%.

You’ll see the final adjustments in our hotfixes update post on Tuesday.

Hotfixes: September 21, 2018, PvP Balance Tuning September 24, Azerite Trait Tuning – September 25

A new set of hotfixes has made it’s way to the servers including a nerf to the final boss in Tol Dagor! Furthermore balance changes are planned for next week for both PvP and Azerite Traits for healers and tanks.

Hotfixes: September 21, 2018

Quote from: Blizzard

September 21, 2018

Dungeons and Raids

  • Tol Dagor
    • Overseer Korgus’ Incendiary Rounds’ damage and Blast Rounds’ pushback decreased by 25%.

Island Expeditions

  • A new world quest has been added to win one Island Expedition. Click on the map and set sail for adventure!
  • Some Island Expedition achievements have been made account-wide.
  • Resolved additional issues that could prevent players from gaining progress in Island Expeditions for the weekly quest “Azerite for the Horde / Alliance”.

Items

  • Fixed bugs that were preventing Truffles in Stormsong Valley from behaving as expected.
  • Heart of Azeroth
    • Ablative Shielding is no longer reduced by Stagger.

Player versus Player

  • The Weekly Quest “Something Different” can now be completed by participating in Shado-pan Showdown, as intended.
  • “Something Different” now grants a 340 item level Dread Gladiator piece of gear from the Brawl Footlocker.
  • Players who have already turned in “Something Different” this week can now complete it a second time.

World Quests

  • Fixed an issue where the “Pest Problem” did not count towards the Storm’s Wake emissary.
  • There are now a greater number of Ancient Texts that are “Past Due”.

PvP Balance Tuning September 24

Quote from: Blizzard
We’re working on a round of PvP balance adjustments, to be applied the morning of Monday, September 24. Here are the changes we have planned:

Items

  • Big Red Button’s damage reduced by 25% against enemy players.

Death Knight

  • Unholy
    • Last Surprise (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 35% when engaged in combat with enemy players.

Druid

  • The healing of Rejuvenation, Swiftmend, and Wild Growth provided by Restoration Affinity is reduced by 30% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Regrowth healing reduced by 25% for non-Restoration Druids when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Feral
    • Raking Ferocity (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 50% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Restoration
    • Grove Tending (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 25% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
    • Focused Growth (PvP Talent) reduces the mana cost of Lifebloom by 15% (was 40%).
    • Focused Growth (PvP Talent) increases the healing of Lifebloom by 15% (was 25%).
    • All Restoration Druid healing reduced by 10% when engaged in combat with enemy players.

Hunter

  • Beast Mastery
    • Damage done by the Hunter’s pet reduced by 18% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Survival
    • Latent Poison (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 30% when engaged in combat with enemy players.

Monk

  • Mistweaver
    • Mana regeneration reduced by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 30%).

Paladin

  • Holy
    • Mana regeneration reduced by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 30%).

Priest

  • Discipline
    • Mana regeneration reduced by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 30%).
    • Focused Will decreases damage taken by 10% per stack when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 20%).

Shaman

  • Restoration
    • Surging Tide (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 25% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
    • Spirit Link (PvP Talent) mana cost increased by 50%.
    • Spirit Link (PvP Talent) now has a 1.5 second cast time.
    • Spirit Link (PvP Talent) redistributes 25% damage, down from 35%.
    • Rippling Waters (PvP Talent) healing reduced by 33%.
    • Riptide healing reduced by 15% when engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • Elemental
    • Lava Shock (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 35% when engaged in combat with enemy players.

Warrior

  • Arms
    • Lord of War (Azerite Trait) effectiveness reduced by 55% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 40%).
    • Defensive Stance reduces damage dealt by 20% when engaged in combat with enemy players (was 10%).

Note that we’re planning another round of balance updates for the near future after this round, which will include changes for other specs (including Warlock and Death Knight).

Azerite Trait Tuning – September 25

Quote from: Blizzard
With scheduled maintenance next week, we intend to make some targeted adjustments to Azerite Traits for tanks and healers. Here’s what that currently looks like:

  • Blessed Sanctuary bonus increased by 10%.
  • Burst of Life healing increased by 20%.
  • Craggy Bark bonus increased by 15%.
  • Dauntless Divinity block increased by 20%.
  • Depth of the Shadows healing increased by 20%.
  • Ephemeral Recovery mana increased by 15%.
  • Gory Regeneration healing increase increased by 15%.
  • Judicious Defense absorption increased by 10%.
  • Masterful Instincts bonuses increased by 10%.
  • Permeating Glow bonus increased by 15%.
  • Reinforced Plating Strength increased by 10%.
  • Revel in Pain absorption increased by 20%.
  • Savior trigger threshold increased to 50% health (was 35%).
  • Soothing Waters healing increased by 10%.

You’ll see the final adjustments in our hotfixes update post on Tuesday.

Celebrate International Talk Like A Pirate Day in Style!

While there were no hotfixes for bugs last night, a new pirate pet and mount were hotfixed into the game.

Quote from: Blizzard

Just in time for International Talk Like a Pirate Day, we’re celebrating all things pirate with a special limited-time offer*. Purchase 180 Days Game Time in the Shop, and you’ll also receive the epic new Dreadwake mount free! The Dreadwake mount will then arrive as a stand-alone mount in the Blizzard Shop and in-game shop sometime in 2019.

True to nautical tradition, the Dreadwake pirate ship mount has a unique figurehead inspired by an unknown kraken-faced god of the deeps.

Once you’ve purchased the 180 Days Game Time product in the Shop, the Dreadwake mount will be automatically added to your in-game collection. It’s the perfect way to cruise through Azeroth in true buccaneering style.

Players on an existing recurring subscription plan who purchase 180 Days Game Time will have their next billing date automatically adjusted to align with the addition of this time. Players who already have game time on their account will have the 180 days added to their current total. By purchasing 180 Days Game Time, you’ll also save up to 20€ per year.

Purchase Now

In addition, WoW players who have purchased the 180 Days Game Time service in the Shop within the past 30 days** or who are currently on a 6-month recurring subscription will receive the Dreadwake mount at no additional charge. Look for the gift icon in your Blizzard Battle.net desktop app to claim yours.***

New Pet Available: Adopt Cap’n Crackers!

Fresh off the high seas, Cap’n Crackers is available to adopt now from the Blizzard Shop and in-game shop.

alternate-image-name
Sail the high seas with Cap’n Crackers, the baby parrot, perched on your shoulder.

This plucky feathered friend is just the companion you need on your swashbuckling adventures through Kul Tiras, Zandalar, and beyond. Adopt yours today!

*Offer available from September 19 through October 21, 2018
**Must have purchased current 180 Days Game Time service on or before 00:01 CEST on September 19, 2018.
***Mount must be claimed in Blizzard Battle.net desktop app prior to April 30, 2019.

Hotfixes: September 18, 2018, Elemental in 8.1

A new set of hotfixes went out last night that included a nerf to the ticks in The Underrot! In addition to that we got our first glimpse of what Elemental Shaman will look like in 8.1.

Hotfixes: September 18, 2018

Quote from: Blizzard

September 18, 2018

Classes

  • Druid
    • Casting Regrowth with Rampant Growth active and Innervate active no longer grants two stacks of Lively Spirit.
  • Priest
    • Holy
      • Guardian Spirit can no longer heal for more than 200% of the Priest’s maximum HP.

Dungeons and Raids

  • Scarlet Monastery
    • Scarlet Fanatic’s Hands of Purity no longer deals excessive damage.
  • The Underrot
    • Ticks now do less damage and spawn in smaller numbers.
    • Unbound Abomination now spawns pools of Vile Expulsion around him.
  • Uldir
    • Fetid Devourer
      • Corruption Corpuscle health reduced by 10% on Mythic difficulty.

Island Expeditions

  • The bonus XP reward for completing a normal Island Expedition has been increased.

Player versus Player

  • The PvP Brawl first win of the day now properly awards 40 Conquest.
  • The Seasonal PvP Mount now properly indicates you need Combatant Rated PvP rank or higher to earn it.
  • Druid
    • Feral
      • Earthen Grasp now only affects melee hit chance, and no longer reduces spell hit chance.

Elemental in 8.1

Quote from: Blizzard
As the patch 8.1.0 information starts to comes out, we wanted to share the current plans of what is being changed for Elemental Shaman.

Core Ability Changes:

  • Shifted some damage from Earth Shock to Lightning Bolt.Elemental Shaman is the only lightning based spell caster. However, over time, Lightning Bolt has gone from being a significant portion of your total damage to one of your least damaging abilities. It should be a powerful and effective spell for you to cast, and not something that feels like a burden to your rotation. Earth Shock will still be your hardest hitting spell, but Lightning Bolt should feel a bit better as part of your rotation.
  • Lava Burst has had its functionality changed behind the scenes to allow an in-flight Lava Burst to gain a guaranteed critical strike from a Flame Shock cast after the Lava Burst has been cast.This change should help your initial spells cast against a monster, boss, enemy player, or whatever else feel much better. You can cast Lava Burst before combat, and when it finishes, cast Flame Shock, and the Lava Burst will gain the critical strike benefit from your Flame Shock.

    Talent Changes:

  • The level 15 talent Elemental Blast will now always pick a different secondary stat buff when causing an Elemental Overload.
  • The level 30 talent Master of the Elements can now also benefit a Physical damage spell, allowing it to increase the damage of an Earthquake.
  • The level 100 talent Stormkeeper now also increases the damage of your next two Lightning Bolts by 250% in addition to its existing effects. This damage bonus will also apply to the Elemental Overloads of Lightning Bolt from Stormkeeper.The Master of the Elements and Stormkeeper changes are primarily to help keep balance between single target damage and area damage of the talent rows. Master of the Elements will now affect your next Earthquake spell to keep the talent more competitive when dealing area damage, and Stormkeeper will grant you two really powerful Lightning Bolts that also cause Elemental Overloads when fighting just a single target.
  • The level 15 talent Exposed Elements has been removed, and the level 90 talent Earthen Rage has taken its place
  • The level 60 talent High Voltage has been removed.
  • New talent in the level 60 row: Call the Thunder
  • New talent in the level 90 row: Surge of PowerWhen looking at the whole sum of changes made to Elemental Shaman this expansion, we feel that some of the passive talent choices weren’t holding up well, and had no interaction with how you played the game at all. We’re adding some experimental new talents that should allow some additional decision making on how you choose to use some of your abilities. Please keep in mind that both of these new talents, as well as all of the other changes, are still under iteration and may change entirely throughout the patch 8.1.0 PTR cycle.
Quote from: Blizzard
Just as a quick update, here’s the current version of the experimental new talents that will be hitting the PTR soon. Reminder that these are experimental, the PTR is for testing, we’ll probably iterate on or completely replace these designs, etc.

Call the Thunder – Your maximum Maelstrom is increased by 30, and the Maelstrom cost of Earth Shock and Earthquake is reduced by 10.

Surge of Power – Earth Shock also enhances your next spell:

  • Flame Shock: The next cast does not incur a cooldown.
  • Lightning Bolt: Your next 3 casts will cause an additional Elemental Overload.
  • Lava Burst: Reduces the cooldown of your Fire (or Storm) Elemental by 6 sec.
  • Frost Shock: Roots the target in place for 6 sec.

Patch 8.1 Announcement Livestream Summary

The announcement stream for patch 8.1 has concluded and there’s a lot of content coming in patch 8.1!

Patch 8.1: Tides of Vengeance

General Story

  • The war between the Alliance and Horde continues!
  • The Alliance will strike back after the events of the pre-patch and the initial launch.
  • It will feature story-driven content
  • The war campaign continues
  • A new feature – incursions will make it’s way to BfA. They’re a lot like invasions from Legion.
  • New World Quests will be added
  • Character Storylines – Saurfang, Tyrande and Vol’jin

Heritage Armor

  • Heritage Armor will be introduced for Dwarves and Blood Elves! Not just for Allied Races anymore!
  • Racial quest lines will be unlocked at max level with exalted of your own city e.g. Ironforge for Dwarves.
  • More races will get them in the future!

1 New Warfront

  • A new Warfront will be added – The Battle for Darkshore.
  • This will be Night Elves vs. Forsaken!
  • New structures and upgrades will be used.
  • Darkshore will be updated for max-level content

Island Expeditions

  • 2 new islands will be added for Island Expeditions – Jorundall and Havenswood
  • Island Expeditions will also be updated based on feedback
  • This includes new events and enemies – variety matters
  • The systems behind Island Expeditions will be updated – such as the way enemies spawn and the reward system

2 New Raids!

  • A new raid will be added: Siege of Zuldazar
  • This is different from usual raids. Instead of 1 foe such as the Lich King – the enemy is the opposite faction!
  • The Alliance and Horde will have completely different experiences in this raid!
  • The Alliance will land in the harbor of Zuldazar and make their way through the city, to the top to confront Rahstakhan.
  • The Horde will defend, fighting through Alliance attackers. After defending Rahstakhan they will fight their way down the temple and eventually face Jaina on the seas.
  • After finishing the raid, you’ll be able to experience the other side’s experience thought the tellings of soldiers that were on the frontline.
  • Siege of Zuldazar features 9 new bosses in total!
  • A second new raid will be added: Crucible of Storms
  • It contains 2 bosses
  • It’s under the Shrine of the Storm
  • Uncover dark secrets beneath Stormsong. K’thir, Azshara related.
  • This will be later after Zuldazar!
  • There will be supporting world content for this as well.

Additional Changes/Content

  • Class updates
  • New Azerite Traits
  • New Profession Recipes
  • Gnomeregan pet battle dungeon
  • …and more!

Alt Friendliness Improvements

  • Champions of Azeroth heart upgrades will be account wide!
  • Rep restricted Transmog Items will be eased, reputation restrictions will be removed
  • Progress to reputation achievements will be made account wide! For example 70 exalted reps on 1 character and 20 on another will result in 90, assuming they’re all different ones!

Allied Races

  • You will not need to get a new reputation to earn the Kul Tiran / Zandalari allied races!

PTR

  • The PTR will likely be up by the end of the week!

Hotfixes: September 17, 2018, Azerite Trait Tuning September 17

A new set of hotfixes has been released which includes the reopening of Hook Point Arena, Hydrocores now having a chance to drop from heroic dungeons and the first set of Azerite Trait tuning. The Azerite Trait tuning will take effect at the weekly reset, meaning on the 18th in the EU.

Hotfixes: September 17, 2018

Quote from: Blizzard

September 17, 2018

Classes

  • Druid
    • Skystep Potion and Lightfoot Potion will no longer drop shapeshifting forms, and shapeshifting while having one of these active will no longer cancel them.
  • Paladin
    • Protection
      • Last Defender now has a cap of up to 50% reduction in damage taken.

Dungeons and Raids

  • Shrine of the Storm
    • Vol’zith the Whisperer
      • Consume Essence cast time increased by 2 seconds.
      • Abyssal Eruption damage decreased by 20%.
  • Uldir
    • G’huun
      • Bursting Boils should no longer spawn close to the boss.

Items

  • The Frenetic Corpuscle now activates more often.
  • Heart of Azeroth
    • Arcane Flurry (Marksmanship) buff duration increased to 10 seconds (was 3 seconds), and damage reduced by 45%.
    • Archive of the Titans primary stat increased by 20%.
    • Blood Mist (Feral) damage increased by 125%.
    • Brain Storm (Arcane) Intellect granted reduced by 75%, and duration increased by 100%.
    • Demonic Meteor (Demonology) damage increased by 200%.
    • Feeding Frenzy (Beast Mastery) damage increased by 400%.
    • Firemind (Fire) Intellect increased by 30%.
    • Flashpoint (Destruction) Haste increased by 25%, buff duration increased by 25%.
    • Frozen Tempest (Frost Death Knight) damage increased by 100%.
    • Iron Fists (Windwalker) required targets reduced to 3 (was 4).
    • Laser Matrix damage reduced by 30%.
    • Natural Harmony (Elemental, Enhancement) secondary stat bonuses increased by 40%.
    • Reorigination Array boss kill progress is now counted if the player is dead when the boss is defeated.
    • Shrouded Suffocation (Assassination) damage bonus reduced by 40%.
    • Simmering Rage (Fury) damage increased by 35%.
    • Sudden Onset (Affliction) damage bonus reduced by 30%.
    • Swift Roundhouse (Windwalker) damage bonus reduced by 55%.
    • Thunderous Blast damage reduced by 35%.

Player versus Player

  • Hook Point Arena has reopened for play.
  • Epic Battlegrounds now award bonus Conquest for first win of the day (was the first win of the week).
  • Fixed a bug that caused Enlistment Bonus gained from participating in battlegrounds as a Mercenary to not increase Honor gain from some sources.
  • The absorb granted by Mchimba’s Ritual Bandages is reduced by 55% while engaged in combat with enemy players.
  • The absorb granted by Xalzaix’s Veiled Eye is reduced by 70% while engaged in combat with enemy players.

Professions

  • Hydrocores now have a chance to drop off the final bosses of BfA dungeons in Heroic difficulty.
  • Inscription
    • [With weekly maintenance in each region] The strength of Vantus Runes has been reduced to the same potency they had in Legion.
      • Developers’ notes: Vantus runes are a unique consumable that provide an extra boost when your raid group is focusing on a single boss. But if they’re too powerful, they can create a sense of regression as you try to re-kill the boss without their aid in subsequent weeks.

Quests

  • Fixed a bug where Pa’ku could fail to appear as expected during “Zandalar Forever!”.
  • Collecting Incandescent Duskwings or Crown of Torcali in a group now shares credit on “Alchemy is an Inexact Science”.

Azerite Trait Tuning September 17

Quote from: Blizzard
As mentioned in the Reddit AMA last Friday, we’re working on balance tuning for Azerite Armor traits. We’re planning to make the following changes during this week’s maintenance period. Note that there are more changes already in the works; this is just a first pass, focused on bringing some of the biggest outliers up (or down) to more acceptable levels.

General

  • Archive of the Titans: Primary stat bonus increased by 20%
  • Laser Matrix: Damage reduced by 30%
  • Thunderous Blast: Damage reduced by 35%

Death Knight

  • (Frost) Frozen Tempest: Damage increased by 100%

Druid

  • (Feral) Blood Mist: Damage increased by 125%

Hunter

  • (Beast Mastery) Feeding Frenzy: Damage increased by 400%
  • (Marksmanship) Arcane Flurry: Duration increased to 10 seconds, damage reduced by 45%

Mage

  • (Arcane) Brain Storm: Duration increased to 30 seconds, Intellect bonus reduced by 75%
  • (Fire) Firemind: Intellect bonus increased by 30%

Monk

  • (Windwalker) Iron Fists: Required targets reduced to 3
  • (Windwalker) Swift Roundhouse: Damage bonus reduced by 55%

Rogue

  • (Assassination) Shrouded Suffocation: Damage bonus reduced by 40%

Shaman

  • (Elemental/Enhancement) Natural Harmony: Secondary stat bonuses increased by 40%

Warlock

  • (Affliction) Sudden Onset: Damage bonus reduced by 30%
  • (Demonology) Demonic Meteor: Damage increased by 200%
  • (Destruction) Flashpoint: Duration increased to 10 seconds, Haste bonus increased by 25%

Warrior

  • (Fury) Simmering Rage: Damage increased by 35%