World of Warcraft News and Raiding Strategies

Hello everyone! Here are the PTR notes for this week:

Classes

• Druid
  
  • Restoration
    
    • Efflorescence now has a new visual. For those who enjoy the previous visual, Glyph of the Wild Mushroom is available to return the spell to its fungi appearance.
• Monk
  
  • Chi Burst (Talent) now deals reduced healing beyond 6 targets.
    
    • Developers’ note: This spell previously used a complicated, invisible AoE-capping scheme for healing. This is being replaced with a clearer one where the amount of healing decays on each target after the 6th target is healed.
• Priest
  
  • Divine Star (Talent) and Halo (Talent) now deal reduced healing beyond 6 targets.
    
    • Developers’ note: These spells previously used a complicated, invisible AoE-capping scheme for healing. This is being replaced with a clearer one where the amount of healing decays on each target after the 6th target is healed.
  • Divine Star’s heal cap is now independent on the outgoing and return trips.
  • Halo (Talent) healing reduced by 20%.
    
    • Developers’ note: Combined with the above change, this is still a net healing increase on large numbers of targets.
• Rogue
  
  • Toxic Onslaught (Runecarving Power) has been slightly redesigned – When Sepsis expires on your target, you are granted two of the following effects for 10 seconds: Shadow Blades, Adrenaline Rush, or Vendetta is applied to your current target. Bonuses granted are those that are not available to your spec, eg. An Assassination Rogue will gain Adrenaline Rush and Shadow Blades.

Covenants

• Sanctums
  
  • Kyrian: Path of Ascension
    
    • There is no longer a cost to enter the Path of Ascension. Medallions of Service are now only used in Ascension Crafting.
    • A baseline 20% buff, Progressive Power, has been activated for all soulbinds in Path of Ascension. This buff is active by default, but can be turned off via the Brazier of Progressive Power in the arena.
    • Drop rates for all Path of Ascension crafting components have been increased by 10%.
    • Soul Mirror Shards now have a chance to drop from Mawsworn Kyrian in the Maw.

Items and Rewards

• 6 new cosmetic boots are available in the Trial of Style world event. These new boots have a unique look for races that don’t normally wear shoes and can be purchased with Trial of Style Tokens. (The boots are available at city Transmogrifiers during the PTR)

Player versus Player

• Covenants
  
  • Fleshcraft (Necrolord Ability) now absorbs up to 30% of max Health while in PvP combat (was 40%).
  • When a Battleground or Arena match begins, any Fleshcraft absorb value exceeding 30% of max Health is reduced to equal 30% of max Health.
• Druid
  
  • Feral
    
    • Strength of the Wild (PvP Talent) now increases Regrowth’s initial heal critical chance on allies by 30% (was 100%).
  • Guardian
    
    • Grove Protection (PvP Talent) radius significantly increased.
  • Restoration
    
    • Keeper of the Grove (PvP Talent) now protects the Druid from all harm while Tranquility is channeled (was prevents Tranquility from being interrupted).
• Monk
  
  • Windwalker
    
    • Dance of Chi’ji (Talent) procs now cause your next Spinning Crane Kick to deal 150% damage in PvP combat (was 200%).
• Shaman
  
  • Unleash Shield’s (PvP Talent) Earth Shield effect now roots targets for 4 seconds (was 3 seconds) and the Lightning Shield effect now knocks back enemies 33% farther.

Quests

• Alternate characters on an account can now choose to skip the introductory Shadowlands questline that takes place in the Maw by speaking to High Inquisitor Whitemane or Nazgrim after accepting the quest “Shadowlands: A Chilling Summons”. Please note that to enable the skip, you will need to have logged into a level 60 character who has completed the Maw introduction.
  
  • For those who have already begun the introductory Shadowlands questline, Jaina Proudmoore in the Forlorn Respite cave will offer to skip the rest of the introduction after the quest “A Flight From Darkness” is completed and before leaving the cave.

User Interface and Accessibility

• Group Finder Improvements
  
  • PvP categories now use the player’s PvP Item Level instead of their regular Item Level.

The Arena World Championship (AWC) Grand Finals kicks off September 25, with teams battling it out to determine the best of the best across Europe and North America. Catch the action live starting at 10 am PT on Saturday and Sunday, only on YouTube!

This year of AWC has seen some of the most competitive teams in the world rise to the occasion, and some fall in defeat, with the goal to be 2021 Regional Champions. This weekend marks the end of the road to glory as four teams in each region enter the arena for their share of the $300,000 (USD) prize pool and the prestigious title of AWC: Shadowlands 2021 Grand Finals Champions!

Details

• Venue: Online - YouTube.com/Warcraft
  
• Dates: Saturday, September 25 – Sunday, September 26
  
• Broadcast Start Time: 10:00 AM PT
  
  • Each day starting with EU series and ending with NA Series
    
  • All Quarter and Semi-Finals will be completed on Saturday
    
  • Elimination Rounds and the Finals will occur on Sunday
    
• Prize Pool: $300,000 (USD) combined between North America and Europe
  
• Format: 3v3, Best of 5 / Best of 7 Finals
  
• Casting Talent:
  
  • Elliott “Venruki” Venczel
    
  • Sid “Supatease” Compston
    
  • Gillian “Eiya” Long
    
  • Mohammed “Ziqo” Beshir
    
• Language Streams on YouTube:
  
  • English
    
  • German
    
  • Portuguese (LATAM)
    
  • Spanish (EU)
    

Teams

The Season 2 Circuit started with 16 teams, with 12 advancing from the Season 1 Circuit and four from the mid-season Relegation Cup, but after four weeks only eight teams across Europe and North America have secured spots in this weekend’s Grand Finals. Here is all you need to know to follow the teams in their final battles of 2021:

Europe


Skill Capped is the European team to beat, with a Season 1 EU win already under their belts and a strong 19-7 record across the Season 2 Circuit.

• Skill Capped, Method EU, and Reload Esports each appeared earlier this year in the Season 1 Finals, with Skill Capped taking the win over Method EU (watch the EU Season 1 Finals VOD here).
  
• Horizon qualified to Season 2 from being Top 6 in the Season 1 Circuit, but did not appear in the Season 1 Finals.

Team - Alias - Classes

• Reload Esports - Lontar - Restoration Shaman
• Reload Esports - Vilaye - Shadow Priest
• Reload Esports - Merce - Warlock
• Reload Esports - Mystic - Retribution Paladin
• Skill Capped - Maro - Mage
• Skill Capped - Asgarath - Restoration Druid
• Skill Capped - Blizo - Warrior
• Skill Capped - Froffsy - Mage
• Method EU - Chas - Restoration Druid / Discipline Priest
• Method EU - Zunniyaki - Shadow Priest
• Method EU - Whaazz - Rogue
• Method EU - Thesia - Mage
• Horizon - TonyFeral - Feral Druid
• Horizon - Kasuxo - Hunter
• Horizon - GeluBaba - Mage
• Horizon - Relzah - Discipline Priest

North America


Hot off the heels of a Season 1 NA Finals win, Method NA remains dominant as their 20-5 record is the best across both regions in the Season 2 Circuit.

• Method NA, Cloud 9, and Golden Guardians each appeared earlier this year in the Season 1 Finals, with Method NA taking the win over Cloud 9 (watch the NA Season 1 Finals VOD here).
  
• Unitas Blue qualified to Season 2 from being Top 6 in the Season 1 Circuit, but did not appear in the Season 1 Finals.

Team - Alias - Classes

• Cloud9 - Snutz - Rogue/Warrior
• Cloud9 - Chanimal - Warlock
• Cloud9 - Wealthyman - Mage
• Cloud9 - Kubzy - Restoration Druid
• Golden Guardians - Pikaboo - Rogue
• Golden Guardians - Absterge - Restoration Shaman
• Golden Guardians - Wizk - Shadow Priest
• Golden Guardians - Jellybeans - Hunter/Mage
• Method NA - Ceralium - Mage
• Method NA - Brain - Holy Paladin
• Method NA - Drake -Windwalker Monk / Warrior / Rogue
• Method NA - Prev - Balance Druid
• Unitas Blue - Smexxin - Warrior
• Unitas Blue - Borngood - Holy Paladin
• Unitas Blue - Aiden - Rogue
• Unitas Blue - Nuked - Mage

Stay Connected

Never miss a thing by subscribing to us on YouTube and check out the broadcast schedule on our esports page. Be sure to keep an eye on the WoW Esports Twitter page for live updates, recaps, and all the memes you can handle. We’ll see you in the Arena!

Achievements

• The 9.1 world achievements On the Offensive and Breaking the Chains are now properly account-wide. Completing Breaking the Chains should properly award the Hand of Salaranga mount.

Dungeons and Raids

• Sanctum of Domination
  
  • Painsmith Raznal
    
    • [With realm restarts] Reduced the distance between floor spike gaps during Stage Two on Mythic difficulty.
      
      • Developers’ note: The distance between safe locations should now be more consistent with this change.
        
    • [With realm restarts] Shadowsteel Chains periodic damage reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
      
  • Fatescribe Roh-Kalo
    
    • [With realm restarts] Updated the rune locations to be more consistent with clockwise rotations and slightly less demanding with counterclockwise rotations on Normal and Heroic difficulties.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Players now have an additional 10 seconds on Raid Finder difficulty, 10 seconds on Normal difficulty, and 5 seconds on Heroic difficulty to realign their fate.
      
  • Kel'Thuzad
    
    • [With realm restarts] Kel’Thuzad health reduced by 5% on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Remnant of Kel'Thuzad health reduced by 20% on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Unstoppable Abomination health reduced by 20% on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Soul Reaver health reduced by 20% on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Frozen Destruction’s initial damage reduced by 40% on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Frozen Destruction’s damage over time effect reduced by 10% and the duration reduced to 8 seconds (was 10 seconds) on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Fixed an issue where Kel'Thuzad would cast abilities during Howling Blizzard on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Howling Blizzard now inflicts stacking damage over the duration of the channel on Mythic difficulty.
      
      • Developers' note: As we saw the community strategies for defeating Kel'Thuzad on Mythic difficulty settle on a preferred approach that involved long stretches of time stalling, waiting for cooldowns to come back up, we started exploring ways of changing the encounter so that this no longer felt required. Players have been clear from the outset that this was frustrating and tedious gameplay, or lack thereof. But we also wanted to be careful to avoid increasing the difficulty of the encounter or introducing other issues and force guilds to re-learn the encounter. We internally tested a few different approaches, including just bypassing the waiting period by resetting cooldowns like we would at the start of an encounter (a portion of which was recently seen on the 9.1.5 Public Test Realm), but testing indicated that this benefited some specs much more than others, and caused worry that groups reaching the encounter now would feel pressure to stack those specs for an easier time. The changes we've settled on aim at making it impossible to stall indefinitely, while reducing the difficulty of key elements of the encounter to make it no longer feel required.
        
  • Sylvanas Windrunner
    
    • [With realm restarts] Domination Arrows health reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Dark Sentinels health reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Curse of Lethargy base duration reduced to 4 seconds on Mythic difficulty (was 6 seconds).
      
    • [With realm restarts] Decrepit Orb Detonation damage reduced by 10% on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Veil of Darkness radius during Stage Two reduced to 12 yards on Mythic difficulty (was 15 yards).
      
    • [With realm restarts] Banshee's Fury unavoidable damage reduced by 15% on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Ranger's Heartseeker, Banshee's Heartseeker, and Banshee's Blades damage reduced by 8% on Mythic difficulty.
      
    • Resolved an issue which could cause Ruin to unintentionally fail to inflict damage.
      
• The Necrotic Wake
  
  • Surgeon Stitchflesh
    
    • [With realm restarts] Fixed an issue that caused the first Stitchflesh’s Creation to not increase its applications of Festering Rot.
      
    • [With realm restarts] Fixed an issue that sometimes caused two Stitchflesh’s Creations to be summoned in quick succession.
      

Currently as of todays date based off of Warcraft Logs there are:
11,187 Morogrim Tidewalker kills.
and of that 1,659 have kiilled vashj
in those 1,659 logs there is not a single Serpent Coil Braid. reference link Below
https://classic.warcraftlogs.com/zon...628&class=Mage - Not a single Vash kill with SCB logged - looking through the logs with blank trinkets in that section, none of the people benefitted from the SP increase or the 25% increase mana return (replenish mana never exceeded the 2460 tooltip maximum).

WCL’s filter feature does not show this trinket anywhere either, however items such as Warboots from Moro are also not shown, but are found individually in logs.

There is the case of loot not being given mid-raid, however, given that even top guilds in the world took more than 2-3 hours to clear, the loot would have expired for the rest of the guilds so it had to have been given out.

also looking at any single Tempest Keep log there is not a single mage with Serpent Coil Braid
this is not bad RNG. This is just bugged, out of 11,187 kills there should be braids but there are zero.

I can confirm that we do indeed have a bug preventing some bosses in Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep from dropping certain items from their loot table.

We’ve got a hotfix for it on the way, and we expect it to take effect with scheduled weekly maintenance.

Some of us tryhards that are Honored (earliest is today) with Orgr’la are now able to do the Shartuul event. Unfortunately there are no Felguard Degraders near the transport pad to possess and do the event.

This should resume working as intended following the deployment of some hotfixes with scheduled weekly maintenance, tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. PDT.

“First celebrated by the dwarves, Brewfest now holds appeal among all the races of Azeroth!”

Get ready to crack open a cold one with friends new and old during our revamped Brewfest! Sample brews from Azeroth and beyond with representatives from many prominent playable races during the booziest time of year.

When - September 20–October 6
Where - Ironforge Entrance (Alliance), Orgrimmar Entrance (Horde)
Currency - Brewfest Prize Tokens

Completing quests and activities on the Brewfest grounds will generally reward you with Brewfest Prize Tokens. These are used to purchase most of the items you will find on sale at Brewfest.

Activities

Brewfest Chowdown
Slurp and burp your way through this eating contest to be crowned the Chowdown Champion. Compete with three other players in front of a panel of spectators to prove your prowess but try not to choke (literally)! The first to finish 10 plates of sausages takes home the prize. Manners optional. Speak with Etga (Horde) or Britta Steinhart (Alliance) to participate. Prize: 1 Brewfest Chowdown Champion Token.


Timed Events
Every half hour a group of alementals, hozen, or Dark Iron dwarves will show up to destroy the Brewfest grounds. Put a stop to their shenanigans for a reward once a day.

Chug ‘n Chuck Alementals
Throw nearby taster mugs at these destructive alementals to put a cork in their plans.

Shoo Pesky Hozen
Unruly hozen want to monkey around—restore order by driving away these pests.

Tip: Some of these buggers are winged, so saddle up on a flying mount to reach them!


Ceremonial Keg Tapping
Join the Draenor-famous Frostwolf brewery Warband Ales for a special toast during Brewfest at 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. server time. Alliance players can do the same with the Thunderbrew and Barleybrew breweries.


Daily Quests
Complete special daily quests to obtain experience, gold, and Brewfest Prize Tokens to purchase holiday items.

Sample Fine Food and Brew
Stumble your way through the grounds while trying specialty food and brew from all over Azeroth and Draenor.

Holiday Items
Earn Brewfest souvenirs while gallivanting around Brewfest!

BREWFEST SOUVENIRS

• Garland of Grain: A festive crown adorned with a golden pretzel that you can wear during Brewfest.
• Tabard of Brew: Show off your love for Brewfest year-round with this tabard!
• Brewfest Chowdown Trophy: Proudly display your Brewfest Chowdown Trophy!
• Bottomless Brewfest Stein: Fill your Brewfest Stein at a Brewfest Festive Keg.
• Brewfest Reveler’s Hearthstone: Return home in the most jubilant way possible!

MOUNTS

• Great Brewfest Kodo: Coren Direbrew won this prize after drinking a Tauren druid under the table – and the druid was in bear form. It was one of Direbrew’s proudest moments.
• Swift Brewfest Ram: Dwarves attribute this breed’s even temperament to rigorous training, but other races argue that a daily diet of strong ale has something to do with it.

BREWFEST GOODS

• Blix’s Eyesight Enhancing Romance Goggles: Guaranteed by Blix Fixwidget to make EVERYONE look attractive!
• Brewfest Garb: Put together a full festive appearance by wearing three of the following cosmetic pieces: Blue Brewfest Hat, Green Brewfest Hat, Brown Brewfest Hat, Purple Brewfest Hat, Brewfest Dress, Brewfest Regalia, Brewfest Slippers, and Brewfest Boots.
• Brewhelm: Attach two tankards to your head or helmet.
• Synthebrew Goggles XL: Warning: Do not wear while mounted.
• “Brew of the Month” Club Membership Form: Sign up to join a monthly brew club!
• Angry Brewfest Letter: WARNING: Once an angry letter is sent, you will never be able to join the Club again!
• Feed your mount these hops to transform it into a Brewfest steed: Fresh Dwarven Brewfest HopsFresh Goblin Brewfest HopsFresh Brewfest Hops, or Preserved Brewfest Hops.

TOYS

• Brewfest Pony Keg: Tap a pony keg of delicious Brewfest Brew.
• Brewfest Keg Pony: Summon a beer-toting keg pony for 3 minutes.
• Brewfest Banner: Represent Brewfest!
• Steamworks Sausage Grill: Places a Steamworks Sausage Grill that increases the spirits of those nearby by 4 and allows cooking.
• Pandaren Brewpack: Carry a keg of brew on your back for 3 minutes. Drink brew or toss some to friends!
• Gravil Goldbraid’s Famous Sausage Hat: You never sausage a hat!

BATTLE PETS

• Pint-Sized Pink Pachyderm: A shy creature, the pink elekk will only make its presence known to those that have befriended it, or to anyone too intoxicated to harm it.
• Wolpertinger’s Tankard: Many a drunken Brewfest goer has told the tale of this mysterious creature, but few remember that tale in the morning.
• Stout Alemental: The Pandaren Brewmasters accidentally brought a barrel of Uncle Gao's last sentient batch of brew with them to Brewfest.

HEIRLOOM UPGRADES

• Ancient Heirloom Scabbard: Upgrade an heirloom weapon allowing it to increase in power up to level 35.
• Timeworn Heirloom Scabbard: Upgrade an heirloom weapon allowing it to increase in power up to level 40. Only works on heirlooms that scale to level 35.

Achievements

• BREWMASTER: Completing the achievements The Brewfest Diet, Brew of the Month, Direbrewfest, Does Your Wolpertinger Linger?, and Have Keg, Will Travel will reward the meta-achievement Brewmaster. Awards the title Brewmaster.
• THE BREWFEST DIET: Eat 8 of the following Brewfest foods—Dried Sausage, Pickled Sausage, Savory Sausage, Spiced Onion Cheese, Spicy Smoked Sausage, Succulent Sausage, The Essential Brewfest Pretzel, and The Golden Link.
• BREW OF THE MONTH: Join the Brew of the Month club.
• DIREBREWFEST: Kill Coren Direbrew.
• DOES YOUR WOLPERTINGER LINGER?: Obtain a Wolpertinger pet from the Brewfest quest line.
• HAVE KEG, WILL TRAVEL: Obtain a Brewfest mount, or transform yours into one using Brewfest Hops.
• BREW OF THE YEAR: Sample 12 beers featured in the Brew of the Month club. Requires a “Brew of the Month” Club Membership Form.
• ALMOST BLIND LUCK: Fall 65 yards without dying while wearing Synthebrew Goggles during the Brewfest Holiday.
• STRANGE BREW: Acquire the Brewfest beers listed below. Don’t drink them all at once!
• DISTURBING THE PEACE: While wearing 3 pieces of Brewfest clothing, get completely smashed and dance in Dalaran.
• A BREW-FAST MOUNT: Obtain an epic Brewfest mount.

Be sure to hop on over to the Brewfest staging areas at the gates of Orgrimmar and Ironforge September 20–October 6 to join the festivities.