World of Warcraft News and Raiding Strategies

After careful consideration over the last year, we at Blizzard have made the decision not to hold BlizzCon in 2024. This decision was not made lightly as BlizzCon remains a very special event for all of us, and we know many of you look forward to it. While we’re approaching this year differently and as we have explored different event formats in the past, rest assured that we are just as excited as ever to bring BlizzCon back in future years.

Over the next few months, we’ll be sharing more details about our launches coming later this year, including World of Warcraft: The War Within and Diablo IV's first expansion, Vessel of Hatred. To celebrate these upcoming releases and to bring our communities together in new and special ways, we will soon share some exciting plans for other industry trade shows and conventions like Gamescom. We can’t wait to tell you more about those plans soon. We’re also looking forward to the Overwatch Champions Series’ stops at both Dreamhack Dallas and Dreamhack Stockholm. And we’re thrilled to be planning multiple, global, in-person events to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Warcraft, which will be held in addition to the in-game celebrations across our Warcraft games throughout 2024. While these events are distinct from BlizzCon, we’re harnessing all of our creativity and imagination to ensure that they carry the same spirit of celebration and togetherness.

Our hope is that these experiences – alongside several live-streamed industry events where we’ll keep you up to date with what’s happening in our game universes – will capture the essence of what makes the Blizzard community so special.

No matter how you choose to connect with us at these events this year – whether it be in person or virtually – we can’t wait to see you there!

Greetings!

As we prepare for the release of the Cataclysm Classic pre-patch next week, we want to update you on some of the currency conversions that will take place during maintenance. Just like the original transition from Wrath of the Lich King to Cataclysm, the currency systems used for purchasing many items in Cataclysm Classic will change.

Justice Points

Emblems of Triumph and Emblems of Frost will be converted into Justice Points, and there will be a cap, as detailed below. All emblems and badges that are lesser than Frost and Triumph will be converted into gold. This includes legacy badges, such as Badges of Justice. If any of these older currencies are found on your character, they will convert into gold, and you’ll receive that gold via in-game mail.

Any bosses that you defeat that are level-appropriate to you (that previously awarded badges or emblems upon defeat) will now award Justice Points. Similarly, any items that previously cost emblems or badges of any type will now cost Justice Points.

We’re planning for these conversions to mirror those of the original Cataclysm. Outdated emblems will convert directly to gold:

• 1 Badge of Justice → 1 gold 83 silver 30 copper
• 1 Emblem of Heroism → 5 gold 50 silver
• 1 Emblem of Valor → 5 gold 50 silver
• 1 Emblem of Conquest → 5 gold 50 silver
• Current emblems (Triumph and Frost) will convert to Justice Points at a rate of 11.58 Justice Points per emblem:
  
  • 1 Emblem of Triumph → 11.58 Justice Points
  • 1 Emblem of Frost → 11.58 Justice Points

Please note that Justice Points will only be awarded up to the cap of 4,000 points. Any emblems of Triumph or Frost beyond that will be converted to gold at a rate of 47 silver per emblem. This differs slightly from Original Cataclysm, during which the conversion was 47 silver + 50 copper per point. There will be no “soft cap” period for Cataclysm Classic.

Arena Points

Season 8 ended last week, and Arena Points were converted to Honor Points at the usual rate (1 Arena Point = 10 Honor Points). Please note:

• Because this was the final season of the Wrath expansion, the prices of Wrath gear will not be discounted in advance of Cataclysm Classic.
• Before the Cataclysm pre-patch, Honor Points may be spent on Wrath gear. Any Wrath Honor Points that are not spent will be converted during the Cataclysm pre-patch maintenance.

PvP Currency Conversions

With the release of patch 4.4.0 on Tuesday, April 30, all Honor Points, any leftover Battleground Marks of Honor, Stone Keeper’s Shards, Venture Coins, and Spirit Shards will be converted into the new Honor Points. The new Honor Point pool will also have a cap for these conversions.

At the time of conversion to the new Honor Points, items that previously cost Honor or Arena Points will become available in-game for the new Honor Points. Gear from Wrath Classic will have its rating restrictions lifted (except for tabards). Rated Arenas and Rated Battlegrounds won’t be available again until Season 9 (shortly after the release of Cataclysm Classic), when they can be entered to win the higher-tier PvP Conquest Points.

We plan for the conversions to the new Honor Points to be similar to those of the original Cataclysm. Your new Honor Points total will be the sum of the following amounts:

• Old Honor * 0.024
• Battleground Mark of Honor * 2.976
• Wintergrasp Mark of Honor * 19.08
• Stone Keeper Shard * 1.6
• Venture Coin * 3
• Spirit Shard * 1

The new Honor Points will also have a cap of 4,000. Any excess points above 4,000 will be converted at a rate of 35 copper per Honor Point. Again, there will be no “soft cap” period for Cataclysm Classic. Please note that this gold conversion rate differs from what was announced in 2010 for Original Cataclysm (35 silver per point).

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Please remember that purchasing any item with the new Honor Points and Justice Points after the patch will require that the purchaser meet the item’s minimum level requirement.

Thank you very much!

Heroes are called to once again experience a dramatically reforged Azeroth and defend it from utter devastation with a smoother and accelerated leveling experience. Two new races—worgen and goblin—join the Alliance and Horde, each bringing their unique edge to Azeroth.

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The Cursed Worgen


Behind the formidable Greymane Wall, a terrible curse transformed many of the stalwart citizens of the isolated kingdom of Gilneas into lupine beasts known as worgen. Unable to cure their affliction and besieged by the dreaded Forsaken, these worgen learned to control their ferocity thanks to the help of the night elves.

The worgen now stand ready to unleash the beast within at a moment’s notice as Death Knight, Druid, Hunter, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, and Warrior in defense of the Alliance.


A veteran of several wars against the Horde, Genn Greymane, acts as a trusted advisor to the young King Anduin Wrynn of Stormwind. Stalwart and strong, Greymane seeks to secure a lasting peace for the Alliance and remains intent on reclaiming his lost kingdom one day.

Worgen Class Combinations

	Death Knight	✓
	Druid	✓
	Hunter	✓
	Mage	✓
	Paladin
	Priest	✓
	Rogue	✓
	Shaman
	Warlock	✓
	Warrior	✓

Racial Traits

• Aberration (Passive): Reduces Shadow and Nature damage taken by 1%.
  
• Darkflight: Activates your true form, increasing movement speed by 40% for 10 seconds.
  
• Enable Worgen Altered Form: Enables Worgens to switch between human and Worgan forms
  
• Flayer (Passive): Increases your Skinning Skill by 5 and Deftness by 25%. Deftness allows you to skin more quickly.
  
• Running Wild: Drop to all fours and run as fast as a wild animal.
  
• Two Forms - Turn into your currently inactive form. (Awarded by Neither Human Nor Beast)
  
• Viciousness (Passive): Increases Critical Strike chance by 1%.

Home City: Gilneas


Ruled by Genn Greymane, the winding cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways served its citizens well, even as the city fell victim to the curse of the Worgen. Now, forced to flee their home during the Cataclysm, the Worgen seek to reclaim their beloved city one day.

Racial Mount: Mountain Horse


These wild horses have served Gilneans since before the First War. Known for their strength and ferocious demeanor, the mountain horses are comfortable with their riders—and their proclivities to embrace their feral side.

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The Cunning Goblins


The goblins’ craftiness and greed make them masters of mercantilism. Reforging old pacts with their one-time allies, the goblins of the Bilgewater Cartel have been welcomed into the Horde as Death Knight, Hunter, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, and Warrior. Honing their inherent cunning to a razor’s edge, the goblins hope to use their explosive inventions to rule the world—or at the very least own a profitable percentage of it.


After the abrupt departure of Trade Prince Gallywix at the conclusion of the Fourth War, the goblins of the Bilgewater Cartel were left temporarily leaderless. Now Trade Prince Gazlowe leads the goblins with his clever wits, representing them on the Horde council.

Goblin Class Combinitations

	Death Knight	✓
	Druid
	Hunter	✓
	Mage	✓
	Paladin
	Priest	✓
	Rogue	✓
	Shaman	✓
	Warlock	✓
	Warrior	✓

Racial Traits

• Best Deals Anywhere (Passive): Always receive the best possible gold discount regardless of reputation standing.
  
• Better Living Through Chemistry (Passive): Alchemy skill increased by 15.
  
• Pack Hobgoblin: Allows you bank access for 1 min. (Awarded by Message for Saurfang after the end of the Lost Isles quests)
  
• Rocket Barrage: Launches belt rockets at an enemy, dealing Fire damage based on character level.
  
• Rocket Jump: Activates a rocket belt to jump forward.
  
• Time is Money (Passive): Increases attack and casting speed by 1%.

Home City: Bilgewater Harbor


Bilgewater Harbor sprang up in record time, and its quintessential goblin construction has fostered an atmosphere of debauchery and disorder, replete with gambling dens, pleasure houses, and other luxuries.

Racial Mount: Trike


The remarkably aged Jibidiah “No Fingers” Gragglefutz created the sturdy transport trike. Years of product-related mishaps bore fruit in this speedy, durable, and mostly un-explodable vehicle that remains very popular among goblins.

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Mark your calendars; Deathwing, The Worldbreaker, bursts from the heart of the Maelstrom, unleashing his rage. Your new journey begins with the pre-expansion patch— the Shattering of Azeroth—on April 30 and continues with the launch of Cataclysm Classic on May 20, 2024, at 3:00 pm PDT worldwide.

Please join Blizzard developers in the Cataclysm Beta on Friday, April 26 at 1:00 p.m. PDT (4:00 p.m. EDT) as we test Rated Battlegrounds. Here are the details:

When

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. PDT on Friday, April 26 (4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT)

Where

The Cataclysm Classic Beta
Realm name: Classic Beta PvP

Who

Everyone should be able to select level 85 template characters, join a guild, and build out your talents and gear. You can be either Horde or Alliance (faction is not a concern).

What

Starting at 1:00 p.m., form groups of 10 and queue for Rated Battlegrounds.

We’ll be there looking to help you in any way we can, and we’ll open a new feedback thread here in this forum. Please use the in-game bug report tool for any issues you come across.

Thank you very much!