Token system, Nexus Guides, Boss Preview, Class Changes

[Boubouille]

Update - To prevent any confusion, all the changes to mana cost from % of base mana to a fixed mana value have been removed from the class changes, also, warlock changes have been updated.


WotLK Token System
Among other things, a new token storage system is being added to the game to prevent excessive amount of items in bags. The token window is already visible in game by typing /console showtokenframe 1 and /token.

WotLK - Boss Preview
I didn't want to post that in the first place because the following screenshots are a HUGE spoiler and people might not want to look at them but well ... I guess you wouldn't read this site if you cared about spoilers in the first place. Every once in a while we will do previews of monsters you can find in upcoming instances, there are ways to do that and I'm sure you will be happy to learn a few things about your enemies.

• Even if the data was collected from official servers, these screenshots had to be taken on a less official server.
• We're 110% sure that monsters do look like this on official server at this time, however keep in mind that we're still in beta and a lot of models are getting changed all the time. Bosses aren't an exception and a few models are already flagged as PH (=Placeholder) and will probably be changed in an upcoming build.
• To prevent any confusion with official servers and protect their privacy, all monsters were moved to the Twilight Grove for the pictures.
  

Today, we'll start with the bosses and a few supposed trash mobs from The Oculus, followed by a few screenshots of some of the rideable drakes.

The Oculus

Rideable Drakes

[size=3]Blue posts

Death Knight

• I'm not sure if it made the talent trees, but we changed Frost Strike to be an instant attack with no chance to Freeze but bonus damage vs frozen targets. Use Chains or get a random freeze and then use Icy Touch (if talented) or Howling Blast at range or Frost Strike in melée. (Source)
  

Hunter

• I wanted to clear this up since it is understandably causing some confusion. All pet tiers cost 3 points to advance. There are no talents that cost 5 points. In the beta some tooltips may say 5 but only 3 is enforced. Most importantly this means that there are not talents that are available only to BM hunters. They can get more talents - that's all. Furthemore, the exotic pet abilities while interesting are just the same kind of unique abilities that every pet family gets, like web or prowl. (Source)
  

Achievements

• The Tuskarmageddon achievement requiring you to kill 1 000 000 tuskars was a joke achievement. It has been removed. The name was transferred over to the Tuskarr reputation achievement. (Source)
• The bug preventing to complete the Hellfire Ramparts achievements when killing Vazruden the Herald will be fixed in the next build. (Source)
• An achievement might be added for the completion of the Shartuul Event in Ogri'la. (Source)
• It's quite possible many of the quest achievements aren't possible right now. I think that Nagrand one is even marked which means "Not Yet Implemented". We'll get them tuned up properly soon. Keep reporting anything like this. (Source)
• Daily quests and repeatable quests should not add to cumlative zone total achievements. It should only count quests that you can complete once. (Source)
• The fishing achievement "Master Angler of Stranglethorn" will now checks for the presence of an Arcanite Fishing Pole or the Hook trinket rewards and will auto-complete if you've got one of them. (Source)
  

Blizzcon/WWI Beta Keys

• If you are encountering any issue with your World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King beta key, please contact us using the email address appearing directly below the key found in the beta invitation email you received. (Source)
  

Personal Tabards

• The ability to design and wear personal tabards (created through the existing guild tabard system) is a "cool idea" and could be added to the game. (Source)
  

Currency Display

• The currency display will be made more readable in the future. (Source)

The Nexus - Boss Guides
The first version of the strategy guides for the bosses in The Nexus are now available !

MMO-Champion - Articles updates
Once again, a bunch of changes were made to articles on the site.

All articles
All articles have been updated with code preventing excessive caching. If you can't see updated properly please empty your browser's cache, you will only have to do it once and it won't happen in the future. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Azjol-Nerub
The broken links in the summary have been fixed.

Utgarde Keep
Boss descriptions have been added to the summary.

Utgarde Pinnacle
The broken links leading to boss tabs have been fixed.

The Nexus
A strategy has been added for Grand Magus Telestra.
A strategy has been added for Anomalus.
A strategy has been added for Ormorok the Tree-Shaper.
A strategy has been added for Keristrasza.
Quest rewards have been added for Keristrasza.

Sholazar Basin
A description of the zone has been added to the summary.

Zul'drak
Added a brief description to the summary.


WotLK - Upcoming Beta Classes Changes V2
The official talent calculator has been updated with what seems to be the upcoming changes to the Wrath of the Lich King beta. Below is a list of changes (we might have missed a few things)

We posted a first draft of these changes a few days ago but an updated version feels necessary because of a few details :

• According to feedbacks, Ice Lance not being mentioned in the Arctic Reach tooltip was a known bug and it might not have been changed.
• The mana cost of Druids forms might have not been changed, official site doesn't seem to support % of base mana for spell costs and even on the BC Talent Calculator, the fixed value of mana is here. Please stop reporting changes to mana costs for all the classes (especially Warlocks or Priests), this is most likely a bug.
• Death Knight Frost Tree changes from saturday have been added to the list.

Death Knight
Blood

• Will of the Necropolis now increases your expertise by 3/6/9 instead of 4/8/12
• Blood Gorged now only affects melee damage
  

Frost

• Improved Icy Touch now increase the damage of your Icy Touch by 10/20/30/40/50% and its damage against Frozen Targets by 20/40/60/80/100% (Old version : Reduces the cooldown of your Icy Touch spell by 1/2/3/4/5 sec and increases its critical strike damage bonus by 10/20/30/40/50%)
• Nerves of Cold Steel has been moved from Tier 3 to Tier 2.
• Annihilation has been moved from Tier 6 to Tier 3.
• Aneurysm has been moved from Tier 8 to Tier 7.
• Merciless Combat has been moved from Tier 8 to Tier 6.
• New Talent - Blood of the North - Tier 8 (5 Points) - Whenever you use a Blood Strike there is a 20/40/60/80/100% chance that the Blood Rune will become a Death Rune when it activates
• Frost Aura increases your Frost Resistance by 32/65 instead of 22/45.
• Frost Strike training requirements have been removed. (Merciless Combat required before)
  

Unholy

• Corpse Explosion base damage has been changed from 60 to 216.
• Improved Corpse Explosion now casts a disease on enemy target that deals 36% of the explosion damage over 15 seconds instead of 9 seconds.
• Unholy Aura increases your Shadow Resistance by 32/65 instead of 22/45.
  

Druid
Balance

• Typhoon mana cost has been increased from 475 to 645 and the range changed from 20 to 24 Yards.
• Force of Nature cooldown has been reduced from 3 to 2 minutes.
• Starfall mana cost has been increased from 655 to 866. Range increased from 30 to 36 yards. Damage seems to be changed as well but it looks like the version displayed in the talent calculator isn't the first rank of the spell.
  

Feral

• Faerie Fire range has been increased from 30 to 36 yards.
• Primal Tenacity now increases your chance to resist Stun and Fear mechanics by 5/10/15% (Old version : Reduces the duration of Fear effects by 5/10/15% and reduces all damage taken while stunned by 5/10/15%)
• Improved Mangle now reduces the cooldown of your Mangle (Bear) ability by 7% (instead of 0.5 sec) and reduces the energy cost of your Mangle (Cat) ability by 2.
  

Restoration

• Flourish mana cost decreased from 585 to 450. Amount of healing decreased (Rank 1 now heals 672 HP instead of 1610).
  

Hunter
Survival

• Hunting Party now gives your critical shots a 20/30/40/50/60% chance to restore 2% mana, 10 energy, 4 rage, or 10 runic power to all member of your party. (Old version : 20/40/60/80/100% chance)
• Potent Venom now increases the amount of damage done to targets afflicted by your Wyvern or Serpent Sting by 1% regardless of the rank. (Old version : Increased the damage by 1% for each rank, up to 3%)
  

Mage
Arcane

• Arcane Impact is now called Spell Impact and increases the critical strike chance of Arcane Explosion, Arcane Blast, Blast Wave, Fire Blast, Ice Lance, and Cone of Cold by 2/4/6% (Old version : Was only affecting Arcane Explosion / Arcane Blast)
• New Talent - Student of the Mind (Tier 3) - Increases your total spirit by 4/8/12%
• Arcane Potency now requires 1 Point in Presence of Mind instead of 5 points in Arcane Concentration
• Potent Spirit has been removed
• New Talent - Arcane Flows (Tier 8, requires 1 point in Arcane Power) - Reduces the cooldown of your Presence of Mind, Arcane Power, and Invisibility spells by 30 secs.
• Netherwind Presence now increases your spell haste by 2/4/6% (Old version : Gives your Arcane Missiles, Arcane Barrage, Arcane Blast, Fireball, Frostbolt, and Forstfire Bolt spells a 1/2/3/4/5% chance to cause the next Arcane Blast, Fireball, Frostbolt or Frostfire Bolt to be instant.)
  

Frost

• Arctic Reach doesn't influence Ice Lance anymore
  

Paladin
Holy

• The amount of health point healed by Holy Shock has been increased by 66%. (eg. Rank 7 now heals for 2401-2599 instead of 1431-1549)
• Infusion of Light now reduces the cast time of your next Holy Light spell by 1.3/2.5 secs instead of 1.25/2.5 secs.
  

Protection

• Holy Shield will now give you 6 charges instead of 4.
• Avenger's Shield mana cost reduced by 70%, damage has been reduced. (eg. Rank 3 now deals 494-602 damage for 780 mana instead of 705-861 for 1745 mana)
• Guarded by the Light now reduces the mana cost of your Consecration, Holy Wrath and Avenger's Shield by 15/30% (Old version : Whenever your parry or dodge an attack you have a 10% chance to reduce the mana cost of your next Consecration, Holy Wrath, or Avenger's Shield spell by 25%/50%)
  

Retribution

• Improved Blessing of Might now increases the attack power bonus of your Blessing of Might by 10/20/30/40/50% instead of 4/8/12/16/20%
• Vindication now has a chance to reduce the target's attributes by 10/20% for 15 seconds. (Old version : 5/10% reduction)
• Pursuit of Justice is now a 2 rank talents (was 3), reducing the change to be hit by spells by 1/2% and mounted movement speed by 9/15% (Old version : 1/2/3% hit and 5/10/15% mounted speed)
  

Rogue
Subtlety

• Fixed a typo in Honor Amongst Thieves, now gives a 10/20/30% to gain a combo point when you or someone in your group critically hits with a damage, healing, or spell ability. (Was ... 100/200/300%)
  

Shaman
Elemental

• Convection (Tier 1) is now a 3 points talent, reducing the mana cost of Shock, Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Thunder and Lava Burst spells by 4%/8%/12% (Old version : 5 points and 2/4/6/8/10%)
• Concussion doesn't affect Lava Burst and Thunderstorm anymore.
• Storm Reach now also increases the radius of your Thunderstorm spell by 10% along with the range improvement on Lightning Bolt / Chain Lightning.
• Elemental precision increases your chance to hit with Fire, Frost, and Nature spells by 2/4/6% and reduces the threat caused by these spells by 4/7/10% (Old version : 1/2/3% hit and 10/20/30% threat)
• Astral Shift now has a 33/66/100% chance to shift into the Astral Plane reducing all damage taken by 30% (Old version : 100% chance to reduce all damage taken by 10%/20%/30%)
• Thunderstorm range increased from 10 to 12 yards, damage increased from 595-679 to 640-729, knockback stays 20 yards.
  

Enhancement

• Improved shields now increases the amount of Mana Shield orbs by 10% instead of 5%, improvements to Lightning Shield and Earth Shield stay the same.
• Shamanistic Rage now gives your successful melee attacks a chance to regenerate mana equal to 15% of your attack power. (Old version : mana regeneration equal to 30% of your attack power)
• Maelstrom Weapon now reduces the casting time of any spell by 4/8/12/16/20% when you critically hit with a melee weapon. (Old version : was only affecting Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Lava Burst)
• Feral Spirit now lasts 45 seconds instead of 30 seconds.
  

Restoration

• Nature's Guardian cooldown has been changed from 8 to 5 seconds.
• Spirit Link now also breaks if a shared damage would reduce a target's health below 20%.
  

Warrior
Arms

• Bloodletting has been renamed to Improved Rend once again and doesn't increase the amount of damage caused by Bloodbath anymore.
• Fixed a typo in Second Wind, Stun or Immobilize effects generate 10/20 rage. (Old version ... 100/200 ^^)
  

Protection

• Shield Specialization now gives you a chance to generate 1 rage when a block occurs. (Old version : 2 Rage)
  

Warlock
Affliction

• Fel Concentration now gives 14/28/42/56/70% chance to avoid interruption while casting Unstable Affliction and Haunt along with the 14/28/42/56/70% chance to avoid interruption on Drain Life / Drain Mana / Drain Soul.
• Improved Felhunter now makes your Felhunter gains mana equal to 50/100% of the damage done by its Shadow Bite ability and increases the effect of your Felhunter's Fel Intelligence by 1/2%. (Old Version : Your Felhunter gains mana equal to 33% of the damage done by its Shadow Bite ability and reduces the cooldown of your Felhunter's Expel Magic by 10 sec.)
• Eradication now gives 4/7/10% chance to increase your spell casting speed by 20% for 12 sec when your Corruption ticks. (Old version : 5/10/15% chance to increase your spell casting speed by 20%)
• Haunt casting time has been increased from 1.5 sec to 2 seconds.
  

Demonology

• Demonic Embrace now increases your total stamina by 2/4/6/8/10%. (Old version : Increases your total stamina by 3% of your spirit)
• Soul Link (Tier 3) is not required for Unholy Power anymore.
• Master Demonologist (Tier 6) is no longer required to take Demonic Empowerment (Tier 7)
• Demonic Sacrifice has been changed
  Imp: Increases your Fire damage by 10%.
  Voidwalker: Restores 2% of total health every 4 sec.
  Succubus: Increases your Shadow damage by 10%
  Felhunter: Restores 3% of total mana every 4 sec.
  Felguard: Increases your Shadow and Fire damage by 10% and restores 2% of total mana every 4 sec.
• Demonic Empowerment has been changed
  Imp: Increases the Imp's spell critical strike chance by 20%
  Voidwalker: Increases the Voidwalker's health by 20% and its threat generated from spells and attacks by 20%
  Succubus: Instantly vanishes, causing the Succubus to go into an improved Invisibility state. The vanish effect removes all stuns, snares and movement impairing effects from the Succubus
  Felhunter: Dispels all magical effects from the Felhunter
  Felguard: Increases the Felguard's attack speed by 20% and breaks all stun, snare, and movement impairing effects and makes your Felguard immune to them.
  

Destruction

• Aftermath (Tier 2) changed to 2%/4% chance to daze the target for 5 sec. (Previously 5/10% for 5 sec)
• Chaos Bolt (Tier 11) changed to an 8 sec cooldown. (Previously 12 secs)

[Groal]

I like how the drakes are titled "vehicles".

[Hegarol]

http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?item=35603

Worldofraids and wowhead report it as a Ormorok drop. In your guide it drops from Telestra. What is correct?

[Spikier]

You've got to be kiddin' me with the dragons .. jesus christ, im a mount collector, and i wont mind one or two of those sweet babies!

[fjols]

I like how the drakes are titled "vehicles".

Would that mean they can carry more than 1 person?

[Nibblets]

Thb i dont see how a few pics of the new mounts / bosses are a huge spoiler O.o Your gonnan see them eventualy anyways if you think "Awsome" now or in like half a year (dunno what the release date is :P) it wouldnt change the fun of the game. (Maybe for some of the RP peoples ^^)

[Luniar]

The fishing achievement "Master Angler of Stranglethorn" will now checks for the presence of an Arcanite Fishing Pole or the Hook trinket rewards and will auto-complete if you've got one of them.

That made my day, been hoping I would not have to repeat winning it. It's insanely busy in Strangethorn Vale every sunday.

[Groal]

Would that mean they can carry more than 1 person?

No, but they probably have to pass the vehicle inspection before you're allowed to mount them

[Anatta]

Notice that the last two dragon "mounts" lack the saddle of the first three (and the first three are drakes, whilst the last are dragons.)


This one is used in a quest in Dragonblight (you do ride it, and it's great)



Haven't come across a chance to ride this yet, but it looks very like the Emberwyrms being raised by the scourge from the burning bones of dead members of the Black dragonflight. It certainly wouldn't be willing to let you ride it.


Either way, the ridable drakes have been announced to be part of an instance, where you ride around using their DPS/tank/healing abilities instead of your own classes'. So there's no evidence that you'll be able to use them as a mount like the Netherwing drakes.

[stormgust]

The mana cost values are the percentage of the lvl 80 base mana value o.O

[nunomcm]

It's just me or the talent calculators changes "updated" still says that forms were changed to fixed values instead of %?

Also, some things like almost everything or even everything of druids doesn't show up in the official talent calculator? I can't see Faerie Fire with 36y, I can't see Flourish healing less, nothing in fact. So, where are this "official changes" from?

edit: Actually I can see 3 changes on the official talent calculator.

Balance

* Typhoon Mana cost increased from 475 mana to 645 mana, and damage increased from 400 to 530.
* Force of Nature cooldown reduced from 3 to 2 minutes.

Feral

* Primal Tenacity now reduces the duration of Fear effects by 10/20/30% (old version: 5/10/15%) , and reduces all damage taken while Stunned by 10/20/30% (old version: 5/10/15%).

The other things that were reported here as changes I don't know where you got them.

[1sickpuppy]

All of the increased range to spells seem a little odd, either its a typo or they're removing base talents that do give increase range and making it part of the base spells. Somehow I don't see them wanting things already being mentioned as 24 or 36 yards getting another 10-20% more on top of that with said talents.

[Mahtamori]

Pursuit of Justice is now a 2 rank talents (was 3), reducing the change to be hit by spells by 1/2% and mounted movement speed by 9/15% (Old version : 1/2/3% hit and 5/10/15% mounted speed)

Wait, what? Mounted speed? Or is this just a typo and the normal movement was left out?

[stormgust]

It's just me or the talent calculators changes "updated" still says that forms were changed to fixed values instead of %?

Also, some things like almost everything or even everything of druids doesn't show up in the official talent calculator? I can't see Faerie Fire with 36y, I can't see Flourish healing less, nothing in fact. So, where are this "official changes" from?

edit: Actually I can see 3 changes on the official talent calculator.

The other things that were reported here as changes I don't know where you got them.

The other changes were errors in the talent calculator (and i had confirmation, that those were errors before boubouille posted his so called upcoming changes).

About Typhon: well, maybe someone should ask gfraizer to check on the stats ?

And always show a fixed value. It's the percentage of the base value the spell has at the maximum lvl (i.e. 80)

[Kumcio]

Hey, can anybody confirm the changes to enhancement shaman?
- Malestrom Weapon (not Maelstrom :P) making all spells instant
- Spirit Wolves being summoned for 45 sec.

I watch the Blizz official talent calculator and I can't find these changes. Either I'm blind, my browser is too good at caching sites or it was reverted to old values...?

[ToxTheWrecker]

Wooo.. Warrior didn't really change. Fantastic.

I do like the token change though, I can see it being a lot more easy to use.
More stuff to see, making WotLK expansion look more nice than TBC at this point. Actually excited for it; which says a lot to myself.
Hopefully it's definitely worth it..

Warriors need more attention still, fix the Strength of Arms and move it to a lower tier. To work like the Paladins' tier.

[findhor]

As someone else stated, i doubt the "Wyrmrest Vanquishers" will be mounts in the Oculus.

The only available will probably be those 3 drakes from the "nice" dragonflights, aka bronze, red and green (blue being the one you're fighting and black being...not so cooperative )

Blizz sure seems to like this new vehicle mechanic, and thus far, I can't blame them, it's great

[Mech]

Can't believe you published those wrong talent changes again after being told many times now they are wrong and were based off outdatted calculators.

[Smuggler]

dragons to ride

[mrchee]

Where are the warrior changes blizz?