World of Warcraft News and Raiding Strategies

In patch 9.0.5, we’re reworking the Rogue Necrolord Covenant ability Serrated Bone Spike. We’re now testing this set of changes:

• Rogue
  
  • Serrated Bone Spike initial damage increased by 300%.
  • Resolved an issue that prevented Serrated Bone Spike’s initial damage from dealing a critical strike.
  • Serrated Bone Spike now grants 1 combo point plus 1 per active bone spike after it strikes the target.
  • Serrated Bone Spike no longer refunds a charge and gets removed when the target is healed to full.
  • Serrated Bone Spike is now removed when the target leaves combat.

The design intention for this button is: impale your enemy with a bone spike from Maldraxxus, inflicting a permanent damage over time on them. We found that while the ability performed well in situations where multiple targets persisted for long times, it was unattractive elsewhere.

Greatly increasing the spell’s initial damage should improve its performance in the ‘other’ situations, including those where the enemy doesn’t live very long. However, we then feel we need to address a problem with the ability in PvP. Previously, if the afflicted target was healed to full, the damage over time effect would be removed and a charge of the spell refunded. The way this played out was the effect constantly being removed and charges constantly being refunded. As a result, the Rogue is compelled to constantly hit this button. With an increase to the initial damage component, this could be problematic. So we’re removing that mechanic, and we’re removing the bleed entirely whenever a player leaves combat.

We’re working on a slate of adjustments to several encounters that we intend to enact with scheduled weekly maintenance (early a.m. PST on March 2 in this region). Here are the planned changes:

Dungeons and Raids

• Castle Nathria
  
  • Lady Inerva Darkvein
    
    • Healers are now chosen as a last resort target of Shared Suffering and Concentrate Anima on Raid Finder, Normal, and Heroic difficulties.
    • The ambient damage of Loose Anima for open containers has been reduced on Raid Finder, Normal, and Heroic difficulties.
    • Targets of Shared Suffering no longer take damage from the beams they are wearing on Raid Finder, Normal, and Heroic difficulties. Passing through the opposite edge will continue to damage targeted players.
  • Hungering Destroyer
    
    • Health reduced by 5% on Mythic difficulty.
    • Reduced the damage players wearing Gluttonous Miasma take by 10% on Mythic difficulty.
    • The damage increase of Essence Sap has been reduced by 20% per stack.
    • Expunge now shows up in the combat log when it is applied to players.
    • Volatile Ejection now shows up as a debuff when a player is targeted with this spell.
  • Sun King’s Salvation
    
    • Increased the amount of healing Essence Overflow heals Kael’thas to 2.5% of his maximum health on all difficulties (was 2%). The tooltip will be updated to reflect the change in a future hotfix or patch.
    • Increased the healing done bonus from Sinfall Boon to 100% per application on Mythic difficulty (was 50%).
    • Reduced the strength of the Cloak of Flames damage shield on Shade of Kael’thas by 10% on Mythic difficulty.
• Sanguine Depths
  
  • Wicked Oppressor’s Wrack Soul cast time increased to 2 seconds (was 1.5 seconds) and is cast less frequently.
  • Regal Mistdancer’s Echoing Thrust damage reduced by 20% and is cast less frequently.
  • General Kaal’s health reduced by 10% during the gauntlet event.

Thank you very much for your feedback!

Creatures and NPCs

• Fixed an issue where Tomb Burster in Revendreth was not resetting each day to give players another opportunity at her loot.

Dungeons and Raids

• Castle Nathria
  
  • Fixed an issue that could cause the door to Sire Denathrius' chamber to remain closed if Prince Renathal and General Draven began fighting loyalists prior to the door opening.
    
• Timewalking: Black Temple
  
  • Illidan
    
    • Fixed an issue where Parasitic Shadowfiends would sometimes not reset after the encounter ends.
      

Items and Rewards

• Renown weapon illusions can now be used in transmogrification after their appearance has been learned.

I think it might be helpful to note that what we’re now calling WoW Classic Era realms start at Level 1, and we feel the same as we did two years ago: no Boost would ever be needed (or appropriate) there. When we originally laid out our principles for WoW Classic, the 1-60 experience was the only thing to which we could refer.

Burning Crusade Classic begins at level 58, and we’re configuring this new Boost service to avoid minimizing the accomplishments of existing players or skipping any new content at launch. It’s for players who want a way to quickly join their friends in Outland.

Adventures

• Kyrian Covenant Companions
  
  • Kyrian Phalanx health increased by 16%.
    
    • Developers’ note: Phalanxes still feel underpowered relative to Halberdiers, so giving them some additional durability to allow them to fill the tank role before players have maxed out their roster.
• Necrolord Covenant Companions
  
  • Fixed an issue where Bonesmith Heirmir Serrated Shoulder Blades weren’t inflicting damage back to the enemy.
  • Maldraxxus Plaguesinger’s Plague Song has been redesigned – Plague Song now deals damage to ranged enemies every round.
  • Rencissa the Dynamo spell effectiveness increased by 40%.
  • Assembler Xertora spell effectiveness increased by 10%.
  • Rattlebag spell effectiveness increased by 20%.
    
    • Developers’ note: We fixed a few issues where some Necrolord Covenant Companions weren’t dealing damage reliably. Additionally, a few companions have received an improvement that fits with their purpose.
• Night Fae Covenant Companions
  
  • Qadarin spell effectiveness increased by 24%.
  • Blisswing’s damage reduction now correctly applies to enemies.
  • Yira’liya health increased by 16% and spell effectiveness increased by 50%.
  • Duskleaf health increased by 20% and spell effectiveness increased by 25%.
  • Lloth’wellyn health increased by 33% and ability damage increased by 25%.
    
    • Developers’ note: A few Night Fae Covenant Companions were not as well established in their different roles as we hoped, to address this we’ve improved many abilities and decreased some Companions’ overall fragility.
• Venthyr Covenant Companions
  
  • Venthyr Nightblade attack increased by 25%.
    
    • Developers’ note: We’re generally happy with how the changes to Venthyr in the 9.0.2 hotfix landed, but wanted to offer some additional help for players using Nightblades to fill out their compositions.

Classes

• Hunter
  
  • Beast Mastery
    
    • Spitting Cobra (Talent) damage is increased by 260%.
• Warlock
  
  • Curse of Tongues now lasts 1 minute (was 30 seconds) and lasts 20 seconds against enemy players (was 12 seconds).
  • Demonology
    
    • Call Dreadstalkers attack power increased by 10%, and Dreadbite and Dreadlash damage increased by 10%.

Covenants

• Necrolord
  
  • Fleshcraft has been redesigned – Form a shield of flesh and bone over 3 seconds (was 4 seconds) that absorbs damage equal to 40% of your maximum health for 2 minutes. While channeling, your damage taken is reduced by 20%. Passive effect – Moving near an enemy’s corpse consumes their essence to reduce Fleshcraft’s cooldown by 1 second.
• Classes
  
  • Paladin
    
    • Conduits
      
      • The extra spells from Ringing Clarity (Kyrian) now have a longer delay between hits. Additionally, area-of-effect Judgment hits from Divine Toll are no longer reduced by 25% in PvP, and Judgment triggered from Ringing Clarity is reduced by 25% in PvP.
      • Retribution
        
        • Virtuous Command no longer plays an attack animation when it triggers.

Items and Rewards

• Legendary Items
  
  • Druid
    
    • Cat-Eye Curio now restores 30% Energy (was 25%).
  • Hunter
    
    • Dire Command now has a 30% chance to trigger (was 20%).
    • Rylakstalker’s Piercing Fangs critical damage increased to 35% (was 20%).
  • Paladin
    
    • Holy
      
      • Shadowbreaker, Dawn of the Sun buff duration increased to 8 seconds (was 6 seconds).
      • Maraad’s Dying Breath’s healing bonus to Light of the Martyr no longer increases self-damage taken. Additionally, Maraad’s Dying Breath now causes all Light of the Martyr self-damage to be dealt over 5 seconds.
    • Protection
      
      • The Ardent Protector’s Sanctum has been redesigned – When Ardent Defender saves you from death, it restores 40% additional health. When Ardent Defender expires without saving you from death, its remaining cooldown is reduced by 40% (was 60 seconds).
    • Retribution
      
      • Final Verdict damage has been increased by 15%.
  • Shaman
    
    • Elemental
      
      • Echoes of Great Sundering now causes Earthquake to deal 120% additional damage (was 175%).

Player Vs Player

• Battlegrounds
  
  • Ashran
    
    • Maximum player count per faction is now 35 (was 30).
    • Starting reinforcements are now 175 (was 150).
    • To allow both factions to have easier access to Star Root Tubers and Song Flowers, both these tasty treats will now spawn alongside each other in the Dark Woods and Root Den.
    • Artifact Fragment cost to summon Kronus and Fangrall reduced to 1500 (was 3000).
    • Horde and Alliance tower mages are now worth 30 Reinforcements when slain (was 50).
    • Horde and Alliance tower mages have had their spells adjusted:
      
      • Rylai Crestfall – Alliance Tower Mage
        
        • Northrend Winds now deals 15% of the target’s maximum health in Frost damage.
        • Frostbolt now deals 8% of the target’s maximum health in Frost damage.
        • Frostbolt Volley now deals 15% of the target’s maximum health in Frost damage.
        • No longer casts Mass Polymorph.
      • Jeron Emberfall – Horde Tower Mage
        
        • Fireball now deals 8% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
        • Combustion Nova now deals 15% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
        • Ignite now deals 1% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
        • Living Bomb initial spell now deals 5% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
        • Living Bomb explosion now deals 15% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
        • Living Bomb no longer causes a knockback when exploding.
        • Magma Blast cast by Jeron’s summoned Lava Fury now deals 5% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
    • Isle of Conquest
      
      • Glaive Thrower health has been increased by 40%.
      • Alliance and Horde Commander health increased by 50%.
      • Demolisher health increased by 25%.
      • Catapult health increased by 100%.
      • The amount of siege damage required to break down keep walls has been increased by 20%.
    • Wintergrasp
      
      • Broken Temple and Sunken Ring Workshops are now controlled by the attacking team when the battle starts.
      • Wintergrasp Wall, Wintergrasp Fortress Wall, and Wintergrasp Fortress Gate health has been reduced by 20%.
      • Destroying Towers reduces match time by 8 minutes (was 5 minutes).
      • Siege Engine’s Steam Rush ability deals 20-35% of a player’s health (was 30-45%).
      • Demolisher’s Hurl Boulder ability deals 20-25% of a player’s health (was 36%).
      • Demolishers will now more consistently deal siege damage when striking fortress walls and towers.
      • After 5 minutes, all players in the battleground who do not have a rank (including players who join late) will now be granted the rank of Corporal.
• Classes
  
  • Death Knight
    
    • Removed the stun when summoning the temporary ghoul version of Raise Dead (Rank 1) in PvP.
  • Mage
    
    • Ice Form (PvP Talent) is no longer on the global cooldown to match Icy Veins, the ability it replaces.
  • Paladin
    
    • Holy
      
      • Ultimate Sacrifice (PvP Talent) now causes Blessing of Sacrifice to last 6 seconds in addition to its existing effects.
    • Protection
    • Steed of Glory (PvP Talent) will now grant immunity to roots and snares only (was all crowd controlling effects).

Torghast

• Anima Powers
  
  • Night Fae
    
    • New Anima Power: Frigid Wildseed (Epic) – Activating Soulshape stuns enemies within 12 yards of the departure and destination location for 6 seconds. Can be obtained 1 time.
  • Warrior
    
    • Smoldering Inertia damage bonus decreased to 100% (was 200%) and the duration increased to 6 seconds (was 4 seconds).

Covenants

• Venthyr
  
  • The Ember Court
    
    • Permanent RSVPs
      
      • Guests who you have reached Best Friend status with now give you a permanent RSVP.
      • The Permanent RSVP will allow all characters on your account to invite that guest to future Ember Courts without completing their RSVP quest again.
    • Temel in Sinfall now sells a Bind on Account book at Exalted with the Ember Court. The book will teach your Dredger Butler how to handle the Cleanup and Restocking quests that follow the Ember Courts.
    • One-time reputation items from Temel and Lady Ilinca will no longer appear once learned.
    • Droman Aliothe’s RSVP no longer requires players to venture to Bastion and Maldraxxus for items.