World of Warcraft News and Raiding Strategies

With the launch of Shadowlands, great numbers of players have left Azeroth for the afterlife, dramatically increasing player populations on every realm. For a small number of realms, demand has been overwhelming, and we’ve been working around the clock to address issues on those realms and make the game available to the maximum number of players.

Today, we’ve enabled the Free Character Transfer service for players who have characters on high population realms that are experiencing consistent, extended queues. If this service is available on your realm, you’ll access it in the Services section of the Shop on your character selection screen for that realm.

Please note:

• You cannot select a destination realm that also has a high population.
• Realm to realm character transfers take time to complete, and the duration is higher when more players are using the service.
• You cannot log in to your character until the migration has completed.
• You cannot cancel a migration in progress.
• Blizzard Customer Support cannot cancel a migration or speed up the migration process.
• Character migrations are irreversible.
• The free service may be disabled at any time, as necessary.

We strongly suggest that any players planning to use a Free Character Transfer do so as soon as possible.

Thank you very much!

Classes

• Mage
  
  • General
    
    • Fixed an issue where Clouded Diamond (Torghast Anima Power) would not trigger with Arcane Momentum.
      
• Warlock
  
  • General
    
    • Corrected an issue where Soul Rot (Night Fae Ability) was unable to be used if the warlock was low on health.
      

Covenants

• Corrected an issue that could cause players who were trying to switch covenants to incorrectly be treated as having previously been a member of their desired new covenant.

Creatures and NPCs

• Stablemaster Vasilica has taken up shop in Sinfall to help Venthyr covenant members recover their lost pets.

Items and Rewards

• The Mistcaller Ocarina trinket now refreshes its buff duration when the buff is already applied and the buff now lasts 15 minutes (was 5 minutes).

Quests

• Covenant Campaign
  
  • Fixed an issue where characters who chose to enter the Threads of Fate could have quests in their log from "The Looming Dark" campaign that could no longer be completed.
    
• Bastion
  
  • Fixed an issue where there were two Centurion Colossi visible during the quest "The Final Countdown."
    
• Maldraxxas
  
  • Characters in Threads of Fate mode should no longer be offered the Maldraxxus quest "WANTED: The Key of Eyes" as it takes place in a level 60 area.
    
• Ardenweald
  
  • Fixed an issue during the quest "Ride to Heartwood Grove" where the Riding Stag would not want to be mounted.
    
• Revendreth
  
  • Players who logout during “Refuge of Revendreth” should no longer be required to restart the quest to complete it.
    
  • Archivist Fane will now allow those sworn to the Venthyr to obtain the quest "Halls of Atonement: Your Absolution."
    
  • Prince Renathal will now accept the turn in of "Cages For All Occasions" while mounted on a Bridled Shadehound.
    
• The Maw
  
  • Resolved an issue where Brethlun the Brand can become stuck and permanently evade all oncoming attacks during the quest "The Brand Holds the Key."
    
• Battle for Azeroth
  
  • Fixed an issue where Tyrande could get stuck in combat during the Battle for Azeroth Alliance scenario "In Darkest Night."
    

Torghast, Tower of the Damned

• Any Soul Ash that was not looted from defeated enemies will now be sent to the player’s mailbox.

World Quests

• Increased the spawn frequency of Brittle Bark Mischief-Makers needed for the World Quest “Spriggan Size Me!”
  
• Fixed an issue where Kleia could display incorrectly during the Bastion World Quest "Flight School: Falling With Style."

Following the release of WoW Classic patch 1.13.6 on December 1, we’ll open Naxxramas and kick off the Scourge Invasion on December 3 at 2:00 p.m. PST (5:00 p.m. EST)(9:00 a.m. December 4 AEDT).

The Scourge Invasions coming to WoW Classic next week have been adjusted in some ways that differ from how they were originally configured to operate in 2006. Here’s a look into the details behind that.

Original WoW

On June 20, 2006, Scourge Invasions began, including bonus dungeon bosses, vendors, quests, and a series of undead invasion outdoor events. The Invasion part of the event came in three stages. Necrotic Shards spawned in each zone being attacked and are surrounded by undead enemies which must be defeated to destroy the Shard. They most notably drop Necrotic Runes, which were used as quest objectives and as currency to purchase Consecrated Sharpening Stones and Blessed Weapon Oils.

The stages progressed per-realm. The first stage ended when 50 zones were defended, the second at 100, and the third ended at 150 zones defended. At the end of each stage, any player on that realm could speak with NPCs in capital cities to receive an item with limited charges that provided a minor scaling stamina buff for 1 hour. Once a total of 150 zones were defended, the invasions portion of the event ended permanently.
Regardless of the number of zones defended, the rest of the features of the Scourge Invasion event were configured to end after three weeks, taking away all bonus dungeon bosses, vendors, quest NPCs, and vendors.

WoW Classic

Given the number of endgame players per realm nowadays, as well as how much more knowledgeable players are when it comes to optimizing gameplay, we feel that it is pertinent to make several changes to the event. We calculated that it would be easy for some realms to be completely done with the invasion portion of the event in less than five days, so our primary goal is to allow more time for players to participate and not feel rushed.

• The number of zones needed to complete each stage has been increased to 100/200/300.
• The total duration for the bonus dungeon bosses, vendors, and quest givers has been increased from three to four weeks and will end on December 31.
• An additional one-week period has been added, beginning after 300 zones have successfully been defended on each realm. During this extra week, invasions will continue to spawn to allow players a final chance to participate and gather the rewards.
  
  • This additional week cannot extend beyond the end date of December 31.

These adjustments feel like a solid way to allow players more breathing room to enjoy Naxxramas and still participate in this one-time event.

Thank you for reading, and we look forward to joining you in Naxxramas at 2:00 p.m. PST on December 3!

Character

• [With realm restarts] Oribos no longer separates players with War Mode enabled from those who have it disabled.
  
• Falling off the edge of the Shattered Grove in Maldraxxus will no longer send the character to Westfall or the Barrens. Falling to your death is enough punishment.

Classes

• Mage
  
  • General
    
    • Fixed an issue where Dimensional Blade (Torghast Anima Power) would sometimes not instantly kill Mawrats when Blinking through them.
      
• Paladin
  
  • Retribution
    
    • Seraphim (Talent) now correctly triggers Selfless Healer (Talent).
      
• Shaman
  
  • Enhancement
    
    • Windfury Totem procs now have sound and the volume of the Maelstrom Weapon proc sound has been lowered.
      

Covenants

• Players who switch covenants after completing the Maw introduction and gathering 5 Redeemed Souls for their first covenant should now find that they have 5 Redeemed Souls waiting for them in their new covenant. Players who changed covenants prior to this fix and were roadblocked by missing Redeemed Souls should visit Oribos, which will perform a process that corrects the issue.
  
• Adventures missions now appear immediately after completing the tutorial when switching covenants.
  
• Kleia is now a bit more chatty and now welcomes being the chosen Soulbind in Elysian Hold.
  
• Fixed an issue that caused a player to be rejected from their chosen covenant. Covenant pacts lost in this way can now be re-selected.

Creatures and NPCs

• Scorched Crypt Key can now open the Crypt Door to Innervus.
  
• Night Fae characters in Soulshape form can now pass through the barrier protecting Skuld Vit.
  
• Derwynnthlmn will now offer his Flight Master services to players that have chosen the Night Fae Covenant.

Dungeons and Raids

• Mythic Keystone Dungeons
  
  • Mists of Tirna Scithe
    
    • Explosive Orbs will no longer spawn inside Tred’ova.
      
    • Gormling Larva will now spawn Explosive Orbs at player locations instead of their location.
      
• Halls of Atonement
  
  • Fixed an issue where Revendreth players with combat pets could not correctly interact with Loyal Stoneborn.
    

Items and Rewards

• The cooldown of Slumberwood Band's effect can no longer be prematurely cleared by death or by using immunities and similar effects.
  
• The Oribobber now makes sound when a fish is hooked.
  
• Resolved an issue where Master Duelist's Chit trinket would fail to correctly display its visual effect when striking targets at range.

Quests

• Covenant Campaign
  
  • Fixed an issue where depositing anima during the Covenant Campaign tutorial quest “Into the Reservoir” could sometimes consume the player's earned anima instead of the tutorial anima.
    
  • Fixed an issue where Night Fae players who skipped parts of Covenant Chapter 1 by speaking to the Winter Queen, but had not yet done the campaign quests at the Star Lake Amphitheater on any character, would be unable to turn in the quest "Show, Don't Tell."
    
  • The boss will no longer reset when dealing the killing shot at the same time as being ejected from Bron during the Mikanikos “Path of Ascension” scenario.
    
  • Lady Moonberry has finished her prank and is no longer in two places at once for Night Fae who leveled via Threads of Fate during the quest "The Boon of Shapes."
    
• Bastion
  
  • The chest for “Trial of Courage” no longer despawns as soon as you reach it.
    
  • Fixed an issue where the Chamber Guardians could fail to attack during the quest, "You Go First."
    
• Maldraxxas
  
  • The Harvesting Hook required for "Give Them a Hand" now displays that it’s on cooldown.
    
  • To prevent phasing issues, “Kill Them, Of Course” must be turned in before “Secrets Among the Shelves” can be accepted.
    
  • Ve'nari's Orb of Teleportation now correctly brings all members of a party along for the ride during the quest “Hope Never Dies.”
    
  • Fixed an issue that sometimes caused a door to not open while progressing through the quest, “Secrets Among the Shelves.”
    
• Ardenweald
  
  • Elder Finnan, Elder Gwenna, and Groonoomcrooek have all returned to their homes, if you are searching for them for the Lady of the Falls after accepting "Ages-Echoing Wisdom."
    
  • Nesting Valeshrieker will now respawn after a hunter tames the beast while on the quest "Wildseed Rescue."
    
• Revendreth
  
  • Fixed an issue where Stage 3 of “The Master of Lies” scenario completed automatically if the objective’s area was reached on an earlier stage.
    
  • General Kaal will now accept the turn in for "The Master Awaits" after dismounting Myskia.
    

Torghast, Tower of the Damned

• Added missing sounds to some creatures and boss abilities.
  
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused Arch-Suppressor Laguas to become afflicted with Thrall’s Earthen Crush ability and permanently evade all oncoming attacks.
  
• Fixed an issue that allowed Unnatural Power to be removed with mind control abilities.

World Quests

• Fixed an issue where some players could not see the obstacles during the Bastion World Quest, "Flight School: Flapping Frenzy."
  
• Increased the respawn rate of the enemies required for completing "Pest Removal."
  
• “Calling the Champions” now gives credit to all party members.