Update - Added the translation of the original article, thanks to Treeston!

Patch 4.3 - Deathwing, Transmogrifier, Void Storage
Tom Chilton (Kalgan) answered a couple of questions from Gamona.de on Patch 4.3, and we got a bunch of very interesting news out of it. Patch 4.3 will feature:


  • New Raid - The Deathwing raid, making it very likely to be the last patch before the next expansion.
  • 3 new 5-man instances - Including one in the Caverns of Time. (War of the Ancients was mentioned as a cataclysm instance a few years ago, but a lot of things have changed since then, who knows!)
  • The Transmogrifier NPC, which will let you change the appearance of any armor piece on you, while retaining the stats of your current gear. (= T12 stats, but with the Tier 2 look!)
  • Players won't be able to change the appearance of their armor into another armor type or class armor set, and you might have to own the armor before you can use it to swap the appearance of your existing armor.
  • The Void Storage is a new type of bank where players will be able to store their old armors in order to free up space in their regular bank.
  • The Abyssal Maw dungeon is gone for the moment, the storyline wasn't convincing enough/fitting.

If someone feels like adding information or even translating the article completely, post in comments!

Translation of the original article on gamona.de
We're at GamesCon in Cologne, Germany, and just did an interview with Tom Chilton, Lead Game Developer and Chris Robinson, Lead Art Director, in which they revealed a lot of details regarding patch 4.3 - and it seems that the announcement of it being huge was no joke:

Patch 4.3 will bring us the Deathwing raid instance! This means it's likely that we'll be able to fight the Aspect of Death in an epic encounter within this year. The raid that was originally expected for this patch, the "Abyssal Maw", was cut from the schedule because, as Chilton states, the setting and the story were not convincing enough.

Furthermore, 4.3 will also bring three entirely new 5-man instances - Chilton assured us that these won't contain any re-vamped content, but instead be brand new with unique design and models. Chilton also hinted at one of those being within the Caverns of Time, allowing players to experience another great moment of Warcraft Lore first-hand.

The interview also revealed the purpose of the "mystery ethereals" in Stormwind (and likely other cities, too). The "Transmogrifier" NPC will allow players to change the displayed model of equipment to that of another item while keeping the original attributes: Transmogrification is only possible within an armor class - Plate armor can only assume the looks of other Plate armor, for example.
  • Class restrictions apply to Transmogrification - Warriors cannot transmogrify their armor to look like Death Knight tier sets.
  • The developers are considering whether they should only allow using the models of equipment that has already been obtained

The "Void Storage" is a very large bank-esque storage which allows old equipment to be stored, freeing up inventory/bank slots for players. The developers aren't sure yet about the definition of "old equipment". The cost of the storage (and whether there even is one) is another thing that is not yet decided

Another possible feature that was hinted at is the possibility of "void stored" equipment being available to other characters on the account (NOTE: That part might be speculation from Gamona, not cross-server transfers actually confirmed. Hard to tell.)

Overall, it seems that we've got a huge patch ahead of us - a new raid, three brand new instances, Transmogrification and Void Storage.

This article was originally published in forum thread: Patch 4.3 - Deathwing, Transmogrifier, Void Storage started by Boubouille View original post
Comments 493 Comments
  1. Mustakrakish's Avatar
    I personally think this is awesome. Blizzard have spent way too much time per expansion. A little over a year to a maximum of a year and a half should be sufficient time per expansion. They have the resources to do it, anyway.
  1. Glomp's Avatar
    Now I regret deleting my old tier sets...........
  1. Nraktja's Avatar
    I cannot describe how dissapointed in Blizzard I am right at the moment. I was SO expecting a WoTA raid and some info about it, it was the only thing that kept me playing. Now they scrapped the idea... I don't know if they realized how exciting that was for a lot of people when it was announced, but what can you do, its Blizzard.
  1. bullseyed's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by smokii View Post
    i kinda agree that as an endgame player the amount of content that has come my way has been lacklustre at best, but we cant forget that 50% of this expansion was the 1-60 content which apparently set blizzard back quite a long way. but, as they've now done the 1-60 rehash and brough flying to azeroth, they can focus 110% of their development time on the next expansion into endgame content, so hopefully all the promises they made us for cata that didn't quite come true, will live up to our expectations for mists of pandaria. will have to wait and see, hopefully blizzcon will blow our minds
    I don't think a reasonable person would be able to trust Blizzard. We need some showings of good faith on their behalf other than "omg LFD RealID is free!!!".
  1. Faroth's Avatar
    I hope they eventually consider lowering the Transmogrification restrictions to two types (Plate/Mail for warriors, paladins, DKs and Mail/leather for shaman, hunters, etc) but this is the most exciting feature announced. I've been waiting on this for a VERY LONG TIME.They just better not destroy the item when altering the appearance. I'm not going to be happy if I have to farm up T4 again and again.
  1. blade5o's Avatar
    Haha, i'm glad I quit this game. way to finish the vash'jir story line & admit that your own art team is worthless. priceless..
  1. mmoc52843c6d9e's Avatar
    Appearance change gona be premium service. I'm calling it right now!
  1. Alopex Major's Avatar
    Oh awesome, I can't wait to rock my Tier 2 druid set I wonder if it'll charge per piece or whatnot?
  1. FireBorne's Avatar
    Cool, cataclysm is a failure. Pandaren and being able to transmorgify armor will definitely get my subscription back, way to go Blizzard. Now if we can do something about the professions...
  1. Solsikkeso's Avatar
    l really wish that people would stop crying this much until they've actually seen/tried the new content. And then come up with some constructive criticism instead of just bitching so much... l guess some dreams are meant to never come true
  1. Rentahealer's Avatar
    A separate bank for gear is a good step in the right direction. I only have one more request..... somewhere in the Caverns of Time there should be a portal which lets you drop back to level 80, 70, 60 so that you could experience some of the old raids, many for the first time. Those old raids should then be level capped. So many people just pass the old content by now in the race to 85.
  1. Olzagg's Avatar
    Oh no Blizzard, don't do this...
    Why do people say vague thing's like this and then run away? Don't do what? release new content, provide gear customization like many other games? I guess I can see that /sarcasm "OH NOOOOEEES I GET A NEW RAID AND THREE NEW ORIGINAL(makes me happy). BLIZZARD PLEASE STOP!!! I WANTED TO TAKE MY 85TH ALT INTO THE DAILY AREA!! AND CLEAR THE RAID PRE-NERF(hint: you have plenty of time)." Honestly would it kill people to some effing detail into their posts?
  1. quadratimkreis's Avatar
    There is only one reason for Blizzard to finally cave into the "appearance tab" folks: they've lost enough subscribers that their art team is moving on to other things. Would also explain the re-hashed content.

    ---------- Post added 2011-08-17 at 09:27 AM ----------

    Quote Originally Posted by Solsikkeso View Post
    l really wish that people would stop crying this much until they've actually seen/tried the new content. And then come up with some constructive criticism instead of just bitching so much... l guess some dreams are meant to never come true
    Way to set an example?
  1. Blawkbuster's Avatar
    If they actually go through with 4.3 being the deathwing raid, does anyone else feel short changed?? feels like they are ending the cataclysm main story wayyyy too early into the expansion. I was hoping for at least one more raid tier before deathwing,
  1. Dblbaconator's Avatar
    Two cents time!

    Well, have to say I'm rather excited about all this. Moreover, I'm happy I was right about everything. :P

    Figured Deathwing would be next patch, which, although I might not be able to kill him anytime soon, I definitely want to see before the expansion is over. And I was really hoping Void Storage would help me clear out some room in my bank (I have approximately 4 Illusionary Bags' worth of old tier gear, weapons, etc.!). Glad to see that's what they were planning! Wonder if it'll be just a straight up second bank, or if it'll have an interface where you put in complete tier sets or something.

    But the thing I'm happiest about is the Transmogrifier. I know what I'm changing my armor to when 4.3 hits: Ten Storms all the way! Would be nice (although not likely) if you could also transmogrify to unavailable tiers as well (like T3 for instance).

    Also, praise everything that is holy, we'll be getting more dungeons. I think we can all agree we're tired of killing trolls every week. Variety would be much appreciated!

    4.3 needs to get here now.
  1. Hungrydingo's Avatar
    I am going to be confused at all the people who change their gear into tier 2 or 6 running around.
  1. Cldmani's Avatar
    I hope you can apply the Transmogrifier to heirloom items. T2 Paladin Heirlooms anyone?
  1. ScottsdaleHokie's Avatar
    Translation: We finally realize this expansion has totally sucked balls and we are trying to get this abortion over with ASAP.
  1. Nepinator's Avatar
    I think the Transmogrifier is brilliant. People will get to have a lot more choice over how their characters look and it'll allow people to look more unique in-game. I think you'll only be able to use it on armour you already have, so if you don't have T6 sitting in your bank you'll have to go to Black Temple and pick it up, etc. Still it's better than having everyone running around looking like clones of each other, and why shouldn't we get to use old gear for looks? It's not going to have a negative impact on the game. It's not going to make raids easier. It's not going to change anything about the game except how your pixels look on screen.
  1. Bladeoffury's Avatar
    Am I the only one thinking about the Wilheart/Feralheart sets? The only one that possibly interests me is the t2 lookalike gear from BC heroics.

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