Rise of Azshara Preview: Navigate the Perils of Nazjatar in New Benthic Gear
Originally Posted by blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
The odds are stacked against you in Queen Azshara’s home territory—but with the right equipment, you can turn the tides in your favor.

In Rise of Azshara, we’re introducing a new type of equipment called Benthic gear, which you’ll earn and collect while adventuring in the naga domain of Nazjatar.

As you explore Nazjatar, you’ll collect Prismatic Manapearls—soulbound currency you can spend to purchase Benthic tokens and upgrades. These bind-to-account tokens can be used to gain a piece of upgradable Benthic gear specific to your armor type (cloth, leather, mail, plate), starting at item level 385. With enough time and effort, players can dedicate their hard-earned Manapearls to upgrade pieces to ilvl 425, just shy of Heroic-level raid gear (ilvl 430).


Speak with Voidbender Zorlan in Newhome (Horde) or Voidbinder Sturzah in Mezzamere (Alliance) to upgrade your Benthic gear.

Besides purchasing Benthic tokens with Manapearls, you’ll also sometimes find them in treasure chests and on enemies throughout the zone.

Each piece of Benthic gear boasts a thematic bonus that applies in Nazjatar and the upcoming Azshara’s Eternal Palace raid. These bonuses might provide effects that boost your damage, slow down your foes, or even increase your mount speed while adventuring through this perilous region. Customize your character with up to six unique bonuses. Put together pieces to create a powerful set for combat, collect a set optimized for exploration, or mix and match to have the best from both worlds. Additionally, each piece has predetermined secondary stats which allow you to have more control over your character’s build.

Benthic gear is currently available for early testing on the Rise of Azshara Public Test Realm, so make sure you jump in to check it out!

Forbes Interview - Why Rise Of Azshara Is The Fix-It Patch For World Of Warcraft
Forbes recently interviewed Ion Hazzikostas again on the upcoming Patch 8.2.



  • Heart of Azeroth and Essences
    • Rise of Azshara is the fruits of a lot of Blizzard's reflection on feedback they've been hearing from the community since Battle for Azeroth first came out.
    • You will unlock the first major socket for your Heart of Azeroth just by being 120 and doing the Nazjatar introduction followed by the Magni quest chain to unlock it. There is no neck level requirement for the first major slot.
    • Smaller sockets on the neck will give boosts to stamina as you progress your neck between neck level 52 to 67 so that health pools stay in line with the damage and healing increases.
    • Heart of Azeroth Levels 55 and 65 are the unlocks for the two minor slots.
    • The Essence system functions much like the glyph system in that once you learn as essence, you are free to switch them in and out in either a rested area or by using a Tome of the Clear Mind.
    • The tuning of essences is on par with the Legion legendaries.
  • Nazjatar and Mechagon
    • There are cosmetic perks that come with leveling up your bodyguard in Nazjatar.
    • Is seems as if Nazjatar will not have any Jeremy Feasel "mad science" WoW Secret Finding Discord secrets.
    • The team is aiming for more variety in Nazjatar world quests. There are still some kill quests, however.
    • There is no emissary for Mechagon.
    • There will be no time-gating in Nazjatar, but some reputation requirements to pieces of the major story for pacing and passage of time.
    • Using reputation thresholds to advance the story feels better than rigid weekly chapters that you have to just wait until next week to unlock. There's something the player can do to speed it up.
    • The Mechagon dungeon and Eternal Palace raid will not be available on day 1 of the patch, but when season 3 starts a couple of weeks into the patch.
  • Season 3 Affix - Beguiling
    • Beguiling is the new affix for Mythic + Season 3. It represents the minions of Queen Azshara invading the dungeons of Kul Tiras and Zandalar. There are three types of handmaidens that will be present in a variety of pulls in different configurations from week to week.
    • These handmaidens can have shadow, arcane, or frost powers. They have different effects that will change the way you approach certain pulls. Certain pulls that you skip might have to be done this time around.
  • Flying
    • The Rustbolt Resistance reputation will be available on day 1.
    • They made sure to make Pathfinder Part II tied to outdoor content. There are no requirements to do any dungeons or raids.
    • They believe the amount of time it takes to unlock flying this time around will be on par with Legion.
  • Benthic Gear
    • Benthic gear will help fill gaps in gear acquisition.
    • The baseline Benthic tokens are BoA so you can use them to catch up your alts.
  • Rare Spawns
    • The rare spawns in Mechagon that have longer timers involve hours, not days.
    • Silver-bordered mobs these days have evolved into named targets, not rares. These new ones are more true rares in the style of Timeless Isle.
    • They have been looking at coordinating these spawns across servers ans shards so that there isn't any shard hopping.
    • These rares can have cosmetics, pieces of gear, and punch cards for the Mechagon trinket.
  • Operation: Mechagon Dungeon
    • The bosses in the dungeon are meant to feel more like a small raid encounter.
    • There are some hidden challenges in the dungeon for the more mythic-raiding types who want a bigger challenge, much like the Nightbane run from Legion Karazhan.
    • Mechagon dungeon loot is on part with the normal mode raid, and then scaled up a little bit beyond that.
    • Some of the most powerful punch cards for the Mechagon trinket are found in the dungeon.
    • There is an essence you can unlock from the dungeon.
  • Class Changes and Revamps
    • Full class overhauls are something that happens in a new expansion update and not a patch.
    • Legion was an exception because it reinvented so many specs from the ground up.
    • Rotational changes, removing/adding abilities, etc are a jarring experience. This is the sort of change that is best received within the broader sweeping changes of a new expansion.
    • They will always address under performing talents or classes in patches.
    • There are definitely specs on the radar for a rework, but nothing to announce now.


WoW Classic Feedback - Bug Hit Table Thread
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
[Bug] Hit tables
As I suggested in my first reply, we did a deep dive on this one to compare combat table values directly between our Reference client and WoW Classic. Apologies for the data dump, but because your observations were so detailed, we wanted to be equally detailed in our reply!
We created Troll Warriors in both games and watched the combat table values for auto-attacks.

  • We checked three player levels – Levels 15, 40, and 60.
  • At each level, our weapon skill was maxed, and we used the same weapon for all tests.
  • All attacks were against enemy creatures, not other players, to remove any additional variables.
  • We tested attacking creatures at -5, +0, +1, +2, +3, +5, and +15 levels relative to our level (so for the level 15 test, we attacked level 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, and 35 mobs).
    • For our level 60 test, there were no normal mobs available at higher levels. We instead attacked elite raid creatures at +1, +2, and +3 levels.
  • The exact same creature IDs were tested against on both clients.

In all cases, the Reference client combat table values matched the Classic combat table values:
  • Creatures that are 3 levels above the player have a 14% Parry chance in our Reference client. This holds true for our Classic client as well.
  • Creatures at your level have a 5% chance to Dodge your attacks. Each additional level the target has over the player grants them 0.5% additional chance to dodge. This is observed in Reference client and in Classic.
  • Players have an 8% chance to miss a creature that is 3 levels above them in our Reference client. This holds true for our Classic client as well.
  • Critical Strike chance is reduced by 1% per each additional level the target has over the player. (So if you have a 4% chance to crit an at-level target, you have a 1% chance to crit a +3-level target, in both clients.)

A briefer look at having non-maxed weapon skills also showed identical values between the Reference client and Classic. We also ran several tests while dual wielding, and the results from those tests was also identical between Reference and Classic.

Based on these results, we are confident that the combat behavior in Classic properly reflects the combat behavior of 1.12 WoW. However, we’re always grateful for players looking out for discrepancies, so keep your feedback coming!

Stress Test Feedback
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Stress Test Complete -- THANK YOU!
We have now completed the WoW Classic Stress Test that began yesterday at 2:00 p.m. PDT. We’re very pleased with the amount of participation we saw, and we’re happy to report that we got a great deal of highly useful data, as well as new issues that were uncovered by your efforts to log in and play.

The closed beta realms remain available for those testers.

Thank you very much to everyone who participated in this stress test!
This article was originally published in forum thread: Benthic Preview, Forbes Interview - Rise of Azshara, WoW Classic Hit Table Feedback started by Stoy View original post
Comments 109 Comments
  1. Sanguinerd's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by THCRaven View Post
    I mean there is 3 months left till classic not that it will take that long.
    Oh I see, my mistake.

    I've seen people saying it alot in almost every classic discussion, and it just baffles me
  1. grexly75's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by RushRush View Post
    Oh I see, my mistake.

    I've seen people saying it alot in almost every classic discussion, and it just baffles me
    There is a video taken in 2006 I think of someone speed leveling to 60 in 4 days..
  1. drbatman's Avatar
    Benthic gear, i cant even


    "Put together pieces to create a powerful set for combat"

    LOL woooooow blizz is jerking itself off over adding back set bonuses after only 2 patches.

    Im so fucking glad I cancelled my sub in November. Aug 27 cant come fast enough.
  1. TheRevenantHero's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Beatman View Post
    Haha, ~10-20% of talents are worthless and aren't getting fixed.

    Mirror Image?
    Second Wind?
    Divine Judgement?
    Piercing Shot?

    All of them have been trash for months or even years. And nobody demands complete spec overhauls. We simply want unplayable specs to be brought in line with the good ones.
    If you hate "unplayable" specs now, you are going to HATE Classic.
  1. Beatman's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Nevcairiel View Post
    That also means that 80-90% are useful, which seems like a decent statistic to me.
    You are missing the point. When he says they are having an eye on underperforming talents, and meanwhile 10-20% of them have been useless for months/years, his statement can't be taken seriously.
  1. Valysar's Avatar
    Benthic gears are just for alt right ?

    The ilvls seem stupid.
  1. Lorgar Aurelian's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Segus1992 View Post
    "changes are jarring for players" am I out of touch? Class changes have been what I've looked forward to the most of anything in the game since TBC was first announced.
    Back in mop they said big class changes during patch’s was the biggest reason for people leaving the game which is why they stopped doing them in patch’s.
  1. Beatman's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by TheRevenantHero View Post
    If you hate "unplayable" specs now, you are going to HATE Classic.
    Nobody will give a f*ck about specs in classic since the raid content will be roflstomped anyways. Do you really think raid bosses with 2004 mechanics will pose any threat to current players? Also many specs have been proven more "viable" than previously thought on private servers.
  1. Gravity2015's Avatar
    Maybe my reading comprehension is not what it used to be, can somene clarify "The closed beta realms remain available for those testers."

    Does this mean the stress testers are invited to closed beta?? - or, just that the closed beta realms are open again - for the closed beta testers?
  1. TheRevenantHero's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Beatman View Post
    Nobody will give a f*ck about specs in classic since the raid content will be roflstomped anyways. Do you really think raid bosses with 2004 mechanics will pose any threat to current players? Also many specs have been proven more "viable" than previously thought on private servers.
    Private servers alter how abilities and such work so that those specs that weren't viable became playable. In live Classic, expect shadow priests to only do pvp and nothing else. Expect Balance druids to be completely useless. Expect warriors to be the ONLY tanks. Expect rogues to be pvp only.
  1. Lorgar Aurelian's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by drbatman View Post
    Benthic gear, i cant even


    "Put together pieces to create a powerful set for combat"

    LOL woooooow blizz is jerking itself off over adding back set bonuses after only 2 patches.

    Im so fucking glad I cancelled my sub in November. Aug 27 cant come fast enough.
    They had set bonuses since bfa launched just not tier sets.
  1. RoKPaNda's Avatar
    They should have just added a relinquished vendor and let the gear WF/TF/etc. It worked for Legion.
  1. Syce's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Gravity2015 View Post
    Maybe my reading comprehension is not what it used to be, can somene clarify "The closed beta realms remain available for those testers."

    Does this mean the stress testers are invited to closed beta?? - or, just that the closed beta realms are open again - for the closed beta testers?
    it just means the beta testers who have access to the closed beta servers can reconnect to those servers again.(because they take them offline when the stress test is on)
  1. yhtomitn64's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by grexly75 View Post
    I have to laugh at what you are saying because when WoW was released back in 2004, Everquest players would hurl insults and shite in WoW's general direction for being too casual friendly..
    I remember how amazed I was you could solo level in WoW and not get destroyed by everything when it came out. I remember in EQ level 10 or so I had to start grouping.
  1. Onikaroshi's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by TheRevenantHero View Post
    Private servers alter how abilities and such work so that those specs that weren't viable became playable. In live Classic, expect shadow priests to only do pvp and nothing else. Expect Balance druids to be completely useless. Expect warriors to be the ONLY tanks. Expect rogues to be pvp only.
    You have a really weird remembrance of classic if that's what you think.

    You had one shadow priest for Shadoweaving to buff your locks.
    Balance wasn't required, but it did provide Spell crit so it was nice to have.
    Rogues were the best single target dps in the game and easily 4-5 were taken to every raid.

    Only thing you even got right was Warriors were the only full raid tank, but even that isn't entirely true. We used Druids to tank during ZG to negate some mechanics and, while not perfect, Paladins COULD tank dungeons.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by yhtomitn64 View Post
    I remember how amazed I was you could solo level in WoW and not get destroyed by everything when it came out. I remember in EQ level 10 or so I had to start grouping.
    Same thing with FFXI, group or die.

    WoW was super casual at the time, could level completely solo, had a HUGE emphasis on questing to level and very little grinding, you didn't lose XP when you died, etc etc.
  1. Filipse's Avatar
    Adding more features that are boring, doesnt realy fix that the existing things are boring, i cant even care about being a collect-a-thon collectionist in this expansion, because every damn armor looks the same for armor-types, and the "reputations" might aswell not even exist, people complained about them in WOD for a reason, and these are even worse.
  1. justandulas's Avatar
    i'll just wait for classic. I can't force myself to grind anymore AP in BFA. Not enough content i want in 8.2 to attract me back.

    I do hope tht the people it appeals to love it though. no reason it shouldn't, as there are a lot there for collectors. To those excited for 8.2, BE excited! I'm happy for them it's coming and it shouldn't be but one more month probably a wait.

    to my fellow classic fans; it's ok to wait, but let's not tear down 8.2 for those who love it. There's enough WoW for all of us. Ours just happen to be a few months further out
  1. grexly75's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by yhtomitn64 View Post
    I remember how amazed I was you could solo level in WoW and not get destroyed by everything when it came out. I remember in EQ level 10 or so I had to start grouping.
    Yeah I had heard that Everquest was one brutal of a game..
  1. Lorgar Aurelian's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Bennett View Post
    Blizzard think WoW players are literal retards. It's as simple as that
    They don’t think they know it. Class changes were the biggest reason people unsubbed from patch to patch so they cut down on doing it.
  1. Alcsaar's Avatar
    Ho.....how is this any different than azerite gear?

    You're going to have people that get super lucky and get awesome benefits and then people who get incredibly unlucky with trash useless benefits. Its like legendaries all over again.


    On top of that you once again have to upgrade gear with azerite power (aka pearls but we have to implement a new system so that you have to start from scratch again).

    AP system was bad in Legion, it was still bad in BFA, and now you're reintroducing the same mechanic again IN THE SAME expansion - but this time its not character bound, its gear bound, so its even worse.

    Its looking like I will be remaining unsubbed for probably the rest of BFA. I'm not exactly disappointed. I was more disappointed when I was actually paying and trying to enjoy BFA despite hating the same mechanics I hated in Legion but for some unknown reason got recycled again.

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