Shadowlands Alpha Build 34081 - Flying Skills Update
On top of the Item Level Changes previously highlighted, Shadowlands Alpha Build 34081 has also brought a few updates to the Riding and Flying Skills.

  • Artisan Riding has been removed, which means players can upgrade from Expert Riding (150% Flying Speed at Level 30) directly to Master Riding (310% Flying Speed at Level 40).
  • The other Riding Skills can now be learned every 10 Levels instead of every 20 Levels. Journeyman Riding (Max Riding Speed) is now learned at Level 20 and Expert Riding (Flying) is now learned at Level 30.

Riding RankMount SpeedRequired LevelCost
Apprentice Riding60%Level 101
Journeyman Riding100%Level 2050
Expert Riding150%Level 30250
Master Riding310%Level 405000



Shadowlands Alpha - Target Cap AoE Spells
In Shadowlands many class AoE spells are getting capped to 5 or 8 total targets. This change aims to broaden the field of tactical options in Mythic+ and more clearly differentiate the strengths of classes in a variety of AoE situations.
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
Death Knight


Demon Hunter


Druid
  • Swipe (Feral) - Now only strikes up to 5 enemies.
  • Brutal Slash - Now only strikes up to 5 enemies.


Hunter


Mage


Monk


Paladin


Rogue
  • Blade Flurry - Now only strikes up to 4 more enemies (5 total targets).
  • Killing Spree - Now only strikes up to 4 more enemies (5 total targets) when Blade Flurry is active.
  • Shuriken Storm - Now only strikes up to 8 enemies.
  • Secret Technique - Now only strikes up to 6 more enemies (7 total targets).


Shaman
  • Meteor - Now only strikes up to 8 enemies.


Warlock
  • Felstorm - Now only strikes up to 8 enemies.


Warrior
  • Whirlwind - Now only strikes up to 5 enemies.
  • Cleave - Now only strikes up to 5 enemies.
  • Bladestorm (Fury) - Now only strikes up to 8 enemies.
  • Bladestorm (Arms) - Now only strikes up to 8 enemies.
  • Ravager (Arms) - Now only strikes up to 8 enemies.
  • Ravager (Protection) - Now only strikes up to 8 enemies.



Shadowlands Alpha - New Death Knight Runeforges
New Death Knight Runeforges have been added in Shadowlands Alpha.

Note that all of the following runeforges have one more entry in the Spell Database, which means that some of them could also appear as Anima Powers for Torghast, Soulbind Upgrades or Effects from Legendary Items. As always, please keep in mind that everything is still in development and subject to change.
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
Death Knight
  • Rune of Hysteria - Affixes your rune weapon with a rune that increases maximum Runic Power by 20 and your attacks have a chance to increase Runic Power generation by 20% for 8 sec. Modifying your rune weapon requires a Runeforge in Ebon Hold.
  • Rune of Hysteria - Passive: Increases maximum Runic Power by 200. Your attacks have a chance to increase Runic Power generation by 20% for 8 sec.
  • Rune of Sanguination - Affixes your rune weapon with a rune that causes your Death Strike deals increased damage based on the target's missing health. When you fall below 35% health, you heal for 48% of your maximum health over 8 sec. Modifying your rune weapon requires a Runeforge in Ebon Hold.
  • Rune of Sanguination - Your Death Strike deals increased damage based on the target’s missing health. When you fall below 35% Health, you heal for 48% of your maximum health over 8 sec. Can only occur once every 6 minutes.
  • Rune of Spellwarding - Affixes your rune weapon with a rune that deflects 3% of all spell damage and has chance to create a shield that absorbs magic damage equal to 10% of your maximum health. When an enemy damages the shield, their cast speed is reduced by 10% for 6 sec. Modifying your rune weapon requires a Runeforge in Ebon Hold.
  • Rune of Spellwarding - Passive: Deflects 3% of all spell damage. Taking magic damage has a chance to grant you a shield that absorbs 0 magic damage for 0. When an enemy damages the shield, their cast speed is reduced by 10% for 6 sec.
  • Rune of the Apocalypse - Affixes your rune weapon with a rune that gives your ghoul's attacks a chance to apply one of the following debuffs to the target, Death: Healing Reduction, War: Increases damage taken by the Death Knight, Famine: Reduces damage taken by the Death Knight, Pestilence: Slows the target and deals damage over time. Modifying your rune weapon requires a Runeforge in Ebon Hold.
  • Rune of the Apocalypse - Your ghoul applies additional effects with its Claw attack. Death: Reduces healing taken by 1%. War: Increases damage taken by 1%. Famine: Reduces damage done to the Death Knight by 2%. Pestilence: Slows the target by 15% and deals [ 30% of Attack Power ] shadow damage over time.
  • Rune of Unending Thirst - Affixes your rune weapon with a rune that grants 10% Haste and movement speed and heals you for 5% of your maximum health when you kill an enemy that yields experience or honor. Additionally, increases your movement speed while dead by 10%. Modifying your rune weapon requires a Runeforge in Ebon Hold.
  • Rune of Unending Thirst - Your Movement speed while dead is increased by 10%. When you kill an enemy that yields experience or honor, gain 10% Haste and Movement Speed and heal for 5% of your maximum health.



Dark Legacy Comics #723
DLC #723 has been released!

This article was originally published in forum thread: Shadowlands - Flying Update, Target Cap AoE Spells, New DK Runeforges, DLC #123 started by Lumy View original post
Comments 136 Comments
  1. Onikaroshi's Avatar
    Weird levels... I don't think you can feasibly hit 30 (halfway between 10 and 50) without flying in Cata, they would need to change something.
  1. Stickiler's Avatar
    So it looks like the new AoE rule is that big CD spells hit 8, spam or short-cd abilities hit 5. Sounds fine.
  1. Railander's Avatar
    correct me if i'm wrong but previous to this, all AoE abilities had a cap of 6 max targets, any more than that and the damage would be distributed evenly among all targets equivalent to the output against 6 targets.

    so actual AoE dps is largely unaffected, although in most cases you still want to hit all mobs at the same time so they can go down together.
  1. Onikaroshi's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Railander View Post
    correct me if i'm wrong but previous to this, all AoE abilities had a cap of 6 max targets, any more than that and the damage would be distributed evenly among all targets equivalent to the output against 6 targets.

    so actual AoE dps is largely unaffected, although in most cases you still want to hit all mobs at the same time so they can go down together.
    AoE has been uncapped since legion. Prior to that it went through a range of caps since TBC.
  1. Ladey Gags's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Railander View Post
    correct me if i'm wrong but previous to this, all AoE abilities had a cap of 6 max targets, any more than that and the damage would be distributed evenly among all targets equivalent to the output against 6 targets.

    so actual AoE dps is largely unaffected, although in most cases you still want to hit all mobs at the same time so they can go down together.
    The dps of the change is irrelevant. It’s awful because it FEELS horrible, NEUTERS low level content, and just plain takes away one of the funnest things about the entire game (aoeing down dozens of mobs at a time in seconds). THIS COMPANY DOESNT CARE ABOUT FUN ANYMORE, THEY CARE ABOUT BALANCIJG ONE SINGLE GAME MODE BY SACRIFICNG THE REST OF THE GAME. It’s CANCER
  1. Drench's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Ladey Gags View Post
    The dps of the change is irrelevant. It’s awful because it FEELS horrible, NEUTERS low level content, and just plain takes away one of the funnest things about the entire game (aoeing down dozens of mobs at a time in seconds). THIS COMPANY DOESNT CARE ABOUT FUN ANYMORE, THEY CARE ABOUT BALANCIJG ONE SINGLE GAME MODE BY SACRIFICNG THE REST OF THE GAME. It’s CANCER
    A lot of people want this change. Rally on! Good luck getting it reverted.
  1. Onikaroshi's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Ladey Gags View Post
    The dps of the change is irrelevant. It’s awful because it FEELS horrible, NEUTERS low level content, and just plain takes away one of the funnest things about the entire game (aoeing down dozens of mobs at a time in seconds). THIS COMPANY DOESNT CARE ABOUT FUN ANYMORE, THEY CARE ABOUT BALANCIJG ONE SINGLE GAME MODE BY SACRIFICNG THE REST OF THE GAME. It’s CANCER
    Or the fact that currently "gather it up and aoe it down" is the answer to EVERYTHING, and it's fucking horrible. Besides, there's still enough uncapped aoe.
  1. Drench's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Onikaroshi View Post
    Weird levels... I don't think you can feasibly hit 30 (halfway between 10 and 50) without flying in Cata, they would need to change something.
    You pick one xpac now to level through.
  1. Onikaroshi's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by DuskSP View Post
    You pick one xpac now to level through.
    That's what I mean, if you pick Cata you're kind of boned unless they change something. The only zone that requires zero flying is Vash.
  1. Drench's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Onikaroshi View Post
    That's what I mean, if you pick Cata you're kind of boned unless they change something. The only zone that requires zero flying is Vash.
    I don't remember it requiring it. But if it needs it they will fix that I'm sure.
  1. Onikaroshi's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by DuskSP View Post
    I don't remember it requiring it. But if it needs it they will fix that I'm sure.
    Deepholme and Uldum are completely broken without flying, Hyjal has an entire quest section that would be inaccessible and I don't remember enough of Twilight Highlands to judge that one.

    Since you would hit 30 probably AFTER Uldum, there's problems.
  1. Onikaroshi's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Rochana View Post
    Pretty sure that you can do a good chunk of Hyjal too (if not all of it) without requiring any flying. At least I recall being able to just ride from questzone to questzone within it without ever needing flying.
    An entire part of the chain is inaccessible (Aviana)
  1. Aphrel's Avatar
    This is an awful change.. Instead of cappign targets they shoudlve capped dmg.. Now if i pull 10 mobs. 2 of them will be on my ass while the rest are slowed by the frozen orb. Its gonna suck.
  1. TheRevenantHero's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Ladey Gags View Post
    The dps of the change is irrelevant. It’s awful because it FEELS horrible, NEUTERS low level content, and just plain takes away one of the funnest things about the entire game (aoeing down dozens of mobs at a time in seconds). THIS COMPANY DOESNT CARE ABOUT FUN ANYMORE, THEY CARE ABOUT BALANCIJG ONE SINGLE GAME MODE BY SACRIFICNG THE REST OF THE GAME. It’s CANCER
    No. Gathering everything up and just aoe'ing it down is what's bad. It's literally the answer to everything and makes things like mythic+ impossible for classes that don't have powerful AoE because people typically only take people with insane AoE. There's no skill or strategy involved. The change to AoE is absolutely needed.
  1. Onikaroshi's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Aphrel View Post
    This is an awful change.. Instead of cappign targets they shoudlve capped dmg.. Now if i pull 10 mobs. 2 of them will be on my ass while the rest are slowed by the frozen orb. Its gonna suck.
    Then don't pull 10 mobs, that's point of it. You'll still have blizzard and nova anyway.
  1. DrIvoRobotnik's Avatar
    Why you all bitching about AOE, if something can be AOE'd it will melt eventually anyway, who cares. Look at all these new DK runewords!
  1. Onikaroshi's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by matheney2k View Post
    Shamans have meteor?
    Lol, did you hear? shamans are the new mage.
  1. Aphrel's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by TheRevenantHero View Post
    No. Gathering everything up and just aoe'ing it down is what's bad. It's literally the answer to everything and makes things like mythic+ impossible for classes that don't have powerful AoE because people typically only take people with insane AoE. There's no skill or strategy involved. The change to AoE is absolutely needed.
    When i pull 12 mobs on my frost mage. I want blizzard and frozen orb to slow them all, not just 8 of them. I couldnt care less about the damage.

    This is the idiot solution when the obvious thing wouldve been to just put a "total damage" cap on aoe spells.. as in (deal x aoe dmg up to a maximum total of Y aoe dmg per cast).

    I feel like mages got hit harder by the target cap than most other classes, because we lose our ability to control the situation with slows. The other classes just loses out on dmg..
  1. Zmagoslav's Avatar
    Love how they forgot to touch "Eye beam".
    Somebody at Blizzard really loves DHs.
  1. sociald1077's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Zmagoslav View Post
    Love how they forgot to touch "Eye beam".
    Somebody at Blizzard really loves DHs.
    Eye Beam is already capped in a sense. It does 100% damage to the main target, and reduced damage to all others.
    TBH I think thats how some other spells should be handled as well like frozen orb and whirlwind.

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