Shadowlands Beta - Build 36165

Covenant Abilities Disabled Outside Shadowlands
The latest beta build added a new restriction to Covenant abilities, disabling them outside of the Shadowlands. This is likely a intentional change, as a string was added specifically to say "You must be in the Shadowlands" in the build.



Shadowlands Collector's Edition
Boxed Collector's editions of Shadowlands begin shipping next week, but Blizzard was kind enough to send us a copy ahead of time. While the Gear Store is out of stock, several retailers still have copies available. The Collector's edition comes with some extras over the Epic edition:

  • Covenant Sigils – Four-Pin Collector’s Set: Add the symbols of all four Covenants to your pin collection and adorn your backpack, lanyard, or clothing with the sign of your chosen path.
  • Art of the Shadowlands: Explore the visual development of Azeroth’s multifaceted afterlife through this hardcover book, and learn about an aspect of the Warcraft universe that has been little explored—until now.
  • Shattered Sky Mousepad: Witness the moment Sylvanas shattered the veil between this life and what lies beyond, changing Azeroth’s fate forever.
  • Collector’s Edition Digital Soundtrack Key: Download the stirring orchestral pieces from the Shadowlands soundtrack, the perfect mood music to explore the realms beyond the veil.

This article was originally published in forum thread: Covenant Abilities Disabled Outside Shadowlands, Collector's Edition started by chaud View original post
Comments 210 Comments
  1. Wuusah's Avatar
    Did they delay the release to make the game worse?

    When talking about the Maw they said story/lore should not stand in the way of making the game fun to play. Now they use story/lore to make the game less fun to play. Except when they aren't, because arenas and bg's are also on Azeroth...
  1. Crysis's Avatar
    What the heck? What is the point of giving me a cool ability if I cant use it then? Why not just add new talents rows and class abilities that we can use ANYWHERE ... geez Blizz, I reaaaaaally hope they revert this. After the AoE cap this is certainly the worst change they made to the game.

    Devs truly dont play this game at all, no other explanation for this nonsense.
  1. meheez's Avatar
    boring CE .
  1. gcsmith's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Wuusah View Post
    Did they delay the release to make the game worse?

    When talking about the Maw they said story/lore should not stand in the way of making the game fun to play. Now they use story/lore to make the game less fun to play. Except when they aren't, because arenas and bg's are also on Azeroth...
    Except, there is at least one arena in the shadowlands... And arena's are considered end game content which is where they want you to use these.
  1. Frozenbeef's Avatar
    That's incredibly stupid of them. Hopefully it gets reverted.
  1. The Butt Witch's Avatar
    Wow this is incredibly DUMB!

    So does this mean they won't work in instanced PVP neither? I mean none of the bgs and arenas are located in the Shadowlands.

    This gives a whole new meaning to the term "borrowed power". So basically the covenant abilities will only be usable in Shadowlands areas, dungeons and raids. WHAT A JOKE!
  1. Segus1992's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by The Butt Witch View Post
    Wow this is incredibly DUMB!

    So does this mean they won't work in instanced PVP neither? I mean none of the bgs and arenas are located in the Shadowlands.

    This gives a whole new meaning to the term "borrowed power". So basically the covenant abilities will only be usable in Shadowlands areas, dungeons and raids. WHAT A JOKE!
    Seeing as many of them are clearly meant to work for PvP I can't imagine that's the case.

    Lorewise it makes some sense to not be able to bring them outside of the Shadowlands, but outside of that the decision makes no sense at all. I hope it's reverted.
  1. Wuusah's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by gcsmith View Post
    Except, there is at least one arena in the shadowlands... And arena's are considered end game content which is where they want you to use these.
    yes, they bend their own rules for endgame content. There is literally no reason to deactivate those powers in old content. Lore should not impact gameplay. Neither endgame gameplay, nor old zones gameplay.
  1. sunnycutie's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Wuusah View Post
    Did they delay the release to make the game worse?

    When talking about the Maw they said story/lore should not stand in the way of making the game fun to play. Now they use story/lore to make the game less fun to play. Except when they aren't, because arenas and bg's are also on Azeroth...
    Yeah it's always just an excuse. The Maw not having any story content is just because they don't want to put in the effort of developing that, and the covenant abilities thing only working in the Shadowlands, for the most part, is because they don't want to break old content.
  1. JacobMarley's Avatar
    Baffling. /10
  1. Wuusah's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by sunnycutie View Post
    Yeah it's always just an excuse. The Maw not having any story content is just because they don't want to put in the effort of developing that, and the covenant abilities thing only working in the Shadowlands, for the most part, is because they don't want to break old content.
    I'm perfectly fine with the Maw not having any story content if they designed it similar to the Timeless Isles where you have all kinds of events going on. I mean how many big baddies of old raids should be in the Maw these days? There really isn't a lack of "event bosses" to pick from.
  1. Stormwolf64's Avatar
    Enjoy yet another expansion with borrowed power which will get useless when the expansion ends, suckers Is what i imagine many Blizzard devs are thinking. I can't imagine they don't realize the annoyance of this.
  1. Maxilian's Avatar
    I hate this idea so much.

    This will affect those that do old content a lot, also no more dueling outside main cities (i guess the new main city will have areas for dueling or something), and those that wanted it for RP are out of luck.

    Also the event of Timeless dungeons is going to feel really weird.
  1. Esper's Avatar
    It's like they are already preparing for the next expansion's pre-patch. Azerite powers work anywhere EXCEPT the Shadowlands, which makes sense because it's the last expansion's power. Lore-wise I suppose it makes sense, but they are now committed to having literally all the content this xpac in the Shadowlands or they will just have to make arbitrary exceptions. And what about BGs and Arenas?
  1. metzger84's Avatar
    This is exactly the level of polish I expect from my WoW delays.
  1. Caerrona's Avatar
    If losing a class ability/generic ability prevents you from clearing old content... you are trash.

    Duel somewhere in shadowlands.

    Sit afk in oribos as a fox.

    /thread
  1. Baneto's Avatar
    But Heart of Azeroth works everywhere, and just not on Azeroth.

    Blizzard wtf?

    Quote Originally Posted by Caerrona View Post
    If losing a class ability/generic ability prevents you from clearing old content... you are trash.

    Duel somewhere in shadowlands.

    Sit afk in oribos as a fox.

    /thread
    You just sweep in to defend them in every thread where something negative is raised, dont you?
  1. Caerrona's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Vidhjerta View Post
    But Heart of Azeroth works everywhere, and just not on Azeroth.

    Blizzard wtf?



    You just sweep in to defend them in every thread where something negative is raised, dont you?
    I just enjoy triggering morons that like to qq about nothing. As you have proven.
  1. BrintoSFJ's Avatar
    Good decision, Shadowlands Covenant abilities should only be used inside the Shadowlands.
  1. Qnubi's Avatar
    I am not even sure who or what they are trying to protect with this change. Poor NPC gonna complain if we use covenant abilities? lol

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