World of Warcraft News and Raiding Strategies

Hello everyone! Here are the notes for this week’s PTR update.

Classes

• Death Knight
  
  • Final Sentence (Kyrian Runecarving Power) now grants 4% damage per stack (was 3%), duration reduced to 15 seconds (was 18 seconds), and now grants the Rune and Damage buff on the initial cast of Shackle the Unworthy (and again each time it spreads).
  • Rampant Transference (Night Fae Runecarving Power) Strength per stack of Death’s Due increased by 3% (was 2%).
• Mage
  
  • Harmonic Echo (Kyrian Runecarving Power) now also echoes the damage to the primary target affected by Radiant Spark’s Vulnerability.
  • Frost
    
    • Comet Storm (Talent) no longer removes Winter’s Chill.
  • Class Sets
    
    • Arcane
      
      • 4-piece: Reworked – Touch of the Magi’s duration is increased by 4 seconds and 25% mana regeneration for 12 seconds.
    • Frost
      
      • 2-piece: Removed the requirement to be in Icy Veins to trigger Comet Storm.
• Monk
  
  • Class Sets
    
    • Brewmaster
      
      • 4-piece: Reworked – Keg Smash deals an additional 50% damage, heals you for 66% of damage dealt, and grants 66% of damage dealt as maximum health for 10 seconds.
        
        • Developers’ note: We pivoted Brewmaster to a new bonus that has more impact. This new 4pc bonus offers easy-to-access power, but savvy players who maximize the damage dealt by their Keg Smash will be able gain additional benefits from the healing and maximum health bonuses.
    • Mistweaver
      
      • 2-piece: Essence Font Healing increased by 5% in addition to the duration extension.
        
        • Developers’ note: Due to overlapping, this wasn’t increasing heal throughput as much as we’d like. Adding some additional love for Essence Font so the bonus is X.
      • 4-piece: Drinking Thunder Focus Tea with the bonus active no longer interrupts Soothing Mists.
• Paladin
  
  • Class Sets
    
    • Protection
      
      • 4-piece: Fixed an issue which prevented Glorious Purpose from casting Judgment.
• Shaman
  
  • Class Sets
    
    • Enhancement
      
      • 4-piece: Fixed an issue that prevented the duration extension to Storm Elemental or Fire Elemental from triggering.
    • Restoration
      
      • 2-piece: Reworked – Your critical healing increases the critical chance of your next Chain Heal by 2%, stacking up to 50 times.
        
        • Developers’ note: This includes periodic healing and proc’ed healing, so it should stack up pretty quickly from Healing Rain and Riptide ticks as well as any other healing you’re doing. This is intended to push you to really want to cast Chain Heal every now and then, but otherwise not feel like you need to spam Chain Heal to get value out of it. More of an ebb and flow feeling than the previous 2-piece.
      • 4-piece: Reworked – Your Chain Heal critical hits reduce the remaining cooldown of one of your totems by 2 seconds. Your Healing Stream Totem, Healing Tide Totem, Mana Tide Totem, and Spirit Link Totem now also cast Chain Heal when you drop them.
        
        • Developers’ note: Any totem that’s on cooldown is currently a valid choice for the cooldown reduction effect. The Chain Heal is currently cast by you, not by the totem, but the intent is for the visual to end up shooting from the totem.
• Warrior
  
  • Class Sets
    
    • Arms
      
      • 2-piece: Reworked – Colossus Smash lasts 3 seconds longer and increases your damage dealt to affected enemies by an additional 10%.
      • 4-piece: Reworked – Tactician has a 50% increased chance to trigger against enemies with Colossus Smash and causes your next Overpower to grant 4% Strength, up to 20% for 15 seconds.

Dungeons and Raids

• New Raid: Sepulcher of the First Ones
  
  • The following Heroic encounters will be available for testing on December 9:
    
    • Artificer Xy’mox
    • Lihuvim, Principal Architect

Quests

• New Campaign Chapters
  
  • Chapters 4 and 5 are available in the December 7 PTR update.

Torghast, Tower of the Damned

• New Game Mode: The Jailer’s Gauntlet
  
  • Floor starting points are now closer to the encounter area.
  • There will now be a number of portals in the encounter area representing the number of waves remaining. These will be removed one by one as waves spawn in.
  • There is now a larger variety of enemies.

Zereth Mortis

• Cypher of the First Ones
  
  • This feature is now available for testing.
• Protoform Synthesis
  
  • A new crafting system that allows you to gather reagents and create Zereth Mortis-themed mounts and battle pets.
• New side quests are available in the December 7 PTR update.
• More treasures to discover have been added.

On Thursday, December 9th, we will be continuing our raid testing in the Sepulcher of the First Ones.

Thursday, December 9th

Lihuvim, Principal Architect - Heroic Sepulcher of the First Ones
13:00 PST (16:00 EST, 22:00 CET)

Artificer Xy’mox - Heroic Sepulcher of the First Ones
14:00 PST (17:00 EST, 23:00 CET)

As always, this testing schedule is very fluid and subject to the realities of a test environment. We might have to change the time of a testing session, change the bosses being tested, or cancel a test entirely, due to bugs, server hardware issues, etc. Keep an eye on this forum for the latest information, and thank you in advance for testing and providing feedback.

Q: How do I get into the raid zone?

A: In Oribos, Dalaran, Orgrimmar, or Stormwind, you may speak to Nexus-Lord Donjon Rade IV in order to teleport into the raid zone while it is open for testing. (The option to teleport into a zone will not be available when the zone is not open for testing.)

Q: What character should I use to test the raid?

A: Whichever you prefer. We will be scaling players’ effective level to 60 for raid testing, and their item level to an appropriate threshold for the encounter(s) being tested.

Q: How long does testing last?

A: The primary purpose of testing is to give us the information we need to balance the encounters, evaluate how mechanics are playing out in practice, and identify bugs. Once we’re satisfied that we’ve received that information for a given boss, we’ll be shutting down testing. Usually this takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, but there are no guarantees.

We appreciate you taking the time to test our content and look forward to reading your feedback.

When first introduced in Legion, the Mage Tower challenged players to conquer unique solo class-specific encounters. Legion Timewalking brings back the excitement with all-new rewards to obtain, and a chance to prove your tenacity. Are you a master of your class? It's time to put your knowledge and skill to the test once more!

Gaining Access to the Mage Tower
While the Legion Timewalking event is active, you may travel to the Broken Isles and reach the Broken Shore from Dalaran. There, at Deliverance Point, you'll be able to enter the tower and engage in a challenge meant to test your skills. There are seven encounters available, and your specialization will determine which challenge you'll face. The challenges are:

An Impossible Foe: Defeat Agatha, the Imp Mother in her lair. This challenge is available to Elemental Shaman, Feral Druids, Fire Mages, Fury Warriors, Outlaw Rogues, and Unholy Death Knights.

Closing the Eye: Defeat Archmage Xylem at the Eye of Eternity. This challenge is available to Arms Warriors, Frost Death Knights, Havoc Demon Hunters, Subtlety Rogues, and Survival Hunters.

End of the Risen Threat: Defeat Lord Erdris Thorn in BlackRook Hold. This challenge is available to Holy Paladins, Holy Priests, Mistweaver Monks, Restoration Druids, and Restoration Shaman.

Feltotem's Fall: Defeat Tugar Bloodtotem in Highmountain. This challenge is available to Beast Mastery Hunters, Destruction Warlocks, Discipline Priests, and Windwalker Monks.

The God-Queen's Fury: Defeat Sygrin in the Halls of Valor. This challenge is available to Arcane Mages, Assassination Rogues, Demonology Warlocks, Enhancement Shaman, and Retribution Paladins.

The Highlord's Return: Defeat Highlord Kruul in the Twisting Nether. This challenge is available to Blood Death Knights, Brewmaster Monks, Guardian Druids, Protection Paladins, Protection Warriors, and Vengeance Demon Hunters.

Thwarting the Twins: Defeat the twins Raest and Karam Magespear in the Twisting Nether. This challenge is available to Affliction Warlocks, Balance Druids, Frost Mages, Marksmanship Hunters, and Shadow Priests.

Keep mind that you will not be able to benefit from Legendary items or any other expansion-specific benefits like Covenant abilities when taking on these challenges, so plan accordingly!

Mage Tower Rewards
Upon defeating one of the seven challenges with any class, you'll earn a Legion-themed transmogrification set to celebrate your accomplishment, as well as the achievement "A Towering Success".

Guardian Druids can earn an additional reward: the Druid Fel Werebear Form, inspired by the original Mage Tower reward.

Completing all seven challenges will earn you the "A Tour of Towers" achievement, as well as the wondrous Soaring Spelltome mount. Knowledge is power, after all, and the Mage Tower does its fair share of knowledge testing. Master it and display this towering accomplishment.

Ready to take on the trials of the past? The Mage Tower remains available for as long as the Legion Timewalking event is active. Theres no time to waste, hero. Adventure calls . . . .

Prime your minds for a fel tangled chrono-spatial conundrum: Legion Timewalking is here!

Players will be able to adventure into six of Legion’s dungeons to reap new rewards all week during this week’s Bonus Event. Your character and items will be scaled down to a power level fitting for the challenge at hand, but bosses will yield loot appropriate for your regular level. Timewalking dungeons also have a chance to drop items that usually drop when you run them on Heroic difficulty, and you’ll earn reputation with a faction that is interested in the dungeon.

In addition, you can also complete Timeworn Keystone dungeons to earn powerful loot, as well as take on the challenges of the Mage Tower, available only while the event is active.

While the Event is Active

Look for the following all week long:

• Caretaker Kah'toll in Oribos has a quest for you. You can also start the quest from within the Adventure Guide (Shift-J).
  
  • Quest Requirement: Complete 5 Timewalking dungeons.
    
  • Rewards: One box containing a piece of gear from Normal difficulty Sanctum of Domination.
    
• While Timewalking is active, you will gain a 50% bonus to reputations earned from quests and creature kills for all reputations associated with the corresponding expansion.

Simply open the Group Finder (default hotkey: I) and then select Dungeon Finder and Timewalking in the Type dropdown menu. Selecting Find Group will match you with other players and send you to one of the following Heroic dungeons:

Black Rook Hold
Carved from the greatest mountain of Val'sharah by ancient elven masons, Black Rook Hold stood as a bulwark against the Burning Legion during the War of the Ancients. The nigh-impregnable fortress is also the ancestral home of Lord Kur'talos Ravencrest, one-time mentor of Illidan himself. But since the latest Legion attack, a strange dark energy emanates from the Hold, and restless dead plague the surrounding lands.

Court of Stars
Even as Legion troops patrol the streets, casting a pall over the grand city of Suramar, the socialites of the Nightborne nobility continue to cling to custom and routine. On this clear night, the cry of revelers echoes through the chill air, as the largest mansion in the Noble District opens its doors for a grand gala. Rumor has it that Grand Magistrix Elisande herself may be making an appearance, in an effort to reassure several of her closest allies despite recent turmoil.

Darkheart Thicket
In the shadow of Shaladrassil, the Nightmare permeates every inch of the once-lush forest. Where the eldest and greatest druids once tended to the woods, meditating beneath the great world tree, corruption and madness now reign. Deep within the tangled thicket, the Nightmare Lord Xavius works to break the will of his greatest prize.

Eye of Azshara
Amidst outlying shoals off the coast of Azsuna, an ancient source of power lies beneath the waves. Long ago, the power of Queen Azshara extended throughout these lands, and the naga seeking the Tidestone of Golganneth still act at her behest. As clouds roll in and the air crackles with the energy of an approaching storm, Azshara's followers prepare to summon an incarnation of her Wrath to lay waste to the land.

Neltharion's Lair
The Earth Warder Neltharion, later known as Deathwing, once called this cavern home. Since his fall, the drogbar that once worshipped the great dragon built their capital within this ancient lair. Now, Dargrul, chieftain of the drogbar, rallies a massive army within these depths. Bolstered by the Hammer of Khaz'goroth, this army will surge from the mountainside if left unchecked, devastating Highmountain and threatening the security of all Azeroth.

Vault of the Wardens
This secret Warden facility was carved into the mountainside deep in Azsuna, and sealed with magical wards both to keep intruders out, and to ensure that the terrors locked within could never escape. Many of the most dangerous foes the Wardens have encountered were locked away within the Vault, but in the aftermath of Cordana's betrayal and the Legion's attack, those creatures now roam the halls freely.

To learn more about each dungeon’s bosses, tips, and view the available loot, check out the Adventure Guide (Shift-J), select the Dungeons tab, then choose Legion from the drop-down menu.

Timeworn Keystones

If you're looking for a more challenging experience, you'll be able to take any Mythic Keystones you own to Ta'hsup in Oribos and exchange them for a Timeworn Keystone. Timeworn Keystones can be then used in one of the six Legion dungeons during the event, like you would with any Mythic Keystone. Timeworn Keystones at level 10 and above have a unique affix tied to Legion: Infernal. When this affix is active, Infernal Beacons can be found near some bosses. Activating a Beacon or engaging a nearby boss will trigger a Legion invasion.

Timeworn Keystone dungeons will be scaled up to your level, and the chest at the end of the run will drop gear from that dungeon at an item level appropriate to the Timeworn Keystone's difficulty. This gear can be upgraded with Valor Points and works just like any other max-level gear you can obtain from Mythic Keystone dungeons. Completing dungeons in this manner will contribute to your Great Vault progress, though Legion Timeworn Keystone items cannot appear as loot options when claiming weekly Great Vault rewards.

Classes

• Druid
  
  • Thorns (PvP Talent) will now properly deal damage and slow attackers movement speed when cast on an ally.
    

Dungeons and Raids

• Sanctum of Domination
  
  • Fixed an issue where the Eye of the Jailer encounter user interface could persist when using the skip to the Kel’Thuzad and Sylvanas Windrunner encounters.
    

Items and Rewards

• Fixed an issue which caused Shard of Tel to often fail to find a friendly target to apply its shield to if it was triggered by a damaging ability.

Burning Crusade Classic

• Player versus Player
  
  • Greater and Lesser Rune of Warding no longer activate in the arena if applied before entering.
    

WoW Classic Era and Season of Mastery

• Dungeons and Raids
  
  • Sunken Temple
    
    • Non-boss elite enemies now gain Soulflayer's Fervor over time, granting Snare Immunity, Root Immunity, and Increased Movement Speed. Crowd control abilities like stuns, fears, shackles, polymorphs etc. will reset Soulflayer's Fervor.