Pet Battles Update in Shadowlands, WoW Patch Hotfixes - July 22, 2020

[MrMatticus]

How is reverting the Skitra buff fixing an unintended issue? It was a blue post.

[trapmaster]

I just want them to remove pet battle WQ's or change them so that you don't gain anything outside of stuff pertaining to pet battles. Feels mandatory early on when they provide rep.

No way in hell anyone would be rightful mind to watch battle pet in esport (if that ever happens lol) Imagine that if...

[blankfaced]

More updates to pet battles than most specs are seeing.

[s0ul]

I guess they have their priorities straight. Pet battles are very very important.

[LordVargK]

I just want them to remove pet battle WQ's or change them so that you don't gain anything outside of stuff pertaining to pet battles. Feels mandatory early on when they provide rep.

Since you unlock pets via reputation it seems fair to let pet battles give rep.

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Stop putting dev time into fuckin pet battles...

I guarantee you that more people do pet battles than mythic raids.

[Depakote]

AKA: Wasted development time

You misspelled Mythic Raiding but nice try.

Also what is it with the new currency every expansion? I don't get it.

[crakerjack]

Its not like pet battle WQ's give that much advantage but hey why not apply your argument to the rest of the game:

I just want them to remove PVP or change it so that you don't gain anything outside of stuff pertaining PVP. Feels mandatory early on when they provide equipment.

I just want them to remove raiding or change it so that you don't gain anything outside of stuff pertaining raiding. Feels mandatory early on when they provide equipment/rep.

I just want them to remove dungeons or change it so that you don't gain anything outside of stuff pertaining dungeons. Feels mandatory early on when they provide equipment/rep.

I just want them to remove M+ or change it so that you don't gain anything outside of stuff pertaining M+. Feels mandatory early on when they provide equipment.


Don't like it? Don't play it.

If pet battles are made into WQ's and are tied to end game, I feel obligated early on to do them just to stay with the curve. Unlike PvP, raiding, dungeons, Pet battles has only been a thing since MoP. I'm not asking to remove it, I'm just asking to remove it from anything tied to end game. It can have its dungeons, pet battle trainers etc, just don't award people rep or anything relevant to the current expansion. Like give them the pet tokens and that's it, no rep, no gold, no AP, just pet battle related stuff. That way people who enjoy it get more towards their pet battles and those who don't want to do it don't feel pressured to play pokemon.

[Depakote]

No way in hell anyone would be rightful mind to watch battle pet in esport (if that ever happens lol) Imagine that if...

Have you ever heard of something called Pokemon?

[crakerjack]

Since you unlock pets via reputation it seems fair to let pet battles give rep.

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I guarantee you that more people do pet battles than mythic raids.

They've always had pets, mounts rewards for reputations, that's nothing new. The issue is that pet battles, whether you're for it or not, is a gimmicky aspect of the game that shouldn't be considered foundational in the slightest. The fact that there are WQ's dedicated specifically for pet battles proves that blizzard is putting too much of a priority on it. Hell, they even added dungeons for pet battles. It's just annoying because when current expansion currency, rep, generic grinds are tied into pet battles, it makes it feel necessary to stay with the curve, even if the difference is minuscule. The solution is to remove all rep, gold, renown, and anima from pet battle world quests. They will still have trainers marked on the map for people to duel, but it would be there for people to do if that's what they enjoy.

It wouldn't be fair to outright remove pet battles, even though I never do it and it would mean more resources put back into aspects of the game I enjoy, I understand that some people really enjoy it and it's their main enjoyment in the game. I just feel like it's unfair to people who don't enjoy it because blizzard attaches relevant currency/rep to these WQ's. If the WQ's only awarded pet tokens and didn't provide rep, renown or anything else, I would have no qualms with there being pet battle WQ's.

[rhorle]

If pet battles are made into WQ's and are tied to end game, I feel obligated early on to do them just to stay with the curve. Unlike PvP, raiding, dungeons, Pet battles has only been a thing since MoP. I'm not asking to remove it, I'm just asking to remove it from anything tied to end game. It can have its dungeons, pet battle trainers etc, just don't award people rep or anything relevant to the current expansion. Like give them the pet tokens and that's it, no rep, no gold, no AP, just pet battle related stuff. That way people who enjoy it get more towards their pet battles and those who don't want to do it don't feel pressured to play pokemon.

They are an option though and not required unless you feel the need to to do every little thing. And if you feel the need to do that then having a few fast and easy WQ will help out more then other types. They never change and the teams are realtively easy to get set up if you've been playing for a while. It is a set your team once and done approach. Get Rematch. Get TDScripts and visit Xufu's website. Then you just hit one button each time.

You are punishing those who enjoy doing it just because you lack the willpower to choose not to do it. That is silly. Either do the little work required to set up a never fail strategy. Or choose not to do it them at all.

[crakerjack]

They are an option though and not required unless you feel the need to to do every little thing. And if you feel the need to do that then having a few fast and easy WQ will help out more then other types. They never change and the teams are realtively easy to get set up if you've been playing for a while. It is a set your team once and done approach. Get Rematch. Get TDScripts and visit Xufu's website. Then you just hit one button each time.

You are punishing those who enjoy doing it just because you lack the willpower to choose not to do it. That is silly. Either do the little work required to set up a never fail strategy. Or choose not to do it them at all.

No one is being punished though. People who enjoy pet battles can still do pet battles, it's not being removed. I'm just implying that blizzard could remove all expansion related currency/rewards from pet battles so that those who don't enjoy it don't feel pressured to do it. And lets be real, pet battles aren't fast to do. I can crank out WQ's fast because my character is strong due to PvP, raiding and m+. What's stupid is that regardless of how powerful my character is, or what raider io score I have, it means nothing in the world of pet battles. My class doesn't matter, my talents don't matter and my gear most certainly doesn't matter.

Pet battles is its own thing and should remain its own thing. If someone wants to do pet battles in Shadowlands, that's their decision, but blizzard shouldn't be impeding everyones progression by locking rep behind pet battle WQ's. Even if it's just 100-150 more rep, that's still a slight advantage. What I'm implying is that blizzard shouldn't have any expansion related currency tied to pet battle WQ's. That way they're still there for people who genuinely enjoy pet battles and players who don't enjoy it don't feel pressured to do it.

I honestly don't see what's wrong with what I'm proposing. It's a win win. I no longer feel pressured to do them and people who want to them, still have access to them.

[rhorle]

No one is being punished though.

The people that enjoy doing pet battles are being punished by removing small rewards. You are punishing pet battlers just because you can't make the choice to not do something you do not enjoy. Don't punish everyone else because you have a compulsion problem.

And yes lets be real. You can do a pet battle WQ in a min or two. Nothing is random. Strategies are all pre-determined and most do not really on randomness to complete. The Rematch addon stores teams and loads them when mousing over the NPC. TDScripts loads the strategy and all you have to do is click or hotkey one button that you repeatedly push.

The problem is you are going into it as disliking pet battles and modifying your arguments to fit. Leveling and collect pets is no different then collecting gear. It is all power that comes from outside of your character that you have to collect. Your progress is not impeded or locked because pet battles offer rewards. Just don't have the compulsion to do every little thing. Make the choice and accept the responsibility as your own.

[crakerjack]

The people that enjoy doing pet battles are being punished by removing small rewards. You are punishing pet battlers just because you can't make the choice to not do something you do not enjoy. Don't punish everyone else because you have a compulsion problem.

And yes lets be real. You can do a pet battle WQ in a min or two. Nothing is random. Strategies are all pre-determined and most do not really on randomness to complete. The Rematch addon stores teams and loads them when mousing over the NPC. TDScripts loads the strategy and all you have to do is click or hotkey one button that you repeatedly push.

The problem is you are going into it as disliking pet battles and modifying your arguments to fit. Leveling and collect pets is no different then collecting gear. It is all power that comes from outside of your character that you have to collect. Your progress is not impeded or locked because pet battles offer rewards. Just don't have the compulsion to do every little thing. Make the choice and accept the responsibility as your own.

That's too complicated. It would be easier to just remove all added rewards that pertain towards the expansion. It's not unfair for you. You still gain the pleasure of doing the battle and will gain pet tokens to buy stuff for your pets. It's a win win. That way I don't feel like it's necessary to level my pets, download addons and invest numerous hours grinding a system that I have no joy in using. Hell, they even updated them so that they'd scale with your highest pet, but when you have a bunch of 1's and a lone 5, I'm stuck soloing a team with a 5/1/1 comp.

These types of WQ's are drastically different than your typical "Kill 12 of X" "Collect 8 of Y" "Escort Wagon to destination" type of WQ's where players of any background can drop in and simply do. Those are the types of WQ's that should reward currency pertaining to an expansion. Forcing people to play a system they don't enjoy is annoying. Even if the difference is 150 rep, it makes me and others feel obligated to do it early on just to stay with the curve. When the masses are rushing to get ahead in w/e grinds launch with shadowlands, people will feel compelled to scrape every last bit of content.

[Krixooks]

just wanna say pet battles are awesome, I hesitated starting it for a while but there is loads of content now and its loads of fun, it's all I do these days because its very chill and casual.

so don't shit-talk features you haven't even tried thanks

[rhorle]

That's too complicated. It would be easier to just remove all added rewards that pertain towards the expansion. It's not unfair for you. You still gain the pleasure of doing the battle and will gain pet tokens to buy stuff for your pets. It's a win win.

It isn't a win win if one side loses out on rewards they were previously getting. It is crazy how blind you are to things simply because you don't like to do pet battles. It is unfair to every person that currently likes to do pet battles because they lose out on rewards they are already getting. Simply because you find it to much work to to a little work that pays off. After all you already are pressured into doing them so you have the teams don't you?

Your low level problems are exactly that. Excuses. If you really cared about getting those extra rewards you would have done the little bit of work over the course of BfA or even Legion. Many of the pets from Legion were still front runners for BfA. So you are basically just salty because there are rewards you want but you can't get. All because you don't find it worth it to level up some pets. Which is a perfect system. Rewards if you feel like it but still optional.

If people are compelled to scrape every little bit of content then they will do anything anyways. You don't change a system for those people. Besides we know you aren't one of those because you don't have a full roster to scrape every bit of content. So you are arguing for a view you don't even do.

[Agent Smith]

Im not impressed at all. Blizzard is trying to make something that should be trivial, more complex for the sake of complexity. It isn't innovative, it doesn't inspire anything.

Make a Pet Battle app thats standalone and then go ahead and give them all mechanics we have to try to figure out.

[LordVargK]

They've always had pets, mounts rewards for reputations, that's nothing new. The issue is that pet battles, whether you're for it or not, is a gimmicky aspect of the game that shouldn't be considered foundational in the slightest. The fact that there are WQ's dedicated specifically for pet battles proves that blizzard is putting too much of a priority on it. Hell, they even added dungeons for pet battles. It's just annoying because when current expansion currency, rep, generic grinds are tied into pet battles, it makes it feel necessary to stay with the curve, even if the difference is minuscule. The solution is to remove all rep, gold, renown, and anima from pet battle world quests. They will still have trainers marked on the map for people to duel, but it would be there for people to do if that's what they enjoy.

It wouldn't be fair to outright remove pet battles, even though I never do it and it would mean more resources put back into aspects of the game I enjoy, I understand that some people really enjoy it and it's their main enjoyment in the game. I just feel like it's unfair to people who don't enjoy it because blizzard attaches relevant currency/rep to these WQ's. If the WQ's only awarded pet tokens and didn't provide rep, renown or anything else, I would have no qualms with there being pet battle WQ's.

I would agree with this, if this principle would not be equally true for each other aspect of the game. Want to do PvP? Do PvE first. Want to raid? Well, better get that PvP Essence. Want to run high mythic+? Do visions to get you cloak up to standards. Same will be true for Shadowlands: You will have to do Torghast for anything else. You probably still will want to get PvE gear for PvP. There are still PvP quests, which award you with gear, rep and currency.
I for one would rather have all PvP removed from WoW than pet battles, since WoW's PvP is the worst I've seen in any MMO. PvP is as much of a gimmick as pet battles.
Honestly, if you are that worried about pet battles, then look up Xu-Fu guides, level a team while pet batte week is running and just do the damn WQs. That's literally less effort than any other WQ at the start of the expansion, since you can semi automate your fight via scripts anyway. And your pets don't lose any power over the expansions, meaning that once the strategies have been figured out, pet battle WQs are the easiest content you can do as an undergeared fresh max level char.
Or, you know, just don't do it. Either you are a hardcore gamer that does EVERY WQ (and other currency/rep related quest) at the start of an expansion, or you are not. But you don't really get to complain about having to do content that you don't like if you are that focussed on doing all content. I don't complain about Blizzard putting effort into PvP. Because I just don't care about it. Because I know Blizzard does not cater to the "I have to do every WQ or I will hit exalted 1 day later!!!"-crowd. Live and let live.

[crakerjack]

I would agree with this, if this principle would not be equally true for each other aspect of the game. Want to do PvP? Do PvE first. Want to raid? Well, better get that PvP Essence. Want to run high mythic+? Do visions to get you cloak up to standards. Same will be true for Shadowlands: You will have to do Torghast for anything else. You probably still will want to get PvE gear for PvP. There are still PvP quests, which award you with gear, rep and currency.
I for one would rather have all PvP removed from WoW than pet battles, since WoW's PvP is the worst I've seen in any MMO. PvP is as much of a gimmick as pet battles.
Honestly, if you are that worried about pet battles, then look up Xu-Fu guides, level a team while pet batte week is running and just do the damn WQs. That's literally less effort than any other WQ at the start of the expansion, since you can semi automate your fight via scripts anyway. And your pets don't lose any power over the expansions, meaning that once the strategies have been figured out, pet battle WQs are the easiest content you can do as an undergeared fresh max level char.
Or, you know, just don't do it. Either you are a hardcore gamer that does EVERY WQ (and other currency/rep related quest) at the start of an expansion, or you are not. But you don't really get to complain about having to do content that you don't like if you are that focussed on doing all content. I don't complain about Blizzard putting effort into PvP. Because I just don't care about it. Because I know Blizzard does not cater to the "I have to do every WQ or I will hit exalted 1 day later!!!"-crowd. Live and let live.

The main difference though between pet battles and other aspects of the game is that they all carry over. If you get an upgrade via PvP, it's still in upgrade ilvl wise for all other content. If I get a cool azerite piece from m+, I can still use that piece towards raiding and Pvp. If I raid and get a really sick weapon, I can then use that weapon to do almost everything in the game. The issue is that pet battles isn't connected to all these systems and regardless of how much I grind gear, it'll never change how I perform in pet battles. I have to level pets, build specific comps and spend ample hours improving my pets and learning how to play optimally. How much of that effort will translate back into other aspects of the game?

What I'm getting at is pet battles has been its own thing when it first came out in MoP. Sure there were additions here and there, but it never felt forced. Then they started doing pet battle WQ's in legion which I thought was a stupid move. I'm all for the system to remain and for people to do it they choose to, but don't add benefits to it just to keep it relevant to the general populace. I want your typical world quests that the player does, not some pets. And I severely disagree that a pet battle can be quicker than most WQ's. It doesn't matter if it's the beginning of an expansion or the end, typical WQ's are quick and easy to do.

The thing is, pet battles isn't WoW. It's its own side feature and should remain such. It's not "hating some aspect of WoW" it's not enjoying a gimmicky system they added back in 2012. Again, all I'm proposing is that they change the rewards, that's it. The WQ icon will still show up on the map for people to do, but it would no longer provide rep towards any current expansion factions. You wouldn't gain renown or anything else. You'd simply do the WQ and gain pet tokens which you could use towards your pets. It's makes perfect sense, that way people who don't enjoy pet battles don't feel obligated to do them in order to min/max early in an expansion. Also the people who enjoy pet battles gain stuff that actually pertains to what they enjoy. That's the best solution because everyone remains happy. Because if people have a problem with that, then they're clearly not doing the pet battle WQ simply because they enjoy it. There's some sense of feeling obligated if someone expects additional rewards.

[LordVargK]

The main difference though between pet battles and other aspects of the game is that they all carry over. If you get an upgrade via PvP, it's still in upgrade ilvl wise for all other content. If I get a cool azerite piece from m+, I can still use that piece towards raiding and Pvp. If I raid and get a really sick weapon, I can then use that weapon to do almost everything in the game. The issue is that pet battles isn't connected to all these systems and regardless of how much I grind gear, it'll never change how I perform in pet battles. I have to level pets, build specific comps and spend ample hours improving my pets and learning how to play optimally. How much of that effort will translate back into other aspects of the game?

There is no effort. You level all the pets you need in 3 hours while pet battle week. Then copy the necessary scripts for the WQ trainers and just press 1 key in the battles itself. You don't have to do ANY amount of thinking if you don't want to. Also the rewards are absolutely miniscule, apart from reputation. But considering that there are plenty of "gimmicky" minigames as WQs that are not dependant on gear or anything else I would just view pet battles as a minigame with a little preparation.

What I'm getting at is pet battles has been its own thing when it first came out in MoP. Sure there were additions here and there, but it never felt forced. Then they started doing pet battle WQ's in legion which I thought was a stupid move. I'm all for the system to remain and for people to do it they choose to, but don't add benefits to it just to keep it relevant to the general populace. I want your typical world quests that the player does, not some pets. And I severely disagree that a pet battle can be quicker than most WQ's. It doesn't matter if it's the beginning of an expansion or the end, typical WQ's are quick and easy to do.

They still don't feel forced. Don't like them? Don't do them! They really offer nothing special. And since in SL you will have your renown/anima progress capped, they won't be necessary for you, but a nice alternative for those players, that like them over "normal" WQs.

The thing is, pet battles isn't WoW. It's its own side feature and should remain such. It's not "hating some aspect of WoW" it's not enjoying a gimmicky system they added back in 2012. Again, all I'm proposing is that they change the rewards, that's it. The WQ icon will still show up on the map for people to do, but it would no longer provide rep towards any current expansion factions. You wouldn't gain renown or anything else. You'd simply do the WQ and gain pet tokens which you could use towards your pets. It's makes perfect sense, that way people who don't enjoy pet battles don't feel obligated to do them in order to min/max early in an expansion. Also the people who enjoy pet battles gain stuff that actually pertains to what they enjoy. That's the best solution because everyone remains happy. Because if people have a problem with that, then they're clearly not doing the pet battle WQ simply because they enjoy it. There's some sense of feeling obligated if someone expects additional rewards.

That's like saying m+ isn't WoW, since it's only half as long in the game as pet battles. Pet battles are just an alternative to reach your goal. Yes, they exist outside of the "gear-loop". So what?

I repeat myself: Blizzard does not design the game for the min-maxers. If you want to do EVERY WQ, that is your decision. You have no competitive disadvantage by not doing pet battle WQs.

[crakerjack]

There is no effort. You level all the pets you need in 3 hours while pet battle week. Then copy the necessary scripts for the WQ trainers and just press 1 key in the battles itself. You don't have to do ANY amount of thinking if you don't want to. Also the rewards are absolutely miniscule, apart from reputation. But considering that there are plenty of "gimmicky" minigames as WQs that are not dependant on gear or anything else I would just view pet battles as a minigame with a little preparation.



They still don't feel forced. Don't like them? Don't do them! They really offer nothing special. And since in SL you will have your renown/anima progress capped, they won't be necessary for you, but a nice alternative for those players, that like them over "normal" WQs.



That's like saying m+ isn't WoW, since it's only half as long in the game as pet battles. Pet battles are just an alternative to reach your goal. Yes, they exist outside of the "gear-loop". So what?

I repeat myself: Blizzard does not design the game for the min-maxers. If you want to do EVERY WQ, that is your decision. You have no competitive disadvantage by not doing pet battle WQs.

Your last point can apply to anything and is just a lazy attempt at defending pet battles. And there isn't going to be a hard cap, it's a soft cap. so while you can argue the whole system is a carrot on a stick, when it comes to people trying to get as much renown as possible, they'll feel forced to do every world quest that rewards such.

It's w/e because I don't think we'll ever agree. I thought I was being fairly neutral by saying they should make it so they only rewards pet tokens. That is the best solution for everyone because A, they don't feel necessary in order to stay ahead of the curve and B, someone will still gain currency relevant to progressing their pets. If someone needs rewards/incentives outside of pet battles to coax them into doing them, then that means pet battles isn't important, the reward is. So if you're against removing renown and other expansion related rewards from pet battle WQ's, that means the reward is of value to you, more so than simply getting pet tokens. If you genuinely enjoyed pet battles, you wouldn't care about not gaining anything else outside of pet battles, but you do.

Unlike Pet battles, m+ expanded on something that already existed. We already have dungeons, so they implemented a system to give replay value to them. Pet battles didn't expand on anything. It took pets which had no value outside of cosmetics and put a use to them. Everything pertaining to pet battles doesn't translate to anything else in the game. All progress made outside of pet battles stays outside and all progress made in pet battles resides there.

I would take minigame WQ's over pet battle WQ's 10/10 times because they don't require me to grind some system. I simply start the WQ and plow through the mini game quickly .