wow Dozen of New Hero Talent Trees Revealed

Staff · March 15

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Blizzard has revealed a dozen new Hero Talents Trees coming in the War Within expansion!

(Source)

The War Within expansion introduces Hero Talents as a new update to World of Warcraft classes. They are an evergreen form of character progression for each class specialization that introduces new powers and class fantasies. Feedback is critical to us as a part of creating an impactful and fun addition to the game, so we are sharing our goals for Hero Talents with the community to get first impressions of them and learn how well we’re meeting those goals.

In this article, we take a closer look at the philosophies around Hero Talents for twelve more trees: Rider of the Apocalypse and Deathbringer Death Knights, Aldrachi Reaver Demon Hunter, Druid of the Claw Druid, Flameshaper Evoker, Pack Leader Hunter, Spellslinger Mage, Shado-Pan and Conduit of the Celestials Monks, Farseer Shaman, Hellcaller Warlock, and Slayer Warrior.

What Are Hero Talents?

Hero Talents are new, self-contained talent trees that players unlock access at level 71. Hero Talents build on the abilities and talents of current classes and specializations. Players can choose a single Hero Talent tree to activate on a character and these talents can be changed in the same way class talents can be currently changed in the game. There are three Hero Talent trees for each class (excepting druid with four and demon hunter with two). Each specialization has two Hero Talent trees they can choose between, and each of these trees is available as an option for two specializations.

For example, warriors have three Hero Talent tree options: Slayer, Colossus, and Mountain Thane. Fury has access to Mountain Thane and Slayer, Protection has access to Mountain Thane and Colossus, and Arms has access to Colossus and Slayer.

There are 11 nodes in a Hero Talent tree. The first of these unlocks with the system at level 71, and you earn 1 talent point per level from level 71 to 80, so you get every talent in the tree by level 80. Hero Talents will have starter builds available, and your saved builds will save your Hero Talent choices as well.

What to Expect from Hero Talents

Each Hero Talent tree starts with a “keystone” talent that introduces the core mechanic and concept of the tree. This could be a new ability, an enhancement to an existing ability or cooldown, or a new buff you can trigger. The bottom talent of each tree is a “capstone” talent that builds on the core themes of the tree or adds new power to the keystone.

Each tree will offer or modify some class utility and include defensive bonuses that are useful to all specializations. We are aiming for all trees to be about equal in the amount of utility and defensiveness they provide. Trees for characters that can take on a tanking role may have some additional defense bonuses that will be less valuable to healers or damage dealers (DPS), such as bonuses to tank talents or cooldowns. Three or four nodes in each tree will be choice nodes where you can choose between two options.

Hero Talents are meant to add enough damage or healing throughput to be significant without being so important that these new talents overshadow your current class and spec tree talents. Most Hero Talent trees add new visual effects to classes, both to communicate what they’re doing and bring their class fantasies to life. However, these are not complete visual reworks – your class and spec are still the same at their core, and that will continue to come through.

Maintaining Freedom to Choose

We want players to be free to choose the Hero Talent tree that has the gameplay, visuals, or flavor that they prefer. Our goal is for both options to feel similarly effective in raid dungeons, Mythic+, and PvP. We're working to avoid abilities or bonuses in Hero Talents that could make a certain tree feel "required" for activities where we can.

We know that for some players, prioritizing total throughput is the most important thing to them, even if the difference between choices seems small. That’s okay but keeping Hero Talent balance close is one of our priorities so that players can play what they prefer and still be viable in any content.

How We Chose Hero Talent Concepts

Since we announced Hero Talents at BlizzCon, it's been great to see all the conversation and speculation surrounding the 39 Hero Talent titles. We'd like to share some of the thinking that went behind choosing those concepts.

Each Hero Talent concept must be appropriate for both of the specs that can use it. Some concepts build on overlaps in abilities or flavors between the two specs that can use it, like Colossus warriors, which are as mighty as Arms warriors and as imposing as Protection warriors. Others create new themes that are appropriate for both specs, like Fatebound rogues.

Hero Talents also retain your combat role and the gear that you use so that you're not competing for new types of gear. For iconic Warcraft character archetypes, we wanted to be sure that we could deliver on their fantasy with World of Warcraft’s classes. Blademasters just wouldn’t be Blademasters without abilities like Wind Walk and Mirror Image, but those abilities don’t fit in a warrior’s toolkit.

Lastly, there are several iconic character archetypes that are strongly tied to specific races and factions, such as Keeper of the Grove or Mountain Thane. It’s exciting to embody these storied archetypes, but we want to ensure that characters of every race and faction can see themselves as those archetypes. We’re open to feedback on what feels good for your characters versus what is frustrating.

Gameplay and Hero Talents

We have several goals for what it feels like to play World of Warcraft with Hero Talents. Here are some of our guiding principles for how they affect your capabilities, your rotation, what you pay attention to in combat, and your user interface.

We like to say on the team that our goal for Hero Talents gameplay is for them to make you “what you are, but more.” We know that many of you have long histories with your favorite classes, and you play them because you like their gameplay and the spells and abilities that matter in their rotation, whether it’s the spinning plates of Affliction, the cycles of Arcane, or the frenetic reactivity of Fury. Hero Talents don’t override what matters to a class. You should feel like you’re playing your spec with a twist or a boost and not as if the things you care about have become unimportant or been replaced.

A Hero Talent tree might add new behavior or bonuses to an existing ability, like Keeper of the Grove’s bonuses to Force of Nature and Grove Guardian treants. They might occasionally reset the cooldown on abilities or replace spells with more powerful versions. They might make it easier to maintain important buffs or grant additional resources at key moments.

One thing that we’re keeping a close eye on is complexity. Classes in WoW have a lot of abilities and talents, and there’s a lot to learn about each one. We want Hero Talents to add new fun without creating new burdens, either in customizing or playing a character. Most Hero Talent trees do not add new buttons that players will need to add to their action bar or find a new keybind for. There will be additional opportunities for players to express their skill, but we’re trying not to add things like complex maintenance buffs that increase the cognitive load for everyone playing a class. Most of the choices a player will make about how complex they want their rotation to be will continue to be made in their class and spec talent trees.

Some Hero Talents do require you to take certain talents in your class or spec trees to access their powers. This is often because those talents fit the flavor and theme of that specific Hero Talent tree. The Mountain Thane warrior tree enhances Avatar and Thunder Clap, Templar paladin gives extra power to Wake of Ashes, and Elune’s Chosen druids can cast a particularly strong Fury of Elune. However, a Hero Talent tree will only ever require or enhance a small number of class or spec talents. It's important to us that there still is freedom in customizing your class build.

Show Us the Hero Talent Trees!

Rider of the Apocalypse and Deathbringer Death Knights, Aldrachi Reaver Demon Hunter, Druid of the Claw Druid, Flameshaper Evoker, Pack Leader Hunter, Spellslinger Mage, Shado-Pan and Conduit of the Celestials Monks, Farseer Shaman, Hellcaller Warlock, and Slayer Warrior.

Rider of the Apocalypse Death Knight

Specializations: Frost and Unholy

As a Rider of the Apocalypse, you are a champion of the Four Horsemen calling upon their aid to assist you in battle. You have a proficiency in mounted combat and your link with the Four Horsemen brings conquest, war, famine, and death to all that oppose you.

RIDER OF THE APOCALYPSE KEYSTONE

Rider’s Champion: Spending Runes has a chance to call forth the aid of a Horseman for 10 seconds.

Mograine: Casts Death and Decay at his location that follows his position.
Whitemane: Casts Undeath on your target dealing Shadowfrost damage per stack every 3 seconds for 24 seconds. Each time Undeath deals damage it gains a stack. Cannot be Refreshed.
Trollbane: Casts Chains of Ice on your target slowing their movement speed by 70% and increasing the damage they take from you by 5% for 8 seconds.
Nazgrim: While Nazgrim is active you gain Apocalyptic Conquest, increasing your Strength by 5%.

RIDER OF THE APOCALYPSE ROW 1

Choice Node: On a Paler Horse & Death Charge

On a Paler Horse: While outdoors you are able to mount your Acherus Deathcharger in combat.
Death Charge: Call upon your Death Charger to break free of movement impairment effects. For 10 seconds. While upon your Death Charger your movement speed is increased by 100%, you cannot be slowed, and you are immune to forced movement effects and knockbacks.

Mograine’s Might: Your damage is increased by 5% and you gain the benefits of your Death and Decay while inside Mograine’s Death and Decay.

Choice Node: Horsemen’s Aid & Pact of the Apocalypse

Horsemen's Aid: While at your aid, the Horsemen will occasionally cast Anti-Magic Shell on you and themselves at 80% effectiveness.
Pact of the Apocalypse: When you take damage 5% of the damage is redirected to each active horseman.

RIDER OF THE APOCALYPSE ROW 2

Whitemane's Famine: When your diseases deal damage to an enemy affected by Undeath it gains another stack. Additionally, when Undeath deals damage, it infects another nearby enemy.

Nazgrim's Conquest: If an enemy dies while Nazgrim is active, the strength of Apocalyptic Conquest is increased by 3%. Additionally, each Rune you spend increases its value by 1%.

Trollbane's Icy Fury: When you Obliterate or Scourge Strike a target affected by Trollbane's Chains of Ice, it shatters dealing Shadowfrost damage to nearby enemies and slows them by 40% for 4 seconds.

RIDER OF THE APOCALYPSE ROW 3

Hungering Thirst: The damage of your diseases, Frost Strike, and Death Coil are increased by 15%.

Choice Node: Fury of the Horsemen and A Feast of Souls

Fury of the Horsemen: Every 50 Runic Power you spend extends the duration of the Horsemen's aid in combat by 1 second, up to 5 seconds.
A Feast of Souls: While you have 2 or more Horsemen aiding you, your Runic Power spending abilities deal 20% increased damage and have 10% chance to refund a Rune.

Mawsworn Menace: The cooldown of your Horn of Winter and Unholy Blight is reduced by 15 seconds and Death and Decay is reduced by 10 seconds.

RIDER OF THE APOCALYPSE CAPSTONE

Apocalypse Now: Army of the Dead and Frostwyrm's Fury call upon all 4 Horsemen to aid you for 20 seconds.

Deathbringer Death Knight

Specializations: Blood and Frost

Deathbringer’s are the emissaries of death. Empowered by the Shadowlands, their physical strikes and abilities aim for their enemies' souls and vanquish them without mercy.

DEATHBRINGER KEYSTONE

Reaper's Mark: Viciously slice into the soul of your enemy, dealing Shadowfrost damage and applying Reaper's Mark.

Each time you deal Shadow or Frost damage, add a stack of Reaper's Mark. After 12 seconds or reaching 40 stacks, the mark explodes, dealing damage per stack.

Reaper's Mark travels to an unmarked enemy nearby if the target dies or explodes below 35% health when there are no enemies to travel to. This explosion cannot occur again on a target for 3 minutes.

DEATHBRINGER ROW 1

Wave of Souls: Reaper's Mark unleashes a dark wave towards your target and back, dealing Shadowfrost damage both ways to all enemies caught in its path. Wave of Souls critical strikes cause enemies to take 5% increased Shadowfrost damage for 15 seconds, stacking up to 2 times, and the wave back is always a critical strike.

Blood Fever: Your Blood Plague (Blood) or Frost Fever (Frost) has a chance to deal 30% increased damage as Shadowfrost.

Bind in Darkness: Shadowfrost damage applies double stacks to Reaper's Mark and quadruple stacks when it is a critical strike. Additionally, Rime empowered Howling Blast deals Shadowfrost damage (Frost) or Blood Boil deals Shadowfrost damage (Blood).

DEATHBRINGER ROW 2

Shuddering Soul: Reaper's Mark explosion causes a piece of the target's soul to tear out and spiral outwards, dealing 10% of the explosion's damage to enemies it passes through. Enemies hit by this effect deal 5% reduced physical damage to you for 10 seconds.

Grim Reaper: Reaper's Mark explosion deals up to 30% increased damage based on your target's missing health and applies Soul Reaper to targets below 35% health.

Choice Node: Death’s Bargain and Rune Carved Plates

Death's Bargain: When you suffer a damaging effect equal to 25% of your maximum health, you instantly cast Death Pact at 50% effectiveness. May only occur every 2 minutes. When a Reaper's Mark explodes, the cooldowns of this effect and Death Pact are reduced by 5 seconds.
Rune Carved Plates: Each Rune spent reduces the magic damage you take by 2% and each Rune generated reduces the physical damage you take by 2% for 5 seconds, up to 5 times.

DEATHBRINGER ROW 3

Choice Node: Swift End and Painful Death

Swift End: Reaper's Mark's cost is reduced by 1 Rune and its cooldown is reduced by 50%.
Painful Death: Reaper's Mark now explodes at 50 stacks and the first scythe of Exterminate has a 100% increased chance to apply Reaper's Mark.

Choice Node: Dark Talons and Wither Away

Dark Talons: Marrowrend and Heart Strike (Blood), Consuming Killing Machine or Rime (Frost) has a 20% chance to increase the maximum stacks of an active Icy Talons by 1, up to 2 times.

While Icy Talons is active, your abilities that spend Runic Power deal Shadowfrost damage.

Wither Away: Blood Plague (Blood) or Frost Fever (Frost) deals its damage in half the duration and the second scythe of Exterminate applies Blood Plague (Blood) or Frost Fever (Frost).

Choice Node: Death’s Messenger and Expelling

Death's Messenger: Reduces the cooldowns of Lichborne and Raise Dead by 30 seconds.
Expelling Shield: When an enemy deals direct damage to your Anti-Magic Shell, their cast speed is reduced by 10% for 6 seconds.

DEATHBRINGER CAPSTONE

Exterminate: After Reaper's Mark explodes, your next Marrowrend (Blood) or Obliterate (Frost) costs no Rune and summons 2 scythes to strike your enemies. The first scythe strikes your target for physical damage and has a 15% chance to apply Reaper's Mark, the second scythe strikes all enemies around your target for Shadowfrost damage.

Aldrachi Reaver Demon Hunter

Specializations: Havoc and Vengeance

The Aldrachi warriors were the ultimate glaivemasters and wielded their blades with deadly grace. Each kill fueled their weapon, imbuing them with greater power. They were so indomitable that Sargeras eventually bathed their world in fel fire himself, but their spirit and teachings live on.

ALDRACHI REAVER KEYSTONE

Art of the Glaive: Consuming 3 (Havoc) or 20 (Vengeance) Soul Fragments allows you to cast Reaver's Glaive.

Reaver's Glaive: Throw a glaive enhanced with the essence of consumed souls at your target, dealing physical damage and ricocheting to 2 additional targets for additional damage. Replaces Throw Glaive.

Begins a well-practiced pattern of glaivework, enhancing your next Chaos Strike and Blade Dance (Havoc), Fracture, Shear, and Soul Cleave (Vengeance):

Chaos Strike (Havoc), Fracture, and Shear (Vengeance) applies Reaver’s Mark which causes the target to take 15% increased damage for 5 seconds.
Blade Dance (Havoc) and Soul Cleave (Vengeance) deal 3 additional glaive slashes to nearby targets for additional damage.

ALDRACHI REAVER ROW 1

Choice Node: Keen Engagement and Preemptive Strike

Keen Engagement: Reaver’s Glaive generates 20 Fury.
Preemptive Strike: Throw Glaive deals damage to enemies near its initial target.

Choice Node: Evasive Action and Unhindered Assault

Evasive Action: Vengeful Retreat can be cast a second time within 3 seconds.
Unhindered Assault: Vengeful Retreat resets the cooldown of Felblade.

Incisive Blade: When enhanced, Chaos Strike and Soul Cleave deal 30% increased damage.

ALDRACHI REAVER ROW 2

Aldrachi Tactics: The second enhanced ability in a pattern shatters an additional Soul Fragment.

Choice Node: Army Unto Oneself and Incorruptible Spirit

Army Unto Oneself: Felblade surrounds you with a Blade Ward, reducing physical damage taken by 10% for 5 seconds.
Incorruptible Spirit: Consuming a Soul Fragment also heals you for an additional 15% over time.

Wounded Quarry: While Reaver’s Mark is on your target, melee attacks have a chance to strike with an additional glaive slash for damage and shatter a soul.

ALDRACHI REAVER ROW 3

Intent Pursuit: Casting an enhanced ability reduces the remaining cooldown of The Hunt by 2 seconds.

Escalation: Each successive enhanced ability deals 10% increased damage. The effect of the second enhancement is increased by 100%.

Warblade’s Hunger: Consuming a Soul Fragment causes your next Chaos Strike, Fracture, or Shear to deal bonus damage.

ALDRACHI REAVER CAPSTONE

Thrill of the Fight: After consuming both empowerments, gain Thrill of the Fight, increasing your attack speed by 15% for 5 seconds and causing your next ability to deal 30% increased damage and healing.

Druid of the Claw Druid

Specializations: Feral and Guardian

Druids of the Claw are masters of their mighty animal forms. When they transform into cats or bears, they become ferocious physical combatants and protectors of the wild.

DRUID OF THE CLAWKEYSTONE

Massive Attack: Your auto-attacks have a chance to make your next Ferocious Bite (Feral) or Maul (Guardian) become Massive Attack.

Feral: Finishing move Dreadful Wound is not affected by Circle of Life and Death. (Feral) If a Dreadful Wound benefiting from Tiger's Fury is re-applied, the new Dreadful Wound deals damage as if Tiger's Fury was active.
Guardian: Slash through your target in a wide arc, dealing physical damage to your target and additional damage to all other enemies in front of you.

Bestial Strength: Ferocious Bite damage increased by 5% and Primal Wrath's (Feral) direct damage increased by 100% Maul and Raze (Guardian) damage increased by 10%.

DRUID OF THE CLAW ROW 2

Wildshape Mastery: Ironfur and Frenzied Regeneration persist in Cat Form. When transforming from Bear to Cat Form, you retain 80% of your Bear Form armor and health for 6 seconds. For 6 seconds after entering Bear Form, you heal for 10% of damage taken over 8 seconds.

Choice Node: Ruthless Aggression and Killing Strikes

Ruthless Aggression: Massive Attack increases your auto-attack speed by 20% for 6 seconds.
Killing Strikes: Massive Attack increases your Agility by 5% and the armor granted by Ironfur by 20% for 6 seconds.
- Feral: Your first Tiger’s Fury after entering combat makes your next Ferocious Bite become a Massive Attack.
- Guardian: Your first Mangle after entering combat makes your next Maul become a Massive Attack.

Pack's Endurance: Stampeding Roar's duration is increased by 25%.

DRUID OF THE CLAW ROW 3

Choice Node: Empowered Shapeshifting and Wildpower Surge

Empowered Shapeshifting: Frenzied Regeneration can be cast in Cat Form for 40 Energy. Bear Form reduces magic damage you take by 4%. Shred, Swipe, and Mangle damage increased by 5%.
Wildpower Surge: Shred and Swipe grant Ursine Potential (Feral) and Mangle grants Feline Potential (Guardian).
- Ursine Potential: When you have 8 stacks, the next time you transform into Bear Form, your next Mangle or Swipe deals 100% increased damage and generates 15 extra Rage.
- Feline Potential: When you have 6 stacks, the next time you transform into Cat form, gain 5 Combo Points and your next Ferocious Bite or Rip deals 50% increased damage for its full duration.

Aggravate Wounds: Every Finishing Move, Shred (Feral), Maul, Raze, Mangle (Guardian), Thrash, or Swipe you cast extends the duration of your Dreadful Wounds by 0.4 seconds, up to 6 additional seconds.

Choice Node: Strike for the Heart and Tear Down the Mighty.

Strike for the Heart: Shred, Swipe, and Mangle's critical strike chance and critical strike damage are increased by 8%.
Tear Down the Mighty: The cooldown of Feral Frenzy (Feral) and Pulverize (Guardian) is reduced by 5 seconds.

DRUID OF THE CLAW CAPSTONE

Claw Rampage: Berserk, Shred, Swipe, and Thrash have a 25% chance to make your next Ferocious Bite become a Massive Attack (Feral). During Berserk, Mangle, Swipe, and Thrash have a 25% chance to make your next Maul become a Massive Attack (Guardian).

Flameshaper Evoker

Specializations: Devastation and Preservation

Flameshapers specialize in Red Dragonflight spells related to life-energy, flame, and breath magic. They have the ability to engulf enemies or allies in dragonflame, causing Fire Breath or Dream Breath to detonate, dealing massive damage or healing.

FLAMESHAPER KEYSTONE

Engulf: Engulf your target in dragonflame, damaging or healing them. For each of your periodic effects on the target, effectiveness is increased by 50%. Active ability. 20 second cooldown.

FLAMESHAPER ROW 1

Choice Node:Trailblazer and Shape of Flame

Trailblazer: Hover and Deep Breath travel 50% faster, and Hover travels 50% further.
Shape of Flame: Tail Swipe and Wing Buffet scorch enemies and blind them with ash, causing their next attack within 4 seconds to miss.

Traveling Flame: Engulf causes Fire Breath or Dream Breath (Preservation) to spread to a nearby target. If no valid targets are present, its duration is refreshed.

Enkindle: Essence abilities are enhanced with Flame, dealing 20% of healing or damage done as Fire over 8 seconds.

FLAMESHAPER ROW 2

Conduit of Flame: critical strike chance against targets above 50% health increased by 10%.

Burning Adrenaline: Engulf quickens your pulse, reducing the cast time of your next spell by 30%. Stacks up to 2 charges.

Choice Node: Fan the Flames and Expanded Lungs

Fan the Flames: Engulf reignites Enkindle, extending its duration and effectiveness by 25%.
Expanded Lungs: Fire Breath’s damage over time is increased by 20%. Dream Breath’s heal over time is increased by 20% (Preservation).

FLAMESHAPER ROW 3

Titanic Precision: Living Flame, Reversion, and Azure Strike critical strikes have a 100% increased chance to trigger Essence Burst.

Red Hot: Engulf gains 1 additional charge and deals 20% increased damage and healing.

Choice Node: Lifecinders and Draconic Instincts

Lifecinders: Renewing Blaze also applies to 1 nearby injured ally when cast.
Draconic Instincts: Your wounds have a small chance to cauterize, healing you for 30% of damage taken. Occurs more often from attacks that deal high damage.

FLAMESHAPER CAPSTONE

Consume Flame: Engulf consumes 8 seconds of Fire Breath (Devastation) or Dream Breath (Preservation) from the target, detonating it and damaging (Devastation) or healing (Preservation) all nearby targets equal to 300% of the amount consumed, reduced beyond 5 targets.

Pack Leader Hunter

Specializations: Beast Mastery and Survival

Pack Leaders are Hunters that use the instincts, knowledge, and respect they've gained over the years as they formed a deep bond and trust with the animals they adventure with. They bring a new style of ferocity and coordination to their combat, teaching their pet to strike their prey with simultaneous attacks.

PACK LEADER KEYSTONE

Vicious Hunt: Kill Command prepares you to viciously attack in coordination with your pet, dealing additional physical damage with your next Kill Command.

PACK LEADER ROW 1

Pack Coordination: Attacking with Vicious Hunt instructs your pet to strike with their basic attack alongside your next Barbed Shot (Beast Mastery), Raptor Strike, or Mongoose Bite (Survival).

Howl of the Pack: Your pet’s Basic Attack critical strikes increase your critical strike damage by 5% for 6 seconds, stacking up to 3 times.

Wild Attacks: Every third pet Basic Attack is a guaranteed critical strike, with damage further increased by critical strike chance.

PACK LEADER ROW 2

Den Recovery: Aspect of the Turtle, Survival of the Fittest, and Mend Pet heal the target for 20% of maximum health over 4 seconds. Duration increased by 1 second when healing a target under 50% maximum health.

Choice Node: Tireless Hunt and Cornered Prey

Tireless Hunt: Aspect of the Cheetah now increases movement speed by 15% for another 8 seconds.
Cornered Prey: Disengage increases the range of all your attacks by 5 yards for 5 seconds.

Frenzied Tear: Your pet’s Basic Attack has a 20% chance to reset the cooldown of Kill Command and cause Kill Command to strike a second time for 30% of normal damage.

PACK LEADER ROW 3

Choice Node: Covering Fire and Scattered Prey

Covering Fire: Kill Command increases the duration of Beast Cleave by 1 second (Beast Mastery). Wildfire Bomb reduces the cooldown of Carve or Butchery by 2 seconds (Survival).
Scattered Prey: Multi-Shot increases the damage of your next Multi-Shot by 25% (Beast Mastery). Carve or Butchery increases the damage of your next Carve or Butchery by 25% (Survival).

Cull the Herd: Kill Shot deals an additional 30% damage over 5 seconds and increases the bleed damage you and your pet deal to the target by 25%.

Choice Node: Furious Assault and Beast of Opportunity

Furious Assault: Consuming Frenzied Tear has a 50% chance to reset the cooldown of Barbed Shot and deal 30% additional damage. (Beast Mastery) Consuming Frenzied Tear has a 50% chance to make your next Raptor Strike or Mongoose Bite free and deal 30% additional damage. (Survival)
Beast of Opportunity: Bestial Wrath (Beast Mastery) or Coordinated Assault (Survival) calls on the Pack, summon a pet from your stable for 6 seconds.

PACK LEADER CAPSTONE

Pack Assault: Vicious Hunt and Pack Coordination now stack and apply twice and are always active during Call of the Wild (Beast Mastery) or Coordinated Assaulted (Survival).

Spellslinger Mage

Specializations: Arcane and Frost

Spellslinger Mages are prodigies of spellcasting that have learned to splinter their sorceries, creating powerful and volatile new effects.Spellslingers can conjure and manipulate these splinters with prowess, allowing them to devastate the battlefield with rapid barrages of razor-sharp crystals.

Developer notes: Spellslinger Splinters are themed and tuned based on your active Specialization. Arcane’s Splinters are named Arcane Splinters and deal moderate Arcane school damage. Frost’s Splinters are named Frost Splinters and deal light Frost school damage. Those specifics have been omitted from this mockup for the sake of tooltip readability, as both specs’ Splinters serve the same purpose.

SPELLSLINGER KEYSTONE

Splintering Sorcery: When you consume Nether Precision (Arcane) or Winter’s Chill (Frost), conjure a Splinter that fires at your target.

Splinter: Conjure raw magic into a sharp projectile that deals damage. Splinters embed themselves into their target, dealing additional damage over 16 seconds. This effect stacks.

SPELLSLINGER ROW 1

Augury Abounds: Casting Arcane Surge (Arcane) or Icy Veins (Frost) conjures 8 Splinters. During Arcane Surge (Arcane) and Icy Veins (Frost), whenever you conjure a Splinter, you have a 100% chance to conjure an additional Splinter.

Controlled Instincts: While a target is under the effects of Nether Tempest (Arcane) or Winter’s Chill (Frost), 20% of the direct damage dealt by a Splinter is also dealt to nearby enemies. Damage reduced beyond 5 targets. (Arcane) Direct damage from Arcane Splinters resets the duration of Nether Tempest.

Splintering Orbs: The first 8 times an enemy is damaged by your Arcane Orb (Arcane) or Frozen Orb [Frost], conjure a Splinter that fires at the damaged target. Arcane Orb (Arcane) and Frozen Orb (Frost) damage is increased by 10%.

SPELLSLINGER ROW 2

Choice Node: Slippery Slinging and Look Again

Slippery Slinging: You have 40% increased movement speed during Alter Time.
Look Again: Displacement has a 50% longer duration, 25% longer range, and leaves behind a Mirror Image.

Choice Node: Reactive Barrier and Phantasmal Image

Reactive Barrier: Your Prismatic Barrier (Arcane) and Ice Barrier (Frost) can absorb up to 50% more damage based on your missing Health. Max effectiveness when under 50% health.
Phantasmal Image: Your Mirror Image summons one extra clone. Mirror Image now reduces all damage taken by an additional 5%.

Choice Node: Volatile Magic and Unerring Proficiency

Volatile Magic: Whenever a Splinter is removed or recalled, it explodes, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Deals reduced damage beyond 5 targets.
Unerring Proficiency: Each time you conjure a Splinter, increase the damage of your next Supernova by 18% (Arcane) or Ice Nova by 6% (Frost). Stacks up to 30 times.

SPELLSLINGER ROW 3

Shifting Shards: Shifting Power fires a barrage of 8 Splinters at random enemies within 40 yards over its duration.

Spellfrost Teachings: Direct damage from a Splinter has a 5% chance to summon an Arcane Echo (Arcane) or Icy Comet (Frost) that deals damage to all nearby enemies and increases the damage enemies take from you for by 6% for 6 seconds.

Force of Will: Gain 2% increased critical strike chance. Gain 5% increased critical strike damage.

SPELLSLINGER CAPSTONE

Splinterstorm: Whenever you have 8 or more active Embedded Splinters, you automatically cast a Splinterstorm at your target.

Splinterstorm: Recall all Embedded Splinters to you, dealing their remaining periodic damage instantly. After a brief delay, unleash a devastating barrage of Splinters, dealing damage to your target for each Splinter in the Splinterstorm. Splinterstorm grants you Clearcasting (Arcane) or applies Winter’s Chill to its target (Frost).

Shado-Pan Monk

Specializations: Brewmaster and Windwalker

As a Shado-Pan, learn from your forebears and stand proud against your foes in defense of your friends and family. Bide your time and charge up your power before unleashing an overwhelming flurry of blows to overwhelm your opponents.

SHADO-PAN KEYSTONE

Overwhelming Flurry: Dealing damage equal to your maximum health generates a Flurry Charge. For each 400 Energy you spend, unleash all Flurry Charges as Flurry Strikes, dealing physical damage per charge.

SHADO-PAN ROW 1

Choice Node: Pride of Pandaria and High Impact

Pride of Pandaria: Flurry Strikes have 15% additional chance to Critically Strike.
High Impact: Enemies who die within 5 seconds of being damaged by a Flurry Strike explode, dealing damage to uncontrolled enemies within 8 yards.

Veteran’s Eye: Striking the same target 5 times within 2 seconds grants 2% haste. Multiple instances of this effect may overlap, stacking up to 10 times.

Martial Precision: Attacks penetrate 10% of the target’s armor.

SHADO-PAN ROW 2

Choice Node: Protect and Serve and Lead from the Front

Protect and Serve: Your Vivify always heals you for an additional 30% of its total value.
Lead from the Front: Chi Burst, Chi Wave, and Expel Harm now leech 20% of damage dealt.

One versus Many: Damage dealt by Fists of Fury and Keg Smash counts as double towards Flurry Charge generation. Fists of Fury damage increased by 10%. Keg Smash damage increased by 30%.

Choice Node: Whirling Steel and Predictive Training

Whirling Steel: When you become injured, summon Whirling Steel, increasing your Parry chance and Avoidance by 15% for 6 seconds.
Predictive Training: When you dodge or parry an attack, reduce damage taken by 10% for the next 6 seconds.

SHADO-PAN ROW 3

Against All Odds: Flurry Strikes increase your Agility by 1% for 6 seconds, stacking up to 20 times.

Efficient Training: Abilities that spend Energy deal an additional 15% damage. Every 50 Energy spent reduces the cooldown of Storm, Earth, Fire, Serenity, and Weapons of Order by 1 second.

Vigilant Watch: Blackout Kick deals an additional 20% critical damage and increases the damage of your next set of Flurry Strikes by 10%.

SHADO-PAN CAPSTONE

Wisdom of the Wall: Every 10 Flurry Strikes, become infused with a Wisdom of the Wall for 20 seconds. Wisdom of the Wall grants the following effects:

Your critical strikes deal an additional 30% damage.
Your Mastery’s effect is increased by 25%.
Versatility now also increases your Dodge and critical strike chance by 25% of its effect.
Flurry Strikes now deal additional Shadow damage to all uncontrolled enemies within 6 yards.

Conduit of the Celestials Monk

Specializations: Mistweaver and Windwalker

Conduits of the Celestials have devoted themselves to the teachings of the four August Celestials so wholeheartedly that they can channel their power outwardly and call upon their assistance regularly in combat. They can become pure conduits of the August Celestial’s power during brief moments, preventing some other actions but empowering them heavily.

CONDUIT OF THE CELESTIALS KEYSTONE

Celestial Conduit: The August Celestials empower you, causing you to radiate Nature damage onto enemies and healing onto up to 5 injured allies within 20 yards over 4 seconds, split evenly among them. Healing and damage increased by 6% per enemy struck, up to 30%. You may move while channeling, but casting other healing or damaging spells cancels this effect. Active ability. 1.5-minute cooldown.

Developer's Note: Celestial Conduit's channel will not break when using defensive, utility, or movement spells.

CONDUIT OF THE CELESTIALS ROW 1

Choice Node: Temple Training and Xuen’s Guidance

Temple Training: The healing of Enveloping Mist and Vivify is increased by 10% (Mistweaver). Fists of Fury and Spinning Crane Kick deal 10% more damage (Windwalker).
Xuen's Guidance: Teachings of the Monastery has a 15% chance to refund a charge when consumed. The damage of Tiger Palm is increased by 30%.

Courage of the White Tiger: Tiger Palm Tiger Palm and Vivify have a 15% chance to cause Xuen to claw a nearby enemy for Physical damage, healing a nearby ally for 15% of the damage done. This chance is increased while Invoke Yu’lon, the Jade Serpent or Invoke Chi-Ji, the Red Crane (Mistweaver) or Invoke Xuen, the White Tiger (Windwalker) is active.

Choice Node: Restore Balance & Yu’lon’s Knowledge

Restore Balance: Gain Refreshing Jade Wind while Chi’Ji the Red Crane or Yu’lon the Jade Serpent is active (Mistweaver). Gain Rushing Jade Wind while Xuen, the White Tiger is active(Windwalker).
Yu'lon's Knowledge: Refreshing Jade Wind’s duration is increased by 10 seconds (Mistweaver). Rushing Jade Wind's duration is increased by 4 seconds and multiple uses may overlap(Windwalker).

CONDUIT OF THE CELESTIALS ROW 2

Heart of the Jade Serpent: Consuming 8 stacks of Sheilun’s Gift causes Yu’lon to decrease the cooldown time of Renewing Mist, Rising Sun Kick, Life Cocoon, and Thunder Focus Tea by 100% for 8 seconds [Mistweaver]. Consuming 30 Chi causes Yu'lon to decrease the cooldown time of Rising Sun Kick, Fists of Fury, Strike of the Windlord, and Whirling Dragon Punch by 100% for 8 seconds (Windwalker).

Developer’s Note: Heart of the Jade Serpent's required stacks to activate for Mistweaver will change to 16 when talented into the Veil of Pride passive.

Strength of the Black Ox: After Xuen assists you, your next Enveloping Mist’s cast time is reduced by 50% and causes Niuzao to grant an absorb shield to 5 nearby allies for 5% of your maximum health (Mistweaver). After Xuen assists you, your next Blackout Kick causes Niuzao to stomp at your target's location, dealing damage to nearby enemies, reduced beyond 5 targets (Windwalker).

Flight of the Red Crane: Refreshing Jade Wind (Mistweaver), Rushing Jade Wind (Windwalker), and Spinning Crane Kick have a chance to cause Chi-Ji to quickly rush to 5 targets, healing each target (Mistweaver) or dealing physical damage to each target struck (Windwalker).

CONDUIT OF THE CELESTIALS ROW 3

Choice Node: Niuzao’s Protection and Jade Sanctuary

Niuzao's Protection: Fortifying Brew grants you an absorb shield for 25% of your maximum health.
Jade Sanctuary: You heal for 10% of your maximum health instantly when you activate Celestial Conduit and receive 15% less damage for its duration.

Chi-Ji's Swiftness: Your movement speed is increased by 25% during Celestial Conduit and for 3 seconds after being assisted by any Celestial.

Choice Node: Inner Compass and August Dynasty

Inner Compass: You switch between alignments after an August Celestial assists you, increasing a corresponding secondary stat by 3%.
- Crane Stance: haste
- Tiger Stance: critical strike
- Ox Stance: Versatility
- Serpent Stance: Mastery
August Dynasty: Casting Jadefire Stomp increases the damage of your next Rising Sun Kick by 30% or healing of your next Vivify by 50% (Mistweaver only).

CONDUIT OF THE CELESTIALS CAPSTONE

Unity Within: Celestial Conduit can be recast once during its duration to call upon all of the August Celestials to assist you at 200% effectiveness. Unity Within is automatically cast when Celestial Conduit ends if not used before its expiration

Farseer Shaman

Specializations: Elemental and Restoration

Harness your spiritual magic, improving your spell casting capabilities and empowering you to call upon ancestors to aid you and your allies in combat.

FARSEER KEYSTONE

Call of the Ancestors: Primordial Wave (Elemental) or Unleash Life (Restoration) calls an Ancestor to your side for 6 seconds. Whenever you cast a healing or damaging spell, the Ancestor will cast a similar spell.

FARSEER ROW 1

Choice Node: Latent Wisdom and Ancient Fellowship

Latent Wisdom: Your Ancestors’ spells are 20% more powerful.
Ancient Fellowship: Ancestors have a 15% chance to call another Ancestor when they expire.

Choice Node: Heed My Call and Routine Communication

Heed My Call: Ancestors last an additional 2 seconds.
Routine Communication: Lava Burst casts have an 8% chance to call an Ancestor (Elemental). Riptide has a 15% chance to call an Ancestor (Restoration).

Elemental Reverb: Lava Burst gains an additional charge and deals 5% increased damage (Elemental). Riptide gains an additional charge and heals for 5% more (Restoration).

FARSEER ROW 2

Offering from Beyond: When an Ancestor is called, they reduce the cooldown of Fire Elemental and Storm Elemental by 10 seconds (Elemental) or Riptide by 2 seconds (Restoration).

Primordial Capacity: Increases your maximum Maelstrom by 25 (Elemental). Increases your maximum mana by 5% (Restoration).

Spiritwalker’s Momentum: Using spells with a cast time increases the duration of Spiritwalker’s Grace and Spiritwalker’s Aegis by 1 second, up to a maximum of 4 seconds.

FARSEER ROW 3

Choice Node: Nature Harmony and Earthen Communion

Natural Harmony: Reduces the cooldown of Nature’s Guardian by 10 seconds and causes it to heal for an additional 5% of your maximum health.
Earthen Communion: Earth Shield has an additional 3 charges and heals you for 25% more.

Maelstrom Supremacy: Increases the damage of Earth Shock, Elemental Blast, and Earthquake by 8% (Elemental). Increases the healing done by Healing Wave, Healing Surge, Wellspring, Downpour, and Chain Heal by 8% (Restoration).

Final Calling: When an Ancestor expires, they cast Elemental Blast on a nearby enemy (Elemental). When an Ancestor expires, they cast Hydrobubble on a nearby injured ally (Restoration).

Hydrobubble: Surrounds your target in a protective water bubble for 10 seconds. The shield absorbs incoming damage, but the absorb amount decays fully over its duration.

FARSEER CAPSTONE

Ancestral Swiftness: Your next healing or damaging spell within 10 seconds is instant and deals 10% increased damage and healing. If you know Nature’s Swiftness, it is replaced by Ancestral Swiftness and causes Ancestral Swiftness to call an Ancestor to your side. Active ability. 45 second cooldown.

Hellcaller Warlock

Specializations: Affliction and Destruction

From darkened corners of Azeroth and to the shattered lands of Outland, Satyrs have spread corruption and summoned hellfire in the name of their masters. Amongst their sects, Hellcallers are the most feared; weaving together the vilest of Shadow magic and entropic fel fire. Following in the footsteps of epochal Hellcallers such as Xavius, Peroth'arn, and Xalan, you now wield their terrible, corruptive magic and may even lose yourself to the same promises of power that consumed them.

HELLCALLER KEYSTONE

Wither: Bestows a vile malediction upon the target, burning the sinew and muscle of its host, dealing Shadowflame damage over 18 seconds. Replaces Corruption (Affliction) or Immolate (Destruction).

HELLCALLER ROW 1

Xalan’s Ferocity: Shadow damage increased by 5%. Fire damage increased by 5%.

Blackened Soul: Your damaging abilities further corrupt enemies affected by your Wither, increasing its stack count by 1. Each time Wither increases it has a chance to become acute, dealing Shadowflame damage to its host every 1 second until 1 stack remains. Wither will always become acute after reaching 8 stacks or when its host reaches 20% health.

Xalan’s Cruelty: Fire critical strike chance increased 10%. Shadow critical strike chance increased 10%.

HELLCALLER ROW 2

Choice Node: Mark of the Legashi and Aura of Enfeeblement

Mark of the Legashi: Curse of Weakness also applies Curse of Tongues.
Aura of Enfeeblement: Enemies within 10 yards are affected by your Curse of Weakness and Curse of Tongues at 75% effectiveness.

Choice Node: Hatefury Rituals and Bleakheart Tactics

Hatefury Rituals: Wither deals 100% increased damage but its duration is 50% shorter.
Bleakheart Tactics: Wither damage increased 15%. When Wither gains a stack from Blackened Soul, it has a chance to gain 1 additional stack.

Choice Node: Zevrim’s Resilience and Illhoof’s Design

Zevrim’s Resilience: When you consume a Healthstone, you also restore 10% of your maximum health as Soul Leech.
Illhoof’s Design: Sacrifice 10% of your maximum health. Soul Leech now absorbs an additional 15% of your maximum health.

HELLCALLER ROW 3

Mark of Xavius: Agony damage increased 10%. Agony is now a combo skill (Affliction). Directly recasting Agony within 2 seconds applies Agony to 1 other nearby enemy. Wither damage increased 10%. Wither is now a combo skill. Directly recasting Wither within 2 seconds applies Wither to 1 other nearby enemy (Destruction).

Cull the Weak: Casting Wither directly or refreshing Wither with less than 4 seconds remaining causes Wither to gain 3 stacks.

Mark of Peroth’arn: Blackened Soul deals 5% increased damage per stack of Wither (Affliction). Agony deals damage 10% faster. Wither deals damage 10% faster (Destruction).

HELLCALLER CAPSTONE

Malevolence: Dark magic erupts from you and corrupts your soul for 20 seconds, causing enemies suffering from your Wither to take Shadowflame damage and increase its stack count by 3 (Affliction). While corrupted, your active Withers are acute, your haste is increased by 10%, and Malefic Rapture grants 1 additional stack of Wither to targets affected by Unstable Affliction. While corrupted, your active Withers are acute, your haste is increased by 10%, and Chaos Bolt grants 1 additional stack of Wither (Destruction).

Slayer Warrior

Specializations: Arms and Fury

A Slayer has one goal: the execution of their chosen target, and woe betide any who stand between the Slayer and their prey. Slayers are unrelenting in their pursuit and attacks, overwhelming their foes with a furious, unending onslaught of steel. When a Slayer has you in their sights, your days are numbered.

SLAYER KEYSTONE

Slayer’s Dominance: Your attacks have a high chance to overwhelm your target's defenses and trigger a Slayer's Strike, dealing low damage and applying Marked for Execution, increasing the damage they take from your next Execute by 10%. Stacks 3 times.

SLAYER ROW 1

Imminent Demise: Sudden Death's chance to reset the cooldown of Execute and make it usable on any target, regardless of health is increased.

Using Sudden Death accelerates your next Bladestorm, striking 1 additional time (max 3). Bladestorm's total duration is unchanged.

Overwhelming Blades: Each strike of Bladestorm applies Overwhelmed to all enemies affected, increasing damage taken by 1% for 10 seconds.

Developer’s Note: Fury will have access to Bladestorm via specialization talents in The War Within.

Choice Node: Relentless Pursuit and Vicious Agility

Relentless Pursuit: Charge removes all movement impairing effects and grants you 70% movement speed for 3 seconds.
Vicious Agility: Heroic Leap reduces the cooldown of Charge by 5 seconds and Charge reduces the cooldown of Heroic Leap by 5 seconds.

SLAYER ROW 2

Death Drive: You heal for 50% of damage dealt by Sudden Death.

Choice Node: Slayer Reflexes and Constant Pressure

Slayer Reflexes: Slayer's Strikes have a chance to reset the cooldown of Bloodthirst and Overpower.
Constant Pressure: Cooldown of Overpower reduced by 10% (Arms). Cooldown of Bloodthirst reduced by 10% (Fury).

Choice Node: Tunnel Vision and Thrill of the Kill

Tunnel Vision: Your auto-attack speed increases while you are in combat. Changing targets resets this effect.
Thrill of the Kill: Execute increases your auto-attack speed for 10 seconds.

SLAYER ROW 3

Slay: Marked for Execution increases the critical strike chance and critical strike Damage of your next Execute on the target by 5%.

Frenetic Flurry: Overpower (Arms) and Bloodthirst (Fury) have a chance to cause you to unleash a brief Bladestorm, striking all enemies around you once. You can now use Pummel and Storm Bolt while Bladestorming.

Slayer’s Focus: Overpower cooldown reduced by 10% (Arms). Bloodthirst cooldown reduced by 10% (Fury).

SLAYER CAPSTONE

Unrelenting Onslaught: When you Execute a target that you've Marked for Execution, reduce the cooldown of Bladestorm by 5 seconds per stack of Marked for Execution and apply stacks of Overwhelmed equal to the number of stacks of Marked for Execution the target had.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts and sharing more as we progress.

Visit our first, second, and third preview articles to learn more about additional Hero Talents in development.

Luname · March 15

Quote

On a Paler Horse: While outdoors you are able to mount your Acherus Deathcharger in combat.

This is everything I`ve ever wanted. This is class fantasy.

March 15

Won't lie, I'm kind of disappointed with the DK trees. Especially the rider of the apocalypse one. I was hoping there'd be a necromancer theme to at least one of the trees but none of them fit that.

March 15

2 hours ago, Luname said:

This is everything I`ve ever wanted. This is class fantasy.

But you can only use that outside so in specific areas of raids and dungeons or in pvp are the only places this will have an impact.

SidonisAntares · March 16

Tbh this whole thing seems like combining Cataclysm and Pandaria systems with a smattering of roleplay.

Syrick · March 16

Demon Hunter - Omg another damn short duration debuff we need to plan around. Initiative (5 sec) Unbound Chaos (12 sec) Inertia Inertia (5 sec) Essence Break (4 sec) and the regular spells to weave in-between, and now we're getting another 5 second second debuff to watch? Not to mention the inevitable watching for 3 charges before using throw glaive to ensure it's going to be the enhanced version, and watching another buff now with Thrill of the Fight.

Regardless on whether I'm bad at the game or not, I'm exhausted from staring at buffs waiting for them to align before using spells, and this tree isn't even interesting.

It's either the changes are making the class more annoying to play because it's adding another frustrating-to-use mechanic, or your rotation shouldn't change at all and therefore it's a boring tree that doesn't enhance the gameplay.

March 16

7 hours ago, Syrick said:

Demon Hunter - Omg another damn short duration debuff we need to plan around. Initiative (5 sec) Unbound Chaos (12 sec) Inertia (5 sec) Essence Break (4 sec) and the regular spells to weave in-between, and now we're getting another 5 second second debuff to watch? Not to mention the inevitable watching for 3 charges before using throw glaive to ensure it's going to be the enhanced version, and watching another buff now with Thrill of the Fight.

Regardless on whether I'm bad at the game or not, I'm exhausted from staring at buffs waiting for them to align before using spells, and this tree isn't even interesting.

It's either the changes are making the class more annoying to play because it's adding another frustrating-to-use mechanic, or your rotation shouldn't change at all and therefore it's a boring tree that doesn't enhance the gameplay.

Yeah, this is pretty much why I refuse to play DH. Too much micromanaging buffs, I'll just stick to demo lock where the most complicated thing I have to do is make sure to have all my cooldown demons out before using Tyrant.

Arcling · March 16

Yeah, I'm not going to say anything new here. I still have mixed opinions about these. They had good opportunity to introduce something fun and purely cosmetic, but we are getting more mess that's going to be difficult to balance. Also some names are pretty dull, like Spellslinger. Spellslinging sounds very generic, isn't this what pretty much anyone who knows any kind of magic does? As others above have mentioned, there also more small buffs to manage. Great! Just what we needed! /s

March 16

22 minutes ago, Arcling said:

Yeah, I'm not going to say anything new here. I still have mixed opinions about these. They had good opportunity to introduce something fun and purely cosmetic, but we are getting more mess that's going to be difficult to balance. Also some names are pretty dull, like Spellslinger. Spellslinging sounds very generic, isn't this what pretty much anyone who knows any kind of magic does? As others above have mentioned, there also more small buffs to manage. Great! Just what we needed! /s

Honestly, I'm getting covenant vibes from this whole thing

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