WoW Dragonflight alpha patch notes: Monk revamp, new factions

The World of Warcraft Dragonflighta alpha patch notes are continually changing, as Blizzard are rolling out multiple tests for the next chapter in one of the best MMORPG‘s storylines. Here’s a rundown of the current developmental notes for WoW Dragonflight.

As players from across Azeroth take their first steps into World of Warcraft Dragonflight’s spectacular Dragon Isles, there’s a lot to get excited about. Currently available in alpha form, players have been able to customise their own Dracthyr, Dragonride, and truly push the game to its limits.

Taking a new approach to testing, Blizzard are rolling out a series of alphas focusing on different zones in order to get more streamlined feedback. With each alpha taking us to a new corner of this mysterious continent, as well as introducing swathes of changes to pre-existing classes and professions, there’s a lot to keep on top of.

Luckily, we’re here to do it for you. Below is a breakdown of what’s going on with the current alpha; from the zones that are available to updates on your favorite classes. Here are the full WoW Dragonflight alpha patch notes.

New Zone: Ohn’ahran Plains

A new race means a new starting zone, and The Forbidden Reach happens to be the home of the Dracthyr, WoW Dragonflight’s draconic race that also happen to be a class of their own.

Players will have to recreate their character from scratch an start at any level (Dracthyr included), with level 70 being the alpha’s cap. Templates are available if you don’t want to waste time creating another character, so you’ll be able to dive in relatively quickly.

As this is the final alpha test, all levelling zones are available for preview, meaning that if you missed out on one during your travels you’ll be able to check it out.

New Dungeons:

All of the dungeons from previous tests will be available alongside the newest addition to the pool, The Nokhud Offensive. Players will be able to find dungeons using the Dungeon Finder tool – so grab some friends and get ready for the fight of a lifetime!

Monk revamp

Throughout the first alpha test Blizzard committed to a series of different talent tree revamps for the likes of Hunters and Death Knights, but last on the extensive class list is the Monk revamp.

All three specs (Brewmaster, Mistweaver, and Windwalker) all have a series of different changes, allowing you to fully engage with that spec’s unique gameplay model. Brewmasters can go more brew-heavy or, alternatively, channel their inner martial artist, whereas Mistweaver sees the return of old talents, Zen Pulse and Ancient Concordance.

WoW Dragonflight Alpha: Patch notes

Below are the full patch notes for the latest instalment in WoW Dragonflight’s alpha testing saga, courtesy of Activision Blizzard.

NEW FEATURES

New Race and Class: Dracthyr Evoker
The Renewed Proto-Drake is now customizable in the Rostrum of Transformation.
User Interface HUD Revamp

Dragonriding

The Dragonriding Talent Tree is now available.
Dragonriding now features advanced turning tech that helps the drakes feel more weighty and turning more of a decision.
While boosted to very fast speeds, new tech will adjust the camera’s field-of-view. This can be disabled with the “Reduce Camera Motion” option inside the “Motion Sickness” section of the “Accessibility” menu.
When running into objects and walls, velocity is now lost based on angle and collision duration.
Dragon Glyphs are hidden throughout the skies over the Waking Shores! Fly through them to unlock achievements.
The Dragonriding Skill Track is now accessible at the dragonriding trainer Lithragosa located in Skytop Observatory.
- Not all skills are displayed or implemented, but the player may earn points by collecting Dragon Glyphs and spend them for progression.

FOUR MAJOR FACTIONS

Major Factions are a new way of experiencing outdoor progression – an iteration on previous reputation-based gameplay. Participating in content throughout the Dragon Isles grants reputation toward these Major Factions. Earning reputation unlocks renown ranks. Each Major Faction’s progression is different, with content fitting a variety of playstyles. Importantly, major factions are not exclusive – you can be a member of all four factions at once.
VALDRAKKEN ACCORD – The faction of the unified dragon flights working together in harmony for the protection of the Dragon Isles.
- Professions: A variety of activities, Work Orders, and exploration catered towards professions and progression within the system.
- Dragon Racing: Complete races on your dragon for glory and renown
- Outdoor Elite locations: Cobalt Assembly, Obsidian Citadel, Tyrhold
- Lay siege to the Djaradin of Dragonbane Keep within the Waking Shores
DRAGONSCALE EXPEDITION – The Explorers’ League and Reliquary have come together and formed this expedition to explore the Dragon Isles.
- Discover treasure maps scattered throughout the Dragon Isles
- Lots of Treasures, unique minigame-style World Quests (Climbing, Cataloging)
- Progression
  - Expedition Supply Kit: Unlock bonuses for climbing and cataloging. Unlock tools to help find treasure and mark your discovery of areas in the world.
ISKAARA TUSKARR – Become a member of the Iskaara Tuskarr, a tribe renowned for their skills in fishing and feasting.
- Fishing: New ways to fish. Unlock fishing holes. Fish in 3 difficult and unique biomes. Fish up lunkers with friends using harpoons. Collect fish offline with a net.
- Contribute to a Tuskarr Feast at the village in Iskaara. Complete the event to reward hungry adventurers!
- Outdoor Elite locations: Imbu, Brackenhide Hollow
- Progression
  - Fishing Work Bench: Gather reagents for tuskarr craftsmen to improve the capability of harpoons, nets, and biome fishing.
MARUUK CENTAUR – The faction for the unified centaur clans across the Ohn’ahran Plains.
- Join a hunt among the Maruuk centaur and your closest allies as you traverse the zones within the Dragon Isles
- Explore the nomadic lifestyle of Clan Aylaag as their caravan makes its way across the Ohn’ahran Plains. With each stop comes a new adventure, quests, rewards, and more!
- Progression
  - Train with the Shikaar clan to prepare yourself for the hunt!

NEW ZONES

All levelling zones available
The Forbidden Reach

Current DUNGEONS

Neltharus
Uldaman: Legacy of Tyr
Ruby Life Pools
The Azure Vault
Brackenhide Hollow
The Nokhud Offensive

CHARACTER LEVEL

Level 58 Dracthyr Template (The Forbidden Reach starting experience)
Any Level Character Template
Maximum Level: 70

CLASSES

Mage, Priest, and Rogue available for all races
TALENT REVAMP
- Death Knight
- Druid
- Hunter
- Priest
- Rogue
- Shaman
- Mage
- Monk
  - Developers’ note: In today’s build, you’ll see an early-access version of the Monk talent trees. Our goal with the class tree is to allow a player to construct different visions of their character and play with the hybrid nature and cheerful mobility that exemplifies a Monk. For Brewmaster, our primary goal was to allow players the flexibility to lean into different flavors – to emphasize a brew-heavy playstyle, or go the way of the wily martial arts master – while also providing situationally-interesting decisions for survivability. For Mistweaver, we want to offer support for both the caster and melee playstyles while maintaining a variety of choices for both builds. We also wanted to take a look at Mistweaver’s multi-target damage profile through returning and new talents such as Zen Pulse and Ancient Concordance. And for Windwalkers, we wanted to allow players the flexibility to focus on different styles of damage dealing, as well as offering opportunities to customize their ability loadout in ways that bring back old friends or lean into focus on specific abilities. We’re excited for Monks to be joining the Dragonflight Alpha and we look forward to hearing your feedback!
- Paladin
- Warlock
- Warrior

PLAYER VERSUS PLAYER

Rated Arena solo queue
- Observant Alpha testers will notice that there is now a Solo Rated PvP option in the Player vs. Player UI. Players will not be able to queue for this mode yet as its still being worked on, but we will have more information to share in a later build.

PROFESSIONS

Alchemy
Blacksmithing
Cooking
Engineering
Inscription
Jewelcrafting
Leatherworking
Skinning
Tailoring

Specializations
- Developers’ note: In this Alpha build, Alchemy and Blacksmithing Professions now have their Specializations enabled. Unlocking Specializations requires 25 skill in that Profession. Once unlocked, players can spend Specialization points to unlock various bonuses for their Profession. Below are a few Specialization paths for Alchemy and Blacksmithing:
  - Potion Mastery – Improve at crafting potions and related alchemist stones, gaining +1 Crafting Skill per point in this specialization.
    - Batch Production – Master the art of producing potions more efficiently, gaining +1 Multicraft per point in this specialization.
  - Weaponsmithing – Improve at making weapons and large tools, gaining +1 Crafting Skill per point in this Specialization.
    - Long Blades – Improve at making long bladed weapons and tools such as swords, glaives and sickles, gaining +1 Crafting Skill per point in this Specialization.
  - Engineering
    - Explosives – Improve in the production of bombs of all types, gaining +1 Skill when crafting bombs per point in this specialization.
      - Short Fuse – Specialize in the creation and use of bombs without safety fuses. Gain +1 Skill when crafting bombs in this specialization.
    - Optimized Efficiency – Specialize in the general precautions and techniques that are invaluable skills for all Engineers. Gain +1 Skill to all engineering crafts per point in this specialization.
      - Scrapper – Specialize in making the most of seemingly useless junk. Gain +5 Multicraft for all Engineering crafts per point in this specialization.
  - Jewelcrafting
    - Faceting — Improve at cutting gems, gaining + 1 Crafting Skill for all gem cuts per point in this specialization.
      - Fire — Improve at cutting gems with fire, gaining +1 Crafting Skill for all fire cuts per point in this specialization.
    - Enterprising — Improve in the business of jewelcrafting, gaining +1 Crafting Skill for miscellaneous crafts per point in this specialization.
      - Prospecting — Improve in the delicate task of prospecting to increase yield and efficiency, gaining +1 Resourcefulness when prospecting per point in this specialization.
  - Leatherworking
    - Chain Armor Crafting — Improve at making mail armor, gaining +1 Crafting Skill per point in this specialization.
      - Intricate Chain — Improve at making intricate chain armor for the hands, feet, shoulders and waist, gaining + 1 Crafting Skill per point in this specialization.
    - Primordial Leatherworking — Improve at Primordial Leatherworking, gaining + 1 Crafting Skill when crafting elemental, bestial, and decay Leatherworking patters per point in this specialization.
      - Decaying Grasp — Improve at crafting decay patterns, gaining + 1 Crafting Skill per point in this specialization.
  - Skinning
    - Bait Crafter — Improve your skinning efficiency, gaining +1 Finesse while skinning in the Dragon Isles per point in the Specialization.
      - Elemental Infusion — Hone your eye for detail, gaining +1 Perception while skinning in the Dragon Isles per point in the Specialization.
    - Tanning — Improve your capabilities at gathering general materials from creatures, gaining +1 Skill while skinning in the Dragon Isles per point in the Specialization.
      - Leather Mastery — Bolster your knowledge of leather skinning, gaining +1 Skill while skinning leather creatures in the Dragon Isles per point in the Specialization.
    - Tailoring
      - Draconic Needlework – Source the magic of the Dragon Isles to craft exceptional clothwear with reagents such as Azureweave and Chronocloth, gaining +1 Skill per point in this specialization.
        
        Azureweave Tailoring – Focus on the Arcane nature of the Blue Dragonflight in your tailoring, gaining +1 Skill per point in this specialization when making and using Azureweave.
      - Garmentcrafting – Improve at tailoring Cloth Armor to take on the most powerful foes in the Dragon Isles, gaining +1 Skill per point in this specialization.
        
        Outerwear – Improve at tailoring the major aspects of an outfit, such as Chest and Leg pieces of armor, gaining +1 Skill per point in this specializations.

If you’re looking to dive into the wonderful world of the Dragon Isles, be sure to check out our WoW Dragonflight alpha preview for some pointers, and download the best WoW addons to help you on your quest.