World of Warcraft patch 7.1.5: Brawler’s Guild, micro-holidays, class changes and more

World of Warcraft patch 7.1.5

World of Warcraft patch 7.1.5, Legion’s first small-ish patch, is now on the PTR undergoing testing. We’ve gathered every bit of information we can about it below, from datamining to announcements, trailers and official notes. Read on for all that and more.

Looking for the latest news on the game? Read about the WoW guilds banned for exploiting Helya.

First up, here’s the major patch headlines:

  • Brawler’s Guild Returns for season three with a large batch of new challenges.
  • Pandaria time-walking brings the expansion’s dungeons to the fore once again, along with a new vendor.
  • Micro-holidays are one-day events that reward little to no long-lasting benefit, but give players something new to do for 24 hours.
  • The first major balance pass on all classes

And now, details.

WoW Patch 7.1.5 release date

WoW patch 7.1.5’s release date is set for Tuesday, January 10 in the US, January 11 in the EU, adding a new Timewalking event, Micro-Holidays, the return of the Brawlers’ Guild and plenty more.

Here’s a new video breaking it all down:

WoW Patch 7.1.5 Q&A

A post-BlizzCon Q&A was ran with some more tidbits on 7.1.5. Here’s the archive:

A second Q&A was ran in early December, focusing on class-specific questions:

There will be a third Q&A on Thursday, January 12, just after the patch launches in both regions.

WoW Patch 7.1.5 balance changes

All the numbers from WoW’s first major balance patch. Community manager Josh “Lore” Allen has stated that the below changes, as posted on the official site, are unfinished and will be updated soon.

Patch 7.1.5 class changes

Death Knight

Death Knight balance changes

  • Blood
    • Blood Tap recharge time reduction per Bone Shield charge consumed increased to 2 seconds (was 1 second).
    • Bloodworms’ healing per bloodworm increased to 15% of max HP (was 5%).
    • Blooddrinker total health leech increased by 130%.
    • Bone Shield charges are now only consumed by melee attacks and Spectral Deflection.
    • Bonestorm heal increased to 2% (was 1%).
    • Gorefiend’s Grasp cooldown now 2 minutes (was 3 minutes).
    • Heartbreaker bonus Runic Power per target hit reduced to 2 (was 3).
    • March of the Damned duration bonus increased to 100% (was 50%).
    • Mark of Blood heal increased to 3% (was 2%).
    • Purgatory cooldown now 4 minutes (was 3 minutes). This cooldown resets on death.
    • Purgatory now always lasts 3 seconds after it activates, even if you briefly go into positive health.
    • Rapid Decomposition now causes Death and Decay to deal damage 15% more often (was 50%), and Runic Power generation changed to 1 per second (was 15% more).
    • Rune Tap damage reduction increased to 40% (was 25%).
    • Tightening Grasp cooldown reduction to Gorefiend’s Grasp is now 30 seconds (was 60 seconds).
    • Tombstone consumes a maximum of 5 stacks of Bone Shield, and now provides 6 Runic Power and absorb damage equal to 6% of your maximum health (was 3 Runic Power and 3% of health).
    • Vampiric Blood now increases incoming absorbs as well as heals.
    • Will of the Necropolis damage reduction increased to 35% (was 20%).
  • Frost
    • Abomination’s Might chance increased to 20% (was 10%).
    • Breath of Sindragosa damage increased by 64%.
    • Freezing Fog damage bonus increased to 30% (was 25%).
    • Gathering Storm damage increased per stack increased to 15% (was 10%).
    • Horn of Winter runic power gain increased to 20 (was 10).
    • Hungering Rune Weapon duration increased to 15 seconds (was 12 seconds).
    • Murderous Efficiency chance increased to 65% (was 50%).
    • Volatile Shielding damage school changed from Arcane to Shadow.
    • White Walker damage reduction increased to 30% (was 20%), and slow efffect increased to 70% (was 50%).
  • Unholy
    • The damage done by many Unholy spells has been increased by 6%.
    • All Will Serve damage increased by 15%.
    • Army of the Dead and Apocalypse ghouls damage has been increased.
    • Blighted Rune Weapon number of auto attacks affected increased to 5 (was 4).
    • Clawing Shadows damage increased by 20%.
    • Dark Arbiter cooldown reduced to 2 minutes (was 3 minutes).
    • Death Coil damage increased by 17%.
    • Defile damage increased by 20%, and Mastery per stack increased to 300 (was 200).
    • Ebon Fever now also causes Virulent Plague to deal 20% more damage over time.
    • Necrosis damage bonus increased to 40% (was 35%).
    • Pestilent Pustules triggers every 8 runes (was 6).
    • Portal to the Underworld damage increased by 33%.
    • Runic Corruption now has a 1% chance to proc per Runic Power spent (was a 1.25% chance).
    • Unholy Frenzy duration increased to 2.5 seconds (was 2 seconds), and the cap on extending it increased to 25 seconds (was 10 seconds). Buff now cancels on encounter start.

Demon Hunter

Demon Hunter balance changes

  • Havoc
    • The damage done by most Havoc spells has been increased by 10%.
    • Annihilation and Chaos Strike damage have been slightly increased.
    • Blind Fury now restores 35 Fury per second while channeling Eye Beam, in addition to increasing the duration.
    • Chaos Cleave now hits all nearby enemies, including the original target, for 10% of the damage it inflicts.
    • Demon Blades proc chance reduced to 60% (was 75%).
    • Demonic Appetite now has a 25% chance to create a Lesser Soul Fragment with no cooldown (was a 50% chance, 15 second cooldown). Consuming a Soul Fragment generates 35 Fury (was 30). Lesser Soul Fragments now spawn to the left or right of the Demon Hunter.
    • Demonic now lasts 8 seconds (was 5 seconds).
    • Desperate Instincts no longer replaces Blur, and now increases the damage reduction effect by an additional 15%.
    • Fel Barrage damage increased by 20%.
    • Fel Eruption damage increased by 30%, cooldown reduced to 30 seconds (was 35 seconds), and the Fury cost has been reduced to 10 (was 20).
    • Felblade’s cooldown resets 50% more often from Demon’s Bite.
    • First Blood bonus damage increased to 300% (was 200%).
    • Mastery: Demonic Presence now increases Chaos damage by 11.2% (was 8%), and per-Mastery amount increased accordingly.
    • Nemesis damage bonus increased to 25%.
    • Netherwalk no longer replaces Blur. Cooldown increased to 2 minutes (was 1.5 minutes).
    • Soul Rending leech reduced to 70% (was 100%).
  • Vengeance
    • The damage done by most Vengeance spells has been increased by 9%.
    • Abyssal Strike now reduces the cooldown of Infernal Strike by 8 seconds (was 5 seconds).
    • Agonizing Flames increases the damage of Immolation Aura by 20% (was 30%).
    • Blade Turning increases the Pain generation of Shear and Sever by 70% (was 50%).
    • Burning Alive’s Fiery Brand will now continue spreading from any target that has it, even if the initial primary target dies.
    • Demon Spikes now reduces physical damage by 10% (was 20%).
    • Demonic Wards now increases Stamina by 55% (was 45%).
    • Demonic Wards now reduces all damage taken by 10% (was only magic damage).
    • Fracture now costs 20 Pain (was 40 Pain).
    • Last Resort cooldown now 8 minutes (was 3 minutes). This cooldown resets on death.
    • Metamorphosis now also increases armor by 100%.
    • Metamorphosis overrides Shear with Sever, which deals 20% more damage than Shear and always creates a Lesser Soul Fragment.
    • Nether Bond has been removed.
    • New talent at level 110: Demonic Infusion
      • Draw from the power of the Twisting Nether to instantly activate and then refill your charges of Demon Spikes.
      • Generates 60 Pain.
      • Instant cast, with a 2 minute cooldown.
    • Razor Spikes increases your Physical damage by 30% while Demon Spikes is active (was 20%).
    • Sigil of Chains cooldown now 90 seconds (was 60 seconds).
    • Soul Barrier now:
      • Costs 10 Pain (was 30 Pain).
      • 30 second cooldown (was 20 seconds).
      • Base absorb (before fragments) and minimum absorb both increased by 50%.
    • Spirit Bomb now deals Fire damage (was Shadow).
    • Spirit Bomb’s Frailty now lasts 20 seconds (was 15 seconds), and heals the Demon Hunter for 20% of damage they deal to the target (was 15%).

Druid

Druid balance changes

  • Displacer Beast speed increase duration now 2 seconds (was 4 seconds).
  • Mass Entanglement duration now 30 seconds (was 20 seconds).
  • Renewal cooldown reduced to 90 seconds (was 120 seconds).
  • Balance
    • The damage done by most Balance spells has been increased by 4%.
    • Echoing Stars (Artifact Trait) damage increased by 20%.
    • Fury of Elune damage increased by 17%.
    • Mastery: Starlight now increases Empowerment effects by 18% (was 16%), and per-Mastery amount increased accordingly.
    • Rapid Innervation now gives 10% haste (was 20%).
    • Shooting Stars damage increased by 31%.
    • Soul of the Forest now increases Empowerments by 20% (was 15%) and reduces Starfall cost by 20 (was 10).
    • Stellar Drift increases Starfall damage by 60% (was 20%).
    • Stellar Flare cost reduced to 10 astral power (was 15), direct damage increased by 25% and damage over time increased by 23%.
    • Warrior of Elune now affect 3 Lunar Strikes (was 2).
  • Feral
    • The damage done by most Feral abilities has been increased by 8%.
    • Brutal Slash now has a 12 second recharge (was 18 seconds).
    • Elune’s Guidance now has a duration of 8 seconds (was 5 seconds).
    • Incarnation now reduces energy costs by 60% (was 50%).
    • Infected Wounds now reduces movement speed by 30% (was 50%).
    • Maim damage increased by 75%.
    • Moment of Clarity now increases damage of affected spells by 15%.
    • Moment of Clarity now only affects Shred, Thrash, and Swipe.
    • Razor Fangs now increase the damage dealt by Rip by 4% per point (was 7%).
    • Soul of the Forest now grants 15 energy per combo point (was 12).
  • Guardian
    • The damage done by most Guardian spells has been increased by 4%.
    • Bear Form auto-attacks now generate 7 Rage (was 7.875 Rage).
    • Incarnation now additionally increases armor by 15%.
    • Ironfur now provides an 80% increase in armor (was 100%).
    • Galactic Guardian now generates 8 Rage (was 10).
    • Gory Fur now reduces Rage cost by 25% (was 50%).
    • Mangle now generates 5 Rage (was 6).
    • Pulverize now deals 850% physical damage (was 567%).
    • Pulverize now reduces damage taken by 9% (was 8%).
    • Soul of the Forest now causes Mangle to generate 7 more rage (was 5) and deal 25% additional damage (was 15%).
    • New talent for Guardian at level 30, replacing Displacer Beast: Intimidating Roar.
      • Replaces Incapacitating Roar with a version that now fears rather than incapacitates.
  • Restoration
    • Moment of Clarity no longer increases maximum Energy.
    • Moment of Clarity now increases healing of affected spells by 15%.
    • Power of the Archdruid radius increased to 20 yards (was 15 yards).

Hunter

Hunter balance changes

  • Barrage no longer requires a target, and no longer deals extra damage to one target.
  • Tar Trap and Freezing Trap are now available to all Hunters.
  • Beast Mastery
    • The damage done by most Beast Mastery spells has been increased by 9%.
    • Aspect of the Beast ferocity damage increased by 100% and tenacity damage reduction increased from 15% to 30%.
    • Barrage damage increased by 80% for Beast Mastery only.
    • Big Game Hunter critical strike chance bonus increased to 60% (was 50%).
    • Blink Strikes damage bonus increased to 100% (was 50%).
    • Chimaera Shot damage increased by 60%.
    • Dire Frenzy cooldown reduced to 12 seconds (was 15 seconds).
    • Farstrider chance increased to 15% (was 10%).
    • Hati base movement speed increased by 14% in all forms.
    • Multi-Shot damage increased by 50%.
    • One with the Pack chance bonus increased to 30% (was 15%).
    • Stampede damage increased by 15%.
    • Volley damage increased by 50% for Beast Mastery only.
    • Way of the Cobra damage bonus increased to 10% (was 8%).
  • Marksmanship
    • Aimed Shot damage increased by 35%.
    • Aimed Shot now deals 100% increased damage against targets you have not yet attacked.
    • Arcane Shot now damages for 200% of weapon damage (was 130%).
    • Black Arrow now costs 10 Focus (was 40).
    • Bursting Shot damage increased by 50%.
    • Explosive Shot now costs 20 Focus (was 0).
    • Hunter’s Mark proc rate increased to approximately 6.5 procs per minute (was 5).
    • Marked Shot damage increased to 550% (was 250%)
    • Multi-Shot damage increased by 50%.
    • Patient Sniper now causes the bonus provided by your Vulnerable to increase by 10% every 1 second.
    • Piercing Shot damage decreased to 500% (was 675%).
    • Piercing Shot is now affected by Vulnerable.
    • Sentinel now has a 60 second cooldown, spawns a Sentinel that marks all targets immediately and every 6 seconds for 18 seconds.
    • Sidewinders now generates 35 Focus (was 50).
    • Steady Focus now activates after 2 casts of Arcane Shot or Multi-Shot in a row (was 3).
    • True Aim now stacks up to 10 times (was 8).
    • Vulnerable no longer affects Marked Shot.
    • Vulnerable now has a 7 second duration, provides a 100% bonus to damage, and does not stack.
  • Survival
    • The damage done by most Survival spells has been increased by 12%.
    • New passive ability at level 44: Waylay.
      • After 2 seconds, your Traps become fully armed, making them especially devastating.
      • Freezing Trap will not break due to damage for the first 4 seconds.
      • Tar Trap reduces enemies’ movement speed by 70% for the first 4 seconds.
      • Explosive Trap staggers the target, causing them to miss their next melee attack.
      • Steel Trap deals 500% increased damage if triggered by an enemy that is not in combat.
    • Improved Traps replaced with Guerrilla Tactics, increasing Explosive Trap damage by 50% and additionally improving Waylay’s bonuses to:
      • Freezing Trap will not break due to damage for the first 6 seconds.
      • Tar Trap reduces enemies’ movement speed by 90% for the first 4 seconds.
      • Explosive Trap causes the target to miss their next two melee attacks.
    • Aspect of the Beast ferocity damage increased by 100% and tenacity damage reduction increased from 15% to 30%.
    • Butchery damage increased to 620% (was 518%) and recharge is now 12 seconds (was 15 seconds).
    • Caltrops damage increased to 50% (was 25%).
    • Explosive Trap is now a targeted ability with a 40-yard range.
    • Farstrider talent replaced with Disengage.
    • Lacerate no longer has a cooldown.
    • Serpent Sting damage increased to 115% (was 87%).
    • Snake Hunter cooldown is now 120 seconds (was 90 seconds)
    • Spitting Cobra damage increased to 100% (was 20%).
    • Sticky Bomb cooldown is now 25 seconds (was 30 seconds) and delay 2 seconds (was 3 seconds).
    • Way of the Mok’Nathal now increases your attack power for 10 seconds (was 8).

Mage

Mage balance changes

  • Ice Block’s cooldown is now 4 minutes (was 5 minutes).
  • Rune of Power damage bonus is now 40% (was 50%).
  • Arcane
    • The damage done by most Arcane spells has been increased by 12%.
    • Arcane Orb damage has been increased by 477%.
    • Mage Armor removed.
    • Mana Shield trait renamed Force Barrier: Increases Prismatic Barrier size by 20/40/60%.
    • Nether Tempest damage reduced by 15%.
    • Overpowered now increases Arcane Power’s damage bonus and mana reduction to 70%.
    • Presence of Mind is now available at level 54, and is no longer a talent.
    • Supernova damage reduced by 10%.
    • Unstable Magic activate chance is now 20% (was 15%).
    • New talent at level 15: Amplification
      • Arcane Charges increase the damage of Arcane Missles by an additional 15%.
    • New spell at level 26, replacing Ice Barrier: Prismatic Barrier
      • Shields you for 1 minute, absorbing damage, reducing magical damage taken, and reducing the duration of all harmful Magic effects against you.
    • New talent at level 30, replacing Cold Snap: Mana Shield.
      • Prismatic Barrier has no cooldown, but drains your mana for 50% of the damage it absorbs.
    • New talent at level 30, replacing Cauterize: Slipstream.
      • Arcane Missiles and Evocation can be channeled while moving.
    • New talent at level 75, replacing Ice Floes: Chrono Shift
      • Arcane Barrage slows enemies by 50%, increases your speed by 50%, and has a duration of 5 seconds.
    • New talent at level 100, replacing Quickening: Temporal Flux
      • Arcane Blast’s cast time is reduced by 5% for each Arcane Charge.
  • Fire
    • The damage done by most Fire spells has been increased by 27%.
    • Aftershocks damage increased to 39% (was 34.5%).
    • Blast Wave moved to level 30, replacing Cauterize.
    • Cauterize is now available at level 52.
    • Cauterize cooldown is now 5 minutes (was 2 minutes). This cooldown resets on death.
    • Combustion adds mastery equal to 50% of your Critical Strike (was 100%).
    • Controlled Burn chance is now 20% (was 10%).
    • Critical Mass now learned at level 10 and gives a +15% chance to critically strike with spells. At level 65, also increases Critical Strike rating from gear by 10%.
    • Firestarter now causes both Fireball and Pyroblast to deal a critical strike when the target is above 90% health (was 85%).
    • Flame On is now passive, reduces Fireblast recharge by 2 seconds (was 3), and increases its maximum charges by 1.
    • Meteor initial damage increased by 95%, and damage over time increased by 86%.
    • Mirror Images’ Fireball damage increased by 122%.
    • Molten Armor removed.
    • New spell for Fire Mage at level 26: Blazing Barrier
      • Absorbs the next 700% of spell power damage you take.
      • Melee attacks against you deal 50% of spell power damage to the attacker.
      • 30 second cooldown.
    • Molten Skin trait now causes Blazing Barrier to reduce physical damage taken by 5/10/15%.
    • New talent available at level 30, replacing Cold Snap: Blazing Soul
      • Dealing Fire damage to targets within 8 yards of you refills your Blazing Barrier for 40% of the damage dealt.
    • New talent available at level 60, replacing Blast Wave: Alexstrasza’s Fury
      • Dragon’s Breath always critically strikes and contributes to Hot Streak.
    • New Talent available at level 75, replacing Ice Floes: Frenetic Speed
      • Casting Scorch increases your movement speed by 30% for 3 seconds.
    • Pyretic Incantation increases damage by 2%/stack (was 5%).
  • Frost
    • The damage done by most Frost spells has been increased by 12%.
    • New talent available at level 30, replacing Cold Snap: Glacial Insulation.
      • Ice Barrier increases your armor by 100% while active, and Ice Block applies Ice Barrier to you when it fades.
    • Cold Snap is now learned at level 52, and has been redesigned:
      • Finishes the cooldown of your Frost Nova, Cone of Cold, Ice Barrier, and Ice Block, with a 5-minute cooldown.
    • New talent available at level 75, replacing Ice Floes: Frigid Winds.
      • Your chilling effects snare enemies by an additional 15%.
    • At level 63, Blizzard (Rank 2) now causes the cooldown of Frozen Orb to be reduced by 0.5 seconds each time Blizzard does damage.
    • Blizzard no longer activates Fingers of Frost.
    • Chain Reaction now increases the damage of Ice Lance by 10%/stack (was 20%).
    • Cone of Cold damage increased by 99%.
    • Ebonbolt damage increased by 22% and now grants Brain Freeze (was Fingers of Frost).
    • Frost Armor has been removed.
    • Frostbolt damage reduced by 17%.
    • Frozen Touch is now passive, and increases Fingers of Frost proc chance by 40%.
    • Glacial Spike damage before icicles increased by 33%.
    • Ice Barrier causes melee attacks against you to snare the attacker by 50%.
    • Ice Barrier is now learned by Frost Mage only at level 50.
    • Ice Floes is now available at level 30.
    • Ice Lance damage increased by 34%.
    • It’s Cold Outside no longer gives Waterbolt a chance to generate Fingers of Frost.
    • Mirror Images’ Frostbolt damage increased by 80%.
    • Ray of Frost damage increased by 5%.
    • Shield of Alodi trait increases Ice Barrier size by 20/40/60% (was 33/66/100%).

Monk

Monk balance changes

  • Dampen Harm now reduces all damage you take by 20% to 50% for 10 seconds, based on the size of the attack, with a 2 minute cooldown.
  • Ring of Peace now forms a Ring of Peace at the target location for 8 seconds. Enemies that enter will be ejected from the ring.
  • Brewmaster
    • The damage done by most Brewmaster abilities has been increased by 9%.
    • Breath of Fire range and width have been increased.
    • Gift of the Mists’ maximum bonus is now 75% (was 60%).
    • New talent: Mystic Vitality
      • Stagger is now 40% more effective against magical attacks.
    • Elusive Dance now grants up to 20% dodge and damage (was 15%).
    • Crackling Jade Lightning damage increased by 100%.
  • Mistweaver
    • Mastery: Gust of Mists healing increased by 30%.
    • Rising Sun Kick mana cost is now 2% of base mana (was 2.25%).
    • Song of Chi-Ji cooldown reduced to 15 seconds (was 30 seconds).
    • Diffuse Magic cooldown is now 90 seconds (was 120 seconds).
    • Zen Pulse damage and healing increased to 220% of spell power (was 200%).
    • Mistwalk healing increased to 420% of spell power (was 350%).
  • Windwalker
    • The damage done by most Windwalker abilities has been increased by 8%.
    • Rushing Jade Wind now applies Mark of the Crane to up to 5 targets.
    • At level 60, Dizzying Kicks has been replaced with Summon Black Ox Statue.
    • Crackling Jade Lightning damage increased by 100%.
    • Fixed an issue with Serenity that caused its cooldown reduction to extend to in-progress cooldowns beyond the duration of Serenity.
    • Fixed several bugs affecting Storm, Earth, and Fire. Clones now channel faster, move faster, and target more reliably. Clones now inherit and benefit from your stacks of Transfer the Power and Hit Combo when summoned, and are more survivable.

Paladin

Paladin balance changes

  • Holy
    • Beacon of Faith no longer has a cooldown.
    • Beacon of Light no longer has a cooldown.
    • Beacon of Virtue now costs 10% of base mana (was 15%).
    • Holy Shock now damages for 280% of spell power (was 350%).
  • Protection
    • Aegis of Light cooldown reduced to 3 minutes (was 5).
    • Blessed Hammer now reduces auto attack damage by 12% (was 15%).
    • Holy Shield now increases your block chance by 15% (was 10%).
  • Retribution
    • The damage done by most Retribution abilities has been increased by 12%.
    • Retribution now gains a +100% damage bonus to Consecration.
    • Divine Hammer damage has been increased by 100%.
    • Execution Sentence damage increased by 55%.
    • Greater Blessing of Might removed.
    • Greater Blessing of Wisdom/Kings can be cast in combat.
    • Greater Blessing of Wisdom restores 0.2% health/mana every 2 seconds (was 3 seconds).
    • Greater Blessing of Kings absorbs 270% of spellpower (was 180%).
    • Fist of Justice now reduces the remaining cooldown of Hammer of Justice by 2.5 seconds per Holy Power spent.
    • Divine Intervention now reduces the cooldown of Divine Shield by 20% (was 50%).
    • Seal of Light replaced with Judgment of Light.
    • Word of Glory healing has been increased by 33%.

Priest

Priest balance changes

  • Shining Force cooldown is now 45 seconds (was 60 seconds).
  • Discipline
    • Shadow Covenant has been updated:
      • Now increases healing by 450% (was 550%).
      • Is now instant (was a 1.5 second cast)
      • No longer replaces Power Word: Radiance.
    • Burst of Light trait no longer affects Shadow Covenant.
  • Holy
    • New talent at Holy Priest level 30:
      • Perseverance: When you cast Renew on yourself, it additionally reduces all damage taken by 10%.
    • Holy Priest now learns Desperate Prayer at level 52.
    • Benediction’s chance to activate has been reduced to 40% (was 50%).
    • Piety now additionally reduces the cooldown of Prayer of Mending by 2 seconds.
    • Prayer of Healing healing increased to 250% (was 200%).
    • Prayer of Healing now heals the target and the 4 nearest allies (was 5 random injured targets).
    • Symbol of Hope duration is now 12 seconds (was 10 seconds).
  • Shadow
    • The damage done by most Shadow spells has been increased by 25%.
    • Auspicious Spirits now generates 3 Insanity (was 4).
    • Legacy of the Void requires 65 Insanity (was 70), and also increases Voidform’s Shadow damage bonus by 5%.
    • Lingering Insanity is now a talent, replacing Void Lord. Lingering Insanity now causes Voidform’s haste increase to fade by 2% every second when Voidform ends.
    • Mania now increases movement speed by 1% per 3 Insanity (was 1% per 5 Insanity).
    • Masochism now additionally reduces damage taken by 10% for the duration of the Heal-over-Time.
    • Mind Blast now generates 15 Insanity (was 12).
    • Mind Flay now generates 3 Insanity per tick (was 2).
    • Mind Flay now deals damage to nearby targets and generates additional Insanity, if the target has Shadow Word: Pain.
    • Mind Sear has been removed.
    • Mind Spike removed.
    • New talent at level 90: Misery
      • Vampiric Touch also applies Shadow Word: Pain to the target.
    • Shadow Crash moved to level 100.
    • Shadow Word: Death generates 15 Insanity untalented (was 10).
    • Shadow Word: Pain now generates 4 Insanity (was 3).
    • Shadow Word: Pain (Shadow) duration now 18 seconds (was 14 seconds)
    • Shadow Word: Void now recharges in 20 seconds (was 30 seconds).
    • Surrender to Madness now increases Insanity gain by 100% (was 150%).
    • Vampiric Touch generates 6 Insanity when cast (was 4).
    • Vampiric Touch duration is now 24 seconds (was 18 seconds).
    • Void Bolt now extends the durations of all of your active Damage over Time spells (within 8 yards) by 3 seconds.
    • Void Eruption puts Void Bolt on cooldown for 1.5 seconds (was 3 seconds).
    • Void Lord has been removed.
    • Voidform now increases Shadow damage by 20% (was 30%).

Rogue

Rogue balance changes

  • Cheat Death cannot trigger more often than once per 6 minutes (was 2 minutes). This cooldown resets on death.
  • Shroud of Concealment is now available to all Rogues at level 68.
  • Feint now costs 35 energy (was 20).
  • Pickpocket range increased to 10 yards (was 5 yards).
  • Assassination
    • The damage done by most Assassination abilities has been increased by 7%.
    • Agonizing Poison proc chance increased to 30% (was 20%).
    • Alacrity haste per stack increased to 2% (was 1%). Maximum stacks reduced to 10 (was 20).
    • Anticipation maximum combo points increased to 10 (was 8).
    • Blind is now learned at level 24.
    • Crippling Poison is now learned at level 38 (was 24).
    • Death from Above increased AOE damage is now 440% of attack power (was 366% of attack power).
    • Deeper Strategem damage bonus to finishing moves reduced to 5% (was 10%).
    • Elaborate Planning damage bonus granted from finishing moves reduced to 12% (was 15%).
    • Internal Bleeding total bleed damage increased to 144% attack power per combo point (was 124% attack power).
    • Marked for Death now grants 6 combo points with Deeper Strategem.
    • Prey on the Weak damage bonus increased to 15% (was 10%).
    • Rupture has been updated:
      • The damage of the spell no longer scales up based on combo points spent. Now, combo points spent scale up its duration.
    • Shadow Focus energy cost reduction for abilities while Stealth is active increased to 75% (was 50%).
    • Subterfuge damage bonus to Garrote increased to 125% (was 100%).
  • Outlaw
    • The damage done by most Outlaw abilities has been increased by 16%.
    • Alacrity haste per stack increased to 2% (was 1%), and maximum stacks reduced to 10 (was 20).
    • Anticipation maximum combo points increased to 10 (was 8).
    • Between The Eyes no longer gains its 4x critical strike multiplier until Rank 2, learned at level 42.
    • Blade Flurry damage to secondary targets reduced to 30% (was 35%).
    • Deeper Strategem damage bonus to finishing moves reduced to 5% (was 10%).
    • Fatebringer now reduces energy cost by 2/4/6 (was 3/6/9).
    • Fate’s Thirst now provides a bonus of 4/8/12% (was 6/12/18%).
    • Marked for Death now grants 6 combo points with Deeper Strategem.
    • Pistol Shot now reduces movement speed by 30% (was 50%).
    • Slice and Dice now also grants 15% increased energy regeneration.
    • True Bearing no longer reduces the cooldown of Blind, Cloak of Shadows, or Riposte.
  • Subtlety
    • The damage done by most Subtlety abilities has been increased by 9%.
    • Akaari’s Soul (artifact trait) delay reduced to 2 seconds (was 4 seconds).
    • Alacrity haste per stack increased to 2% (was 1%), and maximum stacks reduced to 10 (was 20).
    • Anticipation maximum combo points increased to 10 (was 8).
    • Marked for Death now grants 6 combo points with Deeper Strategem.
    • Master of Shadows energy gain for entering Stealth/Shadow Dance reduced to 25 (was 30).
    • Master of Subtlety duration reduced to 5 seconds (was 6 seconds).
    • Night Terrors now reduces movement speed by 30% (was 50%).
    • Shadow Focus energy cost reduction for abilities while Stealth is active increased to 25% (was 20%).
    • Shadow Nova (artifact trait) now always activates when using Shadowstrike or Cheap Shot or Shuriken Storm while Shadow Dance is active, with a 5 second internal cooldown.

Shaman

Shaman balance changes

  • Lava Burst damage increased to 275% (was 220%).
  • Ancestral Swiftness haste is now 6% (was 10%).
  • Elemental
    • Earth Elemental has been updated:
      • Now has 400% of the caster’s armor (was 200%).
      • Now has 25% the caster’s spell power as attack power (was 5%), and 45% for Primal version.
      • Creates a great deal of threat to nearby enemies.
      • Now has a duration of 1 minute (was 15 seconds) and a cooldown of 5 minutes (was 2 minutes).
    • Aftershock now refunds 30% of Maelstrom (was 25%).
    • Earthen Rage damage is now 55% of spell power (was 50%).
    • Earthgrab Totem now roots for 8 seconds (was 5 seconds).
    • Earthquake duration is now 6 seconds (was 10 seconds) and damage per tick is now 50% (was 30%).
    • Elemental Blast damage is now 680% (was 525%).
    • Elemental Blast now provides a bonus of 2400 to a stat (was 1200).
    • Icefury damage is now 900% (was 180%).
    • Liquid Magma Totem damage is now 110% (was 80%).
    • Path of Flame bonus to Lava Burst is now 10% (was 5%).
    • Storm Elemental cooldown is now 2.5 minutes (was 5 minutes) and duration is now 30 seconds (was 60 seconds).
    • Storm Elemental Wind Gust damage is now 48% (was 42%) and Call Lightning damage is now 96% (was 84%).
  • Enhancement
    • The damage done by most Enhancement spells has been increased by 16%.
    • Boulderfist no longer increases your critical strike chance by 5%.
    • Earthen Spike no longer costs Maelstrom.
    • Earthen Spike damage is now 1100% of attack power (was 800%).
    • Empowered Stormlash bonus is now 50% (was 35%).
    • Fury of Air damage is now 40% of attack power (was 30%), and costs 3 Maelstrom/second (was 5).
    • Hailstorm damage is now 21% of weapon damage (was 35%).
    • Lava Lash damage is now 625% of weapon damage (was 505%).
    • Lightning Bolt damage increased by 50%.
    • Lightning Shield damage is now 150% attack power (was 100%).
    • Overcharge costs 40 Maelstrom (was 45), and has a 12 second cooldown (was 9).
    • Overcharge’s cooldown is now 12 seconds (was 9 seconds).
    • Rainfall healing increased to 100% (was 50%).
    • Rockbiter now generates 20 Maelstrom.
    • Windsong cooldown is now 40 seconds (was 45 seconds).
  • Restoration
    • Chain Heal healing is now 380% (was 400%).
    • Healing Stream Totem healing increased to 82% (was 70%).
    • Queen’s Decree healing increased to 24% (was 20%).
    • Unleash Life healing increased to 350% (was 325%).
    • Wellspring healing increased to 450% (was 375%).

Warlock

Warlock balance changes

  • Demonic Circle duration increased to 15 minutes (was 6 minutes).
  • Imp, Succubus, Voidwalker, Felhunter, and Felguard damage increased by 20%.
  • Mortal Coil healing is now 20% of maximum health (was 11%).
  • Mortal Coil now always heals you, regardless of whether the target is affected by the Horror.
  • Soul Harvest base duration is now 15 seconds and maximum duration is 35 seconds (was 10 seconds and 30 seconds).
  • Affliction
    • Drain Soul is now learned at level 13.
    • New Affliction talent at level 15: Malefic Grasp.
      • While channeling Drain Soul, your damage-over-time spells deal 80% increased damage to the target.
    • Contagion bonus is now 18% (was 12%).
    • New talent at level 30: Empowered Life Tap
      • Life Tap increases your damage dealt by 10% for 20 seconds.
    • Grimoire of Synergy bonus is now 25% (was 35%).
    • Haunt cooldown is now 30 seconds (was 15 seconds) and Haunt now also increases damage by 30%.
    • Seed of Corruption damage is now 215% (was 138%).
    • Seed of Corruption now costs 1 Soul Shard (was 4.5% mana).
    • Sow the Seeds adds 2 targets (was 4) and no longer adds a Soul Shard cost.
  • Demonology
    • Demonbolt damage bonus is now 18% (was 20%).
    • Grimoire of Synergy bonus damage is now 25% (was 40%).
    • Impending Doom now additionally reduces Doom’s duration by 3 seconds.
    • Thal’kiel’s Discord (Artifact Trait) is now triggered by Demonwrath.
    • Power Trip now has a 65% chance to activate (was 50%).
  • Destruction
    • The damage done by most Destruction spells has been increased by 4%.
    • Backdraft now reduces the cast time of your next two Incenerates or Chaos Bolts by 30%. This stacks up to 4 charges.
    • Channel Demonfire damage is now 64% (was 46%).
    • Channel Demonfire now splashes 50% of its damage to nearby targets, and is no longer affected by Havoc.
    • Doom Guard’s Doom Bolt damage is now 275% of spell power (was 210%).
    • Grimoire of Sacrifice damage is now 75% of spell power (was 100%).
    • Grimoire of Supremacy now reduces Doom Guard’s Doom Bolt damage by 20%.
    • New talent at level 30: Empowered Life Tap
      • Life Tap increases your damage dealt by 10% for 20 seconds.
    • Shadowburn now replaces Conflagrate, and now generates a Shard, plus an additional Shard on kill.
    • The Cataclysm and Eradication talents have swapped places in the talent tree.
    • The Conflagration of Chaos trait now also affects Shadowburn.

Warrior

Warrior balance changes

  • Shockwave now stuns for 3 seconds (was 4 seconds).
  • Arms
    • The damage done by most Arms abilities has been increased by 5%.
    • Charge now reduces the movement speed of the target by 50% for 6 seconds.
    • Charge now roots the target for 1 second (was 1.5 seconds).
    • Fervor of Battle increases Whirlwind’s damage to the primary target by 45% (was 30%).
    • Hamstring now deals 105% weapon damage (was 5%).
    • In For The Kill refunds 30 Rage (was 20).
    • Ravager damage increased by 25%.
    • Rend costs 10 Rage (was 15), now deals 10% more periodic damage, and now deals upfront Bleed damage.
    • Sweeping Strikes makes Mortal Strike and Execute hit 2 additional nearby targets (was 1).
    • Titanic Might no longer reduces the effectiveness of Colossus Smash.
    • Trauma causes Slam and Whirlwind to deal 25% damage as a DoT (was 20%).
  • Fury
    • The damage done by most Fury abilities has been increased 5%.
    • Dragon Roar increases your damage done by 16% (was 20%).
    • Fresh Meat increases Bloodthirst’s critical strike chance by 60% (was 40%).
    • Frothing Berserker increases damage done by 15% (was 10%).
    • Outburst now also reduces the cooldown of Berserker Rage by 15 seconds (previously did not reduce the cooldown).
    • Reckless Abandon now also increases the duration of Battle Cry by 2 seconds (previously did not increase the duration).
    • War Machine lasts 15 seconds (was 10 seconds).
    • Wrecking Ball increases the damage of your next Whirlwind by 250% (was 200%).
  • Protection
    • Anger Management also reduces the cooldown of Demoralizing Shout.
    • Best Served Cold has been moved to Level 45: Revenge deals 5% more damage per target hit, up to five.
    • Booming Voice generates 60 Rage (was 50 Rage), and increases damage you deal to affected enemies by 25% (was 20%).
    • Crackling Thunder increases Thunder Clap’s radius by 50% (was 100%).
    • New Talent: Devastator
      • Passive. Replaces Devastate. Your auto-attacks deal additional damage, generate 5 Rage, and have a 30% chance to reset the cooldown of Shield Slam.
    • Focused Rage has been removed.
    • Heavy Repercussions extends Shield Block by 1.0 seconds (was 1.5 seconds)
    • Intercept now gives 15 Rage (was 10).
    • Never Surrender ignores up to 100% more damage (was 75%).
    • Ravager increases your Parry chance by 35% (was 30%).
    • Revenge damage increased by 29%, and now has a chance to reset Shield Slam’s cooldown.
    • Revenge now has a 3 second cooldown, and costs 30 Rage. Dodge/Parry makes your next Revenge free.
    • Safeguard now transfers 30% of damage (was 20%).
    • Shield Block now costs 15 Rage.
    • Thunder Clap now generates 5 Rage, and its damage has been increased.
    • Ultimatum has been removed.
    • Vengeance now affects Revenge (was Focused Rage).
    • Warbringer now stuns for 2.5 seconds (was 1.5 seconds).
    • Warlord’s Challenge also reduces the cooldown of Berserker Rage by 15 seconds.

Patch 7.1.5 PvP changes

General

  • Dampening now begins immediately in 2v2 Skirmish and 2v2 Arenas.
  • Blade’s Edge Arena has received a visual update.
  • Prestige level 9 has been added.
  • Artifact traits at 35 points and above are now enabled in PvP.
  • Damage caused by Soul Rip, Shadow Nova, On the Trail, and Shadowy Apparition should no longer break control effects such as Polymorph or Freezing Trap.
  • Honor talents that replace taunt effects for each Tank specialization will now cause their original taunt effect to be applied to non-player targets.

Death Knight

Death Knight balance changes

  • Blood
    • Blood Death Knights now deal 10% reduced damage in PvP (was 15%).
    • Blooddrinker now deals 40% reduced damage in PvP (was 100%).

Demon Hunter

Demon Hunter balance changes

  • Havoc
    • Unending Hatred now grants 10 Fury (was 5).
    • Eye of Leotheras now deals 6% of the target’s total health in damage (was 4%).
    • Rushing Vault and Pinning Glare have been removed.
    • New talent: Demonic Origins
      • The cooldown of Metamorphosis is reduced by 2 minutes, and now lasts 15 seconds.
      • While not in Metamorphosis, your damage is increased by 10%.
    • New talent: Mana Rift
      • You manifest a 6-yard-wide mana rift under the feet of your target.
      • After 2 seconds, the rift erupts, dealing 8% of enemies’ total health in Chaos damage, and destroying 8% of enemies’ total mana (if present).
    • Mana Break now deals 15% of the target’s total health in Chaos damage. Total health in damage is increased by 1% per 2% of the target’s total missing mana, up to 30%.
  • Vengeance
    • Vengeance Demon Hunters now deal 10% reduced damage in PvP (was 15%).
    • Illidan’s Grasp cooldown reduced to 60 seconds (was 90).

Druid

Druid balance changes

  • Balance
    • Celestial Downpour now increases the duration of Starfall by 100%, but you can only have one active at a time.
    • Celestial Guardian magical damage reduction reduced to 20% (was 30%).
  • Guardian
    • Maul now deals 400% damage in PvP (was 100%).
    • Guardian Druids now take 10% increased damage from players (was 25%).
    • Guardian Druids now deal normal damage in PvP.
    • Shapemender has been removed.
    • Hibernating Growth has been removed.
    • Enraged Mangle has been removed.
    • Sharpened Claws now increases Swipe and Thrash damage by 100%.
    • Overrun no longer shares a cooldown with Feral Charge.
    • Den Mother now increases you and your allies’ maxiumum health by 15% within 15 yards.
    • Demoralizing Roar cooldown is now 30 seconds (was 60 seconds).
    • Toughness is now a level 34 talent (was level 37), replacing Softened Blows.
    • New Talent: Roaring Speed
      • Reduces the cooldown of your Stampeding Roar by 90 seconds.
    • New Talent: Master Shapeshifter
      • Your Feral, Balance, or Restoration Affinity is amplified, granting an additional effect:
      • (Balance) After you enter Moonkin Form, you gain 30% spell haste for 10 seconds.
      • (Feral) While in Cat Form, your damage is increased by 30%.
      • (Restoration) After you Swiftmend, the cast time and healing of your Healing Touch is increased by 30% for 8 seconds.
    • New Talent: Malorne’s Swiftness
      • Your Travel Form movement speed while within a Battleground or Arena is increased by 20% and you always move at 100% movement speed while in Travel Form.
    • New Talent: Raging Frenzy
      • Your Frenzied Regeneration also generates 60 Rage over 3 seconds.
  • Restoration
    • Focused Growth now also reduces the mana cost of Lifebloom by 50%.

Hunter

Hunter balance changes

  • Viper Sting now has a 30 second cooldown, down from 45.
  • Scorpid Sting now has a 24 second cooldown, down from 30.
  • Scorpid Sting now has an 8 second duration, up from 6.
  • Spider Sting now has a 45 second cooldown, down from 60.
  • Spider Sting’s initial debuff duration is 4 seconds, down from 5. Silence duration unchanged.
  • Marksmanship
    • Sniper Shot no longer has a cooldown (was 6 seconds).
  • Survival
    • Steel Trap’s out of combat Waylay bonus deals 150% additional damage in PvP situations (was 500%).

Mage

Mage balance changes

  • Frost
    • Burst of Cold increases Cond of Cold damage by 250% (was 600%).

Monk

Monk balance changes

  • Brewmaster
    • Microbrew reduces the cooldown of Fortifying Brew by 50%, and no longer reduces its duration.
    • Incendiary Brew is now renamed Incendiary Breath, is now passive, and increases the cooldown of Breath of Fire by 100%.
    • Hot Trub now deals 50% of purified Stagger damage to nearby targets (was 25%).
    • Guard no longer provides an absorb, instead it allows the Monk to Stagger 30% of damage received by allies within 15 yards.
    • Eerie Fermentation now provides 5% magic damage reduction and 10% movement speed for each level of Stagger active.
  • Mistweaver
    • Counteract Magic increases Renewing Mists heal for 135% (was 125%).
    • Healing Sphere now has a 15 second charge recovery cooldown (was 45 seconds).
    • Surge of Mist now causes Enveloping Mist to have a seven second cooldown (was 8 seconds).
    • Way of the Crane now also makes you immune to stun effects.
    • Refreshing Breeze now increases the healing of Vivify by 20% (was 25%).
  • Windwalker
    • Spinning Fire Blossom now always triggers Mastery: Combo Strikes.
    • Disabling Reach now increases Disable’s range to 10 yards (was 12 yards).
    • Zen Moment now costs 3 Chi (was 5 Chi).
    • Control the Mists now occurs every 10 seconds (was 20 seconds).

Paladin

Paladin balance changes

  • Cleansing Light is a new honor talent replacing Pure of Heart for Protection and Retribution. Cleansing Light removes all Disease and Poison effects within 15 yards of the Paladin.
  • Luminescence now only activates on heals cast by targets other than the Paladin.
  • Holy
    • Holy Paladin’s template secondary stat distribution has changed:
      • 50% Mastery
      • 125% Haste
      • 75% Versatility
      • 150% Critical Strike
    • Avenging Crusader now has a (35% of base mana) cost (was no mana cost).
    • Ultimate Sacrifice no longer cancels based on the Paladin’s health.
    • Ultimate Sacrifice’s damage transfer periodic is now 4 seconds (was 12 seconds).
  • Protection
    • Protection Paladin’s template secondary stat distribution has changed:
      • 25% Mastery
      • 200% Haste
      • 50% Versatility
      • 125% Critical Strike
    • Guarded by the Light now stacks up to 2 times (was 3).
    • Guarded by the Light no longer reduces the mana cost of Flash of Light.
    • Hallowed Ground now suppresses movement speed reductions while allies are standing in your Consecration.
    • Steed of Glory increases the duration of Divine Steed by 2 seconds (was 4).
  • Retribution
    • Retribution Paladin’s template Strength is now 80%, down from 85%.
    • Retribution Paladin’s template secondary stat distribution has changed:
      • 25% Mastery
      • 160% Haste
      • 50% Versatility
      • 165% Critical Strike

Priest

Priest balance changes

  • Discipline
    • Solemn Prayers removed.
    • Renewed Hope removed.
    • Strength of Soul now also heals targets to which you apply Power Word: Shield.
    • New talent: Trinity
      • The duration of your Atonement is increased to 30 seconds and the healing transferred through Atonement is increased by 20%.
      • Atonement can now only affect a maximum of 3 targets and can only be applied through Plea.
    • Dome of Light now increases Power Word: Barrier’s damage reduction effect by 45% (was 25%).
    • Power Word: Fortitude now increases maximum health by 20% (was 10%).
    • New Talent: Ultimate Radiance
      • Your Power Word: Radiance is now instant cast and the healing is increased by 250%, with a 6 second cooldown.
  • Holy
    • Heal now heals for 200% in PvP.
    • Prayer of Mending now heals for 150% in PvP.
    • Delivered from Evil re-designed:
      • Now reduces the cooldown of Leap of Faith by 45 seconds, but no longer creates an absorption shield on the target.
    • Holy Ward’s cooldown reduced to 30 seconds (was 45 seconds).
    • New Talent: Miracle Worker:
      • Holy Word: Serenity now has 2 charges.
    • Rapid Mending now also increases the radius of Prayer of Mending by 20 yards.
    • Divine Attendant re-designed:
      • Now reduces the cooldown of Guardian Spirit by 2 minutes.
    • Ray of Hope’s cooldown reduced from to 45 seconds (was 60 seconds).
    • Greater Heal re-designed:
      • Heal increases the targets total health by 10% for 15 seconds. Stacks up to 2.

Rogue

Rogue balance changes

  • All Rogues template Stamina is now 100% (was 90%).
  • Assassination
    • Flying Daggers now also increases the radius of Fan of Knives by 100%.

Shaman

Shaman balance changes

  • Enhancement
    • Thundercharge now increases the cooldown of all recovery abilities by 70% (was 30%).
  • Restoration
    • Calming Waters moved to level 34, replacing Inner Renewal.
    • Earth Shield now has a 5 second cooldown.
    • Earth Shield now provides 15% damage reduction (was 20%).
    • Earth Shield now triggers at 8% health loss (was 6%).
    • Earth Shield’s mana cost has been increased to 15% base mana (was 12.6%).
    • Earth Shield is no longer dispellable.
    • Electrocute damage increased 20%
    • Spirit Link mana cost reduced, and no longer has a cooldown.
    • Targets linked now receive 100% increased healing from your Chain Heal and Riptide.
    • Healing Wave now heals for 200% more in PvP (was 135%).
    • Rippling Waters healing increased by 20%.
    • Rippling Waters now also grants Riptide 1 additional charge.
    • New Talent: Tidebringer
      • Every 8 seconds, the cast time of your next Chain Heal is reduced by 50% within 15 seconds. Maximum of 2 charges.

Warrior

Warrior balance changes

  • New Talent: Disarm
    • Disarm the enemy’s weapons and shield for 8 seconds.
    • Disarmed creatures deal significantly reduced damage.
  • Arms
    • Arms Warrior’s template Strength reduced to 105% (was 110%).
    • Blood Hunt removed.
    • Ready for Battle removed.
    • Sharpen Blade now has a 25 second cooldown (was 45 seconds).
    • New Talent: Storm of Destruction
      • Reduces the cooldown of Bladestorm by 33%, and Bladestorm now also applies Mortal Wound to all targets you hit.
    • Pain Train is now a level 8 honor talent (was 43).
    • Shadow of the Colossus has moved from being a level 25 to level 28 honor talent.
    • Shadow of the Colossus now also increases the Rage you gain when you charge by 25.
    • Wrecking Crew removed.
    • New Talent: Duel
      • You challenge the target to a duel. While challenged, all damage you and the target deal to all targets other than each other is reduced by 50%. Lasts 8 seconds.
    • New Talent: War Banner
      • You throw down a banner at your feet, rallying your allies and increasing movement speed by 30%, and reducing the duration of all incoming crowd control effects by 50% within 30 yards. Lasts 15 seconds.
  • Fury
    • Fury Warrior’s template secondary stats have been adjusted:
      • 75% Mastery
      • 150% Haste
      • 100% Versatility
      • 75% Critical Strike
    • Enrage reduces damage taken in PvP situations by 10% (was 20%). Warpaint further reduces this to 5% (was 15%).
    • Blood Hunt removed.
    • Death Wish now has a 15 second cooldown, and stacks up to 15 times (was 5).
  • Protection
    • Protection Warrior’s template secondary stats have been adjusted:
      • 25% Mastery
      • 175% Haste
      • 50% Versatility
      • 150% Critical Strike
    • Protection Warriors now deal 10% reduced damage in PvP (was 15%).
    • Protection Warriors now take 15% increased damage from players (was 25%).
    • Tenderizer removed.

WoW Patch 7.1.5 legendary changes

WOW patch 7.1.5 legendaries

The first major balance pass on legendaries is happening in this patch. The details on each are blow – where a legendary has been completely changed, we’ve noted the rework and written the text of the new ability. Unless otherwise stated, the old ability has been removed. For the reasoning behind the massive number of nerfs, check this blue post from community manager Lore.

Multi-class:

  • Prydaz, Xavaric’s Magnum Opus – Reworked effect: Every 30 sec, gain an absorb shield for 25% of your maximum health for 30 sec.
    • Stat changes: +1247 Haste, +113 Crit, -757
  • Roots of Shaladrassil – Heal now ticks for 3% every 1 sec, decreased from 4% every 3 sec.
  • Sephuz’s Secret – Now also triggers from interrupts and dispels. Haste granted increased to 25%, up from 15%. 30 second cooldown.
  • Cinidaria, the Symbiote – Now heals you for 100% of the damage done. Bonus damage is no longer Physical.
  • Aggramar’s Stride – Will now buff movement speed based on your Critical Strike if that value is higher.
  • Norgannon’s Foresight – Reworked effect: Standing still for 8 sec grants you Foresight, allowing you to cast while moving for 5 sec.

Death Knight:

  • The Instructor’s Fourth Lesson – Scourge Strike Festering Wound bursts decreased to 1-3 from 1-5
  • Seal of Necrofantasia – Empower Rune Weapon recharge speed increased to 10% bonus from 5%
  • Sascrolash’s Dark Strike:
    • Stat change: -490 Crit, +489 Mastery

Demon Hunter iconDemon Hunter:

  • Runemaster’s Pauldrons – Now also resets cooldown on your Empower Wards and grants you 1 charge of Demon Spikes
  • Loramus Thalipedes’ Sacrifice – Fel Rush bonus damage increased to 10% from 5% for each subsequent target.
  • Anger of the Half-Giants – Maximum additional Demon Bite fury generation decreased to 14 from 20

Druid iconDruid:

  • Ekowraith, Creator of Worlds – Effects of Thick Hide, Astral Influence, Feline Swiftness, and Ysera’s Gift by increased to 75% buff from 50%
  • The Emerald Dreamcatcher – Starsurge Astral Power cost reduction decreased to 7 from 10.
  • Impeccable Fel Essence – Astral Power required to reduce cooldown increased to 12 from 8.
  • The Wildshaper’s Clutch – Chance to trigger primal fury from bleed crits decreased to 30% from 40%.
  • The Apex Predator’s Claw – Pet damage bonus decreased to 5% from 10%.

Hunter iconHunter:

  • The Shadow Hunter’s Voodoo Mask – Heal only maintains while Feigning Death
  • Nesingwary’s Trapping Treads – Focus gained per trap triggered increased to 25 from 15.
  • Call of the Wild – Aspect cooldown reduction decreased to 35% from 50%.
  • Ullr’s Featherweight Snowshoes -Trueshot cooldown reduction per shot decreased to 0.8 seconds from 1.
  • Roar of the Seven Lions – Focus cost reduction decreased to 15% from 20%

Mage iconMage:

  • Marquee Bindings of the Sun King – Proc chance decreased to 15% from 20%.
  • Koralon’s Burning Touch – Reworked effect: Scorch now a guaranteed Critical Strike against enemies below 30% health. Also increases Scorch damage by 350%.
  • Mystic Kilt of the Rune Master – Maximum mana per Arcane Charge spent decreased to 3% from 4%.
  • Rhonin’s Assaulting Armwraps – Proc chance decreased to 18% from 25%.

Monk iconMonk:

  • Cenedril, Reflector of Hatred – Reworked effect: Touch of Karma now deals 150% increased damage.
  • Hidden Master’s Forbidden Touch – Touch of Death second use time increased to 5 seconds from 3.
  • Ei’thas, Lunar Glides of Eramas – Rising Sun Kick melee attack heal extension increased to 5 seconds from 2.
  • Fundamental Observation – Reworked effect: Zen Meditation has 50% reduced cooldown and is no longer cancelled when you move or when you are hit by melee attacks.
  • Firestone Walkers – Fortifying Brew cooldown reduction increased to 2 seconds, maximum 6 from 1 second, maximum 4.

Paladin iconPaladin:

  • Uther’s Guard – Added effect: Now also heals the target for 15% of their maximum health.
  • Justice Gaze – Hammer of Justice damage increased to 600% from 350%.
  • Chain of Thrayn – Reworked effect: Grants an additional 50% healing done (25% for Holy) and an additional 20% damage done while Avenging Wrath is active.
  • Liadrin’s Fury Unleashed – Holy Power now gifted every 4 seconds of Avenging Wrath, increased from 2.5
  • Whisper of the Nathrezim – Damage buff to next Templar’s Verdict / Divine Storm decreased to 15% from 25%

Priest iconPriest:

  • Phyrix’s Embrace – Reworked effect: Increases Guardian Spirit’s duration and healing bonus by 50% and Guardian Spirit no longer terminates its healing bonus effect when sacrificing itself.
  • The Twins’ Painful Touch – Now works with Mind Flay instead of Mind Sear.
  • Anund’s Seared Shackles – Bonus Void Bolt damage per stack increased to 4% from 2%.
  • Mangaza’s Madness – Charges decreased to 1 from 2.

Rogue iconRogue:

  • Shadow Satyr’s Walk – Shadowstrike base energy restoration decreased to 3 energy from 10 energy. Now increases based on every three yards to target.
  • Shivarran Symmetry – Initial Blade Flurry cleave damage decreased to 65% from 70%.
  • Greenskin’s Waterlogged Wristcuffs – Pistol Shot damage buff decreased to 200% from 400%
  • Insignia of Ravenholdt – Additional Shadow damage decreased to 15% from 20%.
  • Zodyck Family Training Shackles – Poison / Bleed damage buff decreased to 30% from 40%.

Shaman iconShaman:

  • Spiritual Journey – Feral Spirits cooldown recovery increased to 500% from 75%
  • Eye of the Twisting Nether – Bonus damage per application decreased to 1.5% from 2%.
  • Focuser of Jonat, the Elder – Chain Heal buff decreased to 10% from 15%.
  • The Deceiver’s Blood Pact – Proc chance decreased to 20% from 30%.

Warlock iconWarlock:

  • Alythess’s Pyrogenics – Rain of Fire bonus damage increased to 10% from 7%
  • Feretory of Souls – Proce chance decreased to 10% from 15%.
  • Hood of Eternal Disdain – Speed buff decresed to 10% from 20%.
  • Sin’dorei Spite – Damage buff decreased to 15% from 30%.
  • Varo’then’s Restraint – Proc chance decreased to 20% from 30%.

Warrior iconWarrior:

  • Archavon’s Heavy Hand – Mortal Strike Rage refund decreased to 8 Rage from 15.
  • Destiny Driver – Absorb shield increased to 50% of damage intercepted from 15%.
  • Kakushan’s Stormscale Gauntlets – Now affects Thunder Clap instead of Revenge.
  • Ceann-Ar Rage – Rage gain decreased to 8 from 10.
  • Fujieda’s Fury – Bloodthirst stack max decreased to 4 from 5.
  • Ayala’s Stone Heart – Approx. procs per minute decreased to 1.8 from 3.
    • Stat change: -223 Crit, +222 Mastery

Patch 7.1.5 New Legendaries

There’s also a whole bunch of new legendaries too. Here’s a breakdown of their special effects and which stats they have:

Multi-class:

  • Archimonde’s Hatred Reborn – Versatility / Mastery Tank Trinket. Use: Gain an absorb shield for 30% of your max health for 10 seconds, 75% of damage absorbed dealt to nearby enemies split evenly when it expires. 72 second cooldown.
  • Velen’s Future Sight – Crit / Mastery / Haste Healing Trinket. Use: Buffs all healing done by 15% and 50% of overhealing is redistributed to 3 nearby injured allies for 10 seconds. 72 second cooldown.
  • Kil’jaeden’s Burning Wish – Crit / Haste / Mastery DPS Trinket. Use: Fire a projectile that explodes from your current target for 862,800 damage to enemies within 10 yards. 72 second cooldown.

Death Knight:

  • Death March – Crit / Mastery Head. Death Strike and Death Coil reduce the remaining cooldown of Defile by 2 seconds.
  • Skullflower’s Haemostasis – Crit / Versatility Shoulders. Blood Boil buffs your next Death Strike by 20%, stacking up to 5 times.
  • Consort’s Cold Core – Haste / Mastery Legs. Sindragosa’s Fury has 50% reduced cooldown and Freezes for 3 seconds.

Demon Hunter iconDemon Hunter:

  • Delusions of Grandeur – Crit / Mastery Shoulders. The remaining cooldown on Metamorphosis is reduced by 1 second for every 30 fury spent.
  • Spirit of the Darkness Flame – Versatility / Mastery Hands. Fiery Brand now heals you for 100% of the damage done and each enemy hit by your Sigil of Flame buffs Fiery Brand by 15%, stacking up to 15 times.

Druid iconDruid:

  • Lady and the Child – Mastery / Crit Shoulders. Your Moonfire also hits another enemy within 20 yards of the target.
  • Fiery Red Maimers – Crit / Mastery Legs. Maim deals 200% increased damage and hits 2 additional enemies near the target.
  • X’oni’s Caress – Haste / Crit Hands. Ironbark also grants 75% additional healing from active Rejuvenations.
  • Oakheart’s Puny Quods – Haste / Versatility Head. Barkskin instantly grants 45 Rage plus an additional 15 Rage over 3 seconds

Hunter iconHunter:

  • The Mantle of Command – Mastery / Crit Shoulders. Dire Frezy gains 1 additional charge.
  • MKII Gyroscopic Stabilizer – Crit / Mastery Hands. Aimed Shot increases the crit strike chance of your next Aimed Shot by 15% and makes it castable while moving.
  • Butcher’s Bone Apron – Crit / Mastery Back: Mongoose Bite increases the damage of your next Carve by 10%. Stacks up to 10 times.

Mage iconMage:

  • Gravity Spiral – Mastery / Crit Head. Evocation gains an additional charge.
  • Ice Time – Crit / Haste Shoulders. Forzen Orb exploes into a Frost Nova that deals 600% spellpower damage.
  • Pyrotex Ignition Cloth – Crit / Mastery Hands. Phoenix Flames reduces the remaining cooldown on Combustion by 6 seconds.

Monk iconMonk:

  • The Emperor’s Capacitor – Crit / Mastery Chest. Chi spenders increased the damage of your next Crackling Jade Lightning by 50%, stacking up to 25 times.
  • Shelter of Rin – Versatility / Crit Chest. Sheilun’s Gift also heals allies affected by Renewing Mist for 15% of the amount healed.
  • Anvil-Hardened Wristwraps – Haste / Master Wrists. Each time you dodge or an enemy misses you, you clear 5% of your damage delayed with Stagger.

Paladin iconPaladin:

  • Maraad’s Dying Breath – Crit / Versatility Back. Light of Dawn causes your next Light of the Martyr to also heal your Beacon of Light. Each ally healed by Light of Dawn buffs Light of the Martyr by 10%.
  • Saruan’s Resolve – Versatility / Mastery Head. Light of the Protector gains 1 additional charge has a 10% reduced CD.
  • Ashes to Dust – Crit / Haste Shoulders. Enemies hit by your Wake of Ashes take 15% increased damage from you for 6 seconds.

Priest iconPriest:

  • Kam Xi’raff – Mastery / Crit Back. Using Light’s Wrath reduces the mana cost of your damaging spells by 75% for 1 second, increased by 1 second per ally affected by Atonement.
  • Rammal’s Ulterior Motive – Mastery / Crit Hands. Prayer of Mending leaves a buff on the target that increases Flash Heal, Heal or Holy Word: Serenity by 10%.
  • Zek’s Exterminatus – Crit / Haste Back. Shadow Word: Pain damage has a chance to increase the damage of next Shadow Word: Death by 25% and remove casting restrictions.

Rogue iconRogue:

  • Mantle of the Master Assassin – Mastery / Crit Shoulders. During Stealth and for 6 seconds afterwards, you have 100% increased critical strike chance.

Shaman iconShaman:

  • Uncertain Reminder – Crit / Mastery Hands. Heroism effects last 75% longer on you.

Warlock iconWarlock:

  • Wakener’s Loyalty – Crit / Mastery Head. Each soul shard you spend buffs your Skull of Man’ari, increasing the damage of your next Thal’kiel’s Consumption by 3%.
  • Lessons of Space-Time – Haste / Mastery Shoulders. Dimensional Rift increases all damage you deal by 10%.
  • Reap and Sow – Crit / Haste Back. Reap Soul lasts 1.5 seconds longer per soul consumed.

Warrior iconWarrior:

  • Timeless Stratagem – Mastery / Crit Shoulders. Heroic Leap gains 2 additional charges.

WoW Patch 7.1.5 Legion Brawler’s Guild

Legion Brawler's Guild

The Brawler’s Guild returns for the first time in several months since it went away in the Legion pre-patch. A new guild means new everything, including having to get a new invitation from Emissary boxes and dungeon bosses. They can also be gotten from taking on the Vrykul in Shield’s Rest, though you may want to bring a group or some decent gear. Once you’re in, winning these one-on-one fights against custom NPCs gains you ranks, and ranks mean prizes as the old saying doesn’t go. Expect stratagems to pop up for various tussels once they’ve been researched.

Legion Brawler’s Guild Fights

These are the main event, as it were. Here’s a full list of what to expect at each rank outside of the challenge cards at eight:

  • Rank 1:
    • Grandpa Grumplefloot, who summons various totems to avoid and destroy.
    • Oso, a bear with an angry, shotgun-wielding dwarf inside.
    • Ooliss, a spooky ghost who insta-kills you if his abilities hit.
    • Ulrich Forgeworth, Altor Direvith, and Arstad the Wild, a triple threat from the Wildhammer Council as two shamans and a warrior try to take you down.
  • Rank 2:
    • Bill the Janitor, a janitor. Will try his best to sweep you away.
    • Dippy, a really angry penguin who must be continuously attacked to survive.
    • Master Paku, a pandaran monk with a bit of a passion for Pacman. Must be avoided around a maze until you can harm him by picking up a buff.
    • Sanoriak, lava snakes don’t mess around and Sanoriak is all fire spells, all the time.
  • Rank 3:
    • Doomflipper, big seal who does big damage.
    • Johnny Awesome, a blood elf hunter famous for his part in the storyline raid on Illidan during his flashbacks. Kill his pet, then him.
    • Shadowmaster Aameen, a warlock with a love of blowing up shadows. Which he’ll do a lot.
    • Splat, an endlessly-splitting ooze.
  • Rank 4
    • Burnstachio, a djinni with yet more love of fire. Rain is your ally.
    • Max Megablast and Bo Bobble, a gnome and goblin engineering duo who really like spitting out AOEs.
    • Meatball, a real angry gnoll who spits out orbs to pick up so you can out-DPS him.
    • Stitches, returning from Duskwood of old to hook players and apply rot.
  • Rank 5
    • Blackmange, a pirate. He’s got cannons ready to fire on you, that must be avoided.
    • Fleasy, Greazy, Sleazy, Wheezy, Queasy, five rather nasty leper gnomes with stacking debuffs.
    • Razorgrin, a shark out of water. Quite literally. Must be attacked from behind.
    • Sonny and Wes, singing and dancing a Step Up 2 The Warcraft duet that involves a lot of dodging from you.
  • Rank 6
    • Carl, another angry lava-beast. This one spits fire in multiple directions.
    • Millie Watt, a giant gnome. Don’t ask, just avoid her lightning and don’t get turned into a chick too much.
    • Ogrewatch, a rather blunt reference to Blizzard’s rather popular FPS,Overwatch. So far versions of Winston, McCree, Junkrat, Tracer, Roadhog, Reaper and Reinhardt have been datamined.
    • Topps, a dinosaur who enjoys charging – so make sure he does it into walls.
  • Rank 7
    • Epicus Maximus, an undead bard on top of a dinosaur on top of a mecha-shark. Obviously.
    • Nibbleh, a poisonous snake who cannot ever be allowed to cross its own path.
    • Ray D. Tear, a recreation of the Hellfire Citadel in ghost form. Regularly changes form into one of the bosses of Warlords of Draenor’s final raid.
    • Serpent of Old, a more two-legged reptile. Places totems around the room that must be dealt with based on your specific abilities.

Wowhead have a full breakdown of each fight, along with videos of everything from each tier.

Brawler’s Gold

This is the new currency of the Brawler’s Guild and is acquired from winning fights or completing Brawler’s Guild quests. It’s not used on cosmetic items or pets – more on those later – but in helping yourself and other players in the guild have an easier or more fun time. Here’s a list of what’s been found to be buyable so far:

  • Bag of Chipped Dice, 100BG. Enables random brawl mode for 30 minutes.
  • High Roller’s Contract, 100BG: Allows players to guess who is going to win fights, awarding gold and achievements for being correct.
  • Blood-Soaked Angel Figurine, 250BG. Adds a graveyard in the Brawler’s Guild, letting the unsuccessful respawn more quickly.
  • Brawler’s Potion Dispenser, 500BG: Gives free potions to players.
  • VIP Room Rental Form, 1000BG: Gives all players access to the VIP lounge in a special location in the brawl area. Is usually only accessible to Rank 8 players. There are food and drink vendors, many of them rare.
  • Free Drinks Voucher, 1000BG: Delivers free booze. FREE BOOZE.

Brawler’s Gold can also be spent on Rumble fights, speaking of which…

Rumble Fights

These are raid boss style Brawls where everyone in the area at the time is pulled in to one big fight. Cards to enable these fights cost 500BG each, and there are eight currently available. They involve everything from fighting a a giant horde of penguins to trying to knock off a terrifying giant moose. Again, these will likely be sussed out by guide writers and such soon.

Rewards

Here’s what you get for going through those 1v1s:

  • Battle Pet:Tylarr Gronnden, a little Gronn fella. Wowhead’s got the stats.
  • Meatball: ex-follower, now champion Meatball. Again Wowhead has the specifics..
  • Pugilist’s Powerful Punching Ring: an ilevel 870 Crit / Mastery ring that teleports the user to the Brawl area.
  • Brawler’s Burly Basilisk mount: the game’s first basilisk mount is, for the time being, a Brawler’s Guild exclusive. Here’s a video:

  • Shirts: Some challenge cards, special bosses you can choose to fight rather than doing so in order of the ranking up process, reward various shirts. Wowhead have the full list.

WoW patch 7.1.5 MoP Timewalking

Mists of Pandaria timewalking

Mists of Panderia is getting the full timewalking treatment in patch 7.1.5, getting its own weekend in the regular rotation. Ion Hazzikostas announced at BlizzCon that keeping a couple of expansions behind was the plan going forward, meaning it’s pandaland’s time now, a return to Warlords of Draenor next expansion. Here’s the dungeons that come with MoP:

  • Gate of the Setting Sun – four boss dungeon against the mantids.
    • Saboteur Kip’tilak
    • Striker Ga’dok
    • Commander Ri’mok
    • Raigonn
  • Temple of the Jade Serpent – four bosses leading to defeating the Sha of Doubt.
    • Wise Mari
    • Lorewalker Stonestep
    • Liu Flameheart
    • Sha of Doubt
  • Stormstout Brewery – three bosses inside Chen Stormstout’s home base.
    • Ook-Ook
    • Hoptallus
    • Yan-Zhu the Uncasked
  • Siege of Niuzao Temple – mantids take the stage again with four bosses and a bridge to stop.
    • Vizier Jin’bak
    • Commander Vo’jak
    • General Pa’valak
    • Wing Leader Ner’onok
  • Shado-Pan Monastery – fighting against corrupted shado-pan monks and another evil Sha.
    • Gu Cloudstrike
    • Master Snowdrift
    • Sha of Violence
    • Taran Zhu
  • Mogu’shan Palace – one of the final fights against the Mogu, three bosses.
    • Trial of the King
    • Gekkan
    • Xin the Weaponmaster

A new timewalking dungeon also means a new timewalking mount, this one the final part of the Heavenly Cloud Serpent mount collection titled Yu’lei, Daughter of Jade. Here’s Wowhead’s video:

Mistweaver Xia sells that, along with a host of reputation items for Mists factions. Most notably this includes the Anglers, who sell the Reins of the Azure Water Strider, the most useful mount in the game that allows you to cross water at mounted speed. Wowhead have the full list of factions and their more interesting rewards.

WoW Patch 7.1.5 micro-holidays

These new, short events will happen across the year. Based on their various locations, it seems to be an attempt to get more people out into the old world areas, as well as some one-off fun for players who’ve rather seen it all by this point. Below there’s a full list of each event and its activities, and videos by the folks at Wowhead where available:

  • Call of the Scarab (January 21 – 23): Commemorating the opening of the gates of Ahn’Qiraj in vanilla WoW patch 1.9. Alliance and Horde compete to donate more resources across an entire region, with their flag flying along the Scarab Wall for the next year if they succeed. Involves various quests to kill mobs, gather items and do old raids solo.

  • Tavern Crawl (January 31): Initially tested and announced, this holiday seems to have been removed from the schedule. Either Blizzard didn’t think it was fun or decided to implement it at a later date. Wowhead created a video during the testing period:

  • Hatching of the Hippogryphs (February 23): The day that new hippogryphs are born in Feralas. Will have a unique shoulder-mounted hippogryph cosmetic effect as a reward. Persists through death, can have its time extended by killing an elite mob.

  • March of the Tadpoles (April 5): Baby murloc day, which is all you should really need to know. You’ll be helping the lil’ ones make the march across Borean Tundra to safety, adopting one tadpole of your very own.

  • Volunteer Guard Day (April 28): Saluting city guards will let you take on their appearence and presumably abilities, fighting off invaders as you go.

  • Spring Balloon Festival (May 10-12): Balloon rides in various zones, including one where you decide to kick your guide out.

  • Glowcap Festival (May 27): Sporeggar holds a mushroom festival to keep “the great Fshoo” alive. He’s a giant mushroom with an ever-increasing health bar. He will always eventually die. It’s quite sad.

  • Thousand Boat Bash (June 6-8): Everyone goes boating in Thousand Needles and has A Nice Time. There are five separate datamined effects with the description “You’re on a boat! Let’s party!” so you know it’s going to be a good time.
  • Un’Goro Madness (August 10-12): A visit to the dinosaurs of Un’Goro. They’re really angry, have a lot of HP and will require a bunch of folks to take down. Once you kill them, you get a unique consumable.

Blizzard’s official preview is hereand oddly doesn’t include the Tavern Crawl holiday – whether testing lead to it being cancelled or it was simply left off the list remains to be seen.

WoW Patch 7.1.5 spell animation changes

As promised at BlizzCon and elsewhere, spell animations are getting a tuning in 7.1.5. Wowhead have a video showing off the new stuff, which is focused on Hunter traps and Mage shields:

WoW Patch 7.1.5 profession changes

Professions received some new items in this patch, here’s what’s on the way:

Enchanting

  • Four neck enchants for:
    • Deadly – 200 Crit.
    • Master – 200 Mastery.
    • Quick – 200 Haste.
    • Versatile – 200 Versatility.
  • Each has three ranks, going from 3 Leylight Shards and 10 Arkhana to a single Leylight Shard.
  • Mark of the Ancient Priestess now heals for 400% of spell power.
  • Mark of the Claw now gives 1000 haste and Critical Strike, increased from 550.
  • Mark of the Trained Soldier gives 600 Mastery, increased from 300.
  • Mark of the Hidden Satyr damage is now 200% spell power or 250% attack power, whichever is higher.

Engineering

  • A new quest rewards the Boon of the Builder shoulder enchant.
    • Grants Sprocket Containers from kills, which contain various Engineering materials.
  • Another new quest rewards the Rechargable Reaves Battery.
    • Reaves has a 30 minute cooldown and various modules give him various effects.
  • Four new goggle recipes with base item level 880.
    • These have an on-use fire bullet effect and come in each flavour of armour.
  • Head Shot damage buffed.

Blacksmithing

  • Various old-school recipes that were removed during Cataclysm’s massive old-world revamp are returning, attached to quests. Details on Wowhead.

Inscription

  • All Vantus runes now given an additional 500 Versatility and have had their reagent costs halved.

Jewelcrafting

  • There are six new world quests in Dalaran titled “Gemcutter Needed”.

WoW Patch 7.1.5 artifact knowledge catch-up

Various alt catch-up systems are being implemented in patch 7.1.5. A new quest, Knowledge is Power, will take 500 Order Resources to purchase one Artifact Knowledge level. This will work up to Artifact Knowledge 15. This will work for all characters, not just alts.

However, for alts another new system allows your main character who has already reached a certain Artifact Knowledge to purchase Research Compendiums that will immediately boost another character to a higher AK. This works up to AK 20. Past that point, all characters will be back on the normal path. Given the current in-game max is level 32, that’s just about keeping folks competitive assuming 7.1.5 comes out this month.

Full details, and some more practical examples, over onWowhead.

Everything below this point was datamined from the patch 7.1.5 PTR, but not officially released with patch 7.1.5. We’d expect to see it in patch 7.2.

Bnet Balance for gold

Battle.net Logo

As detailed in our separate post, patch 7.1.5 has a number of code strings indicating that the system to allow the purchase of Battle.net account balance – which can be spent on anything from pets to copies of Overwatch and Illidan statues – for gold will be implemented. This already exists in a minor for, letting players exchange gold for WoW time tokens to pay their subscription, but is likely to have a significant impact on the in-game economy.

Auto-group finder

A selection of strings, listed below, suggest an auto grouping system for world quests along with some LFG changes are under construction for patch 7.1.5 or later.

  • TOOLTIP_TRACKER_FIND_GROUP_BUTTON – Find Group
  • AUTO_GROUP_CREATION_NORMAL_QUEST – Doing the quest [%s].
  • AUTO_GROUP_CREATION_WORLD_QUEST – Doing the world quest [%s].
  • ERR_LFG_DEAD – You cannot queue because you or one of your party members is dead.
  • LFG_LIST_APP_DECLINED_DELISTED_MESSAGE – “”%s” is no longer looking for additional members.”
  • LFG_LIST_APP_DECLINED_FULL_MESSAGE – “”%s” is full and is no longer looking for additional members.”
  • LFG_LIST_PRIVATE – Private
  • LFG_LIST_PRIVATE_TOOLTIP – Only friends and guild members of people already in this group will see it.
  • OBJECTIVES_FIND_GROUP – Find Group
  • PREMADE_GROUP_SEARCH_DELIST_WARNING_TEXT – You’re currently listing a group in the group finder. Would you like to delist it to begin this search?

This string also suggests that bonus rolls will soon reward artifact power rather than gold on a ‘fail’:

  • BONUS_ROLL_REWARD_ARTIFACT_POWER – Artifact Power

That’s about it for patch 7.1.5.Patch 7.2 will be next.