Shifting Tanzanite shifts
by Alex Ziebart 
Feb 23rd 2008 at 2:00PM
A minor(but interesting) change was included in the last PTR push: The Shifting Tanzanite has had its stats changed up a bit. Previously a Strength/Agility gem, it is now Agility/Stamina, as you can see above.Previously, this was arguably the best blue gem in the game for melee DPS classes. With the introduction of the Heroic gems no longer being Unique in patch 2.4, it was a little exciting to be able to slot more than one of these at a time, even if blues aren't the most desirable color for physical damage dealers. Now, the Shifting Tanzanite is still desired, but not necessarily to fill that same role or by the same people. One of the few highly sought after Heroic gems has been gutted.
Why? Nobody knows but Blizzard. One of my theories is these Heroic gems are not meant to be a "best in slot" but an alternative option, even now that you can socket multiples in your armor. It probably won't bother too many melee DPS because as good as that gem was, it was only the best blue for melee. Most melee do not stack blues at all. Tanks do stack blues, however. While this gem has become a little better for the tanks, it most likely does not outweigh Solid Stars of Elune and most certainly is not better than Solid Empyrean Sapphires for the raiders among us.
Filed under: Patches, News items, Enchants
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fenom Feb 23rd 2008 2:16PM
i don't understand, why does no one see that the gem was wrong, strength and agility are both red stats, you can't have both in the same gem, stamina is a blue stat, so agility and stamina make correctly make it a purple gem
Balasan Feb 23rd 2008 2:28PM
I can clearly see that it has the wrong colours, but its stats are extremely imbalanced in the right hands.
I mean in the hands (paws?) of a cat druid that's 14-something AP, not including a small amount of crit and dodge from the agility.
Rogues too, would get 9 (I think) AP from that gem, in a blue socket! I mean, other gems in a blue socket would only give max 5 AP, considering that it's half red/yellow and half blue (stamina).
It's fixed now, but it was quite overpowered previously.
Balasan Feb 23rd 2008 2:31PM
correction - max AP from a blue socket would be 10 AP.
Gogey Feb 23rd 2008 2:16PM
1: That was two red stats on a purple gem.
2: The shifting lines have always been Agi/stam.
3: Hunters need love imo :D
Alex Ziebart Feb 23rd 2008 2:18PM
That's true, I overlooked that they're both red stats. Thank you for that, that was extremely silly of me to miss!
Now, I will hide behind the fact that it is still, technically, a nerf while being a fix. ;)
Ryan Feb 23rd 2008 2:29PM
Actually, it's technically a bugfix, but in actual fact, it's a nerf.
Popalicious Feb 23rd 2008 3:10PM
Yeah, but almost all melee need 2 blue gems to fufill their meta gem requirement. That is why this change is so freaking annoying.
Gogey Feb 23rd 2008 3:37PM
A little stam can be beneficial.
Abhinav Kumar Feb 23rd 2008 4:10PM
How did i not know this thing existed?! This would have been great for my rogue but at least it's not such a bad downgrade.
Adam V Feb 23rd 2008 7:27PM
It is still the best way to fufill the 2 blue requirements of the RED, barring epic tier 6 gems. It sucks to lose the 5 extra AP, but what are you going to do? At least it's not Str/Stam.
Angus Feb 25th 2008 10:39AM
Enhance shaman would rather see Str/stam than agi/stam.
As it is I might as well just consider the blue slots green gem only and then I can slot everything else with red. I'm taking a hit regardless, might as well get the most out of it.