Dual speccing in three easy steps
by Eliah Hecht 
Apr 14th 2009 at 8:20AM
One of the biggest new features in today's patch 3.1 is dual spec capabilities. It's been through many iterations on the PTR, and there's a lot of information floating around (check out our full guide to dual specs), but here's the abbreviated version.
- Go see your class trainer. Bring 1,000g and be at least level 40. Make sure the glyphs you have on right now are the ones you want to be associated with your primary talent spec.
- Ask your trainer nicely for dual-spec capabilities, and pay that 1,000g.
- All your talents are now reset, and you now have access to a second set of them. Set up your talents as you wish, buy new skills as required, and add glyphs to your second spec.
Congratulations! You may now switch specs any time you're out of combat (except in arenas). The video above shows the process of switching specs; doing so also switches your action bars and your glyphs (you store a separate set of glyphs for each spec). Switching specs does not require a Lexicon of Power. In fact, Lexicons of Power are not required for anything any more, not even glyphing. Each of your two sets of talents can be reset just like you're used to resetting talents; resetting one does not disturb the other. Happy talenting!
Patch 3.1 is live and it takes us into Ulduar, delivers us dual specs, and brings significant changes to all the classes! We've got you covered from top to bottom with our Guide to Patch 3.1 and the official patch notes!
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
cartman Apr 14th 2009 9:54AM
Wow I have 7 level 80's so I need 7 THOUSAND gold?!! Way to go Blizz well its either dedicate the next few weeks/months, or buy gold! Neither one fits my lifestyle of 10 hours or so playing every week, and I refuse to buy gold but the gold sellers will love you for this new "idea". Way to protect the casual player Blizz, you know, your base, the vast majority of people playing? Ah well,other games out there I guess.
Cart
Raaj Apr 14th 2009 10:27AM
"Way to go Blizz well its either dedicate the next few weeks/months, or buy gold!"
You grinded 7 characters up to 80 and you're bitching about a measly 7000 gold? I only have two 80's and just questing after hitting the level cap will easily get you 1-3k per zone.
cartman Apr 14th 2009 11:49AM
Your missing the point. I have, like most others, limited time to play wow, I have a real life. If you want to spend your time grinding quests or doing dailies, good for you. I tend to run instances where the real gear is and already spend a large amount of gold repairing my gear and buying pots and such. Oh and don't get me started on crafting. So with limited time, I now have to find a way to get 1k gold? Why? Why isn't say 100 gold enough for blizz? BTW I finished, not all, but a large number of quests in NE getting to level 80 so I could get into the level 80 instances.
Casual players drive this game and Blizz should admit that. Making 1000 gold is time consuming for people like me. The game will be hurt by the new surge in gold buying and selling. That's my point.
Kryxx Apr 14th 2009 4:49PM
Boo f'in hoo.
People are acting like Blizzard is FORCING them to dual spec. You don't have to do it. It's a non-essential perk. If it's too expensive for you, then don't purchase it.
Khugas Apr 14th 2009 6:53PM
"Wow I have 7 level 80's so I need 7 THOUSAND gold?!!"
"I have, like most others, limited time to play wow, I have a real life."
lul
h8rain Apr 14th 2009 9:57AM
/equip [Flame Suit]
I am going to defend Blizz on the 1,000g price for a couple of reasons.
1). Switching specs already costs (around) 100g (assuming 50g respec fee and glyphs). Swap 10 times and this is paid for. Seems like a great deal to me. Even at 50g a swap, 20 times and it's paid for. The gold "sinks" exists to try and curb inflation (at least that is my opinion).
2). Gold is really not that hard to get even as a casual. I know this poor horse is beaten beyond death, but seriously leveling 70-80 by questing (WITHOUT BUYING CRAP ON AH) you will get around 5,000 gold. At 80 doing the Sons of Hodir dailies will net right around 100g in about 30 mins. Shoot, another guildie and I ran Heroic Shattered Halls and Heroic Sethic Halls yesterday (feral druid and shadow priest), and that gave me about 100g (but took about hour and 15 mins).
3). It's not required. Epic flying is not required, but it makes travel much nicer. This is the same thing. Swapping specs on the fly is just convenience, and convenience is not free.
SarahTheGnome Apr 14th 2009 10:09AM
Agreed with all of the above.
I am crap rich on my main, all my gold is on my bank alt. When I quest on my alts, I send everything that can be sold on AH to my bank alt, and all my greens to an enchanter, and the materials I get off that, back to my bank alt. This means my alts do not get any gold from selling off greens, they do not even get the gold of the stuff that is being sold on AH. Still, I managed to get epic + cold weather flying on my priest at lvl78. This means only from quest gold and grey crap. No AH stuff, nothing.
The only trick to this is... don't buy useless junk of the AH! Why do you need it? Why? You can farm most crap yourself probably, and you really do not need to buy gear from AH while leveling.
I do not get the gold troubles, I am sorry, but I don't. I got rich through ZERO effort, all I did was not buy worthless stuff on AH, and farm what I need myself.
Natsumi Apr 14th 2009 12:06PM
Except not everyone repecs enough to justify the 1k cost. I personally haven't even spent 1k on respecs since 3.1, and as an Arms warrior, i have to respec when I get a new weapon type.
h8rain Apr 14th 2009 12:35PM
Please don't take this the wrong way (not trying to "sound" like an ass)
"Except not everyone repecs enough to justify the 1k cost."
That is my third point. If you don't "switch" that often, then just don't get dual specs. My druid and priest will have it tonight, but my warlock probably won't.
I just don't understand the QQ about an optional feature. It's not like respeccing is going to cost 1000 gold from now on. If its not a good deal, then you just don't buy it.
/shrug
Bifron Apr 14th 2009 10:21AM
@ cartman #15
You don't need to buy dual spec for every single character you have, you don't have to buy anything. I have a few 80's but they aren't all getting dual spec because some I only use for tanking heroics/raids, I have other characters to pvp on or do farming.
After you change your spec 20 times (At 50g a swap, not including changing glyph's) you will have spent the equivalent to the 1k gold needed for dual spec.
Icephoenix231 Apr 14th 2009 10:31AM
For what it's worth, it should probably be mentioned that changing specs will drain all of your energy/rage/runicpower/mana.
Grayone Apr 14th 2009 10:37AM
So, how much will it cost to change specs after you dual spec. For example, on my pally I spec ret and holy. What if I want to change to prot and holy? I am guessing that we are able to change one spec the way we would normally, by paying the incremental fee each time (until 50g).
JDM Apr 14th 2009 12:18PM
I've been wondering this for a very long time, and I'm not sure if there really is an answer, since respecs on test/beta usually only runs 1 copper.
I'm curious if you go to respec, if you pay the 50g (assuming you're capped on cost) and get both trees wiped, or just one?
Meh. We'll find out in an hour and a half. :p
josh Apr 14th 2009 1:15PM
Does anybody know if changing specs break stealth?
email Apr 14th 2009 1:56PM
Wow, I actually think they made dual-speccing too easy.
This game is about choices. Your spec choice is a major one. Now hybrids are going to be far too overpowered. Why would you even play a mage or warlock now? You are purposely limited yourself by picking these pure range DPS classes.
It should cost more than 1000g, at least as much as epic flying since it is an even bigger game changer. I think the Lexicon of Power requirement was a good choice. I don't like the idea of changing on the fly. It should have a penalty. I did like the idea that an inscriber could have a portable lexicon. Makes them more useful.
I also think you should only get one set of glyphs. Yeah, I can switch to tanking for this instance, but I won't be the best option. Fills the tank/healer need without making non-hybrids useless. This would also finally make inscription a long term money maker since people will want to to switch out their glyphs periodically.
Finally, yes, this feature is not casual friendly, but not everything has to be casual friendly. People who play more have more money and can do more in the game. That is not gonna change. And I'm sorry the others are right. Gold is so much easier to get these days. I used to always be broke in this game, but dailies make me more than enough money to fund my needs. I still can't afford a tundra mount, but I can get all the gems I need and consumable for playing very easily.
Gold sinks make everything in the game cheaper. Remember that casuals. When the hardcore can't afford items, prices come down. Plus they farm more and fill the auction house with those things you want to buy. You win with gold sinks.
darkboy69 Apr 14th 2009 3:12PM
What about the people who dont have a couple of level 80 s sitting idle to make gold for lower level characters how can we afforad to dual spec makeing a 1000g is not easy when you have to train every time you turn around. so how can we afforad to pay to dual spec
email Apr 14th 2009 3:55PM
Don't dual spec. This is meant for people who have been playing the game longer. Your first tune should be focused. That is how you learn the game. It's only later when you start playing with new classes and builds.
Sundar Apr 15th 2009 11:17AM
Im also a little confused - so you can have 2 specs, but what if you want to change one of those specs - do you need to pay to respec ?
Cruize Apr 15th 2009 10:22AM
1000g for an optional potential-money saving perk is nothing - it's comical that people are whining about it, enchanting both my weapons cost twice that. Nothing is stopping you from paying 50g to respec normally, if you don't think that paying 1k up front is a good saving, just don't do it.
My alts won't have it, but in a few hours my rogue will be happily switching between combat swords and OP-FoK spec :D
Cruize Apr 15th 2009 11:38AM
Yep afaik you pay Xg to respec whichever spec you have active at the time.