Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsCataclysm class previews coming soon
by Alex Ziebart 
Apr 6th 2010 at 3:04AM
- Shaman - April 7
- Priest - April 7
- Warlock - April 7
- Warrior - April 8
- Death Knight - April 8
- Rogue - April 8
- Hunter - April 9
- Druid - April 9
- Mage - April 9
- Paladin - April 16 (More details on this in the blue post)
Bashiok -- Cataclysm class change previewsBeginning Wednesday, April 7 we will begin releasing class previews containing an overview of some of the changes currently being planned for each of the 10 World of Warcraft classes. The type of information you can expect from these posts are a list of the new spells from 80-85, the new passive mastery bonuses for all talent trees, a brief outline of some of the talent changes we're currently planning, and in some cases new low level spells for select classes.
These changes will by no means be comprehensive, and are subject to change between now and the launch of the expansion. It's also important to understand that some classes are currently further along in the development process than others, and as a result the amount of information will vary from class to class. Please do not let this frustrate you should your class be amongst those which are on the "lighter" side of things, as all classes will receive the same level of design attention before the expansion is released. Additionally we'll be providing more information for all classes, especially as we move into the beta phase.
Below is the schedule for each class:
Shaman - April 7
Priest - April 7
Warlock - April 7
Warrior - April 8
Death Knight - April 8
Rogue - April 8
Hunter - April 9
Druid - April 9
Mage - April 9
Paladin - April 16*
These posts are being coordinated internationally so they'll be posted at different times throughout the day and night on the given dates to give players around the world the ability to see posts made at a convenient time. This thread will be updated with links directly to each class preview as they're posted.
*The paladin is still deep in development. Instead of giving a preview that would be potentially less comprehensive than the other classes we made the decision to post it when it's ready, in order to properly honor the paladin class and those that play them. The wait isn't too long however as we're expecting to be able to post it on April 16.
These changes will by no means be comprehensive, and are subject to change between now and the launch of the expansion. It's also important to understand that some classes are currently further along in the development process than others, and as a result the amount of information will vary from class to class. Please do not let this frustrate you should your class be amongst those which are on the "lighter" side of things, as all classes will receive the same level of design attention before the expansion is released. Additionally we'll be providing more information for all classes, especially as we move into the beta phase.
Below is the schedule for each class:
Shaman - April 7
Priest - April 7
Warlock - April 7
Warrior - April 8
Death Knight - April 8
Rogue - April 8
Hunter - April 9
Druid - April 9
Mage - April 9
Paladin - April 16*
These posts are being coordinated internationally so they'll be posted at different times throughout the day and night on the given dates to give players around the world the ability to see posts made at a convenient time. This thread will be updated with links directly to each class preview as they're posted.
*The paladin is still deep in development. Instead of giving a preview that would be potentially less comprehensive than the other classes we made the decision to post it when it's ready, in order to properly honor the paladin class and those that play them. The wait isn't too long however as we're expecting to be able to post it on April 16.
Filed under: Druid, Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior, News items, Death Knight, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 7 of 8)
SpaceGoatPriest Apr 6th 2010 5:11PM
Please don't nerf shadow. Please don't nerf shadow. Please don't nerf shadow.
youtubepoop911 Apr 6th 2010 11:54AM
i hope they make hunters have new abilitys like a blizzard volley or a flame volley or something =).
jjtwalton Apr 6th 2010 12:20PM
PLEASE give Warriors a fun 11-point Arms Talent and Enraged Regen at level 18...
Better yet.. make all 11-point talents the fun one. Storm Strike, Crusader Strike, Water Elemental, Mangle... whatever the other classes are. Starting off as a noob with no buttons to push blows hard..
clundgren Apr 6th 2010 3:59PM
^ this!
Auto-attack does not make for fun and interesting leveling!
brian Apr 6th 2010 8:54PM
Changing Heroic Strike will help somewhat, as they're removing next-attack moves. So, it'll be a normal instant strike.
I definitely agree that starting with no cool moves does make it boring for a new player. Casters mostly have it ok, as they get a spell to use, although it generally ends up being single spell spam. For melee, the sooner they can add a move to use, the better.
jjtwalton Apr 6th 2010 12:25PM
Oh... while you're at it. I want Charge in all stances while in combat... There's no reason not to... I mean, I can't kill anything as a Warrior. People make me a sheep and trap me and then their pet traps me and then the Mage traps me and then the Paladin stuns me.
Why the hell can't I kill them all 1 vs 5. I'm rly tough and got some Heirlooms. :o DOn't let them stun me, ples.
Aralo Apr 6th 2010 12:44PM
This is interesting. The news will bring the hate later. however, until then the moaning and whining should stop. We do not know about any nerfs at the moment, but also we don't know about any buffs going on. Yes nerfs will occur to balance some classes out, but just remember they are trying to balance each class so maybe pallys wont be the number 1 favored or played class. That doesn't mean pallys wont be fun to play and that people won't want to play them still. So till your info comes out, wait for tomorrow and prepare for the day of days.
Also known as the Pew Pew followed by QQ
VegetaPrime Apr 6th 2010 3:05PM
"Yes nerfs will occur to balance some classes out, but just remember they are trying to balance each class so maybe pallys wont be the number 1 favored or played class. That doesn't mean pallys wont be fun to play and that people won't want to play them still."
If the intention of a nerf is to make people want to play another class because the nerfed class is popular then there WILL be less people playing said class. You basically contradict your self in the span of 2 sentences.
clundgren Apr 6th 2010 4:04PM
Why all discussions of nerfs come so quickly to paladins, ret paladins in particular?
Please, please, please look at the data for ICC and arenas before reinforcing the "ret is OPed" myth! You'll find that ret is a bottom tier dps class in ICC, and scarcely found in top arena brackets.
Go after the fury warriors, rogues, and arcane mages if you must talk about nerfs. Leave us alone!
BTW, contrary to popular belief DKs are a low dps class atm also. Leave them alone. And for God's sake, Blizzard, give the Shamen some love!
spach1975 Apr 6th 2010 12:48PM
"...deep in development..." i.e. "we want to take our time and nerf it good" :)
Joester Apr 6th 2010 1:33PM
Paladin - April 16 (More details on this in the blue post)
aka Pally's Ret DPS will now begin to suck again like Pre-BC
Heather Apr 6th 2010 1:53PM
Actually...
As a Shaman player, I'm -livid- over the dispel changes. I really don't see myself playing a Shaman in the expansion -- if I even pick up the expansion at all. Which is seeming iffy at this point.
Doma Apr 6th 2010 2:06PM
I was feeling like this too. Maybe they anticipated Shaman outrage and put us first. They probably waited for these class previews to be ready before announcing the dispel mechanics.
So... Yeah. Tomorrow. I'm holding my breath and making plans.
Nxwtypx Apr 6th 2010 4:29PM
Looks like the paladin nerf has a longer casting time (and therefore higher spell power coefficient) than the other nerfs they're casting...
Yikes.
clundgren Apr 6th 2010 4:55PM
Honestly, I do expect a significant change to ret paladins. It just doesn't make sense for a plate-wearing, 2-hand weapon wielding melee class to be the lords of AoE damage. We should be a "wack something with heavy object over and over class" not a "spinning whirlwind of randomness" class.
They gave us divine storm so that we would have *some* AoE utility, doubled down with seal of cleave, and doubled down again with our tier 10 bonus. So now we've gone from being primary single target dps to being primary multiple target dps. But you get the feeling that at some level designers are scratching their heads and wondering how ret paladins turned into the AoE class.
Nxwtypx Apr 6th 2010 5:04PM
My above comment was an attempt at idiotic WoW humor.
Can't say I disagree with the retribution AoE issue, DS + SoC + t10 does make the retribution paladin a whirling dervish of AoE, a plate one at that.
I'd like to see single target damage increased (in a sustained capacity, if not a burst instead, yum!) at the cost of AoE.
Grovinofdarkhour Apr 6th 2010 6:02PM
So... are they (FINALLY) going to do something about the fact that the supposed "purest, most quintessential healing class" still doesn't have a battle rez?
Ztk Apr 6th 2010 8:20PM
O/////O awesome never thought this would be out so soon
someone473 Apr 6th 2010 9:09PM
Personally, I'm getting prepared for my hopes and dreams about the shaman class to be smashed.
Grumosho Apr 7th 2010 1:40AM
"Because GC hates Paladins.
And let's face it-- most of the playerbase does too. It's harmless to nerf paladins. Everybody loves a good Paladin nerf-- the people who are bad at PvP can cheer knowing they can go on being bad, and the people who are bad at PvE simply will not care, because Ret Paladins are not exactly thick on the ground. The rest of us will just go Holy after Prot is rendered useless.
We're not cynical in expecting Cata class 'updates' to ruin Paladin-- we just remember our history."
Except that ghostcrawler doesnt hate paladins and there is no reason to think so
and most people dont hate paladins, they just hate losing. The whole "I hate you" thought process is just a way of venting frustration for hating the situation. a Arms warrior will say he hates pallies when he "steals" their dps plate, a mage will hate em when he "steals" a caster ring. Will hate em when he loses to him cus they are great at what they do, and love them when a pally owns face in their name, uber tanks something or lets nothing die despite the odds.
No one hates paladins, there are merely people who dont understand their own misfocused emotions.
and the fact that you assume ghostcrawler hates something he devotes so much time to (the fact that he puts up with the forums AT ALL should show his good will) and that most players hate it shows you ARE cynical.
Paladins where good at what they did, then they became Gods, then they where towned down to mini gods and now they are just simply as good as everyone else, essentially.