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by Chase Hasbrouck 
Nov 25th 2011 at 5:00PM
A few days ago, Blizzard launched its official Mists of Pandaria talent calculator, which also contained a full list of abilities for each class, complete with the level learned and tooltips. Several new abilities were revealed, as well as changes to existing abilities. Some of the highlights:
- Druid: Symbiosis (level 87) Creates a symbiotic link which grants the druid one ability belonging to the target's class, varying by the druid's specialization. In exchange, grants the target one druid ability based on their class and combat role.
- Mage: Alter Time (level 87) Instant, 3-minute cooldown. Alter the fabric of time, causing the caster to return to their current location, health, mana, and conditions after 4 seconds. Effect negated if the caster dies within the 4 seconds before the effect occurs.
- Paladin: Blinding Light (level 87) Instant, 3-minute cooldown. Emits a dazzling light in all directions, blinding enemies within 10 yards, causing them to wander disoriented for 6 seconds.
- Rogue: Dispatch (level 70, assassination) Instant, 30 energy, melee range. A vicious strike that exploits the vulnerability of foes with less than 35% health remaining, causing 200% weapon damage plus 766 to the target. Requires a dagger in the main hand. Awards 1 combo point.
- Warlock: Demonic Portal (level 88) 70-yard range, 5-second cast. Create a demonic gateway between two locations. Stepping into the gateway causes any party member to be instantly transported to the other gateway. Limit 5 charges.
Ths possibilities behind Symbiosis are incredible. A moonkin Heroic Leaping to safety in PvP? Bears borrowing pally shields to finally get their ranged silence? Resto shaman begging for an Innervate? (Wait, that happens already.)
Alter Time is also super cool and really increases the Arcane flavor of the class. "Hi, I just hit you with a cooldown-boosted stacked Arcane Blast ... and now, I will do it again." I see mages figuring out just how far they can fall in 4 seconds, in order to troll their raid leaders.
Check out the full list of changes and new abilities at Wowhead News.
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria is the next expansion, raising the level cap to 90, introducing a brand new talent system, and bringing forth the long-lost pandaren race to both Horde and Alliance. Check out the trailer and follow us for all the latest MoP news!
Filed under: Mists of Pandaria
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Will Nov 25th 2011 6:04PM
The new warlock ability is a triumph. I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS!! It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.
malaika Nov 25th 2011 8:26PM
As an afflic lock, I do what I must because I can. For the good of all the raid (except the ones who are dead).
themightysven Nov 25th 2011 6:11PM
with Symbiosis, even though it Says by their role, I'm wondering what happens when say a Bear uses symbiosis on a, say, Fire Mage or Disc Priest.
Boobah Nov 25th 2011 6:33PM
It doesn't say the druid's ability gained depends on the target's spec, but rather their class.
Each class (not spec!) donates one of four abilities, depending on the druid's spec. This means any paladin will give a resto druid... Divine Plea, say, whether or not that particular paladin has the ability, while that same paladin gives a kitty Divine Storm as a finisher.
Meanwhile, each class/role combination gains a druid ability. Presumably all magi will get the same ability (a version of Insect Swarm, perhaps, to buff their nukes?), which may or may not be the same ability warlocks get (Moonfire, maybe, because clearly warlocks need more DoTs).
The whole thing sounds like a balancing nightmare, though.
Zodiac Nov 26th 2011 4:06AM
Heh, how about rogues getting Savage Roar to supplement their Slice and Dice. I love how long Savage Roar lasts, and rogues doing 80% more damage with auto attacks sounds nasty. Probably most beneficial to Combat Rogues? Subtlety Rogues get Rake perhaps? Not sure about Assassination. They seem pretty set on Envenom as the finisher.
Maybe tanks could straight up get bear form with the armor multiplier? Probably Might of Ursoc, but imagine the armor on plate classes getting 120% bonus and Stamina and extra 20%.
Mages will get... Teleport: Moonglade! (seriously Omen of Clarity? I don't know. Innervate?)
Hunters... Track Humanoids! (Probably Hibernate actually)
Healers nab Tranquility.
Elemental Shaman... Hurricane? and Typhoon for Enhancement?
Locks probably Innervate or Omen of Clarity. Oh, how about Remove Corruption, lol? Too bad Feral and Guardian don't have access to that or Revive (seriously Blizzard? Just restoration has the out-of-combat heal?)
Geez, if Symbiosis really gets any ability a Druid could have from any spec... Lord, the possibilities are FRIGHTENING. Berserk Rogue? Tiger's Fury? Tiger's Fury for Death Knights giving them 60 Runic Power? I really wouldn't be surprised to see Trade Chat calling "Raid, 25 man. Need 12 Druids. Full on other classes." Just depends on what Blizzard lets people have I guess.
Al Nov 25th 2011 6:32PM
Blinding Light - Holy Wrath's big brother is coming to get you.
logicalfundy Nov 25th 2011 6:45PM
This is going to be fun as a mage . . .
1. Cast Alter Time outside of the fire.
2. Stand in the fire.
3. Drive the healer crazy :D.
Ohh, this is so going to be trolled by mages everywhere . . .
. . . although it could be put to very good use as well. Time it just right during a boss fight, and you can be a bit more brave, as long as you don't kill yourself.
Also could be good for PvP - cast Alter Time, run away from somebody, end up behind the person chasing you. If you time it right, you could freeze them just before being tossed back, allowing you to DPS from a distance.
Would be a good spell to use just before any major battle, in fact. If you know you're going to be hurt in a battle - case the spell, engage in battle, and a bit later you'll be back to full strength.
I do wish Blizzard would put more fun spells like these in the game - too bad they often get nerfed/removed >.
Nathanyel Nov 25th 2011 6:56PM
Unless the 70y range on Demonic Portal means distance between portals that are created at the *current position* of the warlock, I expect heavy exploration and trash circumvention in dungeons :P
Because, a portal that can be projected at any point in LoS within 70y - c'mon, many of us should be able to think with portals by now :)
Dementron Nov 25th 2011 11:36PM
I want to abuse this ability so much.
Hal Nov 25th 2011 6:57PM
Okay, not that some of those abilities don't sound neat. But Symbiosis sounds wickedly cool. It feels like Druids are getting a lot of attention for MoP.
dracordes Nov 25th 2011 7:09PM
Unless I missed something, Dispatch is just backstab with murderous intent baked in and a slightly cheaper energy cost. So it's just a new name for an old ability.
Then again, the other abilites are level 85+ and dispatch is level 70...
splodesondeath Nov 26th 2011 9:46AM
BLINDED BY THE LIIIIGHT!
Shrikesnest Nov 27th 2011 1:15AM
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night!
wyndy Nov 26th 2011 11:39AM
Symbiosis at first sounded fun to me until I realized, remembering some of the past pains with who gets dark intent, which dps boosting totem the shaman will drop, etc. The competition between our dpsers is so fierce at times I can forsee, as one of only two raiding druids currently, this quickly becoming a pain in the butt. Not to mention if it works that the recipient gets the spell based on their spec in return so that any specced druid could give it to them. That potentially means I will probably have to endure non stop whispers especially when I try to pug encounters.
Also, I would love it if blizz would finally give the OPTIONS for social encounters that other games I play have ie being able to turn off whispers, invites, and even the ability to hide the fact that I am online. There are days I escape to other realms purposefully so as not to be bothered by people who's company I normally enjoy, it would be nice if I could play my main character and not feel guilty if I don't want to join in the current activity.