Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. As I'm sure you've heard, the big news of the week is patch 5.0.4. It's dropping today, and with it come most of the major mechanical changes of the Mists of Pandaria expansion. Not sure what's happening? We have our own rundown of what to expect with the patch, and Blizzard has a patch 5.0.4 survival guide of their own.

In addition, you'll want to read on, because we have plenty of class- and feature-specific guides to help you get a handle on what's changed, and we'll posting more of them over the rest of the day today. Downtime today begins at 3 a.m. PDT and is expected to last for at least eight hours as of this writing, so you should have plenty of time to catch up. Read on for more patch 5.0.4 advice and news.

Hot news and features

• World of Warcraft Remote Services are now free to all subscribers. In addition, former subscribers get a free Lil' XT to keep or give away.
• Blizzard recently clarified the currency conversions coming in patch 5.0.4 and beyond.
• Patch 5.0.4 will end the current arena PvP season.
• The Theramore scenario will not be available for a few more weeks.
• Hit and expertise will be changing in patch 5.0.4 in ways you may not expect.
• Rossi muses on the trials and tribulations of adjusting to patch 5.0.4.
• Raid finder loot rules are changing, and they'll apply even to guild runs. Blizzard's also clarified where the raid finder is meant to fit in gearing progression.

• Check out our look at the Brewmoon Festival, one of the new Mists of Pandaria scenarios.
• Challenge mode testing is now open on the Mists beta.
• Blizzard has released some new official Mists of Pandaria previews. In addition, the official WoW facebook page will be starting a 12-day preview of the expansion on Sept. 12.
• Amazon and Gamestop are offering free beta keys with your Mists of Pandaria preorder.
• Gamescom featured opportunities for Q&A with Blizzard devs. Find out what we learned.
• The new WoW novel Tides of War releases today, and we have an interview with the author, Christie Golden.
• WoW Insider's transmogrification contest is over. Check out the runners-up and the winners.

Class news and guides

• Encrypted Text has advice for being ready for patch 5.0.4 as a rogue.
• Scattered Shots helps your hunter adapt to patch 5.0.4.
• Totem Talk prepares enhancement shaman for patch 5.0.4.
• Shifting Perspectives offers a guide to patch 5.0.4 for feral and balance druids.
• Blood Pact offers a warlock's guide to patch 5.0.4.
• Lichborne offers a guide for PvE frost death knights in patch 5.0.4 and Mists of Pandaria.
• The Care And Feeding of Warriors has a guide to the arms spec in Mists of Pandaria.
• The Light And How To Swing It has a guide to protection paladins in patch 5.0.4. We also help you customize your retribution paladin in Mists.
• Arcane Brilliance looks at the spell rotation for a Mists of Pandaria mage.
• Joe argues for healing raid dummies.

Dungeons, items, professions, PvP, and more

• Addon Spotlight lists some addons that are working for patch 5.0.4.
• El's Anglin' has a guide to becoming a realm-first Zen Master Angler in Mists of Pandaria.
• WoW Archivist looks back at some of the most egregious raid exploits of yesteryear.
• Rossi argues that it's not Blizzard's responsibility to keep raiders from burning themselves out on the raid finder in pursuit of stop-gap gear.

Odds and ends

• Know Your Lore discusses Nazgrim and Taylor, two up-and-coming lore figures and faction partisans who take an expanded role in Mists of Pandaria.
• Blizzard recently recommended some external resources for all your WoW needs. WoW Insider, of course, was on that list.
• 15 Minutes of Fame is looking for people to interview.

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Filed under: Realm Status, News items