Last Week in WoW: Patch 5.2 roundup edition
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Mar 5th 2013 at 9:00AM
In our roundup below you'll find plenty of guides to new features, new class changes, new raids, and new loot. Whether you're waiting to patch, waiting for the servers to come back up, or just waiting to get home and play, you'll want to read up and jump on the servers with some extra knowledge under your belt.
Hot news and features
- Read up on the latest PTR patch notes.
- Want to get your hands on the new patch 5.2 mounts? We have a guide to getting them.
- Check out our preview galaxy of the Isle of Thunder, the main questing zone in patch 5.2. We also have a look at the in-game introduction to the zone.
- Before you ask: No, you will not be able to fly around in the new zone.
- We also have an early looks at the Isle of Giants, another mysterious new area opening in the patch.
- Want to get to the Throne of Thunder raid zone? We have a guide to getting there.
- Check out Blizzard's official preview of the Throne of Thunder raid. They also have an official patch preview blog covering the new daily area and more.
- The development team has been busy discussing patch 5.2 all around the web, and we have a roundup of the interviews.
- Blizzard's released some pretty awesome trailers for this patch, including the early preview trailer and the finalized official trailer.
- Stormwind and Orgrimmar will see some minor changes and repairs in patch 5.2.
- A new world boss, Oondasta, will roam the land, and he has some uniquely named loot.
- Patch 5.2 will feature some new spell effects.
Class changes
- Lichborne checks out the new unholy buffs in patch 5.2. We also talked about the tier 15 set bonuses for death knight.
- Encrypted Text discusses the basics of the patch 5.2 rogue. There's also discussion to be had about the Blade Flurry changes and Smoke Bomb's new trick.
- Scattered Shots tells you everything a hunter needs to know about patch 5.2.
- Our patch 5.2 preview for monks is so big it comes in two parts.
- The Light And How To Swing It discusses patch 5.2 for protection paladins and retribution paladins.
- Totem Talk talks about the tier 15 restoration set bonuses.
- Shifting Perspectives takes a look at patch 5.2 for druids.
- Spiritual Guidance reviews the latest priest changes for patch 5.2.
- Warlocks, check out our guide to getting green fire in patch 5.2. If you get tired of it later, don't worry, you can toggle it.
- We have have a discussion of patch 5.2 class changes for warlocks.
- Patch 5.2 was a roller coaster for warriors. After the preliminary discussion of the changes, some haste changes were reverted. Here's Rossi's latest word on warrior change.
- Yoon will give you control of his farm in patch 5.2, and you'll be able to do work orders for extra reputation with Pandarian factions.
- The Isle of Thunder zone will consist of unlockable segments unlocked by your server's daily completions.
- You'll be able to choose between PvE or PvP focused dailies every day at the Isle of Thunder.
- Getting tired of dailies? You can now earn bonus faction reputation from your first random scenario and dungeon of the day, and all it takes is the click of a button in the dungeon finder interface.
- Wrathion's legendary quest line continues in patch 5.2 and this time he'll reward legendary meta gems. If you want spoilers, check out these datamined sound files of Wrathion's dialogue.
- Check out our gallery of the tier 15 raid sets, as well as Blizzard's official preview.
- Your valor points will not reset today.
- As of patch 5.2, you will no longer be able to upgrade gear with your extra points.
- Patch 5.2's new valor gear is not tied to the daily faction.
- Thunderforged gear, which will be a few ilevels above normal raid gear, will drop in normal and heroic raids in patch 5.2.
- Patch 5.0 Raid Finder raids will drop more loot in patch 5.2 to help you catch up. In addition, Patch 5.0 raids will be nerfed by 10% in patch 5.2. Finally, you'll be able to cross-realm raid in patch 5.0 raids.
- Elder Charms of Good Fortune now stack to 20, but you'll need a new type of charm to get extra rolls in Throne of Thunder.
- Cache bags from Raid Finder will have a chance for extra stuff in patch 5.2, including high vendor value grey items, pets, mounts, consumables, and more.
- The item level to get into the Throne of Thunder raid finder version is ilevel 480.
Throne of Thunder is the new patch 5.2 raid zone, and it features a whole lot of raid bosses. Our intrepid writers were on the PTR fighting them, and bought back reports on these new targets. You can check them out below.
- Horridon
- Iron Qon
- Lei Shen
- Tortos
- Megaera
- Jin'Rokh the Breaker
- Twin Consorts
- Dark Animus
- Durumu the Forgotten
- Ji-Kun
- Primordius
- Council of Elders
- There's new fishing events and fishing battle pets coming with patch 5.2.
- We have a guide to profiting from the new patch 5.2 jewelcrafting changes.
- Archaeology features new mantid dig sites in patch 5.2.
- Patch 5.2 will have a new way to power level blacksmithing.
- The PvP interface is getting a makeover.
- Want to PvP in patch 5.2? We'll help you get ready.
- Dinosaur mounts are coming as reputation rewards in patch 5.2.
- You'll be able to trade in old hierlooms for new, upgraded versions in patch 5.2.
- You'll be able to dig up old Zul'Gurub transmog looks.
- Transmogrification restrictions on weapon types have been relaxed.
- Like grinding? If you kill lots of dinosaurs on the Isle of Giants, you can get fabulous prizes.
- Darkmoon Faire will offer new prizes in the form of more hats.
- There's a new pet battle quest line for the Beasts of Fable.
- The triple turkey pet battle strategy has been nerfed in patch 5.2 thanks to some crowd control changes.
- New pets in the PTR files include new Zandalari raptors.
- Check out some of the latest pet battle changes from patch 5.2.
- Want to catch up on patch 5.2 lore? Check out some of our datamined lore spoilers. For deeper insight, look up our articles on the lore leading up to patch 5.2, the blood elves, Jaina Proudmoore, the Zandalari, and Lei Shen himself.
Filed under: Realm Status, News items
