Patch 5.3 is here. As you read this, the servers should be down to apply the patch. This means you'll want to use this time get caught up on all the latest patch 5.3 news, which, as always, you can find right here. Start off with our patch 5.3 roundup for an overview of everything. You'll also want to check out our exclusive interview with Lead Systems Designer Greg Ghostcrawler Street. Gamebreaker TV also did an interview with Ghostcrawler and Senior PvP Designer Brian Holinka.

You can also check the roundup below for more of this week's WoW news, from patch 5.3 and elsewhere. Realm maintenance begins at 3 a.m. PDT today and is expected to last 8 hours, so you'll have time.

Hot news and features

• Here's what WoW newbies should know about new patches.
• We have a guide to the lore and story of patch 5.3.
• Patch 5.3 will allow you level mining and herbalism exclusively in Pandaria.
• We have a roundup of patch 5.3's battle pet changes.
• We have a preview of some new patch 5.3 scenarios, including The Secrets of Ragefire and Battle on the High Seas.
• Blizzard has posted some patch 5.3 interviews of their with Tom Chilton.
• Check out the final patch 5.3 PTR note updates for March 14.
• Ghostcrawler outlines some Vengeance changes coming to the patch 5.4 PTR.
• Convert to Raid interviews Blizzard's Lead Encounter Designer Ion Hazzikostas.

Class news and guides

• Blood Pact catches up on patch 5.3 for warlocks.
• Should you be playing a druid? We'll help you decide.
• The Light And How To Swing It has a Throne of Thunder cheat sheet for retribution paladins.
• Encrypted Text has a list of 5 essential rogue macros.
• The Care And Feeding of Warriors looks at warrior representation in the current game.
• Lichborne discusses the possible death of festerblight.

Dungeons, items, professions, PvP, and more

• Gold Capped helps you end those pesky AH scans forever.
• Blood Sport answers your patch 5.3 PvP questions.
• Ghostcrawler recently commented that people think there's more raiders and multiboxers than there actually are.

Odds and ends

• Know Your Lore discusses the magical backstory of the original worgen and theorizes about the true nature of ancients and celestials.
• Check out a new warrior card for the Hearthstone card game.
• Dawn of the Aspects IV is out. Check out this preview and our review.
• WoW TCG designers Cryptozoic just met their goal on a Kickstarter for a computer game of their own.
• Blizzard COO Paul Sams and the University of Texas are launching a game design academy.

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Filed under: Realm Status, News items