Epic Transformations: What to Expect in Phase 2 - Gnomeregan, PvP Event, and New Class Runes Unveiled
Blizzard has finally released the first look at Phase 2 of the Season of Discovery, introducing exciting new changes and some controversial rules on player interaction. For a full list of upcoming changes Blizzard has released a summary of the updates
Gnomeregan Raid Updates:
It has been several months since the information we first released that Gnomeregan would be the level 40 raid and Blizzard has released the first details about the changes they are making to the classic instance. Gnomeregan will receive a treatment similar to Blackfathom Depths, with changes in boss locations and the addition of new mechanics.
New loot, including major quality-of-life improvement items, is on the table. Notably, in Classic WoW, Druid players had to farm inventories full of the Manual Crowd Pumbler, a mace with an exceptionally overpowered activated ability. This tedious grind has been replaced by the new Automatic Crowd Pumbler, a version of the weapon with unlimited use.
Addressing a missed element from Phase 1, tier tokens are now included in raid rewards, purchasable from a vendor to enhance gearing efficiency. Additionally, new crafting recipes have been introduced, allowing players with the highest level of their professions to obtain powerful new pieces of gear. Players leveling from 25 to 40 will still find a reason to complete Blackfathom Depths, as it now offers a substantial amount of XP upon completion.
New PvP Event "The Blood Moon", PVP Changes
Stranglethorn Vale will host a new PvP event called "The Blood Moon," focusing more on small-group PvP. The event implements a system that actively punishes players attempting to group in large raids, a departure from the Phase 1 Ashenvale event that highly encouraged raid groups. The developers provided limited information, but they mentioned that both the new and old events will occur on a 3-hour timer. Players uninterested in participating in World PvP can choose to opt out.
The PvP event brings new rewards, some likely to be best-in-slot items, and new quests to ease the traditionally arduous Arathi Basin reputation grind. PvP, in general, is undergoing a bit of a rework, with efforts to match groups of players against each other and random lobbies against other random lobbies.
Updates to professions
One of the most well-received adjustments that Blizzard introduced in Phase 1 of the Season of Discovery was the overhaul of Professions. The addition of new gear and money-making methods constituted a subtle modification that significantly influenced the gameplay experience, particularly for economically focused players on servers. To build on this positive trend, developers are now introducing new epic gear, and they will probably persist in tying new runes and abilities to items exclusively obtainable through professions.
New Class Runes: New runes are being added for all classes, featuring runes for the newly introduced Boots and Belt rune slots. At least two new runes for each class have been shown so far, with Shamans having three new runes revealed.
Druid Runes
The two newly revealed runes signify a shift in the Druid Class's approach to dealing damage, encompassing both feral combat melee DPS and ranged spellcasting. Eclipse, a renowned feature in the modern WoW Druid class, makes its debut in the Season of Discovery, bringing with it a distinctive touch. Additionally, King of the Jungle introduces fresh gameplay opportunities for cat enthusiasts, offering a novel experience within the Druid class.
Paladin Runes
The Paladin Class welcomes two new runes, "Sheath of Light" and "Guarded by the Light." These runes distinctly impact healing-focused Paladin builds. "Sheath of Light" enhances damage output while simultaneously increasing healing potential. On the other hand, "Guarded by the Light" offers enhanced mana sustain, albeit with the trade-off of reduced healing efficacy from some of the commonly utilized healing spells.
Hunter Runes
The eagerly anticipated Melee Hunter runes have arrived! Hunters can now utilize the "Melee Specialist" rune to enhance the effectiveness of their melee range spells and amplify the damage dealt with their various "hunter weapons". Additionally, the introduction of the "Trap Launcher" rune brings a beloved quality-of-life change from future expansions.
Warrior Runes
“Rallying Cry” is making its way to Season of Discovery, allowing a warrior more options to buff their teammates, and “Blood Surge” will be there for warriors looking to deal more damage
Rouge Runes
In Phase 1, Rogues acquired a rune to boost their ranged damage with guns, bows, and crossbows. Now, with "Shuriken Toss," players favoring thrown weapons gain an opportunity to deal damage to groups of enemies. "Master of Subtlety" is set to thrill World PvP enthusiasts: Rogues equipped with this rune can inflict increased damage for a brief duration after exiting stealth.
Preist Runes
Shadow Priests are about to enjoy additional options for dealing damage, thanks to the upcoming "Mind Spike" rune and the stacking "Shadowfrost" debuff, which synergizes seamlessly with "Mind Blast." Adding to the excitement, "Pain Suppression" will now be available as a rune, much to the delight of tanks everywhere. As a rune, "Pain Suppression" seems accessible to all Priests, irrespective of their specialization, as long as they are comfortable forgoing other boot runes.
Warlock Runes
"Invocation" is poised to be an excellent quality-of-life improvement and DPS boost for warlocks who prefer a Damage over Time-based playstyle. "Dance of the Wicked" is set to enhance the damage mitigation capabilities of Warlocks
Mage Runes
Equipping the new "Missile Barrage" rune will transform Mages into arcane damage powerhouses, akin to magical machine guns. For support-oriented Mages, the introduction of "Chronostatic Preservation" adds a new healing spell to their arsenal, providing enhanced burst healing capabilities compared to what they have had previously.
Shaman Runes
Unlike other classes, Shamans have three runes previewed. "Maelstrom Weapon," a staple of enhancement shaman gameplay, is being introduced to increase the damage or healing output of a shaman, utilizing maelstrom stacks generated through melee attacks. The new "Spirit of the Alpha" rune enables Shamans to buff a target with the ability to generate 45% more threat; fingers crossed for self-casting capabilities! Lastly, "Two-Handed Mastery" grants Shamans the opportunity to invest in a rewarding two-handed melee DPS build, addressing a notable absence in Phase 1.
No More GDKP Runs: In a controversial move, Blizzard is set to implement a policy that brings an end to GDKP (Gold-DKP) runs. These runs involve experienced mercenary players guiding less seasoned ones through raid content in exchange for in-game currency, creating a transactional approach to acquiring gear. GDKP runs have been an integral part of the WoW Classic experience since its inception, contributing significantly to social interactions, especially on larger servers.
Blizzard contends that GDKP runs disincentivize players from joining guilds and transform the end-user experience into a more transactional and less community-driven process. The upcoming changes raise questions about their potential impact on server economies and the feasibility and enforceability of such bans on player behavior. The community awaits with interest to see how these alterations will shape the dynamics of in-game interactions and transactions.
Nate is an esports enthusiast with a passion for RTS, MMORPG, and Platform Fighters! He is putting his years of professional marketing experience to work writing about the games he loves. He can be found regularly on Super Smash Brothers Melee broadcasts around the country as a commentator. Outside of esports, Nate loves to practice Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu (he has his purple belt) and pursue fitness. He also has a love for outdoor adventure and exploration.