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Battle for Azeroth Beta Build 26530 Talent Changes

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The latest Beta Build 26530 brings many talent changes to Unholy Death Knights and Protection Warriors!

Welcome to our preview of the latest talent changes as of Beta Build 26530. The update primarily affects Unholy Death Knights and Protection Warriors. Both specializations received overhauls and this is the first preview of talent updates since the game entered Beta testing.

We updated our Battle for Azeroth Class Changes to correspond with all changes listed below and you can find more information about Battle for Azeroth by visiting our Expansion Hub.

Death Knight

Blood

Level Talent 1 Talent 2 Talent 3
56 HeartbreakerHeartbreaker BlooddrinkerBlooddrinker Rune StrikeRune Strike *new*
57 Rapid DecompositionRapid Decomposition HemostasisHemostasis *new* ConsumptionConsumption *new*
58 Will of the NecropolisWill of the Necropolis Anti-Magic BarrierAnti-Magic Barrier Rune TapRune Tap
60 Tightening GraspTightening Grasp Grip of the DeadGrip of the Dead *new* Wraith WalkWraith Walk *new*
75 Foul BulwarkFoul Bulwark OssuaryOssuary TombstoneTombstone
90 VoraciousVoracious *new* BloodwormsBloodworms Mark of BloodMark of Blood
100 PurgatoryPurgatory Red ThirstRed Thirst BonestormBonestorm

Frost

Level Talent 1 Talent 2 Talent 3
56 Runic AttenuationRunic Attenuation Icy TalonsIcy Talons Shattering StrikesShattering Strikes
57 Freezing FogFreezing Fog Murderous EfficiencyMurderous Efficiency Horn of WinterHorn of Winter
58 IcecapIcecap AvalancheAvalanche Glacial AdvanceGlacial Advance
60 Abomination's MightAbomination's Might Winter is ComingWinter is Coming Blinding SleetBlinding Sleet
75 PermafrostPermafrost Wraith WalkWraith Walk *new* Inexorable AssaultInexorable Assault
90 Gathering StormGathering Storm Frozen PulseFrozen Pulse FrostscytheFrostscythe
100 Hungering Rune WeaponHungering Rune Weapon ObliterationObliteration Breath of SindragosaBreath of Sindragosa

Unholy

Level Talent 1 Talent 2 Talent 3
56 Infected ClawsInfected Claws All Will ServeAll Will Serve Clawing ShadowsClawing Shadows
57 Pestilent PustulesPestilent Pustules Inevitable DoomInevitable Doom *new* Soul ReaperSoul Reaper
58 Bursting SoresBursting Sores Ebon FeverEbon Fever Unholy BlightUnholy Blight *new*
60 Debilitating InfestationDebilitating Infestation Death's ReachDeath's Reach *new* AsphyxiateAsphyxiate
75 Spell EaterSpell Eater Wraith WalkWraith Walk *new* Death PactDeath Pact *new*
90 Corpse ExplosionCorpse Explosion *new* DefileDefile EpidemicEpidemic
100 Dark InfusionDark Infusion  Unholy FrenzyUnholy Frenzy Summon GargoyleSummon Gargoyle *new*

Druid

New Baseline Spells

Rogue

Subtlety

Level Talent 1 Talent 2 Talent 3
15 WeaponmasterWeaponmaster Find WeaknessFind Weakness GloombladeGloomblade
30 NightstalkerNightstalker SubterfugeSubterfuge Shadow FocusShadow Focus
45 VigorVigor Deeper StratagemDeeper Stratagem Marked for DeathMarked for Death
60 Soothing DarknessSoothing Darkness ElusivenessElusiveness Cheat DeathCheat Death
75 Shot in the DarkShot in the Dark *new* Strike from the ShadowsStrike from the Shadows Prey on the WeakPrey on the Weak
90 Dark ShadowDark Shadow AlacrityAlacrity Enveloping ShadowsEnveloping Shadows
100 Master of ShadowsMaster of Shadows Coming SoonComing Soon Death from AboveDeath from Above

Paladin

Holy

Protection

Shaman

Restoration

Level Talent 1 Talent 2 Talent 3
15 TorrentTorrent UndulationUndulation Unleash LifeUnleash Life
30 Crashing WavesCrashing Waves DelugeDeluge Earth ShieldEarth Shield
45 Spirit WolfSpirit Wolf *new* Earthgrab TotemEarthgrab Totem Static ChargeStatic Charge *new*
60 Ancestral VigorAncestral Vigor Earthen Shield TotemEarthen Wall Totem Ancestral Protection TotemAncestral Protection Totem
75 Nature's GuardianNature's Guardian *new* Graceful SpiritGraceful Spirit Wind Rush TotemWind Rush Totem
90 Echo of the ElementsEcho of the Elements DownpourDownpour *new* Cloudburst TotemCloudburst Totem
100 High TideHigh Tide WellspringWellspring AscendanceAscendance

Warrior

Protection

Level Talent 1 Talent 2 Talent 3
15 Into the FrayInto the Fray PunishPunish *new* Impending VictoryImpending Victory
30 Crackling ThunderCrackling Thunder Bounding StrideBounding Stride SafeguardSafeguard
45 Best Served ColdBest Served Cold Unstoppable ForceUnstoppable Force *new* Coming SoonComing Soon
60 IndomitableIndomitable Never SurrenderNever Surrender *new* BolsterBolster *new*
75 MenaceMenace *new* Rumbling EarthRumbling Earth *new* Storm BoltStorm Bolt
90 Booming VoiceBooming Voice VengeanceVengeance DevastatorDevastator
100 Anger ManagementAnger Management Heavy RepercussionsHeavy Repercussions RavagerRavager

Previous Talent Changes

We're covering talent changes every Battle for Azeroth Alpha/Beta Build. Here's a history of our previews so far:

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36 minutes ago, DasBigHippo said:

So Unholy is losing Sludge Belcher and Gargoyle is now a talent? That sounds awful.

Yea... Was wondering what their main goal with those changes. I can maybe understand removing Sludge Belcher because it dominated that talent tier and they couldn't find a contesting talents. But removing gargoyle permenantly makes no sense. Much like how they removed Ascedance from Shamans baseline abilities.

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2 hours ago, Rhondis said:

Yea... Was wondering what their main goal with those changes. I can maybe understand removing Sludge Belcher because it dominated that talent tier and they couldn't find a contesting talents. But removing gargoyle permenantly makes no sense. Much like how they removed Ascedance from Shamans baseline abilities.

SLudge Belcher was the only talent in that tree that was fun to use. Plus they just updated the models on them not too long ago. Why would they remove that?

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3 hours ago, DasBigHippo said:

So Unholy is losing Sludge Belcher and Gargoyle is now a talent? That sounds awful.

Clearly you missed the part of Apocalypse being baseline. I'd much rather have gargoyle be a a talent than apocalypse

  • Like 3

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1 hour ago, DasBigHippo said:

Unless Sludge Belch replaces the original Ghoul now, since everyone used that over the Ghoul.

Yea I agree, the only fun talent in it's tier! But they never mentioned anything about it

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Wait, so why is Blood- the least mobile tank (and spec) in the game, having their only movement speed ability "Wraith Walk" removed from baseline to talent only AND nerfed?

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sludge bro gone? wow ruined, unsubbing for life, i'm going to go play hello kitty island adventure instead >:(

  • Haha 2

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4 hours ago, Baguettson said:

So for the moment DKs officially have no movement skill at all ?

There is Death's Advance, which is a new baseline skill and passive for DKs

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1 hour ago, Ogerscherge said:

There is Death's Advance, which is a new baseline skill and passive for DKs

 - Never being slower than 70% EVER. 
 - 45sec CD 30% speed buff or complete immunity to slows for 8sec

Ive always said I honestly dont mind if theyre the slowest class - as long as they have solid prevention of being even slower to make up for it.

I guess they thought at least similarly.

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Oh i hadn't seen that new baseline ability yet.

 

So that's actually pretty cool, wraith walk was always broken as fuck, so it's nice to have this to replace it, with a cool passive.

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30 minutes ago, Baguettson said:

Oh i hadn't seen that new baseline ability yet.

 

So that's actually pretty cool, wraith walk was always broken as fuck, so it's nice to have this to replace it, with a cool passive.

Yes, it seems pretty cool indeed. Also has a nice flavour to it, I find. ^-^

Maybe I'm overrating the passive effect, but never being slowed below 70% sounds kind of useful too. Not that slows like that happen too often, but when they happen, man, are they annoying! XD

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      Unholy
      The Unholy talent update focuses on reducing the number of talents that you had to pick to make the rotation function in a reasonably coherent way. This includes Epidemic and Outbreak baseline and addressing the number of ability cooldown reduction talents. Unholy suffered from having to choose multiple talents that reduced their cooldowns to align in a way that made sense from a gameplay standpoint. This made playing the spec any other way unreasonably convoluted especially if you were new to the spec and trying to learn to play the spec. We have removed any talent that had any sort of cooldown reduction to abilities and baked them baseline into the spec (this includes Army of the Dead which is now a 3-minute cooldown).
      Secondly, we wanted to address Sudden Doom which has been feeling lackluster for awhile now. Most notably we’ve updated its proc functionality to be more consistent instead of using our RPPM system which is usually found on trinkets and other item procs. It now has a base 25% chance to proc with bad luck protection built in. The hope here is this feels more fluid and a normally occurring proc that fits well int your rotation instead of one that feels like you can go long periods of time without it. We are still noodling on the base percentage chance and values are subject to change, but we’ve found this to be a good starting point. We’ve also updated its functionality to cause your next Death Coil or Epidemic to crit to add a little extra punch to the proc. Alongside some talents that interacted with Sudden Doom and the new talent Doomed Bidding we hope that Sudden Doom feels much more impactful as a class proc.
      We’ve also cut several talents that felt somewhat lackluster or just did very little for Unholy, most notably Feasting Strikes and Replenishing Wounds. We hope that with the reduced amount of must pick Cooldown talents, never picked “useless” talents, and new talent choices there are more appealing choices to be made within the tree that allow you customize in a way that fits your needs. Lastly, there are a couple talent nodes that have temporary “Not Yet Implemented” talents. We will be updating in the future build and eyeing talents that add a little more interaction with diseases in potentially exciting ways.
      Thanks for your patience! We look forward to hearing your feedback on the above. Next up-- we’re working to get our planned Frost and Blood changes in.
      And here are the specific adjustments made to the class, from the development notes:
      (Source)
      DEATH KNIGHT New Talent: Subduing Grasp – When you pull an enemy the damage they deal to you is reduced by 4% for 6 seconds. Located at Rune Mastery’s previous location. New Talent: Osmosis – Anti-Magic Shell increases healing received by 15/25%. Located at Unholy Bonds previous location. New Talent: Null Magic – Magic Damage taken is reduced by 15% and the duration of harmful Magic effects against you are reduced by 35%. New capstone choice node with Vestigial Shell replacing Soul Reaper. New Talent: Vestigial Shell – Casting Anti-Magic Shell grants 2 nearby allies a Lesser Anti-Magic Shell that absorbs magic damage and reduces the duration of harmful Magic effects against them by 50%. New capstone choice node with Null Magic replacing Soul Reaper. New Talent: Ice Prison – Chains of Ice now also roots enemies for 4 seconds but its cooldown is increased to 12 seconds. Available in gate 1 after Blinding Sleet. New Talent: Rune Protection – Your chance to be critically struck is reduced by 3% and your Armor is increased by 3/6%. Replaces Icy Talons old position within the tree. Chains of Ice is now granted baseline and learned at level 13. Anti-Magic Shell is now granted baseline and learned at level 14. Rune of the Stoneskin Gargoyle can now be Runeforged on 1-handed weapons. Rune of Hysteria has been removed. Developer’s note: Rune of Hysteria was a problematic design especially as it pertains to Breath of Sindragosa and the volatility of its uptime. We felt that for the overall health of the spec it would be best to remove Hysteria at this time to better enable us to meet our goals with the upcoming changes to Breath. Empower Rune Weapon has been removed. Developer’s note: This will still be available for Frost in their spec tree but both Blood and Unholy were often flooded with resources and a big unnecessary contributor to this was Empower Rune Weapon. To better dial in resources on Blood and Unholy we feel its best to keep Empower Rune Weapon for Frost only. Abomination Limb no longer grants Bone Shield, Runic Corruption, or Rime based on specialization. Developer’s note: In Shadowlands it was important for the spec hooks to exist to better balance between the other covenant ability choices. With its re-introduction in Dragonflight its added to the influx of resources/procs that can often come at inopportune times or add to the feeling of being unable to spend down the bonuses it grants. By removing this it allows the ability to “breathe” on its own and lean into its strength of AoE control and damage. Rune of the Apocalypse has been updated: War Effect Damage taken increased to 4% (was 1%). Duration increased to 10 seconds (was 6 seconds). Pestilence Effect Damage increased by 500%. Famine Effect Damage dealt to the caster reduced to 5% (was 2%). Death Effect Healing reduction increased to 5% (was 1%). Cleaving Strikes now also retains bonus effects for being within your Death and Decay for 4 seconds when leaving its area. Icebound Fortitude cooldown reduced by 60 seconds. Veteran of the Third War now grants 20% Stamina (was 10%). Now a 1-rank talent (was 2). Icy Talons Now increases attack speed per stack by 6% (was 3%). Now a 1-rank talent (was 2). Unholy Bond now increases effectiveness of Runeforge effects by 20% (was 10%). Now a 1-rank talent (was 2). Assimilation now reduces the cooldown of Anti-Magic Zone by 30 seconds. No longer increase Runic Power when absorbing damage. Suppression now grants an additional 6% damage reduction to area of effects when you suffer a loss of control effect. Moved to gate 3. Blood Scent Leech increased to 5%. Moved to gate 3. Blood Draw now also grants a buff reducing damage taken by 10% and reducing Death Strike cost by 10 for 8 seconds when falling below 30% health. Now a 1-rank talent. Moved to the left capstone position. Unholy Ground moved to gate 1 available after Cleaving Strikes. Sacrificial Pact is now a choice node with Enfeeble. Runic Attenuation moved to gate 1 available after Coldthirst. Soul Reaper moved to gate 2 available after Unholy Blond or Death’s Reach The following talents have been removed: Might of Thassarian Merciless Strikes Clenching Grasp Unholy New Talent: Doomed Bidding – Consuming Sudden Doom calls upon a Magus of the Dead to assist you for 8 seconds. Now a choice node with Summon Gargoyle. Ghoulish Frenzy is now available in the 2nd gate replacing Unholy Command. New Talent: Raise Abomination – Summons an Abomination to attack nearby enemies applying Festering Wound with its melee attacks and infecting all nearby enemies with Virulent Plague. 90 second cooldown. Replaces Army of the Dead. New Talent: Foul Infections – Your diseases deal 10% more damage and have a 5% increased chance to critically strike. New Talent: Menacing Magus – Your Magus of the Dead Shadow Bolt now fires a volley of Shadow Bolts at up to 4 nearby enemies. Epidemic is now granted baseline and learned at level 18. Outbreak is now granted baseline and learned at level 13. Sudden Doom is now learned in gate 1 directly after Scourge Strike and also causes your next Death Coil or Epidemic to critically strike Sudden Doom is no longer an RPPM proc and has instead been updated to have a 25% chance on auto-attacks to proc with build in bad luck protection to provide a more consistent proc. Army of the Dead cooldown reduced to 3 minutes (was 8 minutes). Apocalypse cooldown reduced to 45 seconds (was 90 seconds). Dark Transformation cooldown reduced to 45 seconds (was 60 seconds). Vile Contagion cooldown reduced to 45 seconds (was 90 seconds). Festermight now functions like Ironfur, allowing multiple instances to overlap. Ruptured Viscera is no longer a choice node with Magus of the Dead. Ebon Fever is no longer a choice node with Bursting Sores and is available directly after Bursting Sores. Updated to also affect Frost Fever and Blood Plague if Superstrain is talented. Unholy Blight moved to gate 1. The following talents have been removed: Replenishing Wounds Army of the Damned Unholy Command Feasting Strike
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