Senior Game Director Ion Hazzikostas and Associate Game Director Paul Kubit took the stage at gamescom 2025 at the Systems Download panel to talk about Midnight, and we’ve got the higlights!
New Devourer Demon Hunter Spec
- Devourer is different compared to the two existing specializations.
- Devourer uses cosmic void powers to annihilate their enemies.
- It’s a ranged DPS spec. Their main stat is Intellect.
- Depending on how you build your character, you may be standing at mid-range or you may be darting in and out in a hybrid build.
- Void Metamorphosis is an iconic DH transformation with a twist. It’s not cooldown, but Energy based. You must use Reap (scythe attack) to gather up void fragments.
- Void Beam is practically Eye Beam, a 25-yard line attack.
- Everything is going to be purple in Devourer spec, nothing’s green.
- The devs have shown off Collapsing Star, the Devourer finisher. The more time you cast it during Metamorphosis, the stronger it gets.
- Next up are Hero talents. As you can see, the Scarred Hero talent tree is shared between Devourer and Havoc DH.
- The spec also gets a new Annihilator Hero talent tree, which is shared between Vengeance.
- Both Void Elf Demon Hunters and the Devourer spec will be available in the Midnight pre-patch.
- Worldsoul Saga will introduce more race/class combinations.
Talents
- As you level from 80 to 90, each spec is getting 10 new talent points. You will gain them alternatingly.
- You will get 3 points in your Class tree. There are no new nodes, you have more choice.
- 3 points in your Hero tree. A fourth lane will be added for each spec.
- 4 points in your Spec tree, spent on your apex talent.
- The final node of your spec tree will have these little pips at the bottom of it where you spend points on your apex talent. The first and final points are particularly impactful.
- Here’s an example of apex talents available to Preservation Evokers and Devourer Demon Hunters in Midnight.
- You don’t need to spend the 4 additional talent points on your apex talents if you don’t want to. You can choose any talents in your spec tree.
Prey & World Content
- Prey is a new opt-in hunting system that lets you pursue powerful targets across Azeroth and beyond.
- This is a secretive initiative led by Astalor Bloodsworn in Murder Row.
- Here, you will be selecting your hunt!
- During combat while you’re completing World Quests or just roaming around, there’s a chance for your target to show up and assault you.
- Prey is all about unpredictability.
- Prey comes in 3 difficulties: Normal, Hard Mode, and Nightmare.
- When you unlock Hard Mode through progression, the attackers will gain Torments that introduce an additional layer of difficulty. For instance, this one shown in the screenshot comes with a fear-based torment.
- There are multiple rewards available through prey. For example, there’s this man wyrm mount.
- Prey will be tied to the outdoor row in the Great Vault and offer up to Hero-track loot!
- Other outdoor features in Midnight (stuff like the Soup Event in Azure Span) include Silvermoon Court, where you’ll balance your reputation between the four different military groups within Silvermoon City. It’s meant to be similar to Aldor / Scryers grinds from Burning Crusade.
- In Zul’Aman we will harvest materials for the Loa of Abundance. This is a fast-paced super-buffed collectathon. It’s Professions-themed. You will visit caves and mine as much as you can etc.
- The event is not tied to Professions although those with a gathering profession may receive some small bonuses, according to Paul Kubit.
- Even though Abundance is tied thematically to Zul’Aman, Abundance caves can be found in all of the four zones.
- Legends of the Haranir is an event that happens in Harandar. This invites players to step into the forgotten past of the tribe using magical painting to embark on bite-sized lore-rich journeys, ideal for devoted lore seekers.
- Lastly, in Voidstorm we have the Stormarion Assault. You’re going to be protecting the Void Elves as they activate their singularity anchor. It’s a public wave defense event.
New/Returning Player Changes
- Exile’s Reach will be updated to flow seamlessly into Dragonflight. We’ll encounter key characters like Alexstrasza and Wrathion here as they embark on their journey to the Dragon Isles.
- They’ve made a ton of changes to Dragonflight for new players. First, you’ll level through the four zones. When you end in Thaldraszus, you’re going to take the fight to Raszageth in Story Mode as a solo player to see how the story resolves.
- Then, the story keeps going. You will continue in Zaralek Cavern and that will culminate in a fight against Sarkareth in Story Mode.
- Finally, you’ll continue to the Emerald Dream and fight against Fyrakk. Playing through the whole expansion will take you to level 70.
- There’s a new returning player experience. You will be introduced to the new systems. You can drop out at any time.
- The’ve added a Skyriding tutorial and one for interrupts!
- The War Within recap has been added. This is a multi-hour experience that will take you through the whole expansion. For new players, this is how you’re going to level from 70 to 80.
- All of these improvements to the new/returning player experience will be available in Patch 11.2.7.
PvP
- The Slayer’s Rise battleground is coming. It’s a 40 versus 40 battleground inspired by Alterac Valley and Isle of Conquest.
- Here’s a look at the overall layout of the map and how it’s going to look.
Voidstorm Zone
- This battleground area is also available as an uninstanced zone within Voidstorm, designated for players who love World PvP.
- Training Grounds will be implemented inspired by the Comp Stomp PvP Brawl. Players will be able to practice against AI opponents in Battle for Gilneas and Silvershard Mines.
Quality of Life Improvements
- Nameplates will be improved to show high-priority interrupts.
- They have fully featured server-side damage meters, so they should always be perfectly accurate.
- Boss Alerts will be implemented into the default UI. For those using BigWigs and DBM, you won’t need to rely on those addons anymore.
Transmog
- The real endgame of WoW. They want to support it the best way they can.
- No longer do you need to reapply the appearance of your choice every time you get a new upgrade.
- Instead of transmogging items, you will transmog slots, so when you receive a new helm, it will inherit the appearance of your set helm.
- There’s going to be a one-time fee to unlock the transmog slots, but beyond that, everything will be free!
- You can tie outfits to specific situations (location, movement, specializations, racial forms).
Midnight Alpha
- Midnight Alpha is starting in a few weeks from now.
VoD
The video has been turned private for some reason.
