Blood is going full time tank!

We're doing our Cataclysm preview on the death knight changes later this week, but we knew one change risked overshadowing all the others, so we figured we'd go ahead and drop the proverbial Blood bomb today.

In Cataclysm, death knights will have a dedicated tanking tree, much like the other three tank classes. That tree will be Blood.

We’ll go into more detail in the upcoming preview, but we wanted to take the opportunity to explain the reasoning for such a big change.

Why the about face? We actually thought the “tri tank” experiment worked out okay. We suspected there would always be a “best” tanking tree, because that’s the way these things shake out, but we hoped it would be close enough that many players could tank with their favorite tree. When we tried out this design for Wrath of the Lich King, we were using it as a test case to see if we wanted to do similar things with the warrior and paladin talent trees.

A lot has happened since that time. We introduced the dual-spec feature, allowing players to have a tanking spec and dps spec that they could switch between. We introduced Dungeon Finder, which makes it easier to find players who want to tank, and even let players level up using a dedicated tank spec. In Cataclysm, we are introducing the concept of passive talent tree bonuses and we think that feature is a lot stronger when the talent tree has a particular focus (such as damage, tanking or healing). For example, it’s safer to give more passive damage to a tanking tree than we can a dps tree. Above all, we were just spending a lot of effort trying to balance three trees (though it was really six trees, since each tree was trying to do two things).

It started to feel unfair to the other tank classes that we had to spend so much effort tweaking three types of DK tanks, and it even started to feel unfair to the DK that we couldn’t focus their tanking experience. One bit of feedback that really struck home was the DK players who said, essentially, “I look at the Protection tree and I’m jealous of all of the cool tools they have to help their tanking. As a DK, I have to pick and choose tanking talents from within a sea of dps talents.” Rather than have a strong focus, the trees felt a little watered down because they were trying to do so much. With Frost as a dual-wield, spell and runic power focused tree, Unholy as a disease and minion focused tree, and Blood as a self-healing, defensive cooldown, tanking tree, we think the focus of each tree is a lot clearer and cooler.

In Cataclysm, Blood will be the death knight version of a Protection tree. It will have passive talent tree bonuses that reflect tanking. It will have tools, such as a Demo Shout equivalent, necessary for tanking. Several of the more fun tanking talents from Frost and Unholy will be moved into Blood. We will be able to revise (or even remove) clunky mechanics like Rune Strike and focus on letting DKs generate threat with their normal Blood tanking rotation.

This is major change, and we understand it will be met with some disappointment from players who really liked the flexibility, those who appreciated the unorthodox talent tree design, or those few of you who really liked Blood dps. Nevertheless, we are convinced that this is the right change for the game.

More exciting death knight news coming up soon in the preview.

Cataclysm Preview!

On April 8th 2010, Blizzard is going to preview what is new with the Death Knight Class. Blizzard has already announced that Blood is going to be the dedicated tank tree while Frost is the dual-Wielding. Unholy is 2h DPS. Now that the trees has been selected for their roles, running the mastery system for the Death Knight class will be much easier.

Blood Infusion

Blood Infusion is the second part of the Shadowmourne questline. In order to do this quest you must be in 25 player mode(Normal or Heroic) and kill Blood Queen Lana'thel. To start the infusion, you must be part of the Blood Mirror for a second. This will apply a debuff which will do physical damage throughout the fight. You must be the second person bitten to do this quest so you can bite 3 people throughout the fight. The first bite will do 3k physical damage over time and reducing 10% damage. The second bite you cast will do 4.5k and reduce 20% damage done. The first and final bite will remove the debuff and apply "Blood Infusion" buff. You must not die with the buff and defeat Blood Queen in order to complete the quest.

Unholy Infusion

For this part of the Shadowmourne quest, you must be the abomination in the Professor Putricide encounter. In order to infuse Shadow's Edge you must be 1. having it equipped
2. Have 100 Energy 3. Estimating when to use the skill. As the skill cost 100 energy, that makes you'll be entirely wiped out on energy to unable to slow an ooze. Also the ability has a cast timer so you can't do it with any slime puddles up. After you use the ability, you will gain "Unholy Infusion" buff for 6 minutes. Death will remove this buff and you must kill Professor with the buff in order to get the quest finished.
Disc priests and Resto druids spec'd into revitalize will give energy back to the abomination. When you are using the skill, make sure the priest cast the bubble early for it to wear off in time and have your resto druid spam Rejuv and Wild Growth on you.
Using Unholy Infusion at 50% seems to be the best time.

Patch 3.3.3 This week!

As mmo-champion.com already pointed out, if everything is working correctly, patch 3.3.3 should be released this week. As the patch comes out. Unholy DKs will have another alternative spec to sub frost instead of sub blood. This allows more strength but the loss of Bladed armor makes indestructible potions useless. You will also hit 20% faster all the time. If frost fever is up, you'll hit 40%. Also for DK tanks. IT has it's threat generation increased.

More 3.3.3 changes!

Frost

* Chains of Ice now infects the target with Frost Fever.

Unholy

* Unholy Blight now prevents any diseases on the victim from being dispelled.

Glyphs

* Glyph of Chains of Ice - Your Chains of Ice also causes 144 to 156 Frost damage, increased by your attack power.

Patch 3.3.3!

These are the changes made for next patch.

Spells
* Icy Touch: This ability now causes a very high amount of threat while the death knight is in Frost Presence.
* Rune of Razorice: Now stacks 5 stacks of 2% Frost Vulnerability instead of 10 stacks of 1% Frost Vulnerability. Proc chance changed to 100%.

Blood

* Abomination's Might: This effect is now passive instead of being a proc on certain strikes. Rank 1 is 5% attack power and Rank 2 is 10% attack power. The self strength buff remains unchanged.
* Will of the Necropolis: There is no longer a cooldown on the frequency at which this talent can be activated. In addition, this ability can now also be triggered by damage which deals less than 5% of your health.

Frost

* Endless Winter: No longer causes Frost Fever to be applied by Chains of Ice, but instead grants 2/4% strength. The previous functionality of this talent can now be attained via the Glyph of Chains of Ice.
* Improved Icy Talons: This effect is now passive instead of being a proc. The self haste buff remains unchanged.
* Nerves of Cold Steel: Now increases off-hand damage by 8/16/25%, up from 5/10/15%.
* Unbreakable Armor: The amount of strength granted is now 20%, up from 10%.

Unholy

* Scourge Strike: Now deals 70% weapon damage, plus 12% of physical damage done as shadow damage for each of the death knight's diseases on the target. The net result should be larger strikes with no diseases present, while maximum damage with all diseases applied to the target should stay the same.

Glyphs
* Glyph of Chains of Ice: Now causes Chains of Ice to apply Frost Fever instead of dealing damage.
* Glyph of Disease: When this glyph causes Frost Fever to be refreshed, it will now also trigger a refresh of Icy Talons.

New BiS List!

With the release of the minor 3.3.2 patch with the Lich King, new weapons have been dug up from the loot list of our former king. There are weapons out there equal to Shadowmourne's dps but not the speed or the proc. Shadowmourne has also been modified. Check out the updated BiS lists to see what new items is recommended for YOUR BiS!

Paragon downs 11/12 in heroic!

Yep, Professor Putricide was downed in 25 heroic and last but not least Lich King is next for Paragon. Lich King on Heroic 25 has over 100 million health. Let's see how long till he is actually downed.

Attempts removed from Normal mode!

Each end bosses for wings will no longer have attempts.

New Strength Ring!

To you people who hit friendly and were like lol wut? No strength ring? They are now fixing that!
Here are the stats!

Requires The Ashen Verdict - Friendly
Ashen Band of Might
+91 Strength
+91 Stamina
Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 53.
Equip: Improves hit rating by 53.

Requires The Ashen Verdict - Honored
Ashen Band of Greater Might
+98 Strength
+98 Stamina
Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 57.
Equip: Improves hit rating by 57.

Requires The Ashen Verdict - Revered
Ashen Band of Unmatched Might
+98 Strength
+98 Stamina
Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 57.
Equip: Improves hit rating by 57.
Equip: Chance on hit to increase your attack power by 480 for 10 sec.

Requires The Ashen Verdict - Exalted
Ashen Band of Endless Might
+99 Strength
+107 Stamina
Yellow Socket
Socket Bonus: +4 Strength
Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 59.
Equip: Improves hit rating by 59.
Equip: Chance on hit to increase your attack power by 480 for 10 sec.

Patch 3.3.2 not this week :(

Read off MMO-Champion.com. Anyways to find the patch notes (At least one thing is released) go HERE

PvP Resilience Change

Even though this many be a PvE DK Blog, any changes would be nice to know.

We are currently in the process of applying a hotfix to buff resilience. While some modifications may be made, we intend to have this buff in effect for the remainder of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion.

The change will double the value of resilience in reducing damage done by players. So depending on their current amount of resilience, characters might experience a 10 to 20% decrease in damage taken from other players. The critical strike chance and critical strike damage reduction components of resilience will remain unaffected by this change.

We are also aware of the possibility that this change will make healing in PvP too difficult to counter. While we are not making any immediate changes to address this issue, we have prepared some further changes that will allow us to quickly deploy a PvP-only healing adjustment if we feel it is warranted.

We will be applying this change very soon while we are between Arena seasons so we can evaluate how it works in multiple PvP scenarios for the upcoming Arena season, and as we continue to prepare for Cataclysm. As we have mentioned previously, one of the goals for Cataclysm is to have a PvP environment where it is harder to regularly achieve so much damage and healing in relatively few global cooldowns compared to what we currently have in the game.

Blood Queen Lana'thel World First!

Adept from US-Dreadmaul (Oceanic) was the first guild to defeat Blood Queen Lana'thel!
Video in the link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgmghcLRW5k&feature=player_embedded

Patch 3.3.2 soon!

As Season 7 or season 3 if you press H is coming to a close, we should be looking out for a patch maybe next week (26th) or Feb 2nd. We will then conclude the end of Wrath of the Lich King and finally see how the story really end.

Blood DPS

As I tested Blood once again in ICC. The numbers wasn't what I wanted to see as it is a 1k probably more of a DPS loss down from Unholy. Though the nice burst is nice, Blood cannot sustain the amount of damage as well as Unholy.

A Feast of Souls

This quest cannot be as simple as it is already stated. Kill Mobs only in HCC. Shadow's Edge will place a debuff on them. But the only way to get the kills if as if the debuff is on the mob. This can be completed in 10 man too.

Shadow's Edge

After you completed Sacred and the Corrupt, Shadow's Edge will appear from the forge. Darion will act Fury Warriorish and DW his current sword with Shadow's Edge; He will later have a quest open up which he would ask you to take Shadow's Edge and complete the creation. Congratz you now have Shadow's Edge!

The Sacred and the Corrupt

Place Light's Vengeance, 25 Primordial Saronite, Rotface's Acidic Blood, and Festergut's Acidic Blood in Highlord Mograine's runeforge in Icecrown Citadel.
Rotface's Acidic Blood and Festergut's Acidic Blood may only be obtained in the 25 person difficulty setting of Icecrown Citadel.

It is against my judgment that I present you this errand, , as it will likely end in your undoing.
Ignore my counsel and embark on the endeavor, and I shall provide you with the knowledge and resources to see it through.
You must return to Frostmourne Cavern and recover Light's Vengeance, Arthas' discarded hammer. Reforged with saronite and etched with the acidic blood of the Lich King's abominations, it will provide the foundation for our work.
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Okay, so let's make this quest simplified as much as possible. First off gather 25 Primordial Saronites. These can be buy from badges and are equal to those of Frozen/Crusader/Runed orbs; So they aren't BOP. That means you can buy them from AH and/or others. Now for Light's Vengeance, this is Arthas' old mace. You will find this at Frostmourne Cavern. During this quest you will be phased from the elementals so it is safe to just fly in. Once you come close to Light's Vengeance, Arthas will appear. He will of course try to stop you from getting Light's Vengeance by summoning alot of ghouls and 1 elite which you have to face after you kill all the ghouls. Hopefully for us Dks, this section of the quest is easy. Head to Light's Vengeance and use Army of the dead. Pick up Light's Vengeance and then all the ghouls will die. The Elite will then become attackable and kill him. Light's Vengeance will appear as an epic item in your inventory upon finishing this bit.

Festergut and Rotface blood is simple, if you can kill Festergut and Rotface. 1 Blood drops once per raid so only one of you lucky melee will get it a week.

After you completed the gathering, go to Darion Mograine in ICC and beside him will be the forge where you hand in the quest. You get a nice little scene and quest completed!

Elitist Jerks Links added!

So EJ links has been added for easy access. The main focus(s) is Blood/Unholy DPS and Tanking since they are my current specs. For you DW folks out there, It isn't a main focus as my knowledge of DW Tank or DPS isn't that great. But I will add in links for easy access anyways. DW won't be mentioned that much at all but any questions or concerns about it like needing to learn the basics, I'm alright with that. Have a nice day!

Changes to PPM

Blue: We changed the way PPM procs work to make sure many of the weapons and trinkets did their expected performance in Icecrown instead of proc'ing too much for some specs or classes or forcing players into unusual behavior to try and fish for the procs. This change also affected some older mechanics in the game too such as the Berserking enchant. For the most part the intent is that these systems all proc off of attacks and they are balanced with that assumption.

At this time we're happy with the damage that characters are now doing after these changes, though we'll continue to monitor and adjust damage overall and that includes the proc-based items.

Tank updates tomorrow!

As I am DPS for my main spec, I do have a tank offspec as well. More updates on that and how to be a great DK tank. Really it isn't that hard! On top of that, I will be discussing how Tier 10 works out for both DPS and Tank; Best in Slot? No problem.

Season 7 ends!

As January 19th inches closer, arena Season 7 will end in a couple hours. As stated by Blizzard, Season 8 will be similar to Season 4 as it will be a little more imbalanced. This will be the last season before the release of Cataclysm; Third expansion of World of Warcraft. As Season 8 (Wrathful) gear model hasn't been released yet, it should be added in the next minor patch 3.3.2 along with the Lich king fight. We will be expecting this hopefully January 26th/2010.

Icecrown Gated Progression Chart

Okay, found this chart made by Dorer of Tichondrius This explains the Icecrown gated Progression.

Blood Vs. Unholy

Okay, so last night I went into ToC and tested out my Blood build with equally geared if not better geared Death Knight. On the fights where it's single target, Blood > Unholy. Even though there isn't that many AoE fights in ToC; The numbers that were put out weren't that much difference. Yes Blood has higher DPS and higher burst and getting the Crypt fever buff increases DPS but there will be alot of Unholy Dks now so I'm going to be counting that in.

Blood Queen and Princes launching this week

2 weeks have past and another wing (3rd wing). Blood Queen will allow 5 more attempts on both Professor Putricide and Blood Queen also will allow Blood Infusion for you lucky folks with Shadowmourne questline.

Shadow's Edge Vs Bryntroll

Well last week I finally got my Shadow's Edge after 40k gold spent. What fun right? Well after the Nerf to Bryntroll I've noticed of course a dps decrease.

Bryntroll, the Bone Arbiter Binds when picked up Two-Hand Axe 801 - 1203 Damage Speed 3.40 (294.7 damage per second) +169 Strength +161 Stamina Red Socket Blue Socket Socket Bonus: +6 Strength Durability 120 / 120 Requires Level 80 Item Level 264 Chance on hit: Steals 2138 to 2362 life from target enemy. What made Bryntroll better before was that it could even proc off the magical damage of Scourge strike. So far Shadow's Edge is better than what Bryntroll was. Cryptmaker testing next? Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) Future Updates by List of order Nothing planned yet. Blog Archive ▼  2010 (27) ▼  April (2) Blood is going full time tank! Cataclysm Preview! ►  March (3) Blood Infusion Unholy Infusion Patch 3.3.3 This week! ►  February (5) More 3.3.3 changes! Patch 3.3.3! New BiS List! Paragon downs 11/12 in heroic! Attempts removed from Normal mode! ►  January (17) New Strength Ring! Patch 3.3.2 not this week :( PvP Resilience Change Blood Queen Lana'thel World First! Patch 3.3.2 soon! Blood DPS A Feast of Souls Shadow's Edge The Sacred and the Corrupt Elitist Jerks Links added! Changes to PPM Tank updates tomorrow! Season 7 ends! Icecrown Gated Progression Chart Blood Vs. Unholy Blood Queen and Princes launching this week Shadow's Edge Vs Bryntroll Followers What is your favourite spec?