9.1.5 Patch Notes
Soultwining Cresant and Death-Bound Shard will now be able to be applied directly to the conduit you want to upgrade.
Developers’ Note: After analyzing a lot of player feedback we understand that our original intentions of these items slightly missed the mark. Where providing an item to upgrade conduits with RNG could leave people out of attaining the conduits they need for weeks or months. This especially impacted players that play one specialization due to the original nature of the item. So with this change we should see players able to upgrade their desired conduits and target content to upgrade them far easier.
Spatial Realignment Apparatus will be brought back to upgrade items with sockets using Stygia.
Developers’ Note: After some heavy feedback from returning players this item was brought to our attention. That removing a way to add a socket to your gear with a resource then adding in a new one that takes time to unlock has created a feeling of loss when returning for 9.1. This isn’t the type of feeling we want players to experience when coming back to Shadowlands. This just provides a 3rd way with resources to add sockets on an item along side the Alloy-Warping Facetor.
Torghast will now reward lucrative items of power equivalent to the highest reward possible from the Great Vault (252 item level) Some items of power include Domination Socket gear.
Developers’ Note: Torghast has been a journey for us in iterations to get it to where it is both challenging and rewarding for solo and group content. At first we feel that we missed the mark due to lack of testing but now have received enough feedback and feel we have been moving in a positive direction. Many have noticed with the 9.1 changes that Torghast has headed in a similar direction Visions have from BFA while also feeling far less rewarding for doing. In Visions for completing a 5 mask run you were able to receive a powerful corruption item which was the theme of BFA in 8.3.
Currently in Shadowlands we feel Torghast hasn’t completely fit the “Theme” of providing rewards vital to the current patch in 9.1. So to make this adjustment we now will have Domination Socket gear be able to be attained by completing Torghast on 5 star difficulties in both solo and group play. Hopefully this will alleviate some issues that even the most dedicated Raiders have had attaining desired gear sets but also provides a way for everyone to experience the new 9.1 system of Domination sockets fully. We do feel that with Visions in BFA that we achieved rewards fitting to it’s theme and so wanted to bring Torghast up to fitting into the theme of Shadowlands and providing equivalent gear to the 9.1 patch in Domination gear.
The list for what domination gear will drop and on what layer difficulty is not finalized at this time. This will be something that will become available soon on the PTR to receive some further testing and feedback.
Shards of Domination will also now be able to be acquired by a new Quest chain starting at Bonesmith Heirmir in Korthia. This Quest chain will take you through various aspects of Shadowlands then offer Shards of Domination along the way as a reward.
Developers’ Note: As mentioned above in the Torghast section the new system of Domination gear and Shards of Domination have missed the mark allowing players to fully immerse into the theme of 9.1. Also this new system seems entirely shut off to it’s player base except Raiders. With the exception of the Shard of Rev that drops from the world boss Mor’geth. The goal of this new questline is to give access to all types of players to experience the new Domination system in 9.1.5. We feel it is a shame to create something only a smaller percent of the population will experience if it can only be attained in Raids.
Again we look at some trial and error we had in BFA with corruption. Imagine if we only had corruption attainable in Raids and never added a vendor. This is a pain point we want to resolve with the Domination gear and it’s Shards sooner than latter. The questline will take you on a journey through many aspects of Azeroth and Shadowlands. In fact this questline can almost be looked at as a side campaign in terms of content as the rewards of the shards will be given to you from everything from Torghast to PvP.
Finalized details on the Shards of Domination questline that can be picked up at Bonesmith Heirmir in Korthia will be explored in the upcoming PTR for testing and feedback.
Valor Vendor addition and upgrading with Valor changes.
Developers’ Notes: We feel with the addition of Valor after a lot of feedback that we need to have in game fluidity with Vendors and it’s resources. Meaning we brought back Conquest and a vendor but no Valor Vendor. So many powerful M+ items will be available at the Valor vendor in 9.1.5 that have a base item level of 226. This way even if you are the avid quester and have valor stocked up you can now purchase 226 items to aid you in your journey.
There has been much debate recently across all upgrading of items and it’s various resources. This is likely something that will continue to be iterated upon. As for Valor we are removing the required M+ rating to achieve 246 item level except for weapons and off hands.
Example: You attained a 226 helm from your weekly Great Vault. This item can be upgraded to 246 item level even with a M+ rating of zero. Only weapons and off hands will require the previous ratings.
We feel like Valor which can be attained from quest loses it’s value or importance if you also require a M+ rating to use it. Which gate keeps gear and potential further content from being done. More on why we arrived at this decision will be discussed in the next PvP section and fluidity between Conquest and Valor vendors.
PvP Conquest Vendor changes, upgrading and more itemization.
Developers’ Note: If anything TBC Classic has taught us a lesson and reminded us of how the best PvP gear has been attained through it’s history. We have heard extensive feedback from multiple threads on gearing and it’s barriers. The reason for the long awaited change is because we wanted to make sure there was vendor and upgrading fluidity between PvP and PvE. Where both vendors are seen as means to upgrade in the content you enjoy without one feeling stronger than the other.
In fact the the inspiration for the Valor vendor and it’s upgrading change was taken from previous PvP vendor ideas. So to meet with the upcoming Valor vendor changes the PvP conquest vendor will now no longer require rating to upgrade to the maximum item level of 246 with the exception of weapons and off hand.
Example: If you currently have a 220 base conquest level helm you purchased at the vendor. You can currently upgrade in 9.1.5 this item to it’s maximum 246 item level without any rating. Only weapons and off hand require rating to be upgraded.
Further Note: Upgrading Conquest gear will now also require Conquest to achieve vendor fluidity. Just like Valor vendor requires Valor. In order too meet these new Conquest needs the cap will be raised by 1,000 a week.
Also we have heard many problems from PvP players on the issue of itemization at the PvP vendor. To alleviate these issue we will see some more of the common stat allocation like Crit/Mastery or Haste/Mastery at the vendor.
Further Note: Obviously there is an issue as to there not being a dedicated PvP stat in Shadowlands and versatility bridging that gap for now but has presented many gearing problems with builds. We are aware of this problem and are considering going down the traditional road we had in the past with bringing back a true PvP stat like resilience.
Honor Vendor and upgrading rank changes.
Developers’ Note: As mentioned above and the goal with vendor fluidity, oddly enough we don’t have a Justice vendor counterpart at this time as we did in prior expansions. However we also heard extensive feedback on the barriers to get into PvP especially rated content due to lack of gear. So in the upcoming patch there will be 3 additional ranks added to honor gear that brings it to a max item level of 226. This will allow you to have a more competitive set of PvP gear as you decide to upgrade your base 220 Conquest gear up to it’s full potential.
TOO BAD ITS MONTHS LATE LIKE USUALLY!
