Classes & Builds
Our team of class experts keeps these pages up-to-date for every patch and change in content. Here you’ll find every class and viable spec for the current patch or expansion. And we’re always looking for more class experts. If you think you have what it takes to join the staff of DYS, check out the information about becoming one of our writers on the Writers Wanted page.
Class Guides
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Death Knight Builds
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Druid Builds
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Hunter Builds
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Mage Builds
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Paladin Builds
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Priest Builds
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Rogue Builds
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Shaman Builds
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Warlock Builds
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Warrior Builds
While we develop our build pages and other information, check out the page for each class for information from the coming expansion – Catacylsm. You’re sure to find some really exciting tidbits regarding each individual class. Below is the current news from Blizzcon 2009 that deals with all of the general changes to classes in Cataclysm. We’ll also keep this page updated as more information comes pouring out of Blizzcon and beyond into 2010. The comments in bold really stick out to us; although, we’re sure you will have your own opinion about what is big. (OH, and btw, don’t get mad at us if the folks at Blizz don’t check their spelling and grammar all that well). 
(From Blue Posts at Blizzard)
Next Patch
- In Patch 3.3, pets will scale of all of your stats and allow buffs from raid encounters to affect them.
- In Patch 3.3, there will be changes to make sure that pets can’t be hit by AOEs from bosses but others (PvP) will be able to affect them.
- Pets classes might get a “move to this location” command for their pet, long cooldown abilities that let your pet teleport to you to get out of trouble. This would be good feature since developers can’t make pet AI as smart as a player.
- They won’t add a new class in Cataclysm, they have to be very careful about adding more classes and do not want tons of them.
- The philosophy about pure DPS classes is still the same, they don’t want hybrid to do everything they can do. The elevated hybrid DPS in Wrath of the Lich King is in a “good place” now.
- The 5 second rule might be removed with the changes made to spirit but there isn’t any final decision about that.
- There is [sic] no plans to prevent Paladins and Shamans from using cloth, but there were some discussions to limit it somehow.
In World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, there are plans to streamline the statistics found on items. We want to remove all unnecessary stats, make all existing stats understandable, and make all “core” stats more appealing. Here are some examples of such plans.
- Armor Penetration is removed from the gear but not from the game. There are plans to reintroduce it in another way to allow players to kill plate wearers. (Armor Penetration talents, etc …)
- Spirit is going to be a healer stat only, it won’t exist on DPS Gear. Healers need it to regen and other casters don’t use it at all. (Other casters will use Intellect for Spell Power)
- MP5: This will be removed from items and replaced with Spirit. All healers will be given a meditation-like ability.
- Spell Power: Spell Power is being removed from items as well. Don’t panic, we’ll be improving Intellect so that it provides mana and Spell Power.
- Attack Power: We’re removing Attack Power from items as well. Instead, we’re allowing Agility to provide the necessary Attack Power for leather and mail wearers. Strength will provide the appropriate amount of Attack Power for plate wearers. This means leather and mail items will no longer be desirable for plate wearers.
- Defense: The Defense statistic is also being removed from items so that players no longer have to worry about juggling around “the cap.” Tanks will receive the necessary anti-crit from talents, like Survival of the Fittest.
- Armor Penetration: This ability is too confusing and “mathy.” It is being replaced with Mastery, a stat that makes you better at what you do. More on that later!
- Haste: Will also increase the rate at which you gain energy, runes, and focus. Retribution paladins and Enhancement shaman will have a talent that allows them to take advantage of this benefit.
- Block: Block Value is being removed. Blocking will now always mitigate a percentage of damage.
- Stamina: Players will notice more Stamina on gear as Defense, Spell Power, Attack Power and Armor Penetration are removed.
- Race changes will be available shortly after Faction changes. There is no point in not allowing that since you can’t really prevent people with multiple accounts to play both side on PvP servers anyway.
- All races will have updated racials with Cataclysm, they should be similar to what the Goblins have. (Increased health/mana potion effects, etc …)
Path of the Titans
- Talent trees won’t be extended, you will just get 5 more talent points.
- The Path of the Titans will let players follow a path (not restricted to classes), this is a new talent system with new skills and passive abilities.
- A mastery system is being added as well, a lot of talents will be reworked to be more fun. The point is to get rid of a lot of the talent skills and not make you spend all your points in a talent tree just because it gives you more damage or higher crit chance.
New Horde Race – Goblins
Originally the slaves of jungle trolls on the Isle of Kezan, the goblin race was forced to mine kaja’mite ore out of the volcanic bowels of Mount Kajaro. The trolls used this potent mineral for their voodoo rituals, but it had an unexpected effect on the slaves who were in constant contact with it: kaja’mite generated a startling new cunning and intelligence in the goblins. Crafting their own powerful artifacts of engineering and alchemy in secret, the goblins soon overthrew their oppressors and claimed Kezan for their homeland. The mines that had been their prison, their slave camp, and the base of their rebellion now became the city of Undermine. Weaving through the heart of the island in a dizzying network of tunnels, vaults, and lava tubes, Undermine epitomizes the goblins’ complex, unpredictable mindset.
The goblins’ natural greed soon lifted them to prominence as masters of mercantilism. Trade princes arose during the First War as the cleverest goblins learned to take advantage of the strife. Great fortunes were amassed, and the Isle of Kezan became a hub for fleets of goblin trading ships. One of the trade princes agreed to lend his faction’s services to the Horde in the Second War. Following the Horde’s defeat, the goblins learned from their colleague’s failed example, and soon they realized that their profits could double if they weren’t stuck in such a restrictive relationship. By the end of the Third War, goblins were providing weaponry, vehicles, and devious services to both the Horde and the Alliance. This wouldn’t last forever. . .
Recently, the goblins of Kezan have found a new enemy in the Alliance – unexpected and unprofitable encounters with this faction have driven certain trade princes from their comfortable neutrality. Reforging old pacts with their one-time allies, the goblins have been welcomed into the Horde with open arms.
- Goblins are a technological race from Kezan, their society is broken up into trade cartels run by trade princes. They are new factions and not the ones you can already see in game.
- The Cataclysm hit Kezan really hard and it’s possibly destroyed. The goblins are now refugees on the Lost Isles.
- As a goblin you start as a neutral cartel and eventually join the horde as you progress through the questlines.
- Racial – Best Deals Anywhere – Always receive the best discount regardless of faction.
- Racial – Pack Hobgoblin – Calls your personal servant allowing you bank access for 1 minute. 30 mins cooldown.
- Racial – Better Living Through Chemistry – Alchemy skill increased by 15.
- Racial – Rocket Barrage – Launches your belt rockets an an enemy, dealing fire damage. 2 min cooldown.
- Racial – Rocket Jump – Activates your rocket belt to jump forward. 2 min cooldown.
- Racial – Time is Money – 1% increased attack and casting speed.
- Goblins can be all classes except Paladin or Druids
New Alliance Race – Worgen
The worgen are a race of feral wolf-beasts whose very name inspires fear. Theories regarding their history abound, yet the worgen’s origins remain steeped in mystery.
Records indicate that the worgen existed for a time in Kalimdor. In fact, more recent evidence suggests that their true origin might have a connection to the night elves and a secretive druidic order from Kalimdor’s distant past. Yet until new evidence comes to light, this information remains speculative.
The worgen’s first verified appearance in the Eastern Kingdoms has been traced back to the Third War, when the archmage Arugal utilized the wolf-beasts as a weapon against the Scourge. Arugal’s weapons soon turned against him, however, as the curse of the worgen rapidly spread among the human population, transforming ordinary men and women into ravenous, feral creatures.
Arugal adopted many of the worgen as his own and retreated to the former mansion of Baron Silverlaine, the estate now known as Shadowfang Keep. The curse, however, was not contained. It persisted in the lands of Silverpine and extended even into the fabled walled nation of Gilneas, where the curse rapidly reached pandemic levels.
The citizens of Gilneas found themselves trapped, with no hope of escape. They retreated deeper within the isolated domain, and there they survived, fearful of the savage presence that lurked just outside the barricades.
Tensions among the displaced citizens escalated over time, resulting in a civil war that now threatens to destabilize the embattled nation even more.
There are those among the Gilneans, however, who cling to hope. Many believe that a treatment for the worgen curse may exist, although others have nearly given up, fearful that if the barricades should fall, their humanity will be lost forever.
- Other races were discussed for the alliance, but the developers really felt that the alliance needed a monstrous race and horde needed something fun and tiny.
- Genn Greymane closed the Greymane Wall to block the Scourge’s plague. Gilneas got nervous as the Scourge progressed to the south.
- Arugal was a patriot, he called the Worgens to battle for Gilneas but eventually was surprised by how dangerous what he called down was.
- Worgens are from somewhere else … or even someWHEN else. They have a wolverine temperament and spent a lot of time trying to contain the beast within.
- Racial – Visciousness – +1% damage.
- Racial – Dark Flight – +70% run speed for 10 seconds.
- Racial – Abberation – Duration of Curses and Diseases reduced by 15%
- Racial – Flayer – Skinning skill increased by 15.
- The Worgen Form is cosmetic only – out of combat you can pick between Human or Worgen. In combat you will be a worgen.
- Worgens can be all classes except Paladins or Shamans
Other Stuff
- More character slots might be added but maybe not for Cataclysm.
- You might be able to reorder the characters on your character selection screen at some point.
- There are some ideas for “mentoring” to let people of varied levels play together without powerleveling. Things like downleveling yourself to play with them is a possibility but it might not be for Cataclysm.
- Character visual customization is something they would like to adress, but they don’t really know what the right solution is. They have a few ideas in mind and might do something about it soon.
- Oceanic servers will get their own maintenance time at some point.
- Dancing is still in the work and the animation is working on them, there is still some work to do to make it a real feature.
- There is no plan to allow more than 2 specs with the dual-spec system.
Character visual customization is something they would like to adress, but they don’t really know what the right solution is. They have a few ideas in mind and might do something about it soon.
Typo in this paragraph, -adress- probably was supposed to be -address-
Yeah – I couldn’t catch all of the awfulness. You would think someone would clean that stuff up before they posted it for public consumption. If it was jsut a few here and there that would be tolerable, but dozens of them in a several hundred word bulleted list is a little bad. It’s not our fault though – talk to the guys who wrote it, we’re just quoting directly from blue posts as I mention at the top.
wow allies get stuffed again worgen = good skinner goblin = extra everything lol good old blizz luvs the horde
@Anibow
QQ