The biggest update to World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth so far was released today, and our friends at Icy Veins have provided a guide to the new features and changes that await in Rise of Azshara!
Class Changes
- Frost Death Knights were starved of resources way too often and developers made changes to Breath of Sindragosa to allow Breath builds to fill in more global cooldowns with Obliterate and make up for lost Frost Strikes.
- The Havoc Demon Hunter mastery bonus has been increased by 20 percent because it was weak for the specialization compared to other secondary stats.
- Vengeance Demon Hunters received an increase to physical mitigation when Demon Spikes is down and a slight increase when the ability is active.
- Guardian Druid’s Ironfur now has a maximum of eights stacks and the Druid shapeshifting rules have been slightly cleaned up.
- Hunters are now able to tame Horridon and Oondasta as pets.
You can find a comprehensive list of all changes and developer comments in the official Patch 8.2 notes.
Class Guides
Icy Veins has updated all their Class guides for Patch 8.2. Here’s a list for easy access:
- Blood Death Knight 8.2 Tank Guide — Frost Death Knight 8.2 DPS Guide — Unholy Death Knight 8.2 DPS Guide
- Havoc Demon Hunter 8.2 DPS Guide — Vengeance Demon Hunter 8.2 Tank Guide
- Balance Druid 8.2 DPS Guide — Feral Druid 8.2 DPS Guide — Guardian Druid 8.2 Tank Guide — Restoration Druid 8.2 Healing Guide
- Beast Mastery Hunter 8.2 DPS Guide — Marksmanship Hunter 8.2 DPS Guide — Survival Hunter 8.2 DPS Guide
- Arcane Mage 8.2 DPS Guide — Fire Mage 8.2 DPS Guide — Frost Mage 8.2 DPS Guide
- Brewmaster Monk 8.2 Tank Guide — Mistweaver Monk 8.2 Healing Guide — Windwalker Monk 8.2 DPS Guide
- Holy Paladin 8.2 Healing Guide — Protection Paladin 8.2 Tank Guide — Retribution Paladin 8.2 DPS Guide
- Discipline Priest 8.2 Healing Guide — Holy Priest 8.2 Healing Guide — Shadow Priest 8.2 DPS Guide
- Assassination Rogue 8.2 DPS Guide — Outlaw Rogue 8.2 DPS Guide — Subtlety Rogue 8.2 DPS Guide
- Elemental Shaman 8.2 DPS Guide — Enhancement Shaman 8.2 DPS Guide — Restoration Shaman 8.2 Healing Guide
- Affliction Warlock 8.2 DPS Guide — Demonology Warlock 8.2 DPS Guide — Destruction Warlock 8.2 DPS Guide
- Arms Warrior 8.2 DPS Guide — Fury Warrior 8.2 DPS Guide — Protection Warrior 8.2 Tank Guide
Flying in Kul Tiras and Zandalar
Players will be able to unlock flying in Patch 8.2. Flying requirements include earning Battle for Azeroth: Pathfinder, Part One, exploring Mechagon and Nazjatar, and earning Revered with the Rustbolt Resistance and the Unshackled & Waveblade Ankoan factions of Nazjatar. You’ll receive the Wonderwing 2.0 mount when you earn Battle for Azeroth: Pathfinder, Part Two.
Heart of Azeroth Changes
The legendary neckpiece is receiving a new avenue of progression in Patch 8.2. The new Heart of Azeroth system will provide additional power customization options through Essences, which can be collected by taking part in a variety of content. You will infuse them into the Heart of Azeroth using the rebuilt Heart Forge in Silithus. You will unlock the first Essence by completing a short introductory quest line, which is offered by Magni Bronzebeard once you’ve established a new hub in Nazjatar.
Class Essence Guides
With a total of 21 Essences added to the game, Icy Veins has created Class Essence guides to help you pick the best ones for your class.
- Blood Death Knight Essence Guide — Frost Death Knight Essence Guide — Unholy Death Knight Essence Guide
- Havoc Demon Hunter Essence Guide — Vengeance Demon Hunter Essence Guide
- Balance Druid Essence Guide — Feral Druid Essence Guide — Guardian Druid Essence Guide — Restoration Druid Essence Guide
- Beast Mastery Hunter Essence Guide — Marksmanship Hunter Essence Guide — Survival Hunter Essence Guide
- Arcane Mage Essence Guide — Fire Mage Essence Guide — Frost Mage Essence Guide
- Brewmaster Monk Essence Guide — Mistweaver Monk Essence Guide — Windwalker Monk Essence Guide
- Holy Paladin Essence Guide — Protection Paladin Essence Guide — Retribution Paladin Essence Guide
- Discipline Priest Essence Guide — Holy Priest Essence Guide — Shadow Priest Essence Guide
- Assassination Rogue Essence Guide — Outlaw Rogue Essence Guide — Subtlety Rogue Essence Guide
- Elemental Shaman Essence Guide — Enhancement Shaman Essence Guide — Restoration Shaman Essence Guide
- Affliction Warlock Essence Guide — Demonology Warlock Essence Guide — Destruction Warlock Essence Guide
- Arms Warrior Essence Guide — Fury Warrior Essence Guide — Protection Warrior Essence Guide
Mechagon
Mechagon is an island off the coast of Kul Tiras whose denizens have replaced blood and bones with bolts and brass. The zone is intended for endless roaming and exploration. It doesn’t have an emissary, as it’s the Timeless Isle of Battle for Azeroth.
The story revolves around helping Prince Erazmin and the Rustbolt Resistance end the reign of King Mechagon, who considers the Curse of Flesh a disease, which must be cured through transformation. Transformation is a sign of status in the society of Mechagnomes. Although no Allied Races are coming in Patch 8.2, datamining suggests that Mechagnomes will be an Alliance Allied Race in the future. Completing the Mechagon meta-achievement rewards an all-new mount called Mechacycle Model W.
Junkyard Tinkering
Mechagon comes with Pascal-K1N6, a unique giant robot who will help you craft an arsenal full of equipment, toys, consumables, and more in exchange for Spare Parts and Energy Cells found across the zone.
Customizable Trinket
Pocket-Sized Computation Device is a unique take on trinkets — it’s completely customizable using punchcards and you will receive it right at the beginning of your adventure.
Operation: Mechagon
On July 9, players will be able to access the Mythic-only eight-boss Operation: Mechagon dungeon. Check out the Mechagon Zone guide over at Icy Veins for more information about the new zone.
Nazjatar
The Alliance and the Horde find themselves facing an ancient enemy who has long been lurking in the depths — Queen Azshara and her naga army.
Nazjatar is about two thirds of the size of Argus and its story revolves around the champions of both factions establishing their hubs and breaching the Eternal Palace by working together.
Completing the Nazjatar meta-achievement rewards Snapback Scuttler, a crab mount that walks sideways.
Benthic Gear
Blizzard is introducing a new type of armor called Benthic gear. The base item level is 385+ and the items can be upgraded using Prismatic Manapearls up to item level 425. You can collect Manapearls from outdoor activities in Nazjatar including world quests, killing rare creatures, and completing the Emissary quest.
World Bosses
Two new world bosses are available in Nazjatar, each dropping item level 415 loot. Check out the Nazjatar Zone guide at Icy Veins to learn more about the zone.
Azshara’s Eternal Palace Raid
Azshara is the final boss of the new Eternal Palace raid, which houses eight bosses and opens on July 9. Mythic Difficulty and the first Raid Finder wing will be available one week later on July 15.
Eternal Palace loot ranges from item level 400 through 445.
| Difficulty | Item Level |
| Raid Finder | 400 |
| Normal | 415 |
| Heroic | 430 |
| Mythic | 445 |
Mythic Season 3
The third Battle for Azeroth Mythic Keystone Season is scheduled for July 9. After that the Season 3 affix will be available, dungeons will become harder and drop better loot, and new Azerite Armor will be purchasable from Thaumaturge Vashreen.
New Affix: Beguiling
A new Nazjatar-themed affix called Beguiling will be available during Mythic Season 3 for Keystone 10+ runs. Azshara’s Emissaries will be present throughout the dungeon and there are three types of handmaiden, each with a unique set of abilities.
Dungeon Difficulty & Rewards Increase
Blizzard is also increasing the item level and difficulty of all dungeons by 30 item levels.
| Difficulty | Item Level |
| Normal | 370 |
| Heroic | 385 |
| Mythic | 400 |
Azerite Armor
Thaumaturge Vashreen will be selling new Azerite gear for Titan Residuum starting July 9. The price of random tokens will be as follows:
| Item Level | Cost of Tokens |
| 415 | 1,725 Titan Residuum |
| 430 | 9,000 Titan Residuum |
| 445 | 47,500 Titan Residuum |
Profession Changes
In Patch 8.2, the Profession skill limit has been raised to 175 (up from 150) for all Professions except Archaeology. You’ll gain the first 25 skill points in each Profession by disenchanting, milling, or prospecting items. New recipes and crafting materials native to Mechagon and Nazjatar are available from various sources. More details have been provided by Icy Veins below:
- Alchemy 8.2 Changes
- Blacksmithing 8.2 Changes
- Cooking 8.2 Changes
- Enchanting 8.2 Changes
- Engineering 8.2 Changes
- Inscription 8.2 Changes
- Jewelcrafting 8.2 Changes
- Leatherworking 8.2 Changes
- Tailoring 8.2 Changes
Heritage Armor
Gnomes and Tauren will be able to embark on an epic quest line for Heritage Armor in Rise of Azshara. You must be Exalted with the appropriate faction (Gnomeregan or Thunder Bluff) and have a Gnome or Tauren character at max level to be eligible for the quest line.
Mount Equipment
Each mount now has a Mount Equipment slot, which can be equipped with unique items that grant various effects to your mount such as water walking and being immune to dazing while mounted. The items are available from Professions and you will need to be level 100 to unlock the feature and level 20 to use the pieces. Water Striders have lost their innate ability to walk on water and Blizzard is sending a Bind-to-Account Mount Equipment to all Water Strider owners through in-game mail as compensation.
The Story Continues
Magni’s effort to heal Azeroth continues in Patch 8.2 and the latest chapter of the War Campaign is available to level 120 players who have completed previous chapters and the “Clearing out the Cache” quest. Baine Bloodhoof has been trapped by Sylvanas and it is up to the heroes of the Alliance and the Horde to free him in the Stay of Execution Scenario.
Pet Battle Dungeon: Stratholme
Put your best battle pets to test in the all-new Pet Battle Dungeon with Normal and Challenge difficulties. You can find a list of all battle pets added in Patch 8.2 here.
New Island Expeditions — Crestfall and Snowblossom Village
Crestfall and Snowblossom Village are two new islands added in Rise of Azshara. Crestfall features elements of the Warcraft II map and Snowblossom is a Pandaren village where the inhabitants fight off vermin.
The Return of Ashran
Ashran is returning as a 40 vs. 40 Epic Battleground in Rise of Azshara.
We hope you liked our Survival Guide for Patch 8.2 and we’ll see you in Azeroth!
Published: Jun 25, 2019 03:57 pm