Patch 10.2.5 PTR Development Notes - Class Adjustments, Additional Content

Blizzard has recently released the development notes for Patch 10.2.5 PTR, bringing exciting class tuning, new content, and much more! This Public Test Realm (PTR) is a special testing environment for the upcoming Dragonflight: Seeds of Renewal update. Let's dive into the details and see what's in store for players in this highly anticipated patch.

Dragonflight: Seeds of Renewal 10.2.5 Update Development Notes

• Follower Dungeons

Follower Dungeons are now available for all 8 of the original Dragonflight dungeons on Normal difficulty. Whether you prefer to venture solo or team up with friends, you can now queue into any follower dungeon. To make the experience even more immersive, a follower NPC will join your party and fill any necessary role. The rewards you receive from these dungeons will be equivalent to running them with a full party of players. Get ready to explore the depths of these dungeons with a trusted companion by your side!

• Azerothian Archives

If you've ever been curious about the history of the Dragon Isles, now is your chance to discover it. Visit Traitor's Rest and delve into the Azerothian Archives, where you'll encounter a unique cast of characters, listen to captivating stories from the past, and witness iconic symbols from bygone eras. Engage in both solo and group activities, including a Weekly Public Event, and earn exciting rewards like battle pets, mounts, and a transmog set. Begin your journey as an Archivist today by visiting the Sapphire Enclave library in Valdrakken.

Disclaimer: Group activities within the Azerothian Archives will not be available on the PTR.

• Reclaiming Gilneas

King Greymane is determined to reclaim his kingdom of Gilneas, but it won't be an easy task. Gilneas is not as empty as initially thought. Join forces with King Greymane and help restore Gilneas to its former glory. However, please note that the Reclaiming Gilneas questline will not be available for testing on the PTR. Stay tuned for its release in the live version of the game!

• Dragonriding Available Worldwide

Get ready to take to the skies with dragonriding, now available wherever flying is permitted within Azeroth. However, there is a slight restriction. When riding your dragon mount outside of the Dragon Isles, its speed will be reduced to 80% of its maximum. This adjustment aims to maintain reasonable travel times in older zones while still providing an exciting and immersive dragonriding experience. The Dragon Isles are vast compared to the older continents, necessitating this adjustment for a balanced gameplay experience.

The Outland Cup

Experience the thrill of racing in the Outland Cup, available for testing from November 16 through November 29. Mount up and rediscover the skies of Outland with a brand-new Dragonriding racing event. Thirteen exciting new races await you across Outland, with different difficulty levels such as Normal, Advanced, and Reverse courses. Prepare yourself for the Hellfire Hustle, Coilfang Caper, Blade's Edge Brawl, Telaar Tear, and many more thrilling races. Participating in the Outland Cup allows you to earn Riders of Azeroth Badges, which you can use to purchase various rewards like the Drake Racer's Scarf, Outlandish Drake Racer's transmog set, new dragon customizations, Valdrakken Accord Insignia, and the Manuscript of Endless Possibility, which randomizes mount customizations each time you mount up on a customizable mount.

Complete all the Outland Cup races on Gold to earn the prestigious achievement Outland Racing Completionist: Gold, the Outland Racer title, and the Ruby Riders of Azeroth tabard. Additionally, all players participating in the Outland Cup races will be granted a maxed out Dragonriding Talent Tree, ensuring a level playing field for all competitors.

Important note: Any players who have not unlocked dragonriding yet will still be able to fly the race courses using loaned dragonriding mounts.

To make the racing experience more seamless, the Grotto Netherwing Drake and Flourishing Whimsydrake have been added to the list of available loaned dragonriding mounts. Finally, after completing a race, players who have unlocked dragonriding will no longer be dismounted, whereas those who haven't unlocked it will be dismounted to maintain consistency.

Achievements and Character Customizations

• New Appearance Achievements

Get ready to take your fashion game to the next level with the addition of new Appearance achievements. Show off your unique style and earn recognition for your fashion-forward choices.

• Character Customizations

Trolls have received a new selection of 5 hair colors to further enhance their individuality. Additionally, Draenei now have an exciting new skin color option for an even wider range of visual customization. Warlock players will be pleased to discover new customizations for their tyrant and darkglare demons.

Dragons and Evokers

• Dracthryr

The Dracthryr class has received some exciting new changes. Players will now be able to enjoy the Empowered Soaring passive ability, which allows them to soar through the skies akin to dragonriding. This grants access to vigor and all dragonriding abilities, enhancing the class's mobility and gameplay experience. Please note that players will need to learn dragonriding on their account and complete the Forbidden Reach starting experience to unlock Soar.

On the other hand, the Familiar Skies racial ability has been removed for Dracthryr players. These changes aim to provide a more cohesive and immersive gameplay experience for Dracthryr characters.

Class Tuning

• Evoker (Preservation)

The Preservation specialization for the Evoker class has received changes to make maintaining Reversions more rewarding, even when focusing on the Emerald Blossom build. Casts of Reversion will now trigger Essence Burst, enhancing the rotational flow of Preservation and making it a more enjoyable playstyle. However, to balance these additions, the mana cost of most spells has been increased by 10%. The developers are eager to hear player feedback on the changes and will be closely monitoring discussions around this topic.

• Mistweaver Monk

Mistweaver Monks have received a revamp with the introduction of the Dance of the Wind ability. This ability increases your dodge chance by 10% initially and an additional 10% every 4 seconds until you successfully dodge an attack. Additionally, the Ancient Teachings talent now boosts Stamina by 5% while active. These changes aim to provide Mistweaver Monks with more survivability and versatility in combat.

• Windwalker Monk

Windwalker Monks have also gained the Dance of the Wind ability, which grants them an increased dodge chance that progressively improves over time. This ability allows Windwalker Monks to avoid attacks more effectively, providing them with heightened agility on the battlefield.

• Shaman

Shamans and their allies will notice a visual change when summoning Earth Elemental, Fire Elemental, and Storm Elemental (as well as their Primal counterparts) in instances. These elementals will now appear smaller, improving visibility for both allies and enemies. However, Shamans themselves will still see the elementals as their original size, maintaining consistency between different perspectives.

User Interface and Accessibility

• Accessibility Options

Blizzard has introduced a new "Quest Text Contrast" setting within the Accessibility Options, allowing players to preview how quest text will appear with different contrast options. This feature aims to improve readability and accommodate players with visual impairments.

• Updated Art and Improved Markings

Unit frames now feature updated art to better display predictions and absorbs. This change makes it easier to track incoming damage and healing effects during combat. Additionally, limited-time Traveler's Log activities will be clearly marked, displaying the remaining time for players to participate in these special events. These quality-of-life improvements aim to enhance the overall user experience.

• Transmog Enhancements

Transmog enthusiasts will be pleased to know that they can now favorite individual set pieces in the Transmog Sets pane by simply right-clicking. This new feature allows for more convenient customization and organization of transmog collections. Furthermore, each set piece now displays its corresponding slot type in the tooltip, making it easier to identify and coordinate different pieces.

Now is the time to conquer the content that came with the Guardians of the Dream update! From running Mythic+ dungeons to slaughtering the mighty new bosses of the fresh Amirdrassil raid - all of that and beyond is one click away with WowCarry and its team of pro-players that will carry you through your journey!