Blizzard changes character powers before November launch

Blizzard revises character traits after public testing closes

Blizzard published fresh balance notes on October 26, only days after ending public testing on October 23. An earlier test revision had swapped specific weapon perks for broad stat boosts, but participants worried the options felt generic. The new update reversed several earlier choices in favor of distinct identity, though it was issued as a plan for launch rather than software open for public inspection.

Focus shifts toward specialized roles

The October 26 announcement marked a deliberate choice to let different character backgrounds excel in separate roles rather than offering identical combat perks. Orcs lost a universal 1 percent critical hit passive and regained 5 percent bonus damage for pets. Human critical strike chance fell from 2 percent to 1 percent, while their spirit bonus doubled to 10 percent. Dwarves traded extra critical damage for a 1 percent boost to attack accuracy.

Tauren sprint speed climbed to a 60 percent cap, up from 30 percent, though mounted travel lost the benefit. For the newly introduced Skyborne, passive attack speed dropped slightly, and special field bonuses were limited to temporary bursts. Blizzard refused to bring back old weapon-specific bonuses, warning they would distort future gear rewards, which led some participants to ask for another brief test run.

Blizzard issues an addendum with omitted updates

A day later, Blizzard acknowledged that its initial summary had left out several scheduled adjustments. A forum follow-up trimmed the recharge time on an Orc fighting ability from three minutes to two, lengthened a Troll combat speed boost to 15 seconds, and quickened an Undead passive trigger to 15 seconds.

The update also set firm boundaries on Skyborne powers, noting that exploration bonuses disappear when entering organized team raids. Gaming guides and databases incorporated the revised text, but players could not confirm whether the written changes were already operating inside a completed software build.

Forum debate continues ahead of worldwide release

Player discussions continued over whether the revised figures felt fair. Critics pointed out that faster travel speed offered little help during battle, leaving Tauren without an offensive benefit on par with other choices, while defenders noted their solid health advantages.

Blizzard confirmed its November 4 release schedule on October 29 without releasing further balance numbers. Community members spent the following days debating alternative trait designs, but the company issued no further official updates to character powers.