Nothing has been confirmed as of yet, but an image that was posted on MMO Champion today has caused myself and many others to go, Hmmm…
Could this “Spectral Bear” model perhaps be the new Spirit Beast in Patch 3.3? I’d say there’s definitely a pretty good chance that this might in fact be the possible new Spirit Beast that could be introduced in Patch 3.3. How’s that for a wishy-washy prediction..? 
This was no doubt data-mined from the Patch 3.3 game files, so not much is really known at this time. I must say though, this new bear model looks very Spirit Beasty in nature. Both major content patches that have been added since Wrath of the Lich King have featured Spirit Beasts. Being that 3.3 is the third major content patch since WotLK’s release, it is quite probable that another one will be added.
These are a few reasons why I think this is the next Spirit Beast…
With the introduction of Skoll in Patch 3.2, Blizzard did away with the notion that all Spirit Beasts must be cats. Bears are popular models and a likely candidate for a new Spirit Beast skin after cats and wolves.
The bear model has no saddle, indicating that it’s most likely not a mount.
It seems unlikely that it would be a non-combat pet, because it’s a full grown mature bear. A Non-combat pet would most likely be a spectral bear cub.
The bear model is sort of a bear and Druid Bear Form hybrid, unlike any current bear model that I’ve seen in the game.
It just looks like a f**king Spirit Beast. ‘Nuff said.
So if it is in fact the new Spirit Beast, in which zone do you think it will spawn? If I had to guess, I’d say Grizzly Hills of course, but who knows… it could be anywhere. Dragonblight and Howling Fjord also have bears, as do Zul’Drak and Storm Peaks. I doubt that Zul’Drak or Storm Peaks would feature another Spirit Beast though.
I suspect we’ll know one way or another in the next few days whether or not this is a new Spirit Beast. In the meantime, if any of you on the PTR are able to confirm these suspicions, please forward me a screenshot and I’ll gladly post it.
Related posts:
- New Spirit Beast Bear in Grizzly Hills
- Introducing… Gondria, The New Spirit Beast
- Introducing… SKOLL!
- Arcturis
- Just What I Needed
- Oozeworm
- Wish You Were Here
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Pretty cool!
I just hope they give it proper talents rather than just copy over Loque’s again. Having an exotic spirit beast tank would be awesome.
Mmm, daddy wants. If he looks like a druid bear give him some druid bear attack, Uchikoma is right, no rerun talents.
Well to be honest here I was really hoping that Skoll was to be the last of the spirit beasts. Man I need more stable slots! -_- And I just tamed Gondria again.
But yes, I am on the PTR again searching the map for another spirit beast, with no luck mind you lol.
No, don’t say that, I still want a spirit beast PVP bird!
Assuming it is a new tameable pet, and goes along the same method as the two previous….I would venture to say Grizzly Hills would be the best candidate for location.
It would be cool if it were part of IC too.
Spirit Beasts have been pretty mediocre pets relative to a half-dozen other ferocity pets since their introduction. This is a trophy pet to haul around Dalaran at best, which is sad because it’s obvious Blizzard wants players – and players want – to get excited about these guys.
If I’m going to DPS as Beast Mastery (Lord help me as of 3.2.2) it’s going to be with a Devilsaur or Wolf, and if I’m going to PvP with Ferocity, it’ll be with a Hyena or Tallstrider.
I might be the only one, but I’m not really a fan of the spirit beasts. They are all copy and paste colors and designs with nothing personalized about them other than their species. Imo, step it up blizz, give them a particular wound or mark and make a story line to them. I would like to see pets with personality, much like you had the different devilsaurs back in the day.
Gotta love a bear though. I just wish they would add a reason or something for the recent onset of these new spirit beasts. Make each one have its own design, look, and story line. That would make taming one a bigger priority in my book.
Wowhead has posted a 3D model of the bear… http://www.wowhead.com/?blog=127848#.
I, too, wish for the following:
1. That this bear is, indeed, a new spirit beast.
2. That Blizz decides to re-do the talents for the spirit beasts so that they become unique and competative with regular beasts. I REALLY wanna tank with this guy when I solo!
3. MORE STABLE SLOTS!!!!!
I shall tame this beast and name him Fred Bear! I mean really…is there a more appropriate name?!?!?!
I was really pleased with the design of Skoll, and this new bear model looks really lovely, too.
I’ve never been too taken with the cats, bears, or wolves during my years of huntering, though, so I dedicated myself to getting ole King Krush, who I’ve been using to much success in my raiding for several months, now.
If they had a reptile spirit beast of some sort, I’d probably clear out a stable slot for ‘em, even if he wasn’t as cool for raiding.
I like the “format” of the Spirit Beast abilities – they’re generalized and can be applied to any number of pet models, but I agree – they could use a bit of a buff to make them more than a trophy catch when compared to the DPS of the Devilsaur and Wolf.
@ Qonaan
Spirit Beasts either need a buff, or at the very least, Blizz needs to add more stable slots for Hunters. For many, myself included, Spirit Beasts are fun to stalk and then tame. Problem is, they’re inferior dps-wise and we only have room for so many pets. If they plan on implementing more of these special creatures then they should at least add additional “vanity pet stable slots”.
Personally, I’d like to see some variance between Spirit Beast abilities. If they keep adding new skins with the same generalized skills, then the novelty will most certainly wear off.
@Gar
Definitely. Perhaps three different types of Spirit Beast – we have three different skins presented in-game thus far, and they’re all in Ferocity families. Perhaps there will be Spirit Beasts that are Tenacity or Cunning pets.
That’d be nifty.
Wasn’t there some rumor that hunters would be able to select what pet talent tree their pet uses in some near-but-not-far patch?
Cunning Worms? Tenacity Cats? Ferocity Turtles?
@Qonaan
Even if we could pick the tree for out pets, we’d still need more slots. I have all 3 spirit beasts, my first pet I ever tamed and a wolf. I had to ditch my MC core hound for one of the spirit beasts and I still want Krush.
How hard can it be to give us three more slots? Every hunter I talk to in game says the same thing. How can we make sure Blizz knows we want/need this?
Well don’t ask GC, any time a hunter even mentions anything might not be 100% perfect he has a tantrum.
I want Arcturis to be my pet when he shows his face… well, all of us Beast Masters, that is.
each patch, a new spirit beast & some changes to other families … so whats the point of keeping stable slots on 5 ? its really low … just assume someone with to tame all spirit beasts so just 1 slot will remain unfilled for a pve or pvp pet …
ive been camping his supposed spawn for 2 days now and he has not spawned yet