This is a huge content patch. I wasn’t able to explore all of the changes on the first day, but I was able to check out a few things.
Disengage is great. It’s still going to take some getting used to (I nearly launched off the bridge in Alterac Valley last night), but it’s been very useful in PvP. This skill seems like it would work wonders when used with Scatter Shot.
I like the new Aimed Shot. I ended up going with a 50/11/0 spec for Aimed Shot and the crit boosts. Initially I was thinking 50/0/11 for scatter, but then I decided to put the 11 points in MM for the extra burst and healing debuff. Even though the damage has been decreased, the fact that it can be cast while kiting is a huge plus in my book.
TBW and Intimidation seem to always be available when I need them. The 30% cooldown reduction from Longevity makes a huge difference. Having big red up every minute twenty four, and the 3 second pet stun every 42 seconds is very handy. I was still feeling pretty formidable vs most classes in the battlegrounds, except for these guys…
Ret Pallies..?! Anyone else notice how ridiculously overpowered they are? They’re unstoppable wrecking machines that can stun, bubble and heal. Their burst damage seems to have gone through the roof. This guy was absolutely nuking people while returning flags in Warsong Gulch.
The new pet talent trees and unique skills are a huge improvement. I actually brought my wolf out with me to most of the battlegrounds I queued for. Furious Howl is now very viable. With the reduced cooldown and increased range, this is a huge buff. It constantly refreshes, giving me a passive 140AP. I like it.
Wind Serpents aren’t as bad off as I thought, but they aren’t a top choice for PvE or PvP either. The ranged nature damage is still nice, but the 7 second cooldown for Lightning Breath (with Longevity) makes it less attractive. The Cunning family is suited more for PvP, which makes this skill so-so. A stun, snare, or debuff would be better in my opinion.
One of the first things I did after redistributing my talent points was to grab my monkey out of the kennel. I wanted to start leveling him to 70 and witness the AOE tanking ability firsthand. I went to Nagrand and beat up on some wildlife for awhile. The tenacity talents coupled with Thunderstomp make for awesome tankage.
Those were the early assessments for the 3 pets that I have. I purchased my 2 extra stable slots, so I am looking forward to testing out some other pets soon.
I also managed to pick up The Gladiator’s Resolution. I had some honor banked, but not enough for that and Battlemaster’s Resolve. This weekend I should have the extra needed for the trinket. I figure I’ll need all the help I can get if Matt and I are going to try and hit 1800 before the expansion.
More later.