Here’s How ‘World Of Warcraft’ Warriors, Monks, And Druids Are Changing When ‘Legion’ Launches

With only four classes left to preview, Blizzard Entertainment developers detail three more today. Critical Warrior, Monk, and Druid changes are coming up when Legion releases, and the developer wants to keep World of Warcraft players informed on the new changes. After today’s feature covering these three classes, only the Rogue remains as the last class to receive its Legion preview post.

World of Warcraft Warriors can specialize in three ways; two damage-dealing options and a tanking option exist. In Legion, players that are familiar with the Arms and Fury specializations should be able to distinguish their playstyle even more through a number of talents. However, the preview on Battle.net only offers up a brief look at the Warrior’s changes.

Arms Warriors will enjoy a new Mastery that increases the damage of Colossus Smash while debuffing the target to take more damage after being hit by it. Fury Warriors will focus on building Rage and then “going wild with Rampage.” Their intensity is exemplified in a one of the specialization’s new talent options. Frenzy lets Fury Warriors spend rage to deal moderate damage while increasing their own Haste; an ability that stacks up to five times. Lastly, the Protection Warriors can utilize a Shield Discipline passive talent that increases the duration of Shield Block after using Shield Slam and increases the damage of Shield Slam after using Shield Block. According to the official World of Warcraft forums, however, the popular Gladiator Stance is being removed in Legion.

Currently the newest class to World of Warcraft, Monks will still undergo a number of changes when Legion releases. The Monk can take on each core role found in World of Warcraft with their three specializations. The tanking Brewmaster Monk will no longer use Chi and instead manage charges on their Brews like Ironskin Brew and Purifying Brew. The Brewmaster will focus more on tanking through evasion rather than absorption in Legion. As for the healing specialization, the changes to Mistweaver Monks will improve Renewing Mist while adding new abilities Vivify and Essence Font. Finally, damage dealing Windwalker Monks will enjoy a much improved version of Storm, Earth, and Fire that no longer requires the Monk to target enemies to use the spell.

The last World of Warcraft class preview on Battle.net for today covers the versatile Druid. As the only class in World of Warcraft to boast four different specializations, the Druid will see a plethora of changes when Legion launches. In the damage arena, Balance Druids will no longer have to manage an Eclipse bar and will instead use Astral Power to cast Starsurge or Starfall. Feral Druids will continue to deal massive damage through bleeds and physical attacks. The tanking Guardian Druid will focus more on mitigating damage through their thick skin rather than by dodging. For example, Ironfur increases their armor by 100 percent for six seconds and multiple uses make the spell overlap. Finally, Restoration Druids will see a minor change making their Mastery increase healing done to a target based on the number of heal-over-time effects currently active on it.

Druids in Legion will also benefit from the new Affinity system that replaces Heart of the Wild. With four specializations and a reputation of being jacks of all trades, Druids will be able choose an Affinity with one other specialization. These Affinities provide powerful passive buffs while granting “access to multiple key abilities” from the other specailzation.

Yesterday, three other World of Warcraft classes were previewed by Blizzard including the popular Warlock, the iconic Death Knight, and the controversial Shaman. As the Inquisitr reported, all Warlocks will return to using Soul Shards, Blood Death Knights can choose a Bonestorm talent, and Shaman Totems will be much stronger. In fact, Shamans will be able to have more than one Totem of each nature type out simultaneously, elementals summoned from Totems will be able to follow the Shaman, and Totems will have a percentage of the Shaman’s health.

Legion is due to release in summer 2016 with a fine print guarantee of a launch “on or before” September 21. The expansion will raise the World of Warcraft level cap to 110, add artifact weapons for all specializations, introduce the new Demon Hunter hero class, and much more. Players will be able to lead their class order hall, enjoy an extremely improved transmogrification system, and complete new dungeons and raids.

How does this set of class changes strike you?

[Image via Blizzard Entertainment]