The next era of World of Warcraft Classic has been announced and we're going to Cataclysm! That, alongside the Season of Discovery which makes its debut in just a few weeks, the WoW Classic What's Next panel is bound to be interesting.

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Classic

  • It was first announced 6 years ago and the team has been working hard to bring memories back.
  • There are threads open on the official WoW forums for your feedback on Classic.

Cataclysm

  • We are going to Cataclysm Classic in 2024.
  • Goblins join the Horde with Worgens in the Alliance.
  • New Class and Race combinations are arriving - the same ones as back in the day.
  • Transmogrification! Start collecting items now in your bank. 
  • Rated Battlegrounds return.
  • The world is getting remade and we can fly in the "old world" once more.
  • Heroic+ Dungeons are being added into Cataclysm with new difficulties and rewards.
  • The guild leveling system is being adjusted so smaller guilds won't be left behind.
  • Faster patch cadence and faster leveling to 80.
  • Transmog will be account-wide.

Season of Discovery

  • When you first start a character, it's exactly like a normal World of Warcraft character.
  • When you get to level 2, your class trainer will offer you a quest to find your first rune.
  • Discoveries are secrets, hidden in the game world. Nothing on your map tells you where they are.
  • Original WoW is effectively solved, making it feel smaller. Discoveries add exploration and adventure to the game.
  • One thing they love about discoveries is it turns the game into a major social and info sharing game.
  • There is no Beta or PTR. They want everything to feel very fresh.
  • Their goal was to craft discoveries that felt home in original WoW.
  • There will be level-banded content phases.
    • The initial level cap is level 25.
    • After a number of weeks, there will be an increased level cap.
    • There will be new content during each phase.
    • The new lower level cap at the start makes it so it is never too late to start - less feeling of being behind.
    • When new content comes out during a new phase, the old phase's level cap will receive an XP boost.
  • They had to look at a different version of endgame with the lower level cap.
    • Old dungeons are getting revamps.
    • The redesigns are fully redone and should feel like a real raid encounter.
    • New loot will be available.
    • Blackfathom Deeps becomes a 10 player raid instance.
  • We can expect to see outdoor PvP events in the world.
  • They are looking at exploring unused content in the game for future content.
  • Rune engraving allows you to "enchant" your gear slots with new class abilities.
    • Chest, Legs, and Hand slots are the initial slots for runes, with more to come later.
    • They work a bit like glyphs in that they can be learned and reapplied whenever you are out of combat.
  • Faction-specific buffs can be found as runes.
  • Respec cost is going to be decreased.
  • They are teasing multiple specs in Season of Discovery.
  • Runes are intended to shake up the meta. 
    • "What if Rogues could tank?"
    • "What if Paladins did have a taunt?"
  • Each class is going to get iconic abilities.
  • Expansion abilities from the WoW universe that were popular may be found in the Season of Discovery.
  • Even though abilities might be from newer WoW expansions, they are modified to feel at home in Classic.
  • Ashenvale has a zone-wide pvp event which involves defeating the enemy leader.
    • Smaller camps need to be defeated to make the leaders easier to fight.
    • Warsong Gulch faction rep can be earned in the zone.
    • A special mount gives you 50% speed in Ashenvale and can be used at level 25.
  • Grab a couple of tanks and healers and hop into the raid.
  • The new raids have a 3-day lockout period, just like Zul'Gurub.
  • There are secrets within Blackfathom Deeps.
  • A new world buff from Blackfathom is available.
  • Gnomeregan, Scarlet Monastery, and Karazhan Crypts have been teased as future raids.

Season of Discovery Class Abilities

These are examples of the different class abilities coming in Season of Discovery. There are plenty more to discover.

  • Druids are getting an interrupt, Skull Bash.
  • Druids are getting Fury of Stormage and Wild Growth.
  • Hunters get Beast Mastery, Explosive Shot, and Lone Wolf.
  • Mages get Ice Lance, Living Flame, and Regeneration for healing!
  • Paladins get Hand of Reckoning, Crusader Strike, and Seal of Martyrdom.
  • Priests get Penance, Prayer of Mending, and Homunculi.
  • Rogues get Shadowstrike, Envenom, and Just a Flesh Wound for tanking!
  • Shamans get Lava Lash, Healing Rain, and Way of Earth for tanking!
  • Warlocks get Haunt, Chaos Bolt, and Metamorphosis for tanking!
  • Warriors get Victory Rush, Devastate, and Raging Blow.

Classic Hardcore

  • Hunters, Warriors and Mages have died the most in Hardcore.
  • Drowning, Lava, and Falling are some of the most deadly things in Classic.
  • They are impressed by the community events.
  • A new, optional ruleset is coming to Hardcore - self-found! It arrives in early 2024.
    • Players opting in to it can't trade, use mail, or use the auction house until max level.

Watch The Video

You can catch a video of the full panel below.

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