WotLK [Warrior] An interesting undocumented change...

**Norrath** · #1 08-08-2008, 11:00 PM

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere yet, so I thought I'd bring it up.

According to Wrath of the Lich King - Warrior - Arms Skills -- there's a new change to three old warrior abilities in the WotLK beta.

Retaliation
Instantly counterattack any enemy that strikes you in melee for 12 sec. Melee attacks made from behind cannot be counterattacked. A maximum of 20 attacks will cause retaliation.
Instant, 5 min cooldown

Recklessness
Your next 0 special ability attacks have an additional 100% to critically hit but all damage taken is increased by 20%. Lasts 12 sec.
Instant, 5 min cooldown

And the big one...

Shield Wall
Reduces all damage taken by 50% for 12 sec.
Instant, 5 min cooldown

**Jasra** · #2 08-09-2008, 02:45 AM

That's fantastic news

We'll have to adjust to SW being less "invulnerable", but at least the cooldown makes it really useful.

Now if they could just take it off the GCD like Last Stand.

Arudar · #3 08-09-2008, 03:11 AM

Source: Norrath
Shield Wall
Reduces all damage taken by 50% for 12 sec.
Instant, 5 min cooldown

*cheers* now let's hope the prot talent changes soon follow (which seems likely - looks like arms is currently getting the reworking, so prot can't be long).

EDIT: It's most likely an old change, but I noticed they lowered the rage on spell reflect to 15.

**Radhja** · #4 08-09-2008, 03:14 AM

I'm both relieved and reserved about this change. I will most certainly miss the 75% immunity, but I'm glad I'll be able to hit my OH SHIT button more often.

**Worldie** · #5 08-09-2008, 07:27 AM

It's just another step for the homogenization of the tanking classes, now Shield Wall is exactly same of Divine Protection... just, DP has also attack speed penalty. Both can be talented to 4 min CD. Both last 12 seconds, and give 50% damage reduction.

**Joeker** · #6 08-09-2008, 08:16 AM

I would say at this point that Recklesness is the only real nerf. The times that you can now use shield wall with out having to worry about the next attempt is great. I would take 25% less and have a 5 min cool down over 30 mins. With that said I am a little dismayed at what happened to Recklesness. It now only works on your next three specials and the fear breaking component has been taken out as well. All in all I am still in a wait and see mode, instead of the freak out the sky is falling mode. Hopefully this was not the polish they were speaking of.

/waiting quietly

Nicki · #7 08-09-2008, 08:38 AM

Im very happy that tanks aren't getting pidgeon holed!!! but rather get to play the class they like possibly!

Porkins · #8 08-09-2008, 10:17 AM

Recklessness in arena........can't wait. (White attacks aside. MS + execute crit with the new talent is so gonna get nerfed)

All the abilities but retaliation are much inferior to their 30 min versions but I guess that's the trade off.

**Crimsonstorm** · #9 08-09-2008, 01:25 PM

This is a big PvP buff, because you can use them in arenas now.

The new shield wall each 5 mins is better, except maybe against big enrages like Brutallus.

The new recklessness is a pve nerf, working for only 3 special attacks, instead of for 15 seconds of everything.

The current build destroys dps warriors. Recklessness for dps nerfed heavily, and Blood frenzy 10 points deeper in arms basically screwing us out of 10 more fury talents.

I'll be working on leveling another character unless I see some big shifts the other direction on warrior dps probably.

**Norrath** · #10 08-09-2008, 01:32 PM

Source: Crimsonstorm
This is a big PvP buff, because you can use them in arenas now.

The new shield wall each 5 mins is better, except maybe against big enrages like Brutallus.

The new recklessness is a pve nerf, working for only 3 special attacks, instead of for 15 seconds of everything.

The current build destroys dps warriors. Recklessness for dps nerfed heavily, and Blood frenzy 10 points deeper in arms basically screwing us out of 10 more fury talents.

I'll be working on leveling another character unless I see some big shifts the other direction on warrior dps probably.

Blood Frenzy is not required for Fury DPS. It's a bonus to Arms warriors to compensate for their lower personal DPS.

**Worldie** · #11 08-09-2008, 01:33 PM

The reason for blood frenzy being so high is that they wanted arms being the raid-utility build, and fury the pure damage build. Pretty much like now.

With blood frenzy where it was, and titan's grip not really being that good, any warrior would have gone arms up to bf, then fury.

Derrick · #12 08-09-2008, 01:35 PM

Source: Worldie
It's just another step for the homogenization of the tanking classes, now Shield Wall is exactly same of Divine Protection... just, DP has also attack speed penalty. Both can be talented to 4 min CD. Both last 12 seconds, and give 50% damage reduction.

Correction: Pallies can now talent theirs to 4min with no damage reduction also, with the added bonus that their version of the 2pt talent is also rolled in with their 6% stam increase, making it a no-brainer. All pally tanks will have a 4min shield wall, and only some warrior tanks will.

**Norrath** · #13 08-09-2008, 01:40 PM

Once talented, Divine Protection and Shield Wall are exactly the same. 50% damage, 12 sec duration, 4 min CD, no other penalties.

Baseline SW is still slightly better than baseline Divine Protection, though, as baseline DP reduces your attack speed.

**Klimpen** · #14 08-09-2008, 01:52 PM

Source: Worldie
It's just another step for the homogenization of the tanking classes, now Shield Wall is exactly same of Divine Protection...

I think it's important to note that it's consolidation of role, rather than class. Each class will preserve its own playstyle while conforming to a specific role. Blizzard just thinks SW/DP is an integral part of the tanking role, thus multiple classes have it.

**Norrath** · #15 08-09-2008, 01:57 PM

Another change -- Shield Block currently blocks ALL attacks for the duration. It's tooltip says, "Increases your chance to block and the amount blocked by 100% for 5 sec, but will only block 0 attacks."

Apparently 0 reads "Infinity". Thus, Recklessness should cause all special attacks to crit for the duration.

Nicki · #16 08-09-2008, 02:04 PM

On brutallus 25% damage reduction means little even when not berserk.

When Berserk it means nothing as even luck wouldn't save you.

I am intrigued by the shield block change very interesting.

**Kazeyonoma** · #17 08-09-2008, 08:04 PM

mmm yay!

**veneretio** · #18 08-09-2008, 08:08 PM

Shield Block blocking everything in the 5 second period is definitely a very cool change. Overall though, Warriors still haven't been touched much. I'd expect a lot of changes still.

Leytur · #19 08-09-2008, 08:36 PM

Retaliation could help immensely on tanking larger groups. Time a HS or Pot with retaliation and hopefully you'll have aggro on everything before you die from lack of heals.

Porkins · #20 08-09-2008, 09:07 PM

Source: Norrath
Once talented, Divine Protection and Shield Wall are exactly the same. 50% damage, 12 sec duration, 4 min CD, no other penalties.

Baseline SW is still slightly better than baseline Divine Protection, though, as baseline DP reduces your attack speed.

I would say baseline DP is slightly better because half damage= half rage. Paladins get very little threat from white damage so DP really has no drawback.