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World of Warcraft Patch 11.1: A Visual Feast for Shamans (and Some Other Classes)
WoW Patch 11.1 brings a visual refresh, particularly benefiting Shaman abilities. Lightning Bolt and Crash Lightning receive significant graphical overhauls, along with several other Shaman spells. While many classes see updated visuals, Shamans receive more attention than most, sparking mixed reactions among players.
Currently available on the Public Test Realm (PTR), Patch 11.1 offers a sneak peek at upcoming changes. Beyond new content, all classes receive balance adjustments, with Hunters undergoing a substantial rework. Many classes also boast new ability VFX, but Shamans are the standout recipients. Lightning Bolt, Crash Lightning, and Fire Nova get complete visual makeovers. Frost Shock receives both new visual and audio effects when paired with Ice Strike. Even Ghost Wolf gets an upgrade, scaling with character models and increased transparency. The Glyph of Spirit Raptors now functions with the Flowing Spirits talent. Content creator Doffen's videos provide detailed comparisons of these updates.
Visual Updates Summary:
| Class (Specialization) | Ability | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Death Knight | Raise Ghoul/Apocalypse | New visual, instantaneous summon |
| Death Knight (Frost) | Frost Strike | New animation for Worgen |
| Death Knight (Unholy) | Defile | New visual |
| Death Knight (Unholy) | Army of the Damned | New spell effects for Magus of the Dead |
| Death Knight (Rider of the Apocalypse) | Darion Mograine's Death and Decay | New visual |
| Priest (Discipline) | Evangelism | New visual |
| Shaman | Ghost Wolf | Scales with character model, more transparent |
| Shaman | Lightning Bolt | New casting and projectile effects |
| Shaman (Enhancement) | Crash Lightning | New visual |
| Shaman (Enhancement) | Fire Nova | New visual on targets |
| Shaman (Enhancement) | Frost Shock | New visual and sounds with Ice Strike |
| Hunter | Explosive Shot | Faster projectile |
| Hunter (Beastmaster) | Dire Beast | New visual, leaps at target |
| Hunter (Marksman) | Intimidation | New visual (no pet) |
| Hunter (Sentinel) | Lunar Storm | New visual |
| Warrior | Enrage | New visual |
| Warrior | Spell Reflect | New visual |
While many praise the Crash Lightning and Fire Nova updates, some find the Lightning Bolt animation underwhelming, preferring previous iterations. The channeling effect is improved, but the projectile style evokes World of Warcraft Classic, rather than the Cataclysm's direct-hit effect.
Overall, player reception is positive. The hope is that Blizzard will introduce glyphs allowing players to choose preferred VFX, similar to the Shaman Ascendance forms in Patch 11.0.5.
Beyond visual enhancements, Patch 11.1 adds new abilities: Primordial Storm (Shaman), Symbiotic Relationship (Druid), and Slicing Winds (Windwalker Monk). These, alongside the visual updates, promise exciting gameplay changes expected around February 25th.
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