Blizzard Details Hunter and Druid Changes for World of Warcraft: Forever

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Blizzard has posted its first class deep dives for World of Warcraft: Forever, starting with Hunter and Druid. The studio also released a separate class highlights video covering Warrior, Shaman, and Rogue, with a reminder that abilities and talents can still change during beta.

Forever is sticking close to original World of Warcraft class structure, but with more room to experiment. Talent trees still begin at level 10, with key milestones at 11, 21, and 31 points, plus a new 16-point milestone. Some talents match patch 1.12, while others have been reworked. Certain old talent buffs, including Blessing of Kings and Improved Mark of the Wild, are now baseline. Dual Specialization unlocks at level 40, though talent changes still require a class trainer in a major city.

  • Hunters are getting Aimed Shot as a baseline ability at level 20. Arcane Shot no longer shares a cooldown with Aimed Shot, but Multi-Shot now does.
  • Traps can be used in combat on a 30-second cooldown, with Frost and Fire traps split onto separate cooldowns.
  • Hunter pets now gain stats from the Hunter’s gear, but can’t receive player stat buffs. Each pet family also gets a unique ability, and Foxes are being added as a new family with Trickster’s Dance.
  • Notable Hunter talents include Summon Hawk for Beast Mastery, Lone Wolf for Marksmanship, Sniper Shot, and melee-focused Survival options like Strider Kick and Lacerating Strikes.
  • Druids are getting more flexibility while shapeshifted. Most potions, consumables, weapon procs, and object interactions work in form, and racials like Shadowmeld and War Stomp can be used while shapeshifted.
  • Nature’s Grasp and Omen of Clarity are baseline. Druids also get Lacerate at level 42 and Revive, an out-of-combat resurrection, at level 12.

Druid forms are also being adjusted so Bear, Cat, and Dire Bear auto-attack DPS matches equipped weapon DPS, with different swing speeds depending on form. Other changes include Faerie Fire in animal forms, Barkskin while shapeshifted, and indoor Entangling Roots.

The highlights video gives shorter looks at Warrior rage, stance, and cooldown changes, Shaman totem groups and Totemic Projection, plus Rogue Energy regeneration and talent updates for Subtlety and Assassination.

Class Highlights - Part 1: Warrior, Shaman, Rogue | World of Warcraft: Forever

Further reading: Official World of Warcraft Forever class deep dives