World of Warcraft, Blizzard's MMO counterpart to its famous strategy franchise has enjoyed a long and storied history as one of the pillars of its genre. For the game's 9.2 patch, Blizzard Entertainment has gone on record to say that it represents the culmination of a saga that began in Warcraft 3, and now ends in Shadowlands with "Eternity's End". Among the features that this content patch brings, one among them that this article will cover is the long-awaited return of class tier sets.
Class identity has been a huge part of the design philosophy of World of Warcraft ever since the game's conception. However, with the Battle for Azeroth expansion, Blizzard Entertainment decided to temporarily shelve tier sets for an indeterminate amount of time to better promote the expansion set's Heart of Azeroth and Azerite Armor feature. After the launch of Shadowlands and the removal of those systems from the game, the playerbase wondered when tier sets would make their return.
In their place, Blizzard Entertainment emphasized armor type idenity instead, creating 4 armor sets per tier themed around the raid from which the gear sets were obtained. This decision was always received in a lukewarm manner by the playbase who, by the time "Chains of Domination" came out this summer, had grown yearnful for the return of class identity.
The tier set, dubbed as "Progenitor's" by the developers, was teased in the developer reveal video for "Eternity's End", the final patch of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands – and now, through the meticulous and hardworking datamining by World of Warcraft's passionate community, players can take a first look on how the tier set for their respective class looks like, as well as what kind of gameplay bonuses it provides to whoever completes it.
Above are the sets for Shaman, Rogue, Monk, Death Knight, Priest and Druid. This article will cover each set bonus separately, in the order they are represented on the picture, as well as covering Hunter, Warrior, Demon Hunter, Mage, Warlock and Paladin further below.
Shaman
Elemental
Fireheart (2 pieces): While your Storm Elemental or Fire Elemental is active, your Lava Burst deals 20% additional damage and you gain Lava Surge every 8 sec.
Fireheart (4 pieces): Casting Lava Burst extends the duration of your Storm Elemental and Fire Elemental by 1.5 sec. If your Storm Elemental or Fire Elemental is not active, spending Maelstrom has a 20% chance to reduce its remaining cooldown by 10 sec instead.
Enhancement
Stormspirit (2 pieces): Spending Maelstrom Weapon has a 3% chance per stack to summon a Feral Spirit for 9 sec.
Stormspirit (4 pieces): Your Feral Spirits' attacks have a 20% chance to trigger Stormbringer, resetting the cooldown of your Stormstrike.
Restoration
Heal the Soul (2 pieces): Chain Heal's critical hit chance is increased by 30% on all targets it hits when cast on a target affected by your Riptide.
Heal the Soul (4 pieces): Chain Heal critical hits reduce the remaining cooldown of Spirit Link Totem by 2 sec.
Rogue
Assassination
Grudge Match (2 pieces): Shiv's debuff causes your Bleeds to gain 25% Critical Strike for 9 seconds.
Immortal Technique (4 pieces): Vendetta causes Poisons and Bleeds on your target to expire 100% faster.
Outlaw
Tornado Trigger (2 pieces): Your Main Gauche has a 25% chance to fire a Pistol Shot.
Tornado Trigger (4 pieces): Pistol Shot has a 50% chance to load a Hidden Bullet from your sleeves, up to 6 times. After loading 6 bullets, Between the Eyes has its cooldown reset and costs no energy.
Subtlety
Immortal Technique (2 pieces): Shadowstrike has a 20% chance to grant Shadow Blades for 5 sec.
Immortal Technique (4 pieces): Your finishing moves have a 4% chance per combo point to cast Shadowstrike at up to 5 nearby enemies.
Monk
Brewmaster
Unnamed Brewmaster Trait (2 pieces): Targets ignited by Breath of Fire deal an additional 4% less damage to you.
Unnamed Brewmaster Trait (4 pieces): Breath of Fire empowers your next Tiger Palm or Blackout Kick, increasing Shuffle duration and Brew cooldown reduction by 100%.
Mistweaver
Unnamed Mistweaver Trait (2 pieces): Essence Font's residual healing effect lasts an additional 2 sec.
Unnamed Mistweaver Trait (4 pieces): Drinking Thunder Focus Tea summons a Progenitor Rune of Healing, increasing all healing dealt while inside its bounds by 123.
Windwalker
Unnamed Windwalker Trait (2 pieces): Increases Fists of Fury damage by 40%.
Unnamed Windwalker Trait (4 pieces): After 10 offensive abilities, your next 3 offensive abilities deal an additional 22% damage.
Death Knight
Blood
Endless Rune Waltz (2 pieces): Heart Strike increases your Strength by 1% and the duration of Dancing Rune Weapon by 0.5 seconds, persisting for 10 seconds after Dancing Rune Weapon ends.
Endless Rune Waltz (4 pieces): Parrying an attack causes your weapon to lash out, Heart Striking your attacker. Dancing Rune Weapon now summons 2 Rune Weapons.
Frost
Arctic Assault (2 pieces): Remorseless Winter grants 8% Critical Strike while active.
Arctic Assault (4 pieces): Consuming Killing Machine fires a Glacial Advance through your target.
Unholy
Harvest Time (2 pieces): Every 5 Clawing Shadows or Scourge Strikes casts Soul Reaper on your target. Soul Reaper grants your pet 20% attack speed for 10 seconds.
Harvest Time (4 pieces): Whenever Soul Reaper's secondary effect triggers, summon an Army of the Dead ghoul.
Priest
Discipline
From Dusk (2 pieces): Casting Power Word: Shield or Shadow Mend has a 15% chance to make your next cast of Shadow Mend have no cost or cast time.
Manifested Twilight (4 pieces): Power of the Dark Side increases the effectiveness of Penance by an additional 45% and is triggered when Power Word: Radiance is cast.
Holy
Knowledge (2 pieces): Your Holy Words begin Divine Conversation, increasing the cooldown reduction of your next Holy-Word-affecting spell by 15 sec.
Blessed Soul (4 pieces): Divine Conversation increases the effectiveness of your next Holy-Word-affecting spell by 35%.
Shadow
Darkened Mind (2 pieces): Dark Thoughts has an additional 15% chance to trigger for each Shadow damage over time effect on the target.
Living Shadow (4 pieces): Consuming a Dark Thought causes your shadow to animate for 8 sec. Your shadow follows you, dealing (138.4% of Spell power) Shadow damage to your target over the duration.
Druid
Balance
Umbral Embrace (2 pieces): Entering Lunar Eclipse creates a Fury of Elune at 25% effectiveness that follows your current target for 8 sec.
Umbral Infusion (4 pieces): While in an Eclipse, the cost of Starsurge and Starfall is reduced by 20%.
Feral
Ephemeral Being (2 pieces): Each combo point spent reduces the cooldown of Incarnation: King of the Jungle or Berserk by 0.5 sec.
Bleeding Soul (4 pieces): When Berserk ends you lacerate all nearby enemies, dealing (700% of Attack power) Bleed damage over 10 sec.
Guardian
Architect's Design (2 pieces): Casting Barkskin causes you to Berserk for 4 sec.
Architect's Aligner (4 pieces): While Berserked, you radiate (45% of Attack power) Cosmic damage to nearby enemies and heal yourself for (61% of Attack power) every 1 sec.
Restoration
Renewing Bloom (2 pieces): Swiftmend heals an additional (21 % of Spell power) for each periodic healing effect on the target.
Ephemeral Blossom (4 pieces): Swiftmend heals 4 nearby allies for 25% of its healing done.
Hunter
Beast Mastery
Killing Frenzy (2 pieces): Your Kill Command critical strike chance is increased by 15% for each stack of Frenzy your pet has.
Killing Frenzy (4 pieces): Kill Command critical hits increase the damage and cooldown reduction of your next Cobra Shot by 40%.
Marksmanship
Focused Trickery (2 pieces): Trick Shots now also increases the damage of the affected shot by 30%.
Focused Trickery (4 pieces): Spending 80 Focus grants you 2 charge of Trick Shots.
Survival
Mad Bombardier (2 pieces): When Kill Command resets, it has a 40% chance to make your next Wildfire Bomb incur no cooldown.
Mad Bombardier (4 pieces): Your Wildfire Bombs deal 30% additional damage. This bonus is increased to 80% for bombs empowered by Mad Bombardier.
Warrior
Arms
Pile On (2 pieces): Every 75 Rage consumed increases the effectiveness of your next Colossus Smash or Warbreaker by 2%, up to 10%.
Pile On (4 pieces): Increases the duration of your Colossus Smash and Warbreaker by 3 sec.
Fury
Frenzied Destruction (2 pieces): Raging Blow has a 20% chance to grant Recklessness for 4 sec.
Frenzied Destruction (4 pieces): Raging Blow deals 15% increased damage and gains an additional charge.
Protection
Outburst (2 pieces): Consuming 30 rage grants a stack of Outburst, upon reaching 8 stacks of Outburst your next Shield Slam or Thunder Clap are 200% more effective, or your next Ignore Pain is 50% more effective.
Outburst (4 pieces): Avatar increases your damage dealt by an additional 10% and decreases damage taken by 10%. Avatar instantly grants 8 stacks of Outburst.
Demon Hunter
Havoc
Unnamed Havoc Trait (2 pieces): Increases Blade Dance and Death Sweep damage by 20%.
Deadly Dance (4 pieces): Every fifth Blade Dance or Death Sweep instantly refunds its own cooldown and cost. Casting this empowered Blade Dance or Death Sweep has a 15% chance to instantly refund its own cooldown and cost.
Vengeance
Burning Hunger (2 pieces): Damage dealt by Immolation Aura has a 10% chance to generate a Lesser Soul Fragment.
Rapacious Hunger (4 pieces): Consuming a Lesser Soul Fragment has a 100% chance to grant you 2 sec of Immolation Aura, or extend an existing Immolation Aura by 2 sec.
Mage
Arcane
Arcane Lucidity (2 pieces): Increases your Arcane damage dealt to enemies affected by Touch of the Magi by 18%.
Arcane Lucidity (4 pieces): After consuming 8 Clearcasting your next Touch of the Magi is instant, incurs no cooldown and lasts for 6 sec.
Fire
Fiery Rush (2 pieces): Increases the duration of Combustion by 2 sec.
Fiery Rush (4 pieces): While Combustion is active you burn for 2% of your maximum health every 1 sec causing your Fire Blast and Phoenix Flames to recharge 100% faster.
Frost
Frost Storm (2 pieces): While Icy Veins is active your spells have a 25% chance to call down a Comet Storm on your target enemy. This effect cannot occur more than once every 30 sec.
Frost Storm (4 pieces): Enemies hit by Comet Storm take 2% increased damage from your Frost Spells, up to 10% for 8 sec.
Warlock
Affliction
Calamitous Crescendo (2 pieces): While Agony, Corruption, and Unstable Affliction are active, your Drain Soul has a 4% chance and Shadow Bolt has a 20% chance to make your next Malefic Rapture cost no Soul Shards and cast instantly.
Deliberate Malice (4 pieces): Malefic Rapture's damage is increased by 15% and each cast extends the duration of Corruption, Agony, and Unstable Affliction by 2 sec.
Demonology
Malicious Imp-Pact (2 pieces): Your Hand of Gul'dan has a 5% chance per Soul Shard to summon a Malicious Imp. When slain, Malicious Imp grants a Soul Shard and will either deal (19% of Spell power) Fire damage to all nearby enemies of your Implosion or deal it to your current target.
Ripped From the Portal (4 pieces): Call Dreadstalkers has a 100% chance to summon an additional Dreadstalker.
Destruction
Herald of Chaos (2 pieces): Casting Rain of Fire or Chaos Bolt has a 20% chance to make the next cast of the other free.
Avatar of Destruction (4 pieces): When Rain of Fire or Chaos Bolt is freely cast, you summon an Infernal for 8 sec.
Paladin
Holy
Dawn Will Come (2 pieces): Casting Word of Glory causes your next Light of Dawn to heal for 50% more and cast twice. Cannot occur more often than once per 30 sec.
Dawn Will Come (4 pieces): Each target hit by Light of Dawn has a 100% chance to reduce the remaining cooldown of Avenging Wrath by 2 sec.
Protection
Glorious Purpose (2 pieces): Casting Shield of the Righteous increases your Block chance by 4% for 15 sec, stacking up to 3 times.
Glorious Purpose (4 pieces): Blocking an attack has a 33% chance to cast Judgment at your attacker.
Retribution
Ashes to Ashes (2 pieces): When you benefit from Art of War, you gain Seraphim for 2 sec.
Ashes to Ashes (4 pieces): Art of War has a 50% chance to reset the cooldown of Wake of Ashes instead of Blade of Justice.
Player response to the new tier sets has been overwhelmingly positive so far, with many fans citing excitement for the way the tier bonuses would change-up the gameplay of their chosen class and specialization. Given that the Public Test Realm season for "Eternity's End" has only just begun, however, some further adjustments to these sets are all but given, as the final chapter of World of Warcraft's Shadowlands expansion nears release.
World of Warcraft is available on PC.
Source: Reddit