9.1.5 PTR Update: Balance Changes and Torghast Repeat Rewards

Author: Baed
Date: September 9, 2021
Updated: September 9, 2021
Expansion: World of Warcraft

Balance Changes

As testing continues on the PTR, a new update has been posted, with several talents across classes being buffed in an effort to increase their viability. Blood Death Knight’s Consumption getting a 60 percent damage buff, which in turn increases its healing; Brewmaster Monk’s Special Delivery is getting its damaged doubled; Outlaw Rogue’s Dreadblades talent is getting a 26 percent damage buff to its initial strike, as well as filling combo points on top of current effects. Demonology Warlock’s Nether Portal is getting its cooldown lowered from 3 minutes to 2.5 minutes, and Warrior’s Impending Victory talent is getting a cooldown reduction and heal increase. Lastly, a change to a covenant ability instead, with Necrolord Paladins having their Vanquisher’s Hammer increase the effectiveness of their next holy power spender by 25 percent.

Venthyr Ember Court QoL Improvements

Members of the Venthyr Covenant have received a large amount of improvements to how players can progress through the court, with a BoA item to increase rep gains within the court, as well as ways to help your alts, and even your friends progress through their own. Daily Quests from Best Friends within the Ember Court will allow your party members to gain a permanent increase to the rate they gain friendship with attendants that you are Best Friends with.

Legendary Currencies, Domination Shards, and Catch Up

A change has been made to the PTR allows players to receive the proper, max amount of Soul Ash and Soul Cinders from any repeat runs of Torghast, allowing the materials to be farmed at a much easier rate, and lowering the timegating into nonexistence. Additionally, Soul Ash from various activities has been increased.

Shards of Domination will drop at a much higher rate as well, allowing collection of them to be much easier.

Players at 80 Renown can buy a BoA Token (Broker Mark of Distinction) that will allow an alt to instantly achieve Renown 40. Players can also buy Korthian Armaments for specific gear slots.

Group Finder

Currently on the PTR, Group Finder also requires Battle.net Authentication in order to customize the text within the UI, an effort made to combat advertisement spam within the Group Finder.

Group Creators will now also be able to browse listings without having to de-list their group.

Group Finder will display PvP Rating when searching for groups in Rated PvP.

Linxy – (Source)

Hello everyone! Here are the notes for this week’s PTR build.

Classes

Death Knight
- Blood
  - Consumption (Talent) now deals 60% more damage.
Monk
- Brewmaster
  - Special Delivery (Talent) now deals 100% more damage.
Paladin
- Vanquisher’s Hammer (Necrolord Ability) now increases the effectiveness of the free Holy Power spender by 25%.
Rogue
- Outlaw
  - Dreadblades (Talent) initial strike deals 26% more damage and now immediately fills your Combo Points in addition to its current effects.
Warlock
- Demonology
  - Nether Portal (Talent) cooldown reduced to 2.5 minutes (was 3 minutes).
Warrior
- Impending Victory (Talent) cooldown reduced to 25 seconds (was 30 seconds) and now heals for 40% of your max health (was 30%).

Covenants

Sanctums
- Redeemed Souls
  - Rescuing Souls within Torghast, Tower of the Damned now earn credit for “Return Lost Souls.”
- Venthyr: Ember Court
  - Players can now use their influence with guests to help their friends or alternate characters.
    - Once you’ve completed the Best Friend quest for a Guest, that Guest will offer a quest inside your Ember Court scenario to all other players who visit.
    - These “Friend of a Friend” quests unlock a permanent 30% increase to friendship gains with that Guest, so invite a player or two to your next Ember Court and start the introductions to help them make friends faster.
    - Alternate characters on your account will also be offered these quests inside their own Ember Court scenario. Word travels quickly around the court!
  - Temel now sells a new favor item: The Party Herald’s Party Hat.
    - This Bind-on-Account item can be sent to alternate characters, and permanently increases reputation gains with the Ember Court by 30% for any character that uses it.
    - This item also gives Temel a new, fancier party hat and gives you an option to ask Temel to put the hat on you inside the scenario.
  - You will now receive a confirmation prompt when you queue for the scenario if one of your current Guests has not RSVPed (and therefore would not attend if you start the scenario).

Items and Rewards

Increased the drop rate of Shards of Domination.
Significantly increased the amount of Soul Cinders awarded from Layers 8 – 12, Maw Assaults, Tormentors of Torghast, and Command Table missions.
Players who reach 80 Renown can purchase a Broker Mark of Distinction for 500 gold in Oribos that can be used on an alternate character to instantly grant the character up to Renown 40. Cannot be used above 40 Renown.
Players can now purchase versions of Korthian Armaments that create a piece of gear for specific slots.
Acquirer Ta’gosh in the Hall of Curiosities now sells a Gateway Control Shard that lets you activate the nearest Demonic Gateway.

Torghast, Tower of the Damned

Repeatedly completing Wings now awards the full amount of Soul Ash (up from 20% after the first clear).
Repeatedly completing Wings now awards the full amount of Soul Cinders (up from none after the first clear).

User Interface and Accessibility