Hero Talents Details & Speculation: New Additional Talent Trees in The War Within

• Author: Luxrah
• Date: November 4, 2023
• Updated: November 4, 2023
• Expansion: World of Warcraft

Hero Talents were announced yesterday as one of the new features coming in the next expansion, The World Within. Today we got some more information about these new specialized talent trees, including names of all of the trees that are currently planned.

In today’s WoW Deep Dive panel, Ion Hazzikostas explained that the devs drew inspiration for these talent trees from heroes of the Warcraft universe as well as fantasies that resonate with players. He clarified that you will be able to change these talents at any time that you can change your other talents. They are simply an extra tree on top of your class and specialization trees, which you’ll start putting points into at level 71. At level 80, you’ll have 10 talents, with four of those being choice nodes where you select between two or more options. The final node will be a single build-defining capstone talent.

Now let’s take a look at each of the Hero Talent trees that will be available in The War Within, and speculate about what they may contain!

Death Knight Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for death knights are:

• Rider of the Apocalypse
• San’layn
• Deathbringer

Rider of the Apocalypse brings to mind the Four Horsemen, the death knight bosses of Naxxramas. It’s hard to say what that could mean for the tree, as each of the four bosses has different abilities. Most likely this tree will be tied to the two DPS specs, Frost and Unholy.

San’layn are a group of vampiric elves within the Scourge, such as Blood Queen Lana’thel in Icecrown Citadel. We can probably assume that this tree will revolve around regenerating health and will be available for the Blood specialization.

Deathbringer originates with yet another Wrath of the Lich King boss, Deathbringer Saurfang, another powerful death knight character. Many of that boss’s abilities are blood-related, so this tree will probably be available to the Blood specialization.

Demon Hunter Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for demon hunters are:

• Aldrachi Reaver
• Fel-Scarred

Aldrachi Reaver refers to the ancient Aldrachi race, who defied the Burning Legion and were wiped out. All that remains of them is the Aldrachi Warblades, which were the artifact weapon for the Vengeance specialization in Legion. Since there are only two trees for demon hunters, this tree will be accessible to both Vengeance and Havoc specializations.

Fel-Scarred doesn’t seem to reference anything particular. Since there are only two trees for demon hunters, this tree will be accessible to both Havoc and Vengeance specializations.

Druid Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for druids are:

• Keeper of the Grove
• Elune’s Chosen
• Wildstalker
• Druid of the Claw

Keeper of the Grove is a hero class from Warcraft 3. This tree will be available to the Balance and Restoration specializations. The Force of Nature ability seems to be the central feature of the tree. Here’s the Keeper of the Grove talent tree as of BlizzCon:

Elune’s Chosen refers to Warcraft’s moon goddess. This tree will be available to the Balance and Guardian specializations. It is designed mainly around lunar abilities like Moonfire. Here’s the Elune’s Chosen talent tree as of BlizzCon:

Wildstalker doesn’t seem to be a specific reference to anything in the Warcraft universe. Based on the other specs, we’d guess this tree will be available to Feral and Restoration druids.

Druid of the Claw refers to a clan of druids in Val’sharah. They can be seen in Bear Form and Cat Form, so this tree will most likely be available to Guardian and Feral druids.

Evoker Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for evokers are:

• Chronowarden
• Ruby Adept
• Scalecommander

Chronowarden isn’t a reference to anything that already exists, but definitely sounds like a Bronze Dragonflight name. That means it’s likely going to be available to the Preservation and Augmentation specializations.

Ruby Adept similarly brings to mind the Red Dragonflight, and will probably be available to the Devastation and Preservation specializations.

Scalecommander refers to the leaders of the Dracthyr. Through process of elimination, we can guess that this tree will be available to the Augmentation and Devastation specializations.

Hunter Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for hunters are:

• Sentinel
• Pack Leader
• Dark Ranger

Sentinel is the title used by members of the night elf military. They are an army of scouts and warriors. This tree will most likely be available to the Survival and Beast Mastery specializations.

Pack Leader isn’t a reference to anything specific, but definitely sounds like a talent tree that revolves around pets. It will probably be available to Beast Mastery and Marksmanship hunters.

Dark Ranger has long been cited as a top option for a potential class in World of Warcraft. In Warcraft 3, the hero class comes with some interesting abilities that may bring a bit of extra magic to the hunter class. In The War Within, we expect it to be available to Survival and Marksmanship hunters.

Mage Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for mages are:

• Sunfury
• Frostfire
• Spellslinger

Sunfury is the name of the blood elf army of Quel’Thalas, and certainly sounds like a tree that would suit the Fire and Arcane specializations.

Frostfire is a type of magic in the Warcraft universe that combines frost and fire. Therefore it makes sense that this tree would be available to the Frost and Fire mage specializations.

Spellslinger isn’t a specific reference, but does sound like a tree that would enhance non-elemental spells, perhaps utility spells. That also fits with the math that leaves this tree for the Arcane and Frost specializations.

Monk Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for monks are:

• Master of Harmony
• Shado-Pan
• Conduit of the Celestials

Master of Harmony has the ring of a tree that would enhance health or healing. For that reason, we’re guessing it will be available to the Brewmaster and Mistweaver specializations.

Shado-Pan is the name of the secretive Pandaren order who defend Pandaria. Most likely this tree will be available to Windwalker and Brewmaster monks.

Conduit of the Celestials has a pretty generic monk sound to it. By process of elimination, we’re guessing it will be available to the Mistweaver and Windwalker specializations.

Paladin Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for paladins are:

• Lightsmith
• Herald of the Sun
• Templar

Lightsmith is fairly generic sounding, but probably safe to assume that it’s focused on health and healing. We’ll say this tree will be available to the Holy and Protection specializations.

Herald of the Sun has an interesting ring to it, but again doesn’t offer any hints. We’d guess based on the other two trees that this one will be available to the Holy and Retribution specializations.

Templar is an elite type of paladin, righteous defenders who are utterly devoted to the Light. This tree will probably focus on damage and be available to the Retribution and Protection specializations.

Priest Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for priests are:

• Voidweaver
• Oracle
• Archon

Voidweaver is a title borne by eredar warlocks in the Broken Shore, and definitely sounds like a tree that will buff your shadow damage. So we’re assuming this tree will be available to the Shadow and Disipline specializations.

Oracle is a generic name for a divine prophet or seer. This may be a utility tree shared by the Shadow and Holy specializations.

Archon is the title of the leader of the Kyrians, the angelic people of the Shadowlands. That definitely sounds like a healing tree, which means it will be available to the Holy and Discipline specializations.

Rogue Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for rogues are:

• Deathstalker
• Trickster
• Fatebound

Deathstalker is the title used by assassins of the Forsaken. This will almost certainly be a damage-focused tree for Assassination and Subtlety specializations.

Trickster sounds like a utility tree, and we’re guessing it will be available to the Outlaw and Subtlety specializations.

Fatebound sounds luck-based, perhaps a tree that grants some kind of proc or crit bonus. We’re thinking it will be available to the Outlaw and Assassination specializations.

Shaman Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for shamans are:

• Stormbringer
• Far Seer
• Totemic

Stormbringer is an enhancement shaman ability that was removed in Dragonflight. It’s probably safe to assume that this will be a damage-focused tree for the Enhancement and Elemental specializations.

Far Seer is a hero class in Warcraft 3 that comes with the Chain Lightning, Far Sight, Feral Spirit, and Earthquake abilities. In the Warcraft universe, Far Seers are wise leaders of shamanic communities. We think this tree will be available to the Elemental and Restoration specializations.

Totemic is a generic shaman word, and sounds like a utility tree. Based on the other two trees, this one will likely be available to the Enhancement and Restoration specializations.

Warlock Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for warlocks are:

• Soul Harvester
• Hellcaller
• Diabolist

Soul Harvester is the name of low level warlock scythe, and definitely sounds like a tree that increases shadow damage. We’d therefore guess that this tree will be available to the Affliction and Demonology specializations.

Hellcaller is a common type of satyr warlock, and has a certain fiery ring to it. We’d guess that this tree will be available to the Affliction and Destruction specializations.

Diabolist is a distinctly demonic name, so it most likely buffs your warlock pets. This tree makes sense for the Demonology and Destruction specializations.

Warrior Hero Talent Trees

The Hero Talent specializations for warriors are:

• Colossus
• Slayer
• Mountain Thane

Colossus is a pretty generic term that means big and tough. We know from BlizzCon that this tree will be available to the Protection and Arms specializations.

Slayer is another pretty generic term for a killer, so it makes sense that this would be a damage-oriented tree. We know from BlizzCon that it will be available to the Fury and Arms specializations.

Mountain Thane is based on the Mountain King hero class from Warcraft 3, a dwarf warrior class with the Thunder Clap ability. It’s probably safe to say that this will be the utility tree for warriors. We know from Blizzcon that it will be available to the Protection and Fury specializations.