Rokk Talk

Patch 4.0 is now on the PTR.  For Hunters, this is a Big Deal.  For people who group and raid with Hunters, it’s also a Big Deal.

Back in the day, when people raided with Hunters they would expect to see nothing but Wolves.  Wolves were the pets that Hunters brought to raids.  They had the right buff for the job, and every other pet the Hunter had access to was usually a distant second when it came to raid viability.

In 4.0, that is no longer the case.  All pets are getting a utility revamp, and many of these bad boys are more than equipped to knock the Wolf off of the top raid pet spot.   Even Beast Masters will have their place at the table, since Exotic pets like Core Hounds and Silithids have much more to offer a group, a raid, or even just a solo encounter.

The abilities listed below were obtained from MMO Champion.  Hunters, you may want to start leveling up some pets other than turtles and wolves so you’re ready when Patch 4.0 turns your world upside down.

Utility Abilities
(Pets with a – E are exotic pets tameable only by Beast Mastery Hunters)

Bloodlust / Heroism

• Ancient Hysteria (Core Hound – E) – Increases melee, ranged, and spell casting speed by 30% for all party and raid members. Lasts 40 sec.
  Allies receiving this effect will become Sated and be unable to benefit from Bloodlust or Time Warp again for 10 min. / Instant, 6 min cooldown

Healing

• Spirit Mend (Spirit Beast – E) – The Spirit Beast heals the currently friendly target for {1237.75+((RAP*0.35)*0.5)} plus an additional {475.97+((RAP*0.35)*0.335)} over 10 sec. / 25 yd range, Instant, 40 sec cooldown

Stat Boost (BoK)

• Embrace of the Shale Spider – Fills all friendly party and raid members with the Shale Spider’s embrace, increasing Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Intellect by %. / Instant

Stamina Buff

• Qiraji Fortitude (Silithid – E) – Increases party and raid members’ Stamina by 584.76. / Instant

Critical Strike Buff

• Furious Howl (Wolf / Dog) – The wolf lets out a furious howl, increasing the critical strike chance of all party and raid members by 5%. / Instant, 45 sec cooldown
• Terrifying Roar (Devilsaur – E) – The devilsaur lets out a terrifying roar, increasing the critical strike chance of all party and raid members by 5%. / Instant, 45 sec cooldown

Casting Speed Reduction

• Lava Breath (Core Hound – E) – Your pet breathes a double gout of molten lava at the target, reducing the target’s casting speed by 25% for 10 sec. / 30 yd range, Instant, 8 sec cooldown (No longer deals damage)
• Spore Cloud (Sporebat) – Dusts nearby enemies with spores, reducing all enemy targets within 6 yards casting speed by 25% for 9 sec. / 6 yd range, Instant, 12 sec cooldown

Attack Speed Reduction

• Dust Cloud (Tallstrider) – Your tallstrider kicks up an obscuring cloud of dust, causing all enemies within 10 yards to have their melee and ranged attack speed reduced by 20% for 8 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 40 sec cooldown
• Tailspin – Your fox twirls its tail around, kicking up an obscuring cloud of dust, causing all enemies within 10 yards to have their melee and ranged attack speed reduced by 20% for 8 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 40 sec cooldown

Movement Speed Reduction

• Ankle Crack (Crocolisk) – Snap at the target’s feet, reducing movement speed by 50% for 6 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 10 sec cooldown (Replaces Bad Attitude)
• Frost Breath (Chimaera – E) – Your pet simultaneously breathes frost and lightning at an enemy target, slowing the target for 5 sec. / 30 yd range, Instant, 10 sec cooldown (No longer deals damage)
• Time Warp (Warp Stalker) – Slows time around the enemy, reducing their movement speed by 50% for 6 sec. / 25 yd range, Instant, 15 sec cooldown

Healing Debuff

• Monstrous Bite (Devilsaur – E) – Your devilsaur ferociously bites the enemy, reducing the effectiveness of any healing received by 25% for 8 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 8 sec cooldown

Root

• Venom Web Spray (Silithid – E) – Sprays toxic webs at the target, preventing movement for 5 sec. / 30 yd range, Instant, 40 sec cooldown (Up from 4 sec, no longer deals damage)
• Web (Spider) – Encases the target in sticky webs, preventing movement for 5 sec. / 30 yd range, Instant, 40 sec cooldown

Silence / Interrupt

• Serenity Dust (Moth) – The moth’s wings produce a cloud of dust that interrupts the enemies spellcasting and preventing any spell in that school from being cast for 2 sec. / 25 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldown

Armor Reduction (Sunder Armor)

• Tear Armor (Raptor) – Tears at the enemies armor with the raptor’s talons, reducing it by 4%. Stacks up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 6 sec cooldown
• Corrosive Spit (Serpent) – Spits poison at an enemy, corroding their armor, reducing it by 4%. Stacks up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec. / 30 yd range, Instant, 6 sec cooldown

Increased Bleed Damage

• Gore (Boar) – Your boar gores the enemy, causing it to take 30% additional damage from bleed effects for 15 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 10 sec cooldown
• Tendon Rip (Hyena) – Tears at an enemy’s legs, increasing damage taken from bleed effects by 30% for 15 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 10 sec cooldown

Increased Magic Damage

• Fire Breath (Dragonhawk) – Breathes Fire on the target, increasing magic damage taken by 8% for 45 sec. / 40 yd range, Channeled, 30 sec cooldown
• Lightning Breath (Wind Serpent) – Breathes lightning, increasing magic damage taken by 8% for 45 sec. / 40 yd range, Channeled, 30 sec cooldown

Increased Physical Damage

• Acid Spit (Worm – E) – Your worm spits acid, causing the enemy target to take an increased 4% physical damage for 25 sec. / 20 Focus, 30 yd range, Instant, 10 sec cooldown
• Ravage (Ravager) – Violently attacks an enemy, causing the enemy target to take 4% increased physical damage for 25 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 15 sec cooldown

Stun

• Sonic Blast – Emits a piercing shriek, stunning the target for 2 sec. / 20 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldown (No longer deals damage)
• Sting (Wasp) – Your wasp stings the target, stunning them for 2 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 45 sec cooldown

Physical Damage Reduction

• Demoralizing Roar (Bear) – The bear roars, reducing the physical damage caused by all enemies within yards by 10% for 15 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 10 sec cooldown

Disarm

• Clench (Scorpid) – The scorpid clenches the enemy’s weapon with its talons, and disarming their main hand and ranged weapons for 10 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldown

DPS Abilities

• Bite – Bite the enemy, causing {187.74+((RAP*0.35)*0.40)} damage. / 25 Focus, 5 yd range, Instant, 3 sec cooldown
• Claw – Claw the enemy, causing {187.74+((RAP*0.35)*0.40)} damage. / 25 Focus, 5 yd range, Instant, 3 sec cooldown
• Smack – Smack the enemy, causing {187.74+((RAP*0.35)*0.40)} damage. / 25 Focus, 5 yd range, Instant, 3 sec cooldown

This is Herculano.  Have your pet spayed or neutered today, ’cause after Patch 4.0 they just might do the same to you.

Ever since Archaeology was announced as a new secondary talent at Blizzcon, people weren’t exactly sure what to make of it.  There wasn’t much announced, except that you would be able to dig up things that would both enhance the game’s lore and maybe give the character something nice.  It wasn’t met with the OMG DANCE STUDIO level of enthusiasm, but it was something people had been curious about.  Fast forward to this week, and you really get the vibe that Blizzard wants this profession to be the new hotness.  You know how I know that Blizzard wants it to be cooler than the other side of the pillow?  Well for starters, your Archaeology Trainer is none other than Harrison Jones.

Recently, Ghostcrawler posted more information regarding the profession but here’s a few things you should probably know.

Prep Work: Since you can’t powerlevel Archaeology, you might think there’s nothing you can do to prepare yourself for training.  Not true.  For starters, invest the 250gp for Old World Flying.  There will only be four dig sites per continent at any one time, and you will see them on your Main Map rather than your mini-map.  Naturally there’s a whole lot of area to cover, so Flying will be your best friend.  In fact, break open the piggy bank and cough up the extra 5000 gp and get your 310 Flying as well, you cheapskate.

Getting Your Hands Dirty: Unlike gathering nodes, dig sites will be able to be used by multiple characters at once.  It’s like pools of fish, but on land.  At least, I assume it will be on land.  Aquatic dig sites probably aren’t out of the realm of possibility though.   You’re going to have to get out there and scout out the location vis Surveying.  I can’t imagine someone skilling up Archaeology on a PVP Realm.

I can.

Ancient Goodies: Now that you’ve flown into some dirty hole in the middle of nowhere (or even worse, Ironforge), fought off a host a evil-doers who want nothing more than to snatch whatever it is that you dig up, and made your escape, it’s time to see what you came out with.

– Lore:  Oooooo.  Moving on.
– Vanity Pets:  A crawling hand, a Gnome-Bot, and a bony hatchling.
– Mounts: A large bony hatchling and a Silith… Sithil… a big bug.
– Epics:  These will be epic level gear that, while not heirloom items, will be Bind on Account.
(Link HERE)

TotalBiscuit offered up a video which explains exactly how Archaeology works.

Not a bad way to get someone to pick up the profession.  Sure beats the Hell out of fishing up a Turtle Mount or a Lobster with attitude.

This is Herculano, the future Raider of the Lost Tomb Raider dude.