Orion has posted his third blog covering more of the Warden changes coming with Update 6. And while there is a lot to read over, many of these changes seem to be for the better. Orion also states that if you do not see something that is omitted it was done so because “…it is still in a state of volatile flux or I am not changing. Expect if it is missing it is not changing.”
In his first change, a sort of bombshell was dropped:
Masteries will be trained on the warden from the very outset of the class. Old Wardens will need to visit their trainer to get the masteries. New Wardens will have them when they are created. Though you will have the masteries, they will not be accessible until you trait into the different lines. The unlocking process is listed in the trait information below.
This is a huge change as Masteries were previously unlocked by completing class and Legendary Deeds; some of which were painful (in my opinion) to complete. Now that they are unlocked by trait lines, Wardens should find themselves better off for it.
| Trait Line | 2-set Bonus | 3-set Bonus | 4-set Bonus | 5-set Bonus |
| Way of the Spear | -5% Spear Gambit’s Power CostGrants Access to all Spear Masteries | Recklessness increases the chance for Deft Strike, Goad and Defensive Strike to apply Potency (+25%)+10% Spear Gambit Critical Multiplier | +5% Spear Gambit Damage+5% Spear Gambit Critical DamageUnlocks all Fist MasteriesRecklessness increase | Unlocks all Shield MasteriesAccess to Way of the Spear+5% Melee Damage20% chance to trigger builder bonuses+2 Pulses to all DoTs
+10% to all Lifetap Damage (A not on lifetaps, this is what I call transfers, and I will be giving a little more information on these at some point.) |
| Way of the Shield | 2-set BonusIncreases Block Rating (Level based)Unlocks all Shield Masteries | Increases Evade Rating (Level based)Determination increases the chance for Deft Strike, Goad and Defensive Strike to apply Potency (+25%)Shield Tactics’ Stun Immunity becomes Immunity to Stun, Knocked Down and Daze. | +2 Pulse to Warden HoT EffectsIncreases Critical Defence (Level based)Unlocks access to all Fist MasteriesDetermination increases the chance for Deft Strike, Goad and Defensive Strike to apply Potency (+50%)After Receiving a Critical Strike the Warden becomes immune to critical strikes for 6 seconds. | Unlocks access to all Spear MasteriesGrants access to Way of the Shield+2 Pulses to Warden HoT Effects+10% Healing from Warden HoT Effects+20% Heal bonus to Conviction |
| Way of the Fist | 2-set Bonus+5% Damage to Ranged SkillsGrants access to Fist Masteries
|
Increases Ranged Critical Rating (Level-based)Assailment increases the chance for Deft Strike, Goad and Defensive Strike to apply Potency (+25%) | Increases Ranged Critical Rating (Level-based)Grants access to Spear Masteries+2 Pulses to Warden DoT EffectsAssailment increases the chance for Deft Strike, Goad and Defensive Strike to apply Potency (+50%) | Grants access to Shield MasteriesGrants access to Way of the Fist-10% Perceived ThreatIncreases the number of Desolation targets and the likelihood that Desolation will apply its Fear effect |
Orion also included what class traits he is changing as well:
| Name | Trait Line | Effect(s) |
| Master of the Spear | Way of the Spear | Gambit Masteries beginning with Spear now apply the base Gambit Builder Boosts (e.g. Partial Mitigations etc..) |
| Force of Personality | Way of the Spear | +2 Pulses to all Warden DoTs |
| A Keen Response | Way of the Spear | Increases Parry Rating granted by spear SkillsOn a successful Parry restores 1% of the Warden’s Morale |
| Veteran | Way of the Spear | Adds 10% chance for Quick-thrust, Quick-toss and Quick-stab to apply their bonus upon a successful hit. |
| Find Weakness | Way of the Spear | Increases Critical Rating of The Boot, Power Attack, Mighty Blow and Unerring Strike |
| Master of the Spear | Way of the Shield | Gambit Masteries beginning with Shield will now apply their base Gambit Builder boosts. |
| Never Say Die | Way of the Shield | Decreases the cooldown on Never Surrender by 60 secondsIncreases the amount of Power and Morale healed by Never Surrender by 10% |
| Wary Block | Way of the Shield | Increases the duration of all Block-based buffs by 10 seconds. |
| Shield Trickery | Way of the Shield | +10% chance for Shield-bash, Behind the Shield and Shield-blast to apply their bonuses upon a successful hit. |
| Ward of Justice | Way of the Shield | +3 Goad Targets |
| Perseverance | Way of the Shield | +2 Pulses to HoT Effects |
| Skillful Blocking | Way of the Shield | Increases Block Rating (Level-based)On a Successful Block, restores 1% of the Warden’s Power. |
| Master of the Fist | Way of the Fist | Gambit Masters beginning with Fist will now apply their base Gambit Builder boost effects. |
| Expert Hurler | Way of the Fist | -15s to all Javelin Skill Cooldowns except for Javelin Toss |
| Mighty Throw | Way of the Fist | +10% to Javelin Skills Damage (does not include Gambits)+5% Critical Damage to Fist Gambits |
| Know Your Enemy | Way of the Fist | Increases Critical Chance of Fist Gambits (Level-based) |
| Confidence | Way of the Fist | +10% chance for Warden’s Taunt, Warden’s Scorn, and Warden’s Aim to apply their bonus effects on a successful hit. |
| Deadly Insult | Way of the Fist | Increases Damage of Fist Gambits |
| Strong Voice | Way of the Fist | Reduces target’s Fist Gambit Resist Rating (Level-based) |
| Terrible Visage | Way of the Fist | Increases efficacy of Threat over Time effects when in Determination StanceIncreases Damage on DoTs in Assailment and Recklessness Stances |
And if that wasn’t enough, there are also plenty of Legendary Item Legacy changes that are going to be coming as well as a different advancement scheme for gambits and other skills. Again, most of this is still subject to change so all feedback is welcomed by Orion. So, if you see something you don’t like be sure to leave a comment on his blog post making sure to leave as much constructive feedback as possible.
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February 2, 2012 at 11:42 am
This could very well make me revisit my low level warden who’d been stuck at level 30 forever.
February 2, 2012 at 11:44 am
*sigh* I thought that I would finally figure out my lvl 54 warden.. After Update 6 ill be back at square one. No point in leveling him any further pre-u6..
February 2, 2012 at 11:54 am
Agreed, mine is on the backburner as well. Not that the changes are bad, but it’s going to be a lot of re-learning.
February 2, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Actually, you might want to consider advancing them now, rather than later. A lot of skills we previously got much earlier you won’t get until lvl 72 or 74, like resolution and restoration, which are both pretty big skills. In my opinion, getting to lvl cap and then working with what you have at lvl cap might be easier than having to catch up on gambits, especially considering that the gambits you get at later lvls are pretty useful.
February 2, 2012 at 1:48 pm
That might be true, but I got a gazillion other chars to level up too
(or well, 7 other chars but still)
February 2, 2012 at 1:10 pm
I love my warden – but I might never actually remember the changes. Heck, I probably only remember half of the gambits now.
February 2, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Wow, that’s a lot of changes. Just goes to show how much of a trainwreck the class had become…
February 2, 2012 at 2:58 pm
So Way of the Spear is the melee set and Way of the Fist is the ranged set?
Genius
February 3, 2012 at 5:50 am
so…won’t be able use any masteries until 2nd class trait slot? (21?) better than waiting for 40+
with yellow/fist/javelin line being ranged, I might actually learn about the few threat traits left there (and find that threat-guide forum thread). Going to be fun having a 2nd hunter without inductions
with those tables, on an iPod using the app, I can’t scroll sideways. so I didn’t see that the 4 and 5 set bonuses included the other masteries (previously believed I would have to go 2 deep into all lines {/slap self})
February 3, 2012 at 10:38 am
Same issue with the mobile website.
February 3, 2012 at 10:38 am
Well overall the changes look alright. Some of the LI legacy changes make me cringe and I think they’re screwing over war cry unless I missed something but oh well. Overall it’ll just be nice to have an update like always
February 3, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Dang, i just started tanking raids, and now i gotta throw my whole setup around again -.- (and practically learn it all over again)