World of Warcraft Patch 11.1: A Visual Feast for Shamans, But Some Reservations Remain
WoW Patch 11.1 delivers a substantial visual refresh for Shaman abilities, notably Lightning Bolt and Crash Lightning. While many classes receive updated visuals, Shamans enjoy a more extensive overhaul. However, the reception among fans is mixed.
Currently available on the Public Test Realm (PTR), Patch 11.1 offers a sneak peek at upcoming changes. Beyond new zones and content, class balance adjustments are significant, particularly for Hunters. Many classes receive visual effects updates, with Shamans receiving the most prominent changes. Lightning Bolt, Crash Lightning, and Fire Nova boast complete visual overhauls; Frost Shock gains new VFX and sounds when paired with Ice Strike. Ghost Wolf now scales with character models and features increased transparency. The Glyph of Spirit Raptors now functions with the Flowing Spirits talent. Content creator Doffen provides detailed side-by-side comparisons of these updates.
Visual Updates in WoW Patch 11.1: A Summary
| Class (Specialization) | Ability | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Death Knight | Raise Ghoul/Apocalypse | New visual, instantaneous summon |
| Death Knight (Frost) | Frost Strike | New animation for Worgen |
| Death Knight (Unholy) | Defile | New visual |
| Death Knight (Unholy) | Army of the Damned | New spell effects for Magus of the Dead |
| Death Knight (Rider of the Apocalypse) | Darion Mograine's Death and Decay | New visual |
| Priest (Discipline) | Evangelism | New visual |
| Shaman | Ghost Wolf | Scales with character model, more transparent |
| Shaman | Lightning Bolt | New casting and projectile effects |
| Shaman (Enhancement) | Crash Lightning | New visual |
| Shaman (Enhancement) | Fire Nova | New visual on targets |
| Shaman (Enhancement) | Frost Shock | New visual and sounds with Ice Strike |
| Hunter | Explosive Shot | Faster projectile |
| Hunter (Beastmaster) | Dire Beast | New visual, leaps at target |
| Hunter (Marksman) | Intimidation | New visual (no pet) |
| Hunter (Sentinel) | Lunar Storm | New visual |
| Warrior | Enrage | New visual |
| Warrior | Spell Reflect | New visual |
While many appreciate the Crash Lightning and Fire Nova updates, some find the Lightning Bolt animation underwhelming, preferring previous iterations. The channeling effect is improved, but the projectile style evokes World of Warcraft Classic, rather than the Cataclysm's instantaneous bolt.
Overall, player response to the visual updates is positive. The hope is that Blizzard will introduce glyphs allowing players to select preferred visual effects, similar to the Shaman Ascendance forms in Patch 11.0.5.
Beyond visual improvements, Patch 11.1 introduces new abilities: Primordial Storm (Shamans), Symbiotic Relationship (Druids), and Slicing Winds (Windwalker Monks). Players can expect to experiment with these alongside the updated visuals around February 25th.
