World of Warcraft’s The War Within expansion won’t be out until much later this year, but the team is giving early peeks at features in development, and this time, they’re previewing new Hero Talents.
Hero Talents are intended as an update to existing character classes to offer a series of new trees that offer “new powers and class fantasies”. They are new talent trees that will unlock at level 71 and build on the current classes and specializations. When you unlock access, there will be three Hero Talent trees for each class and two more to choose from for each specialization. Those two specialization-specific trees will be an option for two specializations.
In recent years, the WoW team has been streamlining and adding new options, updating talent trees, and otherwise moving to emphasize player choices in builds. This feature was announced back at BlizzCon, and continues that player choice angle:
“We want players to be free to choose the Hero Talent tree that has the gameplay, visuals, or flavor that they prefer. Our goal is for both options to feel similarly effective in raid dungeons, Mythic+, and PvP. We're working to avoid abilities or bonuses in Hero Talents that could make a certain tree feel "required" for activities where we can.”
These new trees begin with what the team calls a “keystone talent” to introduce the feature, and have a “capstone” talent at the bottom. The latter “builds on the core themes of the tree or adds new power to the keystone”. The keystone itself could be a new buff, a new ability, or something that enhances an ability. Essentially, these new trees aren’t going to replace anything, but build upon what you’ve already worked to achieve. In introducing these trees, the team even emphasizes that These are additions and they are meant to add damage or buffs in a way that doesn't overshadow your own class skills or specialization.
Each Hero Talent tree will have 11 nodes to fill, with one talent point unlocked with the system and 10 more to earn with each level from 71-80. It’s up to you how you fill them as you level, but there will be starter builds and examples as options to follow too.
The full blog not only described the function of the new trees, but also previews a sampling of potential new options, including Trickster Rogue, Herald of the Sun Paladin, Diabolist Warlock, and Scalecommander Evoker, among others.
