The World of Warcraft community site has been updated with a lengthy article giving an initial preview of the massive changes coming to PvP with the launch of the Legion expansion in late 2016.
To begin with, Honor and Conquest currencies will no longer be used to purchase gear from PvP vendors. Rather, players sitting at level 110 will earn Honor Points from arenas and battlegrounds in a way not dissimilar to how experience is earned while leveling up. Honor points yield honor levels up to a maximum of 50.
To go with the new attainment of Honor Points, players will also gain special PvP-only talents that unlock as Honor Levels are gained.,
For example, a Windwalker Monk who has reached Honor Level 10 can choose Rushing Tiger Palm, which lets them use Tiger Palm at range to dash toward and slow their target. Or, a Restoration Druid who has reached Honor Level 46 can take Deep Roots, which makes their Entangling Roots spell no longer break when the target is damaged. Which Honor Talents you choose can have significant impact on how you play your character, and allow you to tailor your abilities to fit with the type of PvP content you're participating in, or even who you're playing with!
Another significant change is the removal of PvP-specific gear. The maximum iLevel difference between someone fresh from PvE entering a PvP zone and a grizzled PvP veteran will largely be nullified. As normal PvE gear increases in level, pre-determined PvP stats will only increase by 0.01%. Blizzard explained that "means a 25 item level difference between two players only results in a 2.5% difference in stats compared to the 25% difference it makes today thereby leveling the playing field. Since there is no PvP specific gear, the best players in PvP and PvEwill be able to earn the best gear.
Utilizing a system without PvP-centric gear allows Blizzard to more easily tweak balance.
- The end-of-season PvP awards are given separately to the top percentages of players in each faction, instead of in relation to the overall player base.
- There will be shorter and more frequent PvP seasons.
- Resetting your Honor Level once you reach the cap gives you a Prestige Level.
- Earning Prestige Levels gives you a badge on your nameplate, unit frames, and scoreboards, as well as a title, wearable faction pennant, Artifact skin, a mount, and pet.
- Two new arena maps are being added.
Want to read more of the details? Head to the World of Warcraft community site.
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