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Patch 5.4 is live on the World of
Warcraft public test realms and while it is far from complete, this
patch is easily shaping up to be one of the most interesting we have
seen in Mists of Pandaria thus far. Both PvP and PvE aspects of the
game will see major updates in this newest patch. While the first set
of patch notes were sorely lacking in details, Blizzard has just
recently added another update with just enough new items to help wet
our appetites and keep our desire for new information satisfied.
Check out a brief overview of the changes below:

Patch 5.4 Redesigned Arena System

In an interesting development Patch 5.4
will introduce the ability for players to compete on an Arena team
without joining or creating one. Players in a party can queue for the
Arena bracket of the same size (2v2, 3v3, or 5v5). Don't worry about
getting matched up with opponents that are either too hard or too
easy, opponents will be selected based on the average rating of the
party.

Also coming to the entirely overhauled
Arena system is a personal rating exclusive to each player that will
vary depending on the players victories and defeats against other
rated players. In Patch 5.4 requirements on gear and enchantments
will now be based on a player’s personal rating Finally, The Arena
ladder will be sorted more like Battlegrounds, instead of by
Battlegroup as it is done now.

For even more delicious details
regarding the Arena changes coming in Patch 5.4, check out the
Patch
5.4 Arena Update on Blizzard's blog
.

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Patch 5.4 Class Changes

Of course no patch would be complete
without a slew of class changes that will either make players jump
for joy or stamp their feet in frustration. Patch 5.4 is no exception
to this rule and the newest patch notes updates includes a host of
changes for almost every class. Here are some high lights from the
list:

All Classes

  • Area knockbacks effects will now share
    a diminishing returns category.

Druid

  • The effects of Living Seed can now
    stack to up to 50% of the Druid's maximum health and will also no
    longer be consumed if the target is already at max health.

Hunter

  • Explosive Trap gets a nerf with its
    overall damage decreased by 30% with more damages being removed from
    the initial damage than the long term effects.

Monk

  • Chi Brew will do a little something
    extra in generating stacks of Brew/Teas based on specialization.

Paladin

  • Execution Sentence has been changed so
    that it will immediately damage the target for 5 times the amount of
    damage that had already been dealt by Execution Sentence's most
    recent periodic effect when dispelled. Stay of Execution will do the
    same, except with healing.

Priest

  • Hymn of Hope will now automatically
    prefer to choose healers when it grants mana.

Warrior

  • Slam will no deal 35% of damage dealt
    against the primary target to all other enemies within 2 yards and
    will also cause an additional 10% damage to targets affected by the
    Warrior's Colossus Smash.

Patch 5.4 Items

Some interesting changes are also set
to come to some items in Mists of Pandaria Patch 5.4. For example,
Epic Valor items sold by the Shado-Pan Assualt have had their
reputation requirements reduced as well as their Valor Point cost.
Epic quality Valor items sold by other Mists of Pandaria faction
vendors have had their reputation requirements taken off, and will
now only cost Justice Points. While Rare items have had their Justice
Point cost reduced. No change has been made to any items requiring
Exalted reputation.

Equally big news comes as the
conversion rate for Justice Points to Honor Points has been modified.
The conversion rate is now 500 Justice per 250 Honor, which is up
from the previous 375 to 250.

That concludes our overview of the most
recent additions to the patch notes for World of Warcraft Patch 5.4.What
do you think of these newly revealed patch changes and
addictions? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below! Want
more patch goodness? Check out the complete list
of patch updates below!

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Redesigned Arena System

  • Players no longer need to create or join
    an Arena team to compete.

  • Similar to the Rated Battleground system,
    players in a party of the appropriate size (cross-realm groups are
    supported) may queue for an Arena bracket of the same size (2v2, 3v3,
    or 5v5).

  • Each player will have a personal rating
    that increase or decrease based on victories and defeats against other
    rated opponents. Opponents will be selected based on the average Match
    Making Rating of the party.

  • Conquest cap, requirements on gear and
    enchantments will be based on the player's personal rating.

  • The Arena ladder will no longer be sorted
    according to Battlegroup. Just like Rated Battlegrounds and normal
    Battlegrounds, all Arenas will now be region-wide!

  • At the end of an Arena season, the top
    players in a region will still earn titles and mounts.

Classes

  • Area knockback effects now all share a diminishing return category.
    After a player has been moved by one of these spells, the player will
    be immune for 10 seconds. This new category applies to: Fellash,
    Gorefiend's Grasp, Glyph of Explosive Trap, Thunderstorm, Typhoon,
    Ursol's Vortex, and Whiplash.

Druid

  • Living Seed effects can now stack, up to 50% of the casting Druid's
    maximum health, and will no longer be consumed if the target is
    already at full health
    .

Hunter

  • Explosive Trap had its overall damage decreased by 30%.
    Proportionately, more damage has been removed from the initial damage
    than the periodic effect.

Monk

  • Chi Brew will now also generate stacks of Brew/Teas based on the
    Monk's specialization. Brewmaster: 10 stacks of Elusive
    Brew.

Paladin

  • Execution Sentence will now immediately
    damage the target for 5 times the amount of damage that had been dealt
    by Execution Sentence's most recent periodic effect when dispelled.
    Stay of Execution will now immediately heal the target for 5 times the
    amount of healing that had been dealt by Stay of Execution's most
    recent periodic effect when dispelled.

  • Sacred Shield changes have been reverted
    and is a talent once more.

  • Sanctified Wrath: Protection: Now causes Judgment to generate 2 Holy
    Power instead of 1 while Avenging Wrath is active.

Priest

  • Hymn of Hope now prefers to target healers
    when it grants mana. Healers will always be picked before non-healers,
    regardless of how much mana they have.

  • New Minor Glyph: Glyph of Feathers causes the Priest's healing spells
    to momentarily grant angelic wings.

Warrior

  • Slam now deals 35% of damage dealt against the primary target to
    all other enemies within 2 yards, and causes
    an additional 10%
    damage to targets affected by the warrior's Colossus Smash.

Items

  • Adjustments have been made to Mists of
    Pandaria faction quartermasters: Epic quality (purple) Valor items
    sold by the Shado-Pan Assault now have their reputation requirements
    reduced to Friendly or below, and have their Valor Point cost reduced
    by 34%. Epic quality (purple) Valor items sold by all other Mists of
    Pandaria faction quartermasters no longer have reputation
    requirements, and will now cost Justice Points instead of Valor. Rare
    quality (blue) items have their Justice Point cost reduced by 75%. No
    changes for items that require an Exalted reputation.

  • The conversion rate for Justice Points to
    Honor Points have changed. The conversion rate is now 500 Justice per
    250 Honor (up from 375 Justice per 250 Honor).

  • Equipping any pair of PvP trinkets from
    Season 12 or later will now grant a 10% reduction in damage taken from
    other players.

  • [PTR]: For testing purposes, Flaskataur, Esq. will be available near
    the Niuzao Temple selling normal Tier-16 armor and Tier-16
    trinkets
    for gold.


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Last Updated: Mar 29, 2016

About The Author

Amunet, also fondly known as Memtron, is an organic life form best known for its ongoing obsession with Blizzard Entertainment's numerous properties. To that end, Amu has authored hundreds (thousands?) of the most popular World of Warcraft guides, editorials, and Top 10 lists on the planet. When not gaming and writing, Amu is busy chasing after her three children in a perpetual loop of ongoing disaster.

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