The second major testing step is live. Players can now reach level 30, the new Excavation Site: Wetlands dungeon is available for testing, and Blizzard has opened additional Classic dungeons while retuning several class trees and progression systems.
Level 30 phase & dungeon access
- The beta level cap is now 30.
- Excavation Site: Wetlands is newly open and listed by Blizzard as 26–31 for the current beta test.
- Razorfen Downs (25+) and Uldaman (30+) are now accessible.
- Previously available dungeons remain open, including Ragefire Chasm, Hall of Thanes, Ruins of Lordaeron, Wailing Caverns, Deadmines, Shadowfang Keep, Stockade, Blackfathom Deeps, Gnomeregan, Razorfen Kraul and Scarlet Monastery.
Excavation Site’s earlier launch-planning range was published as 24–29. The October 1 development notes use 26–31 for this beta phase, so our dungeon pages keep both ranges clearly labeled rather than treating one as a silent correction.
Excavation Site: Wetlands
Current client encounter data lists four bosses: Saltspine, Shadetooth, Highland Horror and Relic Guardian. Internal area names include Lost Marsh, Stalker’s Thicket, Site of the Guardian and Lost Dig Site.
Gear loot is deliberately left unassigned until reliable drop reports appear. One source-linked boss item is already visible in the Forever database: Horrible Rootcore (item 270180), a NEW quest item from Highland Horror. We keep that separate from still-unverified equipment drops.
Class changes
Tiger’s Fury and King of the Jungle are removed. Primal Bite threat is roughly doubled. Shifting Power and Improved Shifting Power are added to Feral, and forms become immune to Disarm while shifted.
Sniper Shot moves to 45 yards and extends the next three shots by 10 yards. Deflection is reduced to 1/2/3/4/5% Parry. Aggressive pet mode returns.
Hot Streak is renamed Heating Up, Combustion returns to three charges, and several Fire/Frost application rules are corrected.
Redoubt’s block bonus is reduced to 4/8/12/16/20%, Holy Shield moves to 30% block, and Champion of the Light now converts 20/40/60% of Intellect to spell damage.
Devouring Plague can crit, Inner Focus no longer boosts periodic-effect critical chance, Shadow Weaving application is corrected, and Shadow Word: Death no longer always gains Early Demise.
Soul Harvesting becomes Soul Harvest and its 50/100% Mana-regeneration increase is corrected. Hellfire can critically strike and Aggressive pet mode returns.
Fury receives a substantial tree pass: Lingering Rage, Furious Precision and Gore Drinker are added; Improved Cleave, Boundless Rage and Protection Toughness are removed; Bloodthirst rises to 45% AP.
Rogue target/combo-point behavior and Shaman Ghost Wolf, Disease Cleansing Totem and Totemic Recall issues receive fixes in this build.
Our Talent Calculator now carries an October 1 official update layer: numeric changes that can be represented safely are applied directly, while newly added or moved talents whose exact current icon/column placement is not yet source-verified are shown in a class update panel instead of being guessed into the grid.
PvP, professions & leveling
- Most PvP gear and upgrade-token Honor costs increase by roughly 50%.
- The Honor cap rises from 15,000 to 25,000.
- Blacksmithing and Leatherworking dungeon-drop recipes intended for the beta are now available.
- Shenthul in Orgrimmar can train Windshaper Skyborne.
- Common and uncommon crafted Enchanting wands now vendor for 1 copper.
- Poor Copper Vein density is reduced in starter areas, and creatures can again only be skinned once.
- Dungeon quests award 50% less bonus XP beyond normal quest values.
- Respawn rates were increased across parts of Hillsbrad Foothills, Ashenvale, Wetlands, Duskwood and Thousand Needles.
Camping, world & interface changes
- The Boosted Rest debuff gets clearer presentation and Camping wording now uses “mutually exclusive”.
- Campfires no longer hurt characters below level 5 and deal reduced damage below 90% health.
- Barbershops are now present in Darnassus and Thunder Bluff, with guards able to provide directions.
- World-instance and party transfer behavior continues to be adjusted.
- Cooldown Manager adds racial abilities and Rogue support, while Gamepad support gets additional UI work.
Known issues in the new build
Blizzard also flags fresh beta issues, including enemies being able to Parry or Block from behind at very close range, some threat/debuff problems, Mage Research access issues, a Dual Wield Specialization hit-chance bug and Retribution Aura using the target’s spell power instead of the Paladin’s.