World of Warcraft Patch 11.1 introduces a significant visual update for Shamans, with Lightning Bolt, Crash Lightning, and several other abilities receiving impressive facelifts. While many classes have new or updated ability visuals in the World of Warcraft patch, Shamans received more attention than most. However, not all fans are sold on the improved particle effects.
Currently available on the Public Test Realm, Patch 11.1, known as Undermined, offers players a first look at the upcoming update. Beyond new zones, instances, and other activities and rewards, every class in the game is getting balance adjustments, including a significant rework to the Hunter class.
Many classes are also receiving new visual effects for several of their abilities, and among them, Shamans got the lion’s share. Lightning Bolt, Crash Lightning, and Fire Nova got complete visual overhauls, while Frost Shock received new VFX and sounds when used with Ice Strike. Additionally, Ghost Wolf now scales with character models and is slightly more transparent, while the Glyph of Spirit Raptors now works with the Flowing Spirits talent. WoW content creator Doffen made two handy videos showing side-by-side comparisons of these and many other visual updates coming in the patch.
Visual Updates in World of Warcraft Patch 11.1
| 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 when used with Ice Strike |
| Hunter | Explosive Shot | Faster projectile |
| Hunter (Beastmaster) | Dire Beast | New visual, now leaps at target |
| Hunter (Marksman) | Intimidation | New visual to account for no pet |
| Hunter (Sentinel) | Lunar Storm | New visual |
| Warrior | Enrage | New visual |
| Warrior | Spell Reflect | New visual |
However, not all Shaman fans are completely sold on the VFX overhaul coming in Patch 11.1. Though most agree the updates to Crash Lightning, Fire Nova, and other abilities are awesome, some say the Lightning Bolt animation needs improvement. While the channeling effect is a significant improvement, many were disappointed to see Blizzard revert to the projectile lightning ball visual used by Shamans in World of Warcraft Classic, rather than the unique, instantaneous bolt connecting the caster and target implemented in Cataclysm.
By and large, players approve of the rest of the visual updates coming in Patch 11.1. Hopefully, Blizzard can eventually add new Glyphs that allow fans to use some of the more popular original VFX, similar to what it did with the Shaman Ascendance forms added in World of Warcraft Patch 11.0.5.
Beyond makeovers to existing abilities, Patch 11.1 adds several new skills to World of Warcraft. Primordial Storm for Shamans, Symbiotic Relationship for Druids, and Slicing Winds – the first Empowered spell in World of Warcraft outside the Evoker class, Earthen racial abilities, or Plunderstorm – for Windwalker Monks are just a few of the new talents characters can take. Players can look forward to experimenting with these new skills, as well as the improved VFX for the old ones, in the next World of Warcraft update, likely on or around February 25.
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