Blizzard, Let's Talk About Class Spell VFX & Animations

Community General Discussion
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I realize this is not a new topic, but let’s talk about outdated visuals and animations.

Many caster classes had updates to casting animations and spell VFX 8 years ago during Legion. Many classes like Mage had a full work-up that still looks great today. Others have been left in the dust and I think it’s about time you bring all classes up to speed.
Some spells have original animation and spell visuals from nearly 20 years ago, which in my humble opinion is unacceptable for a modern game. I’m not sure why we stopped updating visuals post-Legion, but we are in desperate need of some changes. Below are some prime examples of spells that look so outdated it is embarrassing:

Priest: Holy Fire, Power Word: Shield, Flash Heal, Heal, Halo, Mass Dispel, Holy Word: Serenity, Renew

Shaman: Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Elemental Shields, Flametongue, Thunderstorm, Lava Burst, ALL Totems need new skins, Primal Strike (which has NO visual effect, or even impact sound for that matter smh), all water spells (guys come on we have so many good water animations in Dragonflight)

Druid: All resto spells, All casting VFX (green swirly on hands) needs updating, Solar Flare (this spell looks and feels like shooting a spitball, it’s so underwhelming), moon fire, sun fire

Monk: let’s be honest, these visuals are TWELVE years old. EVERYTHING here needs updating. the animations are mostly fine, but VFX for sure needs it

I’m sure that there are hundreds more to give as examples (feel free to drop a comment). Am I alone in thinking that having 20-year-old spell visuals in 2024 is ridiculous? Please, Blizzard, we are begging you for updates. If I have to look at 2004 Power Word: Shield for another 10 years I’m going to lose it. (Also, if we get hero classes and Frostfire Bolt looks the same as it did in previous xpacs I’m going to freak out)

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Shaman not being showered in soul shapes for ghost wolf, or any of the new primalists skills is a sham.

To add: Hunter has some of the lamest visuals in the game. The flashiest skill just got changed to spinny discs you can barely see. I love turning red/blue for my big CD…:roll_eyes:

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I want that giant stone furbolg form for a shaman ability in the worst way. Have it replace the earth elemental.

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They did the character model change in WoD, which was like 9-10 years ago now, so even a lot of the “new” stuff is showing it’s age.

I think once a decade is good to just do a big pass on updating visuals/vfx. Maybe they’re waiting till whatever comes after the world should saga though, who knows.

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While Iʻm all for updating visual efects, please continue to be aware of visual clutter that occurs when everyone is using their flashy new abilities.

Its hard to read visual clues when the target is lit up like a 4th of july fireworks accident.

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Yeah it’s crazy coming back to this game and the first superbloom I do I have no idea what’s going on because there’s like 100 people all unloading their power rainbows at the same time.

Even on a smaller scale like arena solo shuffle the visuals can be so cluttered that it’s hard to tell what’s going on.

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I think that’s generally a problem with popular mmos. What annoys me is that holy fire looks like its from an RTS game from 2004, but spells like chaos bolt are all updated nicely. Its the clear distinction between poor looking spells and nice looking ones. Just seems lazy. They are making all these beautiful zones and new character models, but havent put the time to replace the visuals of 25-50 spells that people use every day.

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I’d like to second this to some extent.

Even with spell effects turned ALL the way down, Mythic Tindral Sageswift has so much crap going on in phase 1 that Fire Beams are a literal hazard by virtue of being unable to see them through this crap alone. You typically have your camera aimed sharply downward to avoid Star Shards (which aren’t lethal on their own, but can easily get you killed if you dip, or eat more than one natty).

Kind of a rare thing in the game (last time was mythic Sylvanas), but bosses getting blasted by visual vomit is annoying when I have no real control over it in a setting with a huge amount of players throwing effects. I’ve gotten used to it, but still…

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Add me on the Hunter animation updates!! We so desperately need them.

May I also add that the “AttackRifle” animation on a blood elf female looks really off… I mean, as a MM I would like to fire looking through the scope instead of holding the rifle as if it was a machine gun… I mean what sense does it make to cast “Aimed Shot” while you’re not even looking throught the scope! :dracthyr_cry_animated:

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