Nightborne had so much potential when they were announced as an allied race. Their background, through the Suramar quest chain, might be last great piece of original lore that the writing team has produced. Their appearance and general aesthetic was so unique and interesting that many people were willing to make them even with the limited customization options. Thankfully we’ve received more options recently, but there is still an area were Nightborne fall down as a playable race: They have some of the most lack luster racials in the game.
the three passives are super bland and could be interchangeable with any baseline racial. So they’re not worth even mentioning.
Cantrips is a marginal ability. It could be useful in the event that you really need to get some mail but don’t want to find a mailbox. But in almost any other case, I would rather have a vanilla passive racial like additional mount speed or out of combat healing. Things that would add up in a major way over time.
Arcane Pulse is situational at best. Outside of some play in pvp and mythic+, it’s not a particularly useful racial. A fact that isn’t helped by it’s 3 minute cooldown. Why it isn’t a 1-1.5 minute CD, I have no idea, but it really makes the ability feel weak most of the time.
This isn’t just an issue of functionality either. Nightborne racials lack the flair and aesthetic that the nightborne posses in the story. With that in mind, I decided to come up with a few ideas for new racials.
Token of Oculeth:
3 second cast. 15 minute cooldown. This ancient relic, given to you by the telemancer himself, opens a portal to The Nighthold. Your speed is also increased by 70% for 10 seconds after using the Token of Oculeth
Garcon:
Instant. 20 minute cooldown.
You summon a servant who offers you and your party an assortment of refreshing food and drink.
The servant sells you, the player minor stat food.
Sense Illusion:
1 second cast. 2 minute cooldown. Your arcane enhanced senses allow you to detect enemies in stealth within a 20 yard radius for 10 seconds
Touch of the Nightwell:
Passive. Your attacks have a chance to occasionally deal additional arcane damage.
Chronal Anomaly:
Passive
Exposure to the Nightwell has altered your perception of time, increasing the duration of beneficial effects by 5%.
Leyline Tap:
Instant. 2 minute cooldown.
You siphon energy from the ancient leylines of azeroth, increasing your primary stat by x% for 15 seconds.
Temporal Displacement:
instant. 3 minute cooldown. You temporarily phase out of this timeline, reducing damage taken by 90% for 5 seconds. All damage negated by this effect will be applied as a damage over time effect when the duration of Temporal Displacement ends.
Masquerade:
Instant. 5 minute cooldown. Create 2 arcane illusions that will fight by your side for 12 seconds. Damage Taken will be split between you and your doppelgangers.
Strength of the Arcan’dor:
Instant. 2.5 minute cooldown.
The power of the Arcan’dor flows through you, fortifying your body and clearing your mind. Removes any fear, disorient and polymorph effects and you take X% less damage for 10 seconds.
I thought of these randomly over the course of a day, so if somebody put real time and thought into the process, I’m sure they could come up with even better concepts.
