Upcoming Changes to the Ashran, Isle of Conquest, and Wintergrasp Epic Battlegrounds

In next week’s Public Test Realm update, we’ll be making several adjustments to the Ashran, Isle of Conquest, and Wintergrasp epic battlegrounds.

Ashran

We’ve increased the player count again to make the battleground feel more epic. We also wanted to even out the Horde and Alliance sides of the map, especially at the start. The Tower Mages have had their difficulty lowered as they were a bit too impactful to the battleground. Additionally, we’ve reduced the cost to summon Fangraal and Kronus to help teams push the mid-lane more often.

  • Maximum player count per faction is now 35 (was 30).
  • Starting reinforcements are now 175 (was 150).
  • To allow both factions to have easier access to Star Root Tubers and Song Flowers, both these tasty treats will now spawn alongside each other in the Dark Woods and Root Den.
  • Artifact Fragment cost to summon Kronus and Fangraal reduced to 1500 (was 3000).
  • Horde and Alliance tower mages are now worth 30 Reinforcements when slain (was 50).
  • Horde and Alliance tower mages have had their spells adjusted:
    • Rylai Crestfall – Alliance Tower Mage
      • Northrend Winds now deals 15% of the target’s maximum health in Frost damage.
      • Frostbolt now deals 8% of the target’s maximum health in Frost damage.
      • Frostbolt Volley now deals 15% of the target’s maximum health in Frost damage.
      • No longer casts Mass Polymorph.
    • Jeron Emberfall – Horde Tower Mage
      • Fireball now deals 8% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
      • Combustion Nova now deals 15% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
      • Ignite now deals 1% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
      • Living Bomb initial spell now deals 5% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
      • Living Bomb explosion now deals 15% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.
      • Magma Blast cast by Jeron’s summoned Lava Fury now deals 5% of the target’s maximum health in Fire damage.

Isle of Conquest

  • These changes are intended to discourage base-rushing and have all control points be important, not just Hangar.
  • Glaive Thrower health has been increased by 40%.
  • Alliance and Horde Commander health increased by 50%.
  • Demolisher health increased by 25%.
  • Catapult health increased by 100%.
  • The amount of siege damage required to break down keep walls has been increased by 20%.

Wintergrasp

  • Wintergrasp has been very defense-favored, so we’ve made the following adjustments to even out both sides of the playing field.
  • Broken Temple and Sunken Ring Workshops are now controlled by the attacking team when the battle starts.
  • Wintergrasp Wall, Wintergrasp Fortress Wall, and Wintergrasp Fortress Gate health has been reduced by 20%.
  • Destroying Towers reduces match time by 8 minutes (was 5 minutes).
  • Siege Engine’s Steam Rush ability deals 20-35% of a player’s health (was 30-45%).
  • Demolisher’s Hurl Boulder ability deals 20-25% of a player’s health (was 36%).
  • After 5 minutes, all players in the battleground who do not have a rank (including players who join late) will now be granted the rank of Corporal.

Thank you for your feedback! If you get a chance to check out the changes on the PTR, please let us know what you think in the PTR General Discussion forum.

37 Likes

Does class balance come with these changes?

10 Likes

Isn’t that a buff to the defense?

28 Likes

I dig it, wouldn’t buff glaive hp that much seeing as they can’t get hit by wall cannons anyway, but I mean this prolly gonna work out better

2 Likes

Linxy, are you a robot? Do you want to talk about something else besides hotfix/patch notes?

How are you doing? What’s your favorite color? Pancakes or waffles?

13 Likes

Hey this is cool.

I’m excited to try a WG now.

1 Like

I like this! Since Wintergrasp may or may not have a healthy rotation of incoming and out going players.

3 Likes

Yes, which is good. Since as of 5 minutes into the fight everyone attacking will have siege capacity, and attackers already have control of SR and BT.

It also ensures matches don’t DRAAAAG on if the Defenders get the upper hand and all there is to do is spawn camp.

3 Likes

Has the Isle of Conquest bug where Alliance players can disarm bombs from the other side of their base gates been fixed?

Last time I played that one on my Horde toon, I saw this happen quite a bit.

1 Like

How about nerfing Ashran out of existence and bringing back Strands

13 Likes

That’s nice they’re looking into making epic battlegrounds less of a drag and more competitive.

They must have had the data of half the offence team insta drop if they got Winterspring…good times :sunglasses:

3 Likes

How about this? If said battleground is held by one side for more than two battles then it automatically reverts to the other side?
Example: Alliance holds Wintergrasp for two battles. The next battle is a bye for the Horde and the next battle after that would be up for grabs.

1 Like

Ashran will still be a rush mid type of BG. I wish you brought part of its original playstyle back. I mean the events which happened every certain time. You could take them, make it so they happen 2 or 3 at the same time. Losing side gets Base guards sustain a stacking debuff and make Commander death the win condition. Or idk, whatever it takes to use the rest of the map.

7 Likes

This doesn’t solve anything in terms of Offense for WG. The vehicles themselves are like paper machete, they need a health boost or siege damage increase to fortress walls, or the same thing is gonna happen even if an outer wall is broken. Most vehicles fall apart before even getting inside the fortress.

3 Likes

Maybe we’re all in a simulation. :robot:

I’m doing pretty well! Thank you for asking. ^^ How are you?
My favorite color is lavender and I’d definitely pick :waffle: over :pancakes:. Better texture to me.

37 Likes

Also make the Lord/Lady of War title account wide. Please and thank you.

1 Like

I don’t see the benefit of increasing the player count in a game mode that your servers already can’t handle

10 Likes

But they’re incredibly squishy, I’ve seen a group of 3-4 players destroy all three of them (they died but they got the job done).

1 Like

You’re alive! I am so happy! :grin: :grin: :grin:

8 Likes