Why hasn't the Gorehowl model been updated?

Community General Discussion
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To those who aren’t aware, Gorehowl was given a model update in WoD. I have no clue how to link pictures, but it’s a fairly significant difference.
The weapon that drops from Prince Malchezaar is still using the old model. That makes sense to a degree, considering that it was released a while back. However, why has there been a new model for Gorehowl released into the game without an obtainable variation? If Blizzard was to update the model of the Malchezaar variant, would any of you care for losing the old model?

I just want this orc to wield a nicely modeled axe :disappointed_relieved:

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Don’t tell Prince Malchezaar, but he bought a bogus version off a shady Fel-Etsy vendor.

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Gorehowl should have been the arms warrior artifact weapon.

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I’ll be sure to mention that to Malchezaar the next time I randomly summon him with nether portal on my warlock.

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It probably would have been if it had some sort of mystic power like other artifact weapons, but it’s only an axe with a cool swinging noise :frowning:

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It did have some fairly powerful enchantments:

Grom Hellscream’s axe has a heavy blade that is notched and stained, with sharp, wicked curves. Small holes dot the blade near the handle; when the wielder swings the axe, air whistles through these holes. The sound keens over the battlefield, magically strengthened and imbued with otherworldly power. Gorehowl is one of Azeroth’s most feared and notorious weapons

Gorehowl was forged three generations before Grommash inherited it. Grommash’s great-grandfather used Gorehowl to kill six legendary gronn. Their hearts were sealed into the blade, granting it untold strength.

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Ah I didn’t know that. The more you know.

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Hu? We can’t obtain the upgraded model? Yeah that’s lame.

Replace the old model entirely I say.

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I’d say I could get behind that, but really, the Arms Warrior artifact is the only decent warrior artifact in terms of backstory as it is.

That said, they did prematurely throw it away as random sideloot off a completely unrelated boss, so maybe they thought that ship had already sunk. It deserved better either way, though.

Still, if they were going to replace one of the Warrior Artifacts, Fury and Protection were by far the most disposable. Blade of the first human king? That’s important. The other two? … Here we have the twin swords of some (failed) Titanic Keeper’s stooge, and a shield made from the hide of a boss we defeated three expansions ago? …

Maybe they could have given us OG Gorehowl, sent us after AU Gorehowl, and made that the Fury Warrior weapon? …

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Nah, Varian’s sword should have been the fury artifact. Giving it to his hippy priest son was just lame. :roll_eyes:

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I’d say giving the most blatantly Alliance artifact over to all warriors everywhere would have been a mistake (lol, Orc has Varian’s weapons) buuuuut… how many Alliance Shaman were running around with Doomhammer?

That said, I don’t know how many people are actually all that familiar with said weapon. I’m pretty sure it’s never actually named in the game, a name I’d have to actually look up at this point. But at least it would have some form of recognition behind it, rather than the dumb rando swords said warriors were stuck with.

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Old

New

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Does seem odd. If we’re never getting the legendary, might as well update the Kara one, like the old HFC polearms were when WoD released.

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It is actually two swords that come together to form one. Shalamayne is the name of the 2h version. Shalla’tor and Ellemayne are the names of the two individual swords.

The point is Gorehowl and Shalamayne are wielded by characters that we see in game. This is why weapons such as Ashbringer and Doomhammer are so iconic and familiar. Giving warriors 2 weapons used by two iconic warriors on both factions would have been well received. I did level an arms warrior from 100-110 in Legion, and I just didn’t find the artifact very interesting. Had it been Gorehowl, I would have found it to be much more interesting.

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Yep, the new version would have made a perfect base skin for an arms artifact weapon.

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Would have been great to tie it into Garrosh’s legacy. Certainly would have made unlocking the hidden skin with Saurfang much more poignant.

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The Fury Artifact hidden appearance looks somewhat similar to Gorehowl.

But I agree, I would love an obtainable updated version of Gorehowl. It has always been one of my favorite weapons in this game.

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Imagine if instead of giving us Azerite armor we got artifact Horde and alliance weapons. I am going to need that new gorehowl anyways. We got like 3 versions of the saronite reaper.

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It killed a literal god. That axe has more to it than the noise.

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Big Facts, I need upgraded gorehowl for the mog, like badly, almost have heritage set so I can be the real garry hellscream

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