WoW Shaman Patch 11.1 Divides Players
- By Christopher
- Feb 11,2025
World of Warcraft Patch 11.1: A Visual Feast for Shamans, But Some Remain Unsatisfied
WoW Patch 11.1 brings a visual overhaul to Shaman abilities, notably Lightning Bolt and Crash Lightning. While many classes receive visual updates, Shamans receive a more extensive makeover, sparking mixed reactions among players.
Currently available on the Public Test Realm (PTR), Patch 11.1 offers players a sneak peek at upcoming changes. Besides new zones, instances, and gameplay additions, all classes receive balance adjustments, including a significant Hunter rework. Many classes also feature updated ability visuals, with Shamans receiving the most significant changes. Lightning Bolt, Crash Lightning, and Fire Nova boast complete visual overhauls, while Frost Shock gains new visual and audio effects when combined with Ice Strike. Furthermore, Ghost Wolf now scales with character models and exhibits increased transparency, and the Glyph of Spirit Raptors now functions with the Flowing Spirits talent. Content creator Doffen provides detailed video comparisons of these and other visual improvements.
Visual Updates in WoW Patch 11.1: A Sample
| 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 with Ice Strike |
| Hunter | Explosive Shot | Faster projectile |
| Hunter (Beastmaster) | Dire Beast | New visual, leaps at target |
| Hunter (Marksman) | Intimidation | New visual (no pet) |
| Hunter (Sentinel) | Lunar Storm | New visual |
| Warrior | Enrage | New visual |
| Warrior | Spell Reflect | New visual |
While many appreciate the updated visuals for Crash Lightning, Fire Nova, and other abilities, the Lightning Bolt animation receives mixed feedback. The channeling effect is improved, but the return to a projectile lightning ball, reminiscent of WoW Classic, disappoints some players who preferred the instantaneous bolt introduced in Cataclysm.
Overall, the visual updates are largely well-received. The hope remains that Blizzard will introduce glyphs allowing players to utilize favored original VFX, similar to the Shaman Ascendance forms in Patch 11.0.5.
Beyond visual enhancements, Patch 11.1 introduces new abilities, including Primordial Storm for Shamans, Symbiotic Relationship for Druids, and Slicing Winds for Windwalker Monks. Players can anticipate experimenting with these and the improved visuals in the upcoming update, tentatively scheduled for around February 25th.
