PTR First Look at Shadowlands Level Squish

[DeLindsay]

Looks like many items are scaled down more now.

Originally, ilvl 44 items were scaled to to require level 19.

These same items now appear to have lower stats and are ilvl 25.
https://shadowlands.wowhead.com/item=14551/edgemasters-handguards&bonus=6660

While it sucks it also makes sense. It also will likely, and unfortunately, make ALL Legendary items only a few % superior to Quest Rewards of similar Level, if at all. We may find that even with full BiS, Twinks may only be a tiny bit more powerful than any rando shitter sitting in Quest gear.

 

[Purj]

While it sucks it also makes sense. It also will likely, and unfortunately, make ALL Legendary items only a few % superior to Quest Rewards of similar Level, if at all. We may find that even with full BiS, Twinks may only be a tiny bit more powerful than any rando shitter sitting in Quest gear.

I dont even know if Legendaries will be any better. If nothing changes, level 29 require BOE green weapons are superior to Warglaives, for example.

https://shadowlands.wowhead.com/item=32837/warglaive-of-azzinoth
https://shadowlands.wowhead.com/item=36527/blackened-blade&bonus=1679

 

[Kirise]

I dont even know if Legendaries will be any better. If nothing changes, level 29 require BOE green weapons are superior to Warglaives, for example.

https://shadowlands.wowhead.com/item=32837/warglaive-of-azzinoth
https://shadowlands.wowhead.com/item=36527/blackened-blade&bonus=1679

True, although Legendaries have long depended on their set bonuses or other special status to compete with gear of the same level.

We may find that even with full BiS, Twinks may only be a tiny bit more powerful than any rando shitter sitting in Quest gear.

Have gems been nerfed yet, or are they still pre-squish values on the alpha? Unless gems take a serious hit, socket gear will far outclass anything else 20+, and twink gear will still very much make an impact.

 

[Purj]

True, although Legendaries have long depended on their set bonuses or other special status to compete with gear of the same level.



Have gems been nerfed yet, or are they still pre-squish values on the alpha? Unless gems take a serious hit, socket gear will far outclass anything else 20+, and twink gear will still very much make an impact.

https://shadowlands.wowhead.com/item=28118/brilliant-ornate-ruby

Showing as 3 int at level 19

 

[Tzvetan]

We may find that even with full BiS, Twinks may only be a tiny bit more powerful than any rando shitter sitting in Quest gear.

Not so bad, IMO, provided they merge queues again...

 

[Yapah]

https://shadowlands.wowhead.com/item=39895/cloaked-shoulderpads&bonus=1709
Secondaries seem to go above the stamina amount on items now,
2 int 3 stam 3 vers 1 haste
Items with secondary stats might be better than high primary stat items

 

[Kirise]

https://shadowlands.wowhead.com/item=28118/brilliant-ornate-ruby

Showing as 3 int at level 19

That's super helpful -- thank you. So gems got squished to about half of what they are now (currently 6 int on live, at 19). May I trouble you to check Purified Tanzanite? That will give us an idea of how the stats fall for gems with split stats.

 

[Purj]

That's super helpful -- thank you. So gems got squished to about half of what they are now (currently 6 int on live, at 19). May I trouble you to check Purified Tanzanite? That will give us an idea of how the stats fall for gems with split stats.

Lots of gems and items unchanged currently. For example, Purified Tanzanite and Potent Ornate Topaz are still showing original stats, just with lower ilvl/requirement. Brilliant Ornate Ruby and Potent Ornate Topaz are sold from the same vendor, and one has been nerfed and the other has not. Blizzard probably just going down the list by item number or by name and making changes slowly

 

[Kirise]

Lots of gems and items unchanged currently. For example, Purified Tanzanite and Potent Ornate Topaz are still showing original stats, just with lower ilvl/requirement. Brilliant Ornate Ruby and Potent Ornate Topaz are sold from the same vendor, and one has been nerfed and the other has not. Blizzard probably just going down the list by item number or by name and making changes slowly

That to me is a very revealing find, showing that Blizzard's current codebase isn't conducive to mass scaling on some items (nor easy search-and-replace), and thus prone to new optimizations. I always suspected that, but had a hard time believing it. WoW probably needs code refactoring as badly as the state unemployment systems.

 

[Warriors101]

Indeed, Every so often when an alpha big change happens I like to make sure to check to see if certain items are optimized or not. All it takes is one item to a few items to be missed for a twink to be very powerful. We will have to wait to see what happens however as expected. Even the changed gems depending on the access we get to gear procs and gear gem slots it could be very promising.

 

[Zanasis]

Ya basically lol... my 10 is gonna be a misrepresentation of what a normal level 5 is supposed to be like.

oh yeah brother,....I'm gonna have some sick lev 5's. only questions is will i finally lose my fishing boots?!?!?!?!

 

[Taofight]

We may find that even with full BiS, Twinks may only be a tiny bit more powerful than any rando shitter sitting in Quest gear.

This is a best case scenario! Twinks could be put back in normal ques, levelers have no excuse when they get beat, and twinks still get to flex gear that is one stat point better.

 

[Chops]

provided they merge queues again...

Twinks could be put back in normal ques

Gonna go out on a limb here and say that unless they reintroduce stat/gear templates, that theyll never recombine ques (unless they get real dirty and just remove XP locking altogether). Especially not after a level squish thats gonna dust 99% of twinks.

 

[Tom Ganks]

This is a best case scenario! Twinks could be put back in normal ques, levelers have no excuse when they get beat, and twinks still get to flex gear that is one stat point better.

Optimistic, but I share your enthusiasm. But still, with enchants, engineering, consumables, gems, and unique item procs (on top of premades), twinks will dominate and people will complain on the forums as usual.

Edit: I hate saying this, but I'd rather separate queues instead of stat normalization if they decide to go the legion route again (assuming enchants, gems and all that are disabled). That shit was boring as fuck and an insult to the time we spent gearing.