The Talent System receives a massive overhaul in Cataclysm, aiming to both simplify its system and further empower our characters throughout our journeys. This article offers a comprehensive overview of each specific change and how it impacts the player’s ability to customize its class.
General Changes
- Complete overhaul of the Talent System User Interface.
- Massive change from a Hybrid System to a “Specialization-oriented” system.
- Lower available Talent Points.
- Talent Points are no longer rewarded after each level-up.
- Overall Talent Points number reduced from 71 to 41.
- Specializations offer a powerful set of active abilities and passive effects to empower characters early on.
You can observe below a clear representation of the Talent System’s overhauled User Interface when compared to the previous expansion, Wrath of the Lich King.
Talent Specialization
Talent Specializations serve as the main change in the Talent System’s overhaul, migrating from a “hybrid” approach to a “dedicated” role approach. This change seeks to simplify and consolidate the idea of a main role. While this change offers a simplified approach it also removes a player’s freedom of choice, eliminating the concept of hybrid builds altogether.
Since the new Talent Specialization system enforces a definitive role, it also comes with the benefit of conferring extremely strong abilities that define the said role. For example, you will no longer be able to see Retribution Paladins fill the role of a Healer in early dungeons since they will lack Meditation, one of the best passive effects granted by the Holy Specialization. However, you will instead now gain Templar’s Verdict, an extremely strong damage ability that can be gained as early as level 10.
Talent Points
Compared to the past Talent System where you would receive a Talent Point after each Level Up, this time you will gain Talent Points after certain level thresholds. You receive your first talent point at level 10, followed by another point at each odd number. This means that you will gain more talent points starting at level 11, followed up by 13, 15, 17, 19, and so on until level 81.
Once you reach level 81 you will start gaining a single talent point per level up, just like in the previous expansion until you reach level 85.
Secondary Specializations
Since you will no longer be able to select a secondary specialization, your options of picking a hybrid build will be completely nullified. Secondary specializations are more of a thing than ever, as this change removes hybrids. Hybrid specs generally don’t have much of a secondary specialization, relying on a mix of things. You are still able to put 10 talent points into other talent trees after spending 31 Talent Points in your dedicated specialization. This means that while you may no longer be able to create hybrid specs such as Shockadin or Preg Paladin, you will still be able to attain some powerful talents from the other two specializations to further empower your dedicated specialization.
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