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Patch 4.1 PTR patch notes update for March 22

Fox Van Allen
Contributing Editor
Updated ·5 min read

A set of new PTR patch notes has just dropped, and there are some pretty interesting changes involved for just about all players. There are a number of class changes: Mages are getting buffs to their Frostbolt and Fingers of Frost abilities; holy paladins will be seeing yet another mastery buff; and enhancement shaman are getting a brand new talent to replace Improved Fire Nova.


Raiders will be interested to see that Maelstrom Crystals are now available for purchase with honor or justice points. PvPers will be interested to see that battlegrounds will award significantly more guild experience. And those currently leveling alts will be thrilled to know that Blizzard is scrapping the Staff of Prehistoria mechanic in Uldaman. (The Indiana Jones aspect of it was cool, but since the introduction of the random dungeon finder, the mechanic was just plain broken.)

The full PTR patch notes update is available after the break.



March 22 patch notes update
Achievements PvP Death Knights Mages Paladins Shaman Dungeons and Raids Guilds Items PvP Guilds

  • A new feat of strength with an associated title, "the Camel-Hoarder", has been added for players that have bested Dormus and obtained the Reins of the Grey Riding Camel -- because there must always be a Camel-Hoarder.

  • Rated Battlegrounds

    • The achievements to win 100 rated Battlegrounds have been renamed to "Veteran of the Alliance" and "Veteran of the Horde", and now award those titles.

    • Achievements to win 300 rated Battlegrounds have been added, awarding the "Warbound" and "Warbringer" titles to the Alliance and Horde respectively.

  • Arathi Basin

    • The achievement "We Had It All Along *cough*" now requires the player to win Arathi Basin by 50 points or less, up from 10 points or less.

  • The Battle for Gilneas

    • The achievement "Jugger Not" now requires the player to win The Battle for Gilneas by 100 points or less, up from 10 points or less.

    • The achievement "Out of the Fog" requires the player to defend 2 bases in a single battle, down from 3.

    • The achievement "One Two Three You Don't Know About Me" requires the player to assault 2 bases in a single battle, down from 3.

    • The achievement "Not Your Average PUG'er" now requires 10 total flag defenses, down from 50.

    • The achievement "Battle for Gilneas All-Star" now requires a single flag assault and flag defense in a battle, down from 2.

  • Unholy

    • Desecration no longer triggers when an applicable strike hits a snare-immune target. This is primarily to avoid unnecessary spell effect clutter during boss encounters.

  • Frostbolt damage has been increased by 10%.

  • Frost

    • Fingers of Frost bonus damage applied to Ice Lance has been increased to 25%, up from 15%.

  • Holy

    • Illuminated Healing has been increased to provide 1.5% effect per mastery, up from 1.25%.

  • Enhancement

    • Improved Fire Nova has been redesigned and replaced by a talent called Seasoned Winds. When an enemy spell cast is successfully prevented with Wind Shear, the shaman gains magical resistance (in an amount equal to what a protection totem/aura would grant, stacking with such buffs) to the spell school(s) of the interrupted spell (except for Holy spells), lasting 10 seconds.

  • Dire Maul North

    • The Gordok Courtyard Key in Fengus's Chest is now replenished after several seconds.

  • The Mechanar

    • The Cache of the Legion now unlocks when Gatewatcher Gyro-kill is gyro-killed.

  • Stratholme

    • Postboxes no longer require keys to open, because really, who locks their postboxes anymore when they're all undead? It's just people sending coupons for brains anyway. The Postmaster now spawns when 3 of any postbox are opened.

  • Uldaman

    • The Staff of Prehistoria is no longer required to open the door in the Map Room.

    • Baelog's chest has been given new loot. If it's grey it's good, right?

  • Zul'Farrak

    • Troll Cages no longer require the Executioner's Key to open.

  • The amount of guild experience rewarded for rated Battleground guild group wins has been dramatically increased.

  • Players are now rewarded guild experience for Honorable Kills in the field.

  • Players are now rewarded guild experience for Battleground wins in Battleground brackets up to level 80.

  • Arena teams are now awarded guild experience for wins. The entire team must be members of the same guild to earn this experience.

  • All trade goods available for purchase with Honor or Justice Points from the associated commodities vendors have had their prices reduced by 50%.

  • Maelstrom Crystals are now available for purchase with Honor or Justice Points from the associated commodities vendors.

  • Arenas

    • The Ring of Valor has returned! It should now be playable again in the Arena map rotation.

    • New starting areas have been added for Ring of Valor. Players will no longer enter the Arena on the elevator. It's been removed. Instead players will start in a room at opposite ends of the Arena.

  • Loot from the creatures Garr, Julak-Doom, Mobus, and Poseidus has been adjusted to be commensurate to their rarity and invested effort.

  • The Guild Finder has been implemented! While we are continuing to add final polish to this feature, we welcome all focused testers to give it a go.

WoW Patch 4.1 is on the PTR and WoW Insider has all the latest news for you. From previews of the revamped Zul'Aman and Zul'Gurub to new Valor point mechanics to the new Archaeology items.