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Encrypted Text: Blackfang Battleweave, or Deathwing is the Joker
Every week, WoW Insider brings you Encrypted Text for assassination, combat and subtlety rogues. Chase Christian will be your guide to the world of shadows every Wednesday. Feel free to email me with any questions or article suggestions you'd like to see covered here. Blizzard has been posting previews of the upcoming tier 13 sets, allowing us to see what our new sets will look like visually. When describing the tier 13 set for rogues, Blackfang Battleweave, it was said that the armor is bat-themed. When I think of bats and bat-themed armor, I immediately think of the Caped Crusader. Not to worry, as the preview also claimed that they "were careful to skirt the more obvious inspirations." Oh, that's good news -- so they're not designing our next tier set in such a way that it would warrant a cease and desist letter from DC Comics. The only real similarity between our gear and the Dark Knight's is the pointy cowl; I don't see any shaped abs on our leather tunic. As soon as I let my guard down, the WoW Facebook page posts an image of a rogue soaring through the night air on a pair of dark wings. Our new legendary daggers, the Fangs of the Father, apparently, give us wings. You can't see this picture and not immediately see the resemblance to the Masked Manhunter himself. I can only think of two possibilities: Either I accidentally started playing DC Universe Online at some point without realizing it, or Frank Miller has replaced Samwise Didier as Blizzard's art director.
Patch 4.3: Rogue tier 13 is "Bat"man-inspired
Tier 13 continues to be one of the most intriguing raid tiers in terms of aesthetic armor sets that Blizzard has ever put out. Every set this tier has been a labor of love based either on some cool story character or a cool idea kicking around inside of the designers' heads. Rogues will be sporting the new Blackfang Battleweave in the upcoming patch 4.3, fusing together concepts of an Azerothian-styled Batman complete with bat shoulders, a cowl, and a nice patterned outfit. I think this is going to be the most controversial armor set this tier among players, and I do not understand why. Personally, the rogue set just looks cool, no matter what it is based on. Tier 13 is the fantasy tier, as has been mentioned by Blizzard over and over in each of the tier 13 reveals. At this point in the expansion, the designers and artists are having fun making their versions of cool armor and fun ideas that they've been kicking around. From Time Wizards and tentacle faces to Deathwing look-a-likes and Azerothian bat men, I think this is one of the most unique tiers yet. And really, who epitomizes rogues better than the Dark Knight himself? %Gallery-134409%
