WoW’s patch 7.3 is on the PTR now, new dungeon, raid, and sandbox feature to come
Who doesn’t love news drops at 8:00 p.m.? Not me, that’s for sure! Today’s particular surprise — or non-surprise if you’ve been keeping up with Blizzard’s schedule — is the release of patch 7.3 onto the World of Warcraft PTR. Wowhead is in the process of datamining all the nitty-gritty details right now, but if you want an overview of what to expect, Blizzard has also released their own post discussing our imminent trip to Argus.
Argus already sounds pretty dang cool. It’s going to have three main areas — the first of which can be tested now — with a “mobile base of operations” to help you navigate the dangerous turf. No, you can’t fly on Argus — please tell me you didn’t expect to be able to — but you will have access to a teleportation network, which is basically a better version of flight paths. Also included in this build are new animations for several casters, plus the first couple chapters of the 7.3 storyline.
Still not excited? Later builds of 7.3 will include a new dungeon, a new raid, and a fel of a lot more. Be sure to check the full post below, as 7.3 already appears to be shaping up as one epic showdown with the Legion. And if you’re not sure how to get onto the PTR and start testing for yourself, here’s a nifty little article to help you do so!
Welcome to the Patch 7.3 Public Test Realm! After the events on the Broken Shore and inside the Tomb of Sargeras raid (no spoilers!), it’s time to take the fight directly to the Legion’s home world of Argus. We’re really excited about this update, and are looking forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback as we head into public testing.
Most (but not all) of the new stuff in 7.3 takes place on Argus—and as you might expect, this is hostile territory. Demons patrol every crag of Argus’s shattered surface, and sometimes it seems as if the planet itself is out to get you. This will be a very story-driven update, but we’re also designing areas with sandbox elements intended to be enjoyed even after you complete the main quest, with gameplay and challenges on the planet’s surface reminiscent of past endgame areas such as the Molten Front, the Isle of Thunder, and the Timeless Isle.
One of the first things you’ll encounter to help you navigate the Legion’s home turf is the Vindicaar: a vessel that will serve as your mobile base of operations—and one of your few safe havens—on Argus. Aside from giving you direct access to a number of 7.3’s new features, the Vindicaar will also be your primary method of transport behind enemy lines. Argus is a no-fly zone, similar to the Isle of Thunder, so to help make sure it’s still easy to get around, the Vindicaar will give you access to an extensive network of teleportation hubs (similar to flight paths, but without the travel time).
There are three main areas to explore on the planet, the first of which is available for testing on the PTR today!
Also in this first build are the first couple of chapters of the 7.3 storyline, and some new and improved casting animations for Restoration Druids, Elemental and Restoration Shaman, Discipline and Holy Priests, and all three Mage specializations (and yes, that includes Arcane Missiles). As with previous patches, player feedback is very important to us as we work to update these animations, so we’re really looking forward to hearing what you think.
(Note: Shadow Priest animation updates are also on the way for 7.3, but aren’t working yet in this build. In fact, some spells are likely to have no animations at all right now. That’s only temporary while we finish getting the new animations ready for PTR testing.)
Other major content that’s contained in Patch 7.3 but not yet complete in this build includes:
- Further chapters of the Argus storyline, including many cinematic story moments
- New World Quests
- Professions updates, including epic gems
- The Netherlight Crucible, which allows you to upgrade your Artifact to unlock a new way to customize your Relics
- New dungeon: Seat of the Triumvirate
- New raid: Antorus, the Burning Throne (though as with other Legion raids, it won’t be released immediately with 7.3)
- Invasion Points, a new type of replayable content that let you fight the Legion on multiple different worlds
- Several other improvements and updates to existing features
As the PTR process continues, we’ll provide updates with each build on what’s new. Thanks, and happy testing!
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