WoW BfA Talents: All of the Changes to the Talent System

There’s no denying that World of Warcraft’s 7th expansion titled Battle for Azeroth has been quite successful so far. The entire theme and the nostalgia-infused lore are definitely some of the strongest selling points of this expansion. Also, this game reached 3.4 million copies sold during the first 24 hours from BfA’s release, speak volumes about Blizzard’s effort to make this their biggest expansion so far. But what about the gameplay aspect of Battle for Azeroth… what about the WoW BfA Talents?

Well, as you might imagine, there was a plethora of gameplay changes in BfA. There were lots of adjustments and tweaks in various aspects, including talent trees. All of this makes for a distinctive and unique game mechanics that are meant to take class balance to the next level. Logically, adjustments to the talent system is a great way to shake things up and there are plenty of tweaks in this regard.

So let’s now take a look at every talent change that Battle for Azeroth brought upon WoW’s universe – read on!

For more WoW, check this out: WoW BfA DPS Rankings for 5 Classes

What kind of changes to the class Talents were made in BfA?

Each playable class in the game received notable changes in terms of talent trees. A good amount of talents have been removed from the game and replaced by other ones, including talents from past expansions. Here’s the complete list of talent modifications in Battle for Azeroth for all in-game classes:

Death Knight Talent Changes

1. Blood

• Removed – Blood Mirror, Blood Tap, Heart of Ice, March of the Damned, Spectral Deflection (NYI/TBD), Tremble Before Me
• New – Consumption, Grip of the Dead, Hemostasis, Rune Strike, Voracious, Wraith Walk
• Modified – Anti-Magic Barrier, Bloodworms, Bonestorm, Foul Bulwark, Mark of Blood, Ossuary, Rapid Decomposition, Red Thirst, Rune Tap, Tightening Grasp, Tombstone, Will of the Necropolis

2. Frost

• Removed – Abomination’s Might, Freezing Fog, Hungering Rune Weapon, Obliteration, Shattering Strikes, Volatile Shielding, Winter is Coming
• New – Asphyxiate, Cold Heart, Death Pact, Death’s Reach, Frostwyrm’s Fury, Obliteration, Wraith Walk
• Modified – Avalanche, Blinding Sleet, Breath of Sindragosa, Frostscythe, Frozen Pulse, Gathering Storm, Glacial Advance, Horn of Winter, Icecap, Icy Talons, Inexorable Assault, Murderous Efficiency, Permafrost

3. Unholy

• Removed – Blighted Rune Weapon, Corpse Shield, Castigator, Dark Arbiter, Dark Infusion, Debilitating Infestation, Lingering Apparition, Necrosis, Sludge Belcher
• New – Army of the Damned, Death Pact, Death’s Reach, Harbinger of Doom, Grip of the Dead, Pestilence, Unholy Blight, Summon Gargoyle, Wraith Walk
• Modified – All Will Serve, Asphyxiate, Bursting Sores, Clawing Shadows, Defile, Ebon Fever, Epidemic, Infected Claws, Pestilent Pustules, Soul Reaper, Spell Eater, Unholy Frenzy

Demon Hunter Talent Changes

1. Havoc

• Removed – Bloodlet, Chaos Blades, Chaos Cleave, Demon Reborn, Prepared
• New – Cycle of Hatred, Dark Slash, Immolation Aura, Insatiable Hunger, Trail of Ruin
• Modified – Blind Fury, Demon Blades, Demonic Appetite, Fel Barrage, Felblade, Fel Eruption, Fel Mastery, First Blood, Master of the Glaive, Momentum, Nemesis, Soul Rendering

2. Vengeance

• Removed- Blade Turning, Demonic Infusion, Fel Eruption, Fracture, Soul Barrier
• New – Charred Flesh, Fracture, Gluttony, Soul Barrier, Void Reaver
• Modified – Burning Alive, Feast of Souls, Fel Devastation, Razor Spikes, Spirit Bomb

Druid Talent Changes

1. Balance

• Removed – Blessing of the Ancients, Displacer Beast
• New – New Moon, Tiger Dash, Twin Moons
• Modified – Force of Nature, Fury of Elune, Incarnation: Chosen of Elune, Nature’s Balance, Restoration Affinity, Shooting Stars, Soul of the Forest, Starlord, Stellar Drift, Stellar Flare, Warrior of Elune

2. Feral

• Removed – Displacer Beast, Elune’s Guidance
• New – Feral Frenzy, Tiger Dash, Bloodtalons
• Modified – Brutal Slash, Incarnation: King of the Jungle, Jagged Wounds, Moment of Clarity, Predator, Restoration Affinity, Savage Roar

3. Guardian

• Removed – Guttural Roars
• New – Tiger Dash
• Modified – Brambles, Galactic Guardian, Lunar Beam, Pulverize, Restoration Affinity

4. Resto

• Removed – Displacer Beast
• New – Photosynthesis, Tiger Dash
• Modified – Abundance, Cenarion Ward, Cultivation, Flourish, Spring Blossoms, Stonebark

Hunter Talent Changes

1. Beast Mastery

• Removed – Bestial Fury, Big Game Hunter, Blink Strikes, Barbed Shot, Intimidation, Volley, Way of the Cobra, Wyvern Sting
• New – Born To Be Wild, Killer Instinct, Natural Mending, Thrill of the Hunt, Venomous Bite, Animal Companion
• Modified – Aspect of the Beast, Barrage, Binding Shot, Chimaera Shot, Dire Beast

2. Marksmanship

• Removed – Black Arrow, Farstrider, Lone Worf, Patient Sniper, Master Marksman, Sidewinders, Trick Shot, True Aim, Wyvern Sting
• New – Born To Be Wild, Calling the Shots, Careful Aim, Double Tap, Hunter’s Mark, Lethal Shots, Master Marksman, Natural Mending, Serpent Sting, Streamline
• Modified – Barrage, Binding Shot, Piercing Shot

3. Survival

• Removed – Animal Instincts, Aspect of the Beast, Caltrops, Disengage, Dragonsfire Granade, Expert Trapper, Intimidation, Mortal Wounds, Ranger’s Net, Serpent Sting, Snake Hunter (Replace), Sticky Bomb, Throw Axe, Way of the Mok’Nathal
• New – Alpha Predator,Birds of Prey, Binding Shot, Bloodseeker, Born To Be Wild, Chakrams, Flanking Strike, Guerrilla Tactics, Hydra’s Bite, Mongoose Bite, Natural Mending, Terms of Engagement, Tip of the Spear, Viper’s Venom, Wildfire Infusion
• Modified – Posthaste, Spitting Cobra, Steel Strap

Mage Talent Changes

1. Arcane

• Removed – Amplification, Erosion, Temporal Flux, Unstable Magic,
• New – Amplification, Reverberate, Rule of Three, Time Anomaly, Touch of the Magi
• Modified – Arcane Familiar, Arcane Orb, Nether Tempest, Resonance, Slipstream, Supernova

2. Fire

• Removed – Controlled Burn, Cinderstorm, Unstable Magic
• New – Phoenix Flames, Pyroclasm, Searing Touch
• Modified – Blast Wave, Blazing Soul, Firestarter, Flame Patch, Kindling, Living Bomb, Meteor, Pyromaniac

3. Frost

• Removed – Arctic Gale, Unstable Magic
• New – Chain Reaction, Ebonbolt, Freezing Rain
• Modified – Bone Chilling, Comet Storm, Frigid Winds, Frozen Touch, Glacial Insulation, Glacial Spike, Ice Floes, Ice Nova, Lonely Winter, Ray of Frost, Splitting Ice

Monk Talent Changes

1. Brewmaster

• Removed – Mystic Vitality
• New – Bob and Weave, Guard, Spitfire
• Modified – Black Ox Brew, Blackout Combo, Chi Burst, Eye of the Tiger, Healing Elixir, High Tolerance, Tiger Tail Sweep, Mystic Vitality, Rushing Jade Wind, Special Delivery, Tiger Tail Sweep

2. Mistweaver

• Removed – None
• New – Rising Mist, Upwelling
• Modified – Celerity, Chi Burst, Healing Elixir, Tiger Tail Sweep, Lifecycles, Invoke: Chi-Ji, the Red Crane, Mana Tea, Mist Wrap, Ring of Peace, Song of Chi-Ji, Summon Jade Serpent Statue

3. Windwalker

• Removed – Chi Orbit, Healing Elixir, Leg Sweep, Power Strikes, Summon Black Ox Statue
• New – Tiger Tail Sweep, Fist of the White Tiger, Good Karma, Inner Strength, Spiritual Focus
• Modified – Ascension, Chi Burst, Chi Torpedo, Energizing Elixir, Eye of the Tiger, Hit Combo, Invoke Xuen, the White Tiger, Rushing Jade Wind, Serenity, Whirling Dragon Punch

Paladin Talents

1. Holy

• Removed – Beacon of the Lightbringer, Fervent Martyr,
• New – Avenging Crusader, Awakening,
• Modified – Aura of Mercy, Aura of Sacrifice, Beacon of Faith, Beacon of Virtue, Bestow Faith, Devotion Aura, Divine Purpose, Holy Prism, Judgment of Light, Light’s Hammer

2. Protection

• Removed – Knight Templar
• New – Redoubt, Unbreakable Spirit
• Modified – Blessed Hammer, Blessing of Spellwarding, Consecrated Ground, First Avenger, Fist of Justice, Hand of the Protector, Holy Shield, Judgment of Light, Last Defender, Retribution Aura

3. Retribution

• Removed – Divine Hammer, Final Verdict, Greater Judgment, Holy Wrath, Judgement of Light, Zeal
• New – Divine Judgement, Execution Sentence, Hammer of Wrath, Inquisition, Righteous Verdict, Selfless Healer, Unbreakable Spirit, Wake of Ashes, Zeal
• Modified – Crusade, Divine Purpose, Eye for an Eye, Fist of Justice, Fires of Justice

Priest Talents

1. Discipline

• Removed – Clarity of Will, Sanctuary,
• New – Contrition, Lenience, Luminous Barrier, Sins of the Many
• Modified – Angelic Feather, Body and Soul, Divine Star, Halo, Mindbender,  Purge the Wicked, Schism, Shadow Covenant, Twist of Fate

2. Holy

• Removed – Body and Mind, Divinity, Piety, Symbol of Hope
• New – Angel’s Mercy, Cosmic Ripple, Holy Word: Salvation, Psychic Voice
• Modified – Apotheosis, Binding Heal, Censure, Cosmic Ripple, Halo, Light of the Naaru, Surge of Light

2. Shadow

• Removed – Dominant Mind, Masochism, Power Infusion, Psychic Voice, Reaper of Souls, Void Ray
• New – Dark Ascension, Dark Void, Last Word, Psychic Horror, Void Torrent, Shadow Word: Death
• Modified – Auspicious Spirits, Body and Soul, Legacy of the Void, Mania, Mindbender, Shadow Crash, Shadow Word: Void, Surrender to Madness

Rogue Talents

1. Assassination

• Removed – Anticipation, Death from Above, Hemorrhage, Leeching Poison, Shadow Focus, Alacricity
• New – Crimson Tempest, Blindside, Hidden Blades, Leeching Poison, Master Assassin, Poison Bomb
• Modified – Elaborate Planning, Exsanguinate, Internal Bleeding, Master Poisoner, Iron Wire, Subterfuge, Toxic Blade

2. Outlaw

• Removed – Anticipation, Death from Above, Parley, Grappling Hook
• New – Dancing Steel, Blade Rush, Blinding Powder, Loaded Dice, Retractable Hook
• Modified  – Ghostly Strike, Weaponmaster

3. Subtlety

• Removed – Anticipation, Death from Above, Master of Subtlety, Tangled Shadow
• New – Find Weakness, Night Terrors, Secret Technique, Shuriken Tornado, Shot in the Dark
• Modified – Alacrity, Dark Shadow, Enveloping Shadows, Gloomblade, Shadow Focus, Soothing Darkness, Weaponmaster

Shaman Talents

1. Elemental

• Removed – Aftershock, Elemental Fusion, Gust of Wind, Lightning Rod, Path of Flame, Voodoo Totem
• New – Aftershock, Earth Shield, Unlimited Power, High Voltage, Exposed Elements, Nature’s Guardian, Spirit Wolf, Static Charge, Stormkeeper, Unlimited Power
• Modified  – Earthern Rage

2. Enhancement

• Removed – Empowered Stormslash, Tempest, Voodoo Totem, Windsong
• New – Earth Shield, Elemental Spirits, Nature’s Guardian, Searing Assault, Spirit Wolf, Static Charge, Totem Mastery, Forceful Wounds
• Modified  – Ascendance, Crashing Storm, Earthen Spike, Feral Lunge, Fury of Air, Hailstorm, Landslide, Lightning Shield, Sundering

3. Resto

• Removed – Bottomless Depths, Crashing Waves, Gust of Wind, Voodoo Totem, Ancestral Guidance
• New – Downpour, Earth Shield, Flash Flood, Nature’s Guardian, Spirit Wolf, Static Charge
• Modified  – Ancestral Protection Totem, Ancestral Vigor, Cloudburst Totem, Deluge, Earthern Wall Totem, Echo of the Elements, Graceful Spirit, Unleash Life, Wellspring

Warlock Talents

1. Affliction

• Removed – Contagion, Death’s Embrace, Empowered Life Tap, Grimoire of Service, Howl of Terror, Malefic Grasp, Soul Harvest
• New – Creeping Death, Dark Soul: Misery, Deathbolt, Shadow Embrace, Vile Taint
• Modified – Absolute Corruption, Drain Soul, Grimoire of Sacrifice, Haunt, Nightfall, Phantom Singularity, Siphon Life, Sow the Seeds, Writhe in Agony

2. Demonology

• Removed – Shadowfury, Grimoire of Supremacy, Hand of Doom, Impending Doom, Implosion, Improved Dreadstalkers, Demonbolt, Power Trip, Shadowflame, Shadowy Inspiration, Soul Harvest, Summon Darkglare
• New – Grimoire: Felguard, Doom, Soul Strike, Dreadlash, Summon Vilefiend, Power Siphon, Bilescourge Bombers, Demonic Strength, From the Shadows, Demonic Consumption, Inner Demons, Nether Portal, Sacrificed Souls
• Modified  – Demonic Calling, Soul Conduit

3. Destruction

• Removed – Empowered Life Tap, Backdraft, Grimoire of Synergy, Hellfire, Shadowfury, Soul Harvest
• New – Hellfire, Flashover, Inferno, Infernal Combustion, Soul Fire, Dark Soul: Instability
• Modified  – Cataclysm, Channel Demonfire, Fire and Brimstone, Grimoire of Sacrifice, Reverse Entropy, Grimoire of Supremacy

Warrior Talents

1. Arms

• Removed – Dauntless, Deadly Calm, Focused Rage, Mortal Combo, Opportunity Strikes, Overpower, Shockwave, Sweeping Strikes, Trauma, Titanic Might
• New – Cleave, Collateral Damage, Deadly Calm, Dreadnaught, Impending Victory, Massacre, Skullsplitter, Sudden Death, War Machine, Warbreaker
• Modified – Anger Management, Avatar, Fervor of Battle, In For The Kill, Rend, Storm Bolt

2. Fury

• Removed – Avatar, Bloodbath, Frenzy, Outburst, Shockwave, War Machine, Wrecking Ball
• New – Anger Management, Furious Slash, Impending Victory, Meat Cleaver, Siegebreaker, Sudden Death, War Machine
• Modified  – Bladestorm, Carnage, Dragon Roar, Endless Rage, Furious Charge, Fresh Meat, Frothing Berserker, Inner Rage, Massacre, Reckless Abandon, Storm Bolt, Warpaint

3. Protection

• Removed – Avatar, Booming Voice, Inspiring Presence, Renewed Fury, Shockwave, Warbringer, Warlord’s Challenge
• New – Bolster, Bounding Stride, Dragon Roar, Menace, Punish, Rumbling Earth, Unstoppable Force
• Modified  – Anger Management, Best Served Cold, Crackling Thunder, Devastator, Impending Victory, Indomitable, Into the Fray, Never Surrender, Storm Bolt, Vengeance, Victory Rush

Conclusion

As you can see folks, Battle for Azeroth brought boatloads of adjustments and tweaks to the talent tree of every class in the game. But even if some of the changes might not exactly be your cup of tea for WoW BfA Talents, it’s all for the better since Blizzard are trying to fix balance issues etc.

Over to you now – what’s your favorite or least favorite change to the talent system of your class in BfA? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

For more WoW, check this out: The Complete List of WoW Classic Dungeons