World of Warcraft 9.0.5 Patch Notes Pave the Way for the 9.1 Chains of Domination Update

As revealed at BlizzCon a few weeks ago, there are quite a few new things coming to World of Warcraft this year. Not only is The Burning Crusade getting the Classic treatment, which brings the classic game’s first expansion back to its roots (with a few modern tweaks), but Shadowlands is set to get its first major update in the coming months.

While Blizzard hasn’t announced a release date for Update 9.1: Chains of Domination just yet, the latest 9.0.5 patch, which is set to release on March 9 in North America and March 10 in Europe, does begin to pave away for the much bigger update. Quality of life changes, tweaks to Covenants and Legendary items, bug fixes, and some cosmetic flourishes are the focus of 9.0.5, a bit of of housekeeping before Blizzard drops Chains of Domination later this year.

Chains of Domination will introduce a new subzone called Korthia, City of Secrets, located in The Maw. A new raid, the Sanctum of Domination, is also coming to the MMO, featuring a gauntlet of 10 bosses, including Sylvanas Windrunner. Then there’s Tazavesh, the Veiled Market, a new dungeon that revolves around the Brokers, a merchant faction that operates in the Shadowlands.

You can check out the trailer below for an introduction to the story of Chains of Domination:

Below, you can find some of the most important updates included in the 9.0.5 update:

ADVENTURES

• Kyrian Covenant Companions
  • Kyrian Phalanx health increased by 16%.
    • Developers’ note: Phalanxes still feel underpowered relative to Halberdiers, so giving them some additional durability to allow them to fill the tank role before players have maxed out their roster.
• Necrolord Covenant Companions
  • Fixed an issue where Bonesmith Heirmir Serrated Shoulder Blades weren’t inflicting damage back to the enemy.
  • Maldraxxus Plaguesinger’s Plague Song has been redesigned – Plague Song now deals damage to ranged enemies every round.
  • Rencissa the Dynamo spell effectiveness increased by 40%.
  • Assembler Xertora spell effectiveness increased by 10%.
  • Rattlebag spell effectiveness increased by 20%.
    • Developers’ note: We fixed a few issues where some Necrolord Covenant Companions weren’t dealing damage reliably. Additionally, a few companions have received an improvement that fits with their purpose.
• Night Fae Covenant Companions
  • Qadarin spell effectiveness increased by 24%.
  • Blisswing’s damage reduction now correctly applies to enemies.
  • Yira’liya health increased by 16% and spell effectiveness increased by 50%.
  • Duskleaf health increased by 20% and spell effectiveness increased by 25%.
  • Lloth’wellyn health increased by 33% and ability damage increased by 25%.
    • Developers’ note: A few Night Fae Covenant Companions were not as well established in their different roles as we hoped, to address this we’ve improved many abilities and decreased some Companions’ overall fragility.
• Venthyr Covenant Companions
  • Venthyr Nightblade attack increased by 25%.
    • Developers’ note: We’re generally happy with how the changes to Venthyr in the 9.0.2 landed, but wanted to offer some additional help for players using Nightblades to fill out their compositions.

CHARACTERS

• Undead cloaks will now be as tattered as the forsaken wearing them. Your character customization settings will now inform the appearance of your cloak for Undead characters.

COVENANTS

• Necrolord
  • Covenant Ability
    • Fleshcraft has been redesigned – Form a shield of flesh and bone over 3 seconds (was 4 seconds) that absorbs damage equal to 40% of your maximum health for 2 minutes. While channeling, your damage taken is reduced by 20%. Passive effect – Moving near an enemy’s corpse consumes their essence to reduce Fleshcraft’s cooldown by 1 second.
    • The slime creatures within the Plaguefall dungeon will now grant their buffs when their corpses are consumed by Fleshcraft’s passive effect (was when Fleshcraft was used on their corpses).
  • Soulbinds
    • Volatile Solvent (Plague Deviser Marileth) now triggers when Fleshcraft’s passive effect consumes a corpse’s essence (was when Fleshcraft is cast).
    • Resourceful Fleshcrafting (Bonesmith Heirmir) has been redesigned – When Fleshcraft’s passive effect consumes a corpse, the cooldown of Fleshcraft is reduced by an additional 1 second.
  • Anima Conductor: Flowing Power – House of Rituals
    • Skeleton Command now summons a skeleton when Fleshcraft’s passive effect consumes a corpse. This effect has a 5 second cooldown between summoning skeletons.
• Night Fae
  • Spirits within The Queen’s Conservatory are eager to return to life and will now automatically provide players with their reward without having to speak to them first.
  • Soulbinds
    • Fixed an issue that sometimes caused players to die through Podtender (Dreamweaver) if the lethal blow had a large overkill.
• Venthyr
  • The Ember Court
    • Permanent RSVPs
      • Guests who you have reached Best Friend status with now give you a permanent RSVP.
      • The Permanent RSVP will allow all characters on your account to invite that guest to future Ember Courts without completing their RSVP quest again.
    • Temel in Sinfall now sells a Bind on Account book at Exalted with the Ember Court. The book will teach your Dredger Butler how to handle the Cleanup and Restocking quests that follow the Ember Courts.
    • One-time reputation items from Temel and Lady Ilinca will no longer appear once learned.
    • Droman Aliothe’s RSVP no longer requires players to venture to Bastion and Maldraxxus for items.
  • Soulbinds
    • Fixed an issue that allowed Service in Stone (General Draven) to be parried.

RUNECARVING LEGENDARY ITEMS

• DEATH KNIGHT
  • Blood
    • Phearomones now grants 10% Haste while inside your Death and Decay (was 8%).
    • Crimson Rune Weapon now causes Dancing Rune Weapon to generate 5 Bone Shield charges and reduces the cooldown of Dancing Rune Weapon by 5 seconds (was 3 seconds).
    • Vampiric Aura now increases the duration of Vampiric Blood by 3 seconds and grants 5% Leech for the duration.
    • Gorefiend’s Domination now also grants 45 Runic Power when Vampiric Blood is used.
  • Unholy
    • Reanimated Shambler explosion damage increased by 5% and now procs approximately every 1.75 minutes (was 1.5).
• DEMON HUNTER
  • Fel Bombardment’s buff duration has been increased to 40 seconds (was 30 seconds) and the chance to trigger increased by 5%.
  • Darkglare Medallion’s chance to trigger increased to 40% (was 20%) and now also refunds the Fury of the casted Eye Beam or Fel Devastation.
  • Havoc
    • Burning Wound damage over time damage increased 100% and Immolation Aura damage increased by 65% (was 50%).
  • Vengeance
    • The casted Eye Beam from Collective Anguish’s summoned ally now always deals critical strikes.
    • Spirit of the Darkness Flame’s Fiery Brand instant damage increased by 20% (was 15%).
• DRUID
  • Feral
    • Cat-Eye Curio now restores 30% Energy (was 25%).
    • Frenzyband now reduces the cooldown of Berserk by .3 seconds per combo point-generating ability (was .2 seconds). During Berserk, combo point-generating abilities cause the target to bleed for 150% of their damage (was 100%).
  • Guardian
    • Legacy of the Sleeper’s Berserk description now notes that the Druid is immune to crowd-control while active.
  • Restoration
    • Verdant Infusion extends the duration of your heal over time effects on the Swiftmend target by 10 seconds (was 8 seconds).
• HUNTER
  • Beast Mastery
    • Dire Command now has a 30% chance to trigger (was 20%).
    • Rylakstalker’s Piercing Fangs critical damage increased to 35% (was 20%).
    • Flamewaker’s Cobra Sting now has a 50% chance to trigger (was 25%).
    • Qa’pla, Eredun War Order now resets the cooldown of Kill Command (was reduces the cooldown by 5 seconds) and has an additional passive effect – Barbed Shot deals 10% increased damage.
  • Marksmanship
    • Surging Shots now causes Rapid Fire to deal 35% additional damage (was 25%).
    • Eagletalon’s True Focus now also increases the duration of Trueshot by 3 seconds and reduces all Focus costs by 25% (was 50%).
    • Serpentstalker’s Trickery no longer triggers Wild Spirits (Night Fae Ability) twice.
  • Survival
    • Latent Poison Injectors damage increased by 15%.
• MAGE
  • Disciplinary Command increases Critical Strike damage by 20% (was 15%).
  • Expanded Potential procs per minute increased to 2 (was 1.66).
  • Arcane
    • Arcane Harmony damage per stack increased to 8% (was 7%) and the effect stacks up to 18 times (was 15).
  • Fire
    • Molten Skyfall now calls down a Meteor after casting 18 Fireballs or Pyroblasts (was 25).
    • Sun King’s Blessing now requires consuming 8 Hot Streaks (was 12) and grants Combustion for 6 seconds (was 5 seconds)
  • Frost
    • Cold Front now calls down a Frozen Orb after casting 30 Frostbolts or Flurries (was 60).
    • Freezing Winds now triggers Fingers of Frost every 2 seconds (was 3 seconds).
• MONK
  • Shaohao’s Might now causes Tiger Palm to have a 40% chance (was 10%) to deal 300% of normal damage (was 250%) and reduce the remaining cooldown of your Brews by 2 additional seconds (was 1 second).
  • Brewmaster
    • Mighty Pour now causes Celestial Brew to increase your Armor by 50% (was 25%) for 8 seconds (was 7 seconds), and causes Purifying Brew to have a 35% chance to not consume a charge (was 25%).
  • Mistweaver
    • Clouded Focus healing increased by 20% (was 15%) and mana cost reduced by 20% (was 15%).
  • Windwalker
    • Xuen’s Battlegear critical strike chance increased by 50% (was 30%) and Fists of Fury cooldown reduced by 5 seconds (was 2.5 seconds).
• PALADIN
  • Vanguard’s Momentum increases Holy damage done by 4% (was 3%) for 10 seconds (was 8 seconds).
  • Of Dusk and Dawn buff duration increased to 12 seconds (was 8 seconds) and Blessing of Dusk damage reduction increased to 4% (was 3%).
  • Holy
    • Inflorescence of the Sunwell increases Infusion of Light effects by 30% (was 20%).
    • Shadowbreaker, Dawn of the Sun buff duration increased to 8 seconds (was 6 seconds).
    • Maraad’s Dying Breath’s healing bonus to Light of the Martyr no longer increases self-damage taken. Additionally, Maraad’s Dying Breath now causes all Light of the Martyr self-damage to be dealt over 5 seconds
  • Protection
    • The Ardent Protector’s Sanctum has been redesigned – When Ardent Defender saves you from death, it restores 40% additional health. When Ardent Defender expires without saving you from death, its remaining cooldown is reduced by 40%.
    • Fixed an issue with The Ardent Protector’s Sanctum that caused Ardent Defender casts to put nearby Protection Paladin’s Ardent Defender on cooldown.
    • Fixed an issue that caused The Magistrate’s Judgment to be consumed when casting a free Word of Glory through Shining Light.
  • Retribution
    • Final Verdict damage has been increased by 15%.
    • The Magistrate’s Judgment now grants the proper amount of Crusade stacks when Holy Power is spent while under its effect.
• PRIEST
  • Cauterizing Shadows’ healing increased by 36% and can now critically strike.
  • Discipline
    • Cauterizing Shadows now functions with Mastery: Grace.
    • Kiss of Death reduces the cooldown of Shadow Word: Death by 12 seconds (was 8 seconds).
  • Holy
    • Divine Image now casts Searing Light when Shadow Word: Pain or Mindgames (Venthyr Ability) are used, and casts Holy Nova when Unholy Nova (Necrolord Ability) is used. Additionally, if the Priest is crowd controlled while Divine Image is active, the image will cast single target healing spells on nearby low-hp allies.
    • Divine Image spell-mirroring cooldown removed (e.g. queueing a Shadow Word: Death after a Holy Fire will now trigger 2 Searing Lights).
    • Flash Concentration buff duration increased to 20 seconds (was 15 seconds).
    • Measured Contemplation is now cleared upon starting an Arena match.
  • Shadow
    • Painbreaker Psalm generates up to 30 Insanity (was 20) and now functions with Death and Madness (Talent).
    • Painbreaker Psalm will now grant Insanity if Shadow Word: Death kills the target.
    • Shadowflame Rift’s damage has been increased by 40%.
• ROGUE
  • Mark of the Master Assassin now only affects auto-attack and Rogue abilities’ critical strike chance.
  • Tiny Toxic Blade now causes Shiv to deal 500% increased damage (was 350%).
  • Essence of Bloodfang damage increased by 30%.
  • Assassination
    • Doomblade now deals an additional 45% Bleed damage (was 30%).
    • Fixed an issue that was causing Doomblade’s bleed effect to incorrectly be affected by Armor.
    • Duskwalker’s Patch reduces Vendetta’s cooldown for every 30 Energy you expend (was 50 Energy).
  • Outlaw
    • Guile Charm increases your damage dealt by up to 15% (was 10%) and lasts up to 12 seconds (was 10 seconds).
    • Greenskin’s Wickers increases the damage of your next Pistol Shot by 300% (was 200%).
    • Concealed Blunderbuss now has a chance to fire your next Pistol Shot 3 additional times (was 2).
  • Subtlety
    • The Rotten now causes Backstab to deal 50% increased damage (was 30%).
    • Deathly Shadows increases all damage dealt by 20% (was 15%) for 15 seconds (was 12 seconds).
• SHAMAN
  • Elemental
    • Echoes of Great Sundering now causes Earthquake to deal 120% additional damage (was 175%).
  • Enhancement
    • Legacy of the Frost Witch now causes Stormstrike to deal 30% increased damage (was 15%).
    • The debuff from Doom Winds now persists through death.
  • Restoration
    • Jonat’s Natural Focus now increases the next Chain Heal by 20% (was 10%).
    • Spiritwalker’s Tidal Totem now reduces mana cost of Healing Wave and Chain Heal by 40% (was 25%).
• WARLOCK
  • Affliction
    • Malefic Wrath duration increased to 10 seconds (was 8 seconds) and damage per stack increased to 35% (was 25%).
    • Wrath of Consumption duration increased to 30 seconds (was 20 seconds) and periodic damage increased to 6% (was 5%).
    • Wrath of Consumption now properly increases the damage of Scouring Tithe’s (Kyrian) periodic effects.
  • Demonology
    • Implosive Potential’s Haste buff duration increased to 12 seconds (was 8 seconds).
    • Balespider’s Burning Core increases the damage of Demonbolt by 15% per stack (was 8% per stack).
    • Grim Inquisitor’s Dread Calling increased to 4% per stack (was 3% per stack).
  • Destruction
    • Madness of the Azj’aqir duration increased to 4 seconds (was 3 seconds).
    • Embers of the Diabolic Raiment now properly generate 6 Soul Shard Fragments when dealing a critical strike with Incinerate.
• WARRIOR
  • Arms
    • Enduring Blow’s chance to apply the Colossus Smash effect increased to 25% (was 15%) and duration increased to 6 seconds (was 5 seconds).
    • Battlelord now triggers from Overpower (was Slam) and reduces the Rage cost of your next Mortal Strike by 15 Rage (was 12).
    • Exploiter’s Mortal Strike damage bonus increased to 50% (was 25%) and the damage bonus for Venthyr Warriors increased to 36% (was 18%).
  • Fury
    • Cadence of Fujieda duration increased to 12 seconds (was 8 seconds).
    • Will of the Berserker duration increased to 12 seconds (was 8 seconds).
    • Reckless Defense now triggers from all Rampage hits (was Rampage critical strikes) and reduces the remaining cooldown of Recklessness and Enraged Regeneration by 1 second (was 3 seconds).
  • Protection
    • Reprisal has been redesigned – Charge and Intervene grant you Shield Block for 4 seconds, Revenge!, and generates 20 Rage.
    • Unbreakable Will now also grants an additional charge of Shield Wall.
    • Seismic Reverberation damage increased to 75% (was 40%).

You can find the full patch notes here.