Cataclysm Patch 4.1 Changes and Additions 2/27

Patch 4.1 PTR Notes

Video with 4.1 information for those of you too lazy to read.

The Gurubashi Tribe Persists

Originally a 20-player dungeon released in patch 1.7, Zul’Gurub will once again open its gates, featuring updated lore, all-new encounters, achievements, and improved loot! Zul’Gurub is now a level-85 five-player Heroic difficulty dungeon. To provide a new tier above the current Cataclysm dungeons, players can expect to find epic-quality item level 353 loot. The minimum average item level to enter this Heroic dungeon is 346.

The Return of Zul’Aman

Ever a player favorite, the level-70 ten-player dungeon of Zul’Aman is being reintroduced as a level-85 Heroic five-player dungeon. Zul’Aman will join Zul’Gurub in a new Dungeon Finder tier of Heroic dungeons, providing epic-quality item level 353 loot. The minimum average item level to enter this Heroic dungeon is also 346. While Zul’Aman will be more of a throwback to the original dungeon featuring many of the same encounters, players can expect to find some updated gameplay mechanics, as well as new environment textures and lighting.

Warcraft Econ: The return of Zul’Gurub and Zul’Aman are both 5 player heroic dungeons and NOT a new raid tier of content. The epic loot that drops in these instances are ilevel 353. To put that in perspective, current raid level epics are ilevel 359 and heroic gear is 372. There maybe a new raid tier considerting that this seems to be a major content patch. A new orb has been data-mined, [Living Ember]. It is also speculated that this new orb may also be related to the new Legendary caster staff Blizzard plans to add into the game. Living Ember also has no tooltip that says it will be soulbound so it may be very similar to what [Primordial Saronite] was like in Wotlk. Timeless Eye, a quest item, is also hinting at a caster legendary being in patch 4.1 or later.

Another indication of a new raid tier are the ilevel 378 and 391 epic trinkets.

15 New ilevel 378 and 391 trinkets

• Ancient Petrified Seed
• Ancient Petrified Seed Heroic
• Apparatus of Khaz’goroth
• Apparatus of Khaz’goroth Heroic
• Essence of the Eternal Flame
• Essence of the Eternal Flame Heroic
• Eye of Awareness
• Eye of Awareness Heroic
• Fiery Quintessence
• Fiery Quintessence Heroic
• Gift of the Greatfather
• Gift of the Greatfather Heroic
• Hungerer
• Hungerer Heroic
• Jaws of Defeat
• Jaws of Defeat Heroic
• Mark of the Firelord
• Mark of the Firelord Heroic
• Matrix Restabilizer
• Matrix Restabilizer Heroic
• Necromantic Focus
• Necromantic Focus Heroic
• Scales of Life
• Scales of Life Heroic
• Stay of Execution
• Stay of Execution Heroic
• Variable Pulse Lightning Capacitor
• Variable Pulse Lightning Capacitor Heroic
• Vessel of Acceleration
• Vessel of Acceleration Heroic

Guilds

• The Guild Perk, Cash Flow, no longer prints out text to the Chat Log. Instead, the daily amount deposited is shown in the Guild Vault Money Log. In addition, players can view the weekly contribution in a new window at the bottom of the Money Log.
• We have added two new custom guild tabards as Guild Rewards. The tabards are account bound and offer a bonus to gaining guild reputation.

Warcraft Econ: Here is the datamined rare, [Illustrious Guild Tabard] and epic, Renowned Guild Tabard, which rewards +50% / 100% guild reputation respectively.

Blacksmithing

• Blacksmithing: Elementium Earthguard now gives +170 Strength, down from 190. now gives 117 Mastery Rating, down from 127. now gives 117 Hit Rating, down from 127. Now has a Blue Socket (Socket Bonus: +15 Stamina)
• Blacksmithing: Elementium Stormshield now gives +170 Intellect, down from 190. Now gives +122 Spirit, down from 127. Now gives 112 Haste Rating, down from 127. Now has a Red Socket (Socket Bonus: +10 Intellect)

Engineering

• Engineering: Cardboard Assassin can now be used once every minute, down from 5 minutes.
• Engineering: Synapse Springs now increases your highest primary statistic instead of Intellect.

Inscription

• Inscription: Dust of Disappearance now requires 1 Blackfallow Ink, down from 2.

Leatherworking

• Leatherworking: Assassin’s Chestplate now gives +321 Agility, down from 341. Now gives 173 Hit Rating, down from 183. Now gives 243 Critical Strike rating, down from 253. Now has a Red Socket (Socket Bonus: +10 Agility)
• Leatherworking: Belt of Nefarious Whispers now gives +233 Agility, down from 253. Now gives 174 Hit Rating, down from 184. Now gives 134 Mastery Rating, down from 144. Now has a Red Socket (Socket Bonus: +10 Agility)
• Leatherworking: Corded Viper Belt now gives +233 Agility, down from 253. Now gives 159 Critical Strike rating, down from 169. Now gives 159 Mastery rating, down from 169. Now has a Red Socket (Socket Bonus: +10 Agility)
• Leatherworking: Dragonkiller Tunic now gives +231 Agility, down from 341. Now gives 249 Haste rating, down from 259. Now gives 163 Mastery rating, down from 173. Now has a Red Socket (Socket Bonus: +10 Agility)

Warcraft Econ: Nice to see they finally added the sockets that they missed in the current patch. However if there is a new raid tier with new crafted epics, these may lose their appeal a bit. Although probably still profitable for people gearing up alts. It’s amazing what the new dungeon ilevel requirements have done with the sales of rare and epic quality gear on the auction house.