New Shaman Ascendance forms revealed: Yes, fans already hate them
Recently, Blizzard revealed new Shaman Ascendance forms, which the community already seems to dislike.
Key Takeaways
- Blizzard introduces new Ascendance forms for Shaman specializations.
- Some players make pop culture references, while others express dislike for the new forms.
- Not all feedback is negative, as some players see the new forms as an improvement.
- Update: Blizzard revamped Ascendance based on community feedback.
- Update: Players can choose between the old and updated models using new glyphs.
- Update: The new models wear helmets and have subtle differences between male and female versions.
Update
After mostly negative feedback from the community, Blizzard released a revamped version of Ascendance that combines elements from both the old and new models. The developers also added two new glyphs, allowing you to choose between the original model or the updated one. Below, you can see the latest reworked models, shaped by community feedback:
While the models still resemble the previous cringy version, they now wear helmets instead of having large elemental hair. There are also subtle differences between the male and female models:
As for the glyphs, if you don’t like the updated models, Blizzard offers two options: Glyph of Energetic Ascendance and Glyph of Traditional Ascendance. The first gives your Ascendance form a more energetic and powerful look, while the second brings back the classic, traditional appearance:
Although the models mentioned above have a little humanoid look, it’s nice that the developers listened to both fans of the old quirky models and those who wanted something new. Hopefully, Blizzard will keep this approach in future updates!
Original post
As part of World of Warcraft’s 20th Anniversary, the developers have finally introduced a highly awaited update: each Shaman specialization gets a new Ascendance form. Restoration Shamans will have a Water-themed form, Elemental Shamans a Fire-themed form, and Enhancement Shamans a Wind-themed form.
These new Ascendance models were later discovered by Wowhead in the first public build of Patch 11.0.5 on the PTR. As a result, you can now view them from different angles and notice details like haze, lightning, or sparks, similar to those that come from flames.
At first glance, the changes seem fresh and appealing, highlighting the uniqueness of each specialization and its elements.
However, there’s a noticeable difference between the old version (shown above) and the new ones. As expected, this has divided the community, leading to mixed reactions from players.
Community opinion
Blizzard’s recent announcement about a long-requested change has sparked a lot of discussion, with players reacting in various ways, including jokes and memes. Many are making pop culture references, especially to Dr. Emmett Brown from Back to the Future and Syndrome from The Incredibles.
However, not everyone is joking around. Some players are expressing their dislike more negatively, comparing the new forms to “ugly, generic Fortnite skins,” treating the announcement like an early April Fools’ joke, and saying that the new designs should have resembled Dathea, Ascended from the Vault of the Incarnates raid.
Others, while more polite, suggested alternatives, such as adding customization options at barbershops, similar to what Warlocks and Druids have. Despite the criticism, not all feedback has been negative. Some players like the new look or see it as an improvement, though these opinions seem less common.
It’s clear that pleasing everyone is tough, but that’s okay. It’s also great that Blizzard is finally giving attention to Shamans after a long time of neglect, which is a step in the right direction. However, it would be even better if the developers gathered more player feedback as they did for Dragonflight Season 4 tier set designs. With time before WoW’s 20th Anniversary release, the developers could use community feedback to find a middle ground, such as adding a glyph that lets players change their Ascendance forms, which could keep both sides happy.
What are your thoughts on the new Ascendance forms? Would you keep them as they are or make any changes if you could? Let us know in the comments!
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