The War Within: Third Demon Hunter spec in patch 11.2 – Tease or real preview?
Is Blizzard teasing Void Demon Hunters in patch 11.2? Fans think a new spec is hidden in plain sight during the K’aresh raid preview.
Table of Contents
Key takeaways
- A third Demon Hunter potential teaser appears in 11.2 raid preview: Unlike Havoc or Vengeance, this one uses Void-themed visuals, sparking speculation of a new spec.
- Blizzard may follow the Augmentation model: Augmentation Evoker was teased in a raid before its reveal—Void Demon Hunters might follow the same pattern in The War Within.
- Void spec could open the door for new races: A Void-based spec could finally justify adding Void Elves and more to the Demon Hunter class, expanding the Illidari’s identity.
In today’s WoWCast episode previewing The War Within patch 11.2: Ghosts of K’aresh, Blizzard dropped what might be the biggest hint yet at a brand-new specialization for Demon Hunters. While discussing the upcoming raid Manaforge Omega, Lead Encounter Designer Drew De Sousa revealed a boss fight featuring a “mysterious council of Demon Hunters who have found their way onto K’aresh.”
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Don’t forget to check our The War Within Season 3 Ghosts of K’aresh content hub!
The War Within Void Demon Hunter teaser
In the footage shown during the episode, three Demon Hunters are seen facing off against the player. On the left, a familiar Havoc-themed fighter wielding agile warglaives and donning the light, chaotic look of Fel magic. On the right, a Vengeance-style bruiser with heavier armor and the distinctive curved glaives. But it’s the middle figure that has the WoW community buzzing.
The third Demon Hunter stands apart—wielding glaives crackling with Void energy, a hooded visage resembling Ethereal fashion, and a color palette far removed from the traditional greens and reds of Fel. Though still clearly a Demon Hunter in form, this character appears to be channeling the Void—an energy previously unseen in Illidari ranks. This alone made many players speculate that this is the teaser for Void Demon Hunters in The War Within.
Blizzard confirmation and other clues
While Blizzard has not officially confirmed a third spec for Demon Hunters in The War Within Season 3, several compelling hints suggest that a Void Demon Hunter could be arriving in Patch 11.2. One particularly intriguing clue is the appearance of a new encounter featuring three Demon Hunters—an encounter that is, notably, marked as optional. This curious detail has sparked speculation within the community about what it might foreshadow.
Raid Bosses
- Plexus Sentinel
- Loom’ithar
- Soulbinder Naazindhri
- Forgeweaver Araz
- The Soul Hunters (optional encounter)
- Fractillus
- Nexus-King Salhadaar
- Dimensius, the All-Devouring
— Linxy, Community Manager
The optional nature of the encounter may be tied to the unique conditions surrounding the Soul Hunters boss. Notably, this boss does not appear to be available to all raiders, as hinted by the Hall of Fame: Dimensius, the All-Devouring achievement—which only accounts for eight encounters, rather than the full raid roster. This has led to speculation that the fight might only be accessible when a Demon Hunter is present in the group. Alternatively, the encounter could be part of a special questline, possibly exclusive to Demon Hunters, potentially linked to unlocking a new specialization.
Another compelling hint pointing toward a possible third Demon Hunter specialization comes from datamined files in Patch 11.2. Dataminers uncovered a newly recolored icon for Metamorphosis, one of the Demon Hunter’s most iconic and defining abilities.
interface/icons/inv_112_ability_demonhunter_metamorphasisvoid.blpThe main giveaway is that Blizzard doesn’t title boss abilities like this. For example, a Gallywix ability is marked as:
spells/11fx_undermineraid_gallywix_scatterblastcanisters_precast02_2178589.blpThird spec Demon Hunter abilities
Besides Metamorphosis ability for new Demon Hunter spec, we can speculate that Void spec will feature some of the Adarus abilities. His mechanics are heavily themed around consumption, corruption, and spatial manipulation—making them ideal design inspiration for a possible third Void-based Demon Hunter specialization.
Some of Adarus’s signature abilities that could shape the core of this spec include:
- Devourer’s Ire: Hurls void orbs at players. If intercepted, marks the player and increases their damage taken. Explodes on expiration, transferring to another.
- Consume: Drains marked players, dealing damage and reducing healing received. Applies Unending Hunger debuff.
- Hungering Slash: Tears the void around him, damaging nearby players and creating dangerous void zones.
- Encroaching Oblivion: A growing void pool that deals heavy ticking damage and increases damage taken. Can be absorbed by players with Devourer’s Ire.
Another inspiration we have for Void spec in Void Elf racial ability:
- Spatial Rift: Tear open a rift in space-time and teleport to the targeted location. Can be reactivated within a short window. 30-yard range. 2–3 min cooldown.
Note
This is purely speculation, as Blizzard has not officially confirmed that a third Demon Hunter specialization is coming in Patch 11.2.
Patch 11.2 potential new spec
Augmentation Evoker was introduced in alignment with story beats from Embers of Neltharion, with abilities visually and thematically tied to the Black and Bronze Dragonflights. Notably, even the final raid boss, Sarkareth, demonstrated mechanics that mirrored Augmentation’s gameplay, including the infamous Ebon Might buff. Later we received Augmentation Evoker in patch 10.1.5.
Now, as Midnight steers the narrative deeper into Void lore, a new melee spec inspired by the void could fill a long-missing niche. Shadow Priests provide a ranged Void option, but there’s no melee equivalent—no “Void Paladin” or frontline counterpart to balance the fantasy.
A Void Demon Hunter could be that answer.
Expanding the Illidari
Such a specialization could also justify long-requested race expansions for Demon Hunters. Void Elves, for instance, already share animation rigs compatible with Demon Hunter abilities and could seamlessly fit a Void-themed variant of the class. Lore-wise, Illidan’s story of embracing any power necessary to combat darkness fits well with the weaponization of the Void.
And besides that, Demon Hunters still only have two specs since Legion—while Evokers got a third in their very first expansion. Mechanically, a Void spec could introduce Insanity-style resource gameplay, akin to Shadow Priests, further separating its playstyle from Havoc’s fast-paced chaos and Vengeance’s tanky utility.
While Blizzard has not officially confirmed anything related to Void Demon Hunters in The War Within on WoWCast, the deliberate placement of a clearly distinct third Demon Hunter in a raid fight already themed around duality and power sources seems unlikely to be random.
That’s a wrap for our article. Have a great week—and happy grinding out there!
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