WoW Shadowlands patch 9.2.5: Cross-faction instances, tank buffs & Sepulcher nerfs

World of Warcraft Shadowlands’ highly anticipated patch 9.2.5 is set to make WoW history with its cross-faction instances and all-new Blood Elf and Dark Iron Dwarf quests. Here’s everything you need to know about the update; from its potential release date to all of the changes we can expect to see.

As the curtain closes on a turbulent WoW Shadowlands run, Blizzard is hoping to breathe new life into the divisive expansion with patch 9.2.5.

Adding the much-anticipated cross-faction instance system, as well as all-new cosmetics for Blood Elf and Dark Iron Dwarfs, the patch is set to shake up the very fabric of World of Warcraft.

So, without further ado, here are the full patch notes for WoW Shadowlands 9.2.5, as well as a rundown of the most important features to date. Note, though, that these are based on the PTR, and will likely change before the update is pushed live.

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Contents

• Release date
• Cross-faction instances
• Blood Elf & Dark Iron Dwarf quests
• WoW Shadowlands patch 9.2.5: Full notes

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WoW Shadowlands patch 9.2.5 Release date

World of Warcraft Shadowlands patch 9.2.5 released on May 31 in North America and June 1 in EU.

WoW Shadowlands patch 9.2.5: Cross-faction instances

Since the dawn of time, many of Azeroth’s denizens have been hoping for a cross-faction raid system that allows the Alliance and Horde to join forces and take on dungeons and raids together. While previously this was somewhat a taboo subject, Blizzard will be implementing cross-faction play coming into 9.2.5.

• Read More: Is World of Warcraft down? WoW Server status & maintenance monitoring

This means that if your friends are Alliance and you are Horde, you’ll be able to invite them to most raids and dungeons using their Battletag or Real ID. Premade Groups in the Group Finder listings for Mythic dungeons, raids, or rated arena/RBGs will also be open to players of both factions, but party leaders can restrict these to be same-faction if they like.

Note that Guilds, Heroic dungeons, Skirmishes, and Random Battlegrounds all remain same-faction, and some older instances will also remain same-faction – including the Darkmaul Citadel, the Exile’s Reach starting zone’s dungeon.

New Blood Elf & Dark Iron Dwarf quests

For those playing Blood Elf or Dark Iron Dwarf, some new quests (and, more importantly, cosmetics) will be arriving in patch 9.2.5.

New mount and weapon appearances are available for both races, with Blood Elf Paladins also getting a new armor set.

WoW Shadowlands patch 9.2.5: Full notes

Below are the patch notes for WoW Shadowlands’ 9.2.5 update courtesy of Blizzard.

CLASSES

• All classes now generate more threat when in a tank specialization.
• DEATH KNIGHT
  • Fixed an issue that caused Bone Shields consumed by Tombstone (Talent) to not reduce the cooldown of Blood Tap by the correct amount.
• HUNTER
  • BEAST MASTERY
    • All damage abilities and pet damage increased by 4%.
    • Beast Cleave now causes your pet to strike other targets for 100% of your pet’s damage (was 90%).
• MAGE
  • ARCANE
    • Arcane Missiles damage increased by 8%.
    • Arcane Blast damage increased by 10%.
    • Clearcasting can no longer be dispelled.
• MONK
  • WINDWALKER
    • Rising Sun Kick damage increased by 20%. This change does not apply to PvP.
    • Fists of Fury damage to primary target increased by 20%. This change does not apply to PvP.
    • Blackout Kick damage increased by 20%. This change does not apply to PvP.
    • Tiger Palm damage increased by 20%. This change does not apply to PvP.
    • Fist of the White Tiger (Talent) damage increased by 20%. This change does not apply to PvP.
• ROGUE
  • OUTLAW
    • Between the Eyes damage increased by 20%. This change does not apply to PvP.
    • Pistol Shot damage increased by 20%. This change does not apply to PvP.
    • Sinister Strike damage increased by 20%. This change does not apply to PvP.
    • Blade Flurry damage increased to 60% of single target damage (was 50%). This change does not apply to PvP.
• WARLOCK
  • Fixed an issue that caused Scouring Tithe (Kyrian Ability) to grant both the death and survive effects when used against certain enemies.
  • DESTRUCTION
    • (2) Set Bonus: Ritual of Ruin now lasts 30 seconds (was unlimited).
• WARRIOR
  • ARMS
    • Mortal Strike damage increased by 10%. This change does not apply to PvP.
    • Overpower damage increased by 10%. This change does not apply to PvP.
    • Execute and Condemn damage increased by 15%. This change does not apply to PvP.
  • PROTECTION
    • Execute and Condemn damage increased by 15%. This change does not apply to PvP.

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CROSS-FACTION INSTANCES

• Players are now able to directly invite members of the opposite faction to a party if you have a BattleTag or Real ID friendship, or if you are members of a cross-faction WoW Community.
• Premade Groups in the Group Finder listings for Mythic dungeons, raids, or rated arena/RBGs are now open to applicants of both factions, though the group leader may choose to restrict the listing to same-faction applicants if they so choose.
• WoW Communities now have the option to be cross-faction, while Guilds will remain single-faction.
• Random matchmade activities like Heroic dungeons, Skirmishes, or Random Battlegrounds will all remain same-faction. [LEARN MORE]
• The following instances are not cross-faction:
  • Trial of the Champion
  • Trial of the Crusader
  • Vault of Archavon
  • Icecrown Citadel
  • Baradin Hold
  • Siege of Boralus
  • Battle of Dazar’alor
  • Darkmaul Citadel (Exile’s Reach dungeon)

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DUNGEONS AND RAIDS

• SEPULCHER OF THE FIRST ONES
  • Cross-Realm raiding is now available on Mythic difficulty.
  • ARTIFICER XY’MOX
    • Decipher Relic cast time increased to 30 seconds on Mythic difficulty (was 25 seconds).
  • PROTOTYPE PANTHEON
    • Imprinted Safeguards reduce damage and healing taken by 35% on Mythic difficulty (was 50%).
  • LIHUVIM, PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT
    • Lihuvim’s health reduced by 10% on all difficulties.
    • Protoform Schematics health reduced by 10% on all difficulties.
  • HALONDRUS THE RECLAIMER
    • Ephemeral Eruption initial damage reduced significantly on Mythic difficulty.
    • Lightshatter Beam increases the damage taken from Lightshatter Beam by 300% on Heroic difficulty (was 500%).
  • ANDUIN WRYNN
    • Anduin Wrynn’s health reduced by 5% on all difficulties.
    • Monstrous Souls health reduced by 5% on all difficulties.
    • Anduin’s Despair health reduced by 10% on all difficulties.
    • Anduin’s Hope movement speed reduced on Heroic and Mythic difficulty.
    • Remorseless Winter damage reduced by 10% on all difficulties.
    • Hopebreaker damage over time reduced by 15% on all difficulties.
    • Fiendish Soul’s Necrotic Claws cooldown increased by 50% on all difficulties.
  • LORDS OF DREAD
    • Mal’Ganis and Kin’tessa health reduced by 5% on all difficulties.
    • Swarm of Decay and Swarm of Darkness damage reduced by 7.5% on all difficulties.
    • Ravenous Hunger now heals the Inchoate Shadow for 13% on Mythic difficulty (was 10%).
    • Cloud of Carrion no longer disorients when jumping between players on Heroic and Mythic difficulty.
    • Infiltration of Dread duration increased by 10 seconds on Heroic and Mythic difficulty.
  • RYGELON
    • Collapsing Quasar Field duration increased by 50% on Mythic difficulty.
  • THE JAILER
    • Rune of Compulsion’s absorb reduced by 33% on Normal and Heroic difficulty, and 10% on Mythic difficulty.
    • Misery no longer knocksback on Raid Finder, Normal, and Heroic difficulty.
    • Decimator no longer knocksback on Raid Finder and Normal difficulty.
    • Diverted Life Shield no longer heals on Mythic difficulty.
    • World Crusher produces 2 less Bloods of Azeroth on Mythic difficulty.
    • World Shatterer produces 1 less Blood of Azeroth on Mythic difficulty.
    • Phase 4 is now triggered at 15% Health on Mythic difficulty.
• MYTHIC+
  • With Cross-Faction Instances becoming available, the Cryptic Hero: Shadowlands Season 3 achievement now requires a Mythic+ Rating in the top 0.1% of all players in your region.

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ITEMS AND REWARDS

• Broker Mark of Distinction now increases the Renown of your currently active Covenant to 60 (was 40).
• Renown catch-up is accelerated through Renown 60 (was 48).
• These activities will now have a 100% chance to reward 1 Renown upon completion:
  • Mythic and Mythic+ dungeons
  • Torghast Layers 9-16
  • Defeating a Shadowlands raid boss encounter
  • Winning a Rated Battleground
• New “Sounds of Healing” quest added to unlock weapons as possible rewards from Zereth Mortis content. This quest can be picked up by defeating enemies in Zereth Mortis.
• Reward boxes from Callings now contain twice as many Grateful Offerings, still scaling with your covenant sanctum’s Anima Conductor level.
• The Zereth Mortis weekly quest “Patterns Within Patterns” now awards Grateful Offerings.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused Blizzard Shop transmog cosmetics to temporarily disappear from your collection.
• Fixed an issue where Jingles battle pet would display as “Unknown” when summoned and its wreath and candy cane accessories were the incorrect size in the Pet Journal.

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PLAYER VERSUS PLAYER

• NEW ARENA: ENIGMA CRUCIBLE
• SOLO SHUFFLE BRAWL
  • The minimum item level combatants will be scaled up to has been raised to 252 (was 239).
  • Fixed an issue that caused some abilities to not be removed from players in between rounds.
  • Fixed an issue that caused a round to not reset properly if a player on each side of the brawl died at the same time.
• Gladiator’s Distinction (PvP set) bonus Stamina increased to 500 (was 350).
• Cosmic Gladiator’s Echoing Resolve no longer triggers from or provides immunity to interrupt effects. The tooltip for this will be updated in a future patch.
• DEATH KNIGHT
  • Anti-Magic Zone’s spell damage reduction increased to 50% (was 20%) in PvP combat.
  • Dome of Ancient Shadow (PvP Talent) has been removed.
• MAGE
  • Gift of the Lich (Necrolord Conduit) duration reduced by 33% in PvP combat.
• MONK
  • MISTWEAVER
    • Reduced cooldown on Zen Focus Tea (PvP Talent) to 30 seconds (was 45).
• PRIEST
  • DISCIPLINE
    • Blaze of Light (PvP Talent) increases damage to Smite and Penance by 30% (was 15%).
    • Power Word: Shield absorb amount increased by 10% in PvP combat.
    • Fixed an issue that reduced the value of Power Word: Shield critical strikes in PvP combat.
  • SHADOW
    • Power Word: Shield absorb amount increased by 10% in PvP combat.
    • Fixed an issue that reduced the value of Power Word: Shield critical strikes in PvP combat.
• ROGUE
  • Recuperator (Conduit) healing reduced by 50% in PvP combat.
  • OUTLAW
    • Enduring Brawler (PvP Talent) stacks up to 15 times (was 20).
• SHAMAN
  • Healing Stream Totem’s healing increased by 20% in PvP combat.
  • ELEMENTAL
    • Raging Vesper Vortex (Kyrian Runecarving Power) damage reduced by 33% in PvP combat.
    • Earth Shock damage is no longer reduced by 10% in PvP combat.
  • ENHANCEMENT
    • Chain Harvest (Venthyr Ability) damage and healing reduced by 15% in PvP combat.
  • RESTORATION
    • Earthen Wall Totem (Talent) absorb is no longer reduced by 30% while in PvP combat.
• WARLOCK
  • Demonic Embrace now increases your Stamina by 20% (was 10%) in PvP combat.
  • Demon Armor (PvP Talent) has been removed.
  • AFFLICTION
    • New PvP Talent: Shadowfall – Gain the Nightfall talent with 100% increased chance to gain its effect. If you already have this talent, you may select another in the same row.
  • DEMONOLOGY
    • Felguard’s Legion Strike now reduces effectiveness of healing on the target by 25% in PvP combat (was 10%).
  • ​​DESTRUCTION
    • ​(4) Set Bonus: Summoning a Blasphemy no longer stuns enemies in PvP combat.
• WARRIOR
  • FURY
    • Depths of Insanity (Conduit) effectiveness reduced by 50% in PvP combat.
    • Battle Trance (PvP Talent) now generates 3 rage (was 5) every 3 seconds for 18 seconds after using Raging Blow twice in a row on a target.

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PROFESSIONS

• Increased the experience points earned when crafting Specialized Armor and Jewelry for creating Runecarving items by 400%.

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QUESTS

• Meet with Calia Menethil (Horde) and Genn Graymane (Alliance) in Oribos to embark on a journey to help the Forsaken reclaim their home.
• Blood Elves can start a quest to earn a new mount, weapon appearance, and the Blood Knight armor set for Blood Elf Paladins by speaking to Liadrin in Oribos. Requirements: Level 60 and Exalted with Silvermoon.
• Dark Iron Dwarves can start a quest to earn a new mount and weapon appearances by speaking to Anvil-Thane Thurgaden in Shadowforge City, Blackrock Depths (accessed via Mole Machine). Requirements: Level 50 and “Heritage o’ the Dark Iron” completed.

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TORGHAST, TOWER OF THE DAMNED

• All wings are now open (was 2 wings available per week).
• Layers 1–8 are now unlocked by default.
• Layers 9–12 now unlock after completing Layer 8.
• Layers 13–16 now unlock after completing the previous Layer.

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USER INTERFACE AND ACCESSIBILITY

• All search filter dropdowns now have a button that lets you easily remove all active filters.
• The default hand cursor now has new, higher resolution art for its larger sizes under Interface Options → Accessibility.
• The Report Player pane has been redesigned, with new categories added.