Cataclysm Beta Commences Lore Updates and More

**Jeremiah** · 06-30-2010

The NDA has been lifted, and the Cataclysm beta has begun!
Patch notes can be procured here.

Originally Posted by Blizzard

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT BEGINS CLOSED BETA TEST
FOR WORLD OF WARCRAFT®: CATACLYSM™

IRVINE, Calif. – June 30, 2010 – Blizzard Entertainment announced today that the closed beta test for Cataclysm™, its highly anticipated new expansion for World of Warcraft®, has begun. The company has started issuing invitations to participate in the testing process to a wide range of players from around the world who signed up via their Battle.net® accounts. While enjoying an early look at the game, beta testers will provide valuable feedback to help Blizzard Entertainment find bugs, address balance issues, and polish the new content.

"Our focus with Cataclysm has been to build on the knowledge we've gained through the previous expansions to deliver the best, most compelling World of Warcraft content for our players to date," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "Gathering focused feedback during the beta test will go a long way in helping us reach that goal when we launch Cataclysm later this year."

Cataclysm is the third expansion for World of Warcraft, the most popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game in the world. The first two expansions, The Burning Crusade® and Wrath of the Lich King®, each shattered PC game sales records upon their release. In Cataclysm, the face of Azeroth will be forever altered by the return of the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing. Players will explore once-familiar areas of the world that have now been reshaped by the devastation and filled with new adventures. In an effort to survive the planet-shattering cataclysm, two new playable races -- worgen and goblins -- will join the struggle between the Alliance and the Horde. As players journey to the new level cap of 85, they'll discover newly revealed locations, acquire new levels of power, and come face to face with Deathwing in a battle to determine the fate of the world.

For more information on World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, please visit the official website at World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. To set up a Battle.net account and sign up for a chance to participate in the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm beta test, please visit the official Battle.net website at Welcome to Battle.net.

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft® and the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® series, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (Blizzard Entertainment), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment's track record includes eleven #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's online-gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.

Lore

Along with this announcement, there has been a gigantic lore post by Blizz's Creative Development team, which can be found here.

Excerpts:

Originally Posted by Blizzard Creative Dev Team

Q: How did ethereals get so... ethereal? They seem to act a lot more like a mortal race than other energy beings we meet, such as elementals.
A: K'aresh was an arid planet, home to a thriving ecosystem and several sentient species before the arrival of Dimensius the All-Devouring. How the void lord found K'aresh is still hotly debated among the surviving ethereals, but the effects of his coming were unmistakable: he opened countless gateways into the void and the Twisting Nether around the planet, bathing K'aresh in arcane and dark energies. Using every scrap of its advanced technology, one of the mortal races hastily attempted to construct magical barriers around its cities, but it was only partially successful; although the dark energies were blocked, the unimpeded flood of arcane energy tore away the mortals' corporeal shells and infused their souls with enough energy so that they could subsist without a body… barely. Members of this race, now called ethereals, took to binding themselves with enchanted strips of cloth to provide their souls with enough structure to survive. This altered state proved to be a blessing in disguise, as their enhanced minds and magical abilities allowed the ethereals to fight Dimensius and his limited forces to a standstill. Over the years, however, Dimensius eventually grew powerful enough to summon armies of fellow void creatures, forcing the ethereals to flee into the Twisting Nether.

Hunter

Camouflage (Level 85) - You camouflage, causing you and your Pet to blend into your surroundings. After 3 sec., you will enter a camouflaged state for 1 min, making you untargetable and providing stealth while stationary. While camouflaged, you and your pet's movement speed is reduced by 30%, but the damage done by your next attack is increased by 15%.
You can lay traps while under the effect, but any damage done by you or your pet will cancel the effect. Cannot be cast while in combat. (45 Focus, Instant, 1 min cooldown)
Aspect of the Fox (Level 83) - Increases focus regen by 20%, allows Auto Shot to be cast while moving. (Instant, 1 sec cooldown)
Cobra Shot (Level 81) - Deals weapon damage plus [ 6% of RAP + 950 ] in the form of Nature damage and increases the duration of your Serpent Sting on the target by 3 sec. ( Aspect of the Hawk : Generates 9 Focus. )
5-35 yd range, 1.5 sec cast
Trap Launcher (Level 4 -When used, your next Trap can be launched to a target location within 40 yards.
30 Focus, Instant
Widow Venom (Level 40) - A venemous shot that reduces the effectiveness of any healing taken by 25% for 30 sec. Only one Venom per Hunter can be active on any one target.
30 Focus, 5-35 yd range, Instant

Mage:

Flame Orb (Level 81) - Launches a Flame Orb forward from the Mage's position, dealing 870 damage over 10 sec to nearby targets.
6% of base mana, 20 yd range, 1.5 sec cast / Channeled
Curtain of Frost (Level 83) - Summon a Curtain of Frost for 10 sec. Movement through the curtain by enemies will cause 1000 frost damage and slow movement speed by 50% for 8 sec.
7% of base mana, 20 yd range, Channeled, 30 sec cooldown
Time Warp (Level 85) - Warp the flow of time, increasing melee, ranged, and spell casting speed by 30% for all party and raid members, as well as granting the casting mage 30% increased movement speed. Lasts 40 sec.
Allies receiving this effect will become Sated and be unable to benefit from Bloodlust or Time Warp again for 10 min.
26% of base mana, Instant cast, 5 min cooldown- Let's do the time warp again!

Shaman:

Primal Strike (Level 3) - An instant weapon strike that causes 10 additional damage.
8% of base mana, 5 yd range, Instant cast, 8 sec cooldown
Greater Healing Wave (Level 6 - Heals a friendly target for 34 to 44.
30% of base mana, 40 yd range, 3 sec cast
Bind Elemental (Level 6 - Binds the target hostile elemental for up to 50 sec. The bound unit is unable to move, attack or cast spells. Any damage caused will release the target. Only one target can be bound at a time.
9% of base mana, 30 yd range, 1.5 sec cast
Unleash Elements (Level 81) - Focuses the elemental force imbued in the Shaman's weaponry, with the concentrated effects depending on the enchantment unleashed.
7% of base mana, 30 yd range, Instant cast, 15 sec cooldown
Healing Rain (Level 83) - Calls forth healing rains to blanket the area targeted by the Shaman, restoring 1827 to 2173 health to allies in the area every 2 sec for 10 sec.
46% of base mana, 30 yd range, 2 sec cast, 10 sec cooldown
Spiritwalker's Grace (Level 85) - Calls upon spiritual guidance, permitting movement while casting non-instant Shaman spells. This spell may be cast while casting other spells. Lasts 10 sec.
12% of base mana, Instant cast, 2 min cooldown

Death Knight:

Outbreak (Level 81) - Instantly applies Blood Plague and Frost Fever to the target enemy.
30 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldown
Necrotic Strike (Level 83) - A vicious strike that deals 80% weapon damage and absorbs the next [ 40% of AP ] healing received by the target.
1 Unholy, 5 yd range, Instant
Dark Simulacurum (Level 85) - Places a dark ward on an enemy that persists for 8 sec, siphoning the magical energies from the enemy's next offensive targeted spell and allowing the Death Knight to unleash an exact duplicate of that spell.
40 yd range, Instant, 2 min cooldown

Druid:

Pulverize (Level 1) - No tooltip. Instant
Fury Swipes (Level 5) - No tooltip. 5 yard range. Instant
Skull Bash (Bear Form) (Level 22) - You charge and skull bash the target, interrupting spellcasting and preventing any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec.
1 Rage, 18 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldown
Skull Bash (Cat Form) (Level 22) - You charge and skull bash the target, interrupting spellcasting and preventing any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec.
25 Energy, 18 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldown
Thrash (Bear Form) (Level 81) - Deals 1210 damage, and causes all targets to bleed for 210 every 2 sec for 6 sec.
25 Rage, 18 yd range, Instant, 5 sec cooldown
Stampeding Roar (Bear Form) (Level 85) - The druid roars, increasing all nearby friendly players movement speed within 10 yards by 40% for 6 sec.
15 Rage, Instant, 2 min cooldown
Stampeding Roar (Cat Form) (Level 85) - The druid roars, increasing all nearby friendly players movement speed within 10 yards by 40% for 6 sec.
30 Energy, Instant, 2 min cooldown
Wild Mushrooms (Level 85) - Grow a magical Mushroom with 5 Health at the target location. After 4 sec, the Mushroom will become invisible. When detonated by the Druid or by damage by enemies, the Mushroom will explode dealing 100 to 130 damage to all nearby enemies within 10 yards. Only 5 Mushrooms can be placed at one time. No cooldown. 40 yd range. Instant cast. Use Wild Mushroom - Detonate to detonate all Mushrooms.
11% of base mana, 40 yd range, 0.5 sec cast
Detonate Mushrooms (Level 85) - Detonates all of your Wild Mushrooms, dealing 100 to 130 damage to all nearby targets within 15 yards. Boom.
11% of base mana, 40 yd range, Instant cast

Warlock:

Soulburn (Level 10) - Consumes a Soul Shard, allowing you to use the secondary effects on some of your spells. Lasts for 10 sec.
1 Mana, Instant cast, 30 sec cooldown
Soul Harvest (Level 12) - You seek out nearby wandering souls, gaining 1 soul shard and regenerate 5% of your health every 3 sec for 9 sec. Cannot be cast when in combat.
Channeled, 30 sec cooldown
Fel Flame (Level 81) - Deals 1838 to 2134 Shadowflame damage to an enemy target, refreshing the duration of Immolate or Unstable Affliction on the target.
6% of base mana, 30 yd range, Instant cast
Dark Intent (Not Yet Implemented) (Level 83) - ??? Cannot be cast on self.
6% of base mana, 30 yd range, Instant cast
Demon Soul (Level 85) - You and your summoned demon fuse souls, granting the Warlock a temporary power depending on the demon currently enslaved.
Imp - Critical Strike damage on cast time Destruction spells increased by 60% for 30 sec. Each spell cast benefitting from this effect reduces the bonus by 20% until the bonus expires after 3 casts.
Voidwalker - All threat generated by you transferred to your Voidwalker for 15 sec.
Succubus - Shadow Bolt damage increased by 10% for 20 sec.
Felhunter - Periodic shadow damage increased by 20% for 20 sec.
Felguard - Spell haste increased by 15% and fire and shadow damage done increased by 10% for 20 sec.
1 Mana, 100 yd range, Instant cast, 2 min cooldown

Priest:

Blessed Healing (Level 20) - Heals over 9 sec.
100 yd range, Instant
Mind Spike (Level 81) - Blasts the target for 992 to 1048 Shadowfrost damage, and causes 30% of the damage to be frozen in the target's mind for 12 sec. Mind Blast on the target will instantly trigger any frozen damage up to a maximum of 2182.4 to 2305.6. Triggering this frozen damage causes a high amount of threat.
17% of base mana, 30 yd range, 1.5 sec cast
Leap of Faith (Level 85) - You pull the spirit of the friendly party or raid target to you, instantly moving them directly in front of you.
32% of base mana, 30 yd range, Instant cast, 1.5 min cooldown

Warrior:

No tooltips available, check out the class post here

Rogue:

Recuperate (Level 12) - Finishing move that consumes combo points on any nearby target to restore 3% of maximum health every 3 sec. Lasts longer per combo point:
1 point : 6 seconds
2 points: 12 seconds
3 points: 18 seconds
4 points: 24 seconds
5 points: 30 seconds
30 Energy, 100 yd range, Instant
Redirect (Level 81) - Transfers any existing combo points to the current enemy target.
40 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldown
Combat Readiness (Level 83) - Enter into a state of heightened awareness, deflecting enemy weapon strikes with increasing effectiveness. Successive attacks will deal 10% less damage per application, stacking 5 times. If 6 sec elapse without any incoming weapon strikes, this state will end.
Smoke Bomb (Level 85) - Creates a cloud of thick smoke in a 10 yard radius around the Rogue for 10 sec. Enemies are unable to target into or out of the smoke cloud.
Instant, 3 min cooldown
Instant, 2 min cooldown

**alj03** · 06-30-2010

WTB my invite. :P

**~~AfterMidnight~~** · 06-30-2010

FIRST LVL85 EPIC WEAPON DATAMINED (not by me)
These are made by blacksmithing!

[spoiler]Elementium Poleaxe (Agility 2H)
Binds when equipped
Polearm
Two-Hand
Speed 3.50
1527 - 2836 Damage
(623.3 damage per second)
+341 Agility
+512 Stamina
Durability 120 / 120
Requires Level 85
Item Level 359
Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 228.
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 228.
Cannot be disenchanted
Sell Price: 44g 30s 23c

Elementium Earthguard (Tank Shield)
Binds when equipped
Shield
Off Hand
11896 Armor
+190 Strength
+286 Stamina
Durability 120 / 120
Requires Level 85
Item Level 359
Equip: Increases your shield block rating by 127.
Equip: Improves hit rating by 127.
Cannot be disenchanted
Sell Price: 22g 92s 45c

Elementium Spellblade (Caster 1H)
Binds when equipped
Dagger
Main Hand
Speed 1.40
453 - 841 Damage
(462.1 damage per second)
+146 Intellect
+219 Stamina
Durability 75 / 75
Requires Level 85
Item Level 359
Equip: Improves hit rating by 97.
Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 97.
Cannot be disenchanted

Decapitator's Razor
Binds when equipped
Axe
One-Hand
Speed 2.60
564 - 1047 Damage
(309.8 damage per second)
+147 Stamina
Durability 90 / 90
Requires Level 81
Item Level 316
Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 65.
Equip: Increases attack power by 65.
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 65.

Obsidian Executioner
Binds when equipped
Sword
Two-Hand
Speed 3.50
1023 - 1900 Damage
(417.6 damage per second)
+229 Strength
+343 Stamina
Durability 100 / 100
Requires Level 81
Item Level 316
Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 153.
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 153.
Cannot be disenchanted
Sell Price: 27g 15s 9c

Redsteel Helm (Leveling Plate DPS)
Binds when equipped
Plate
Head
2542 Armor
+268 Strength
+401 Stamina
Durability 70 / 70
Requires Level 83
Item Level 333
Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 178.
Equip: Increases your expertise rating by 178.
Cannot be disenchanted
Sell Price: 10g 71s 1c

Hardened Obsidian Shield (Lvl80<< CATA GREEN)
Binds when equipped
Shield
Off Hand
9174 Armor
251 Block
+108 Strength
+162 Stamina
Durability 85 / 85
Requires Level 80
Item Level 298
Equip: Increases your parry rating by 72.
Equip: Increases your expertise rating by 72.
Cannot be disenchanted
Sell Price: 11g 32s 88c

Stormforged Belt (Healadin belt)
Binds when equipped
Plate
Waist
1642 Armor
+170 Intellect
+113 Spirit
+255 Stamina
Durability 40 / 40
Requires Level 81
Item Level 316
Equip: Improves haste rating by 113.[/spoiler]
Wow, I thought I'd post a few nice ones for you but there's just too much to display.

There's a certain website known for doing this (aside mmowned), but it's censored here.
Most know who I speak of though, so head over there!