World of Warcraft’stenth expansion, The War Within, is slated to be released in the summer of 2024. With it, a novel addition to class mechanics, called Hero Talents, will be available to the adventurers of Azeroth. These Hero Talents are flavorful and combat-enhancing supplements to each class, on top of the tried and true Class Specializations.
With The War Within’s beta being open to anyone who has pre-ordered the expansion, Hero Talents are free to test out and play around with. With each one being fully functional and solid in identity, it is the perfect time to discover them and plan your builds for when your heroes travel to Khaz Algar.
What Hero Talents Are
Hero Talents are accessed through the talent interface, where you choose your Class and Specialization talents.Each Class Specialization has a choice of two Hero Talent Specializations, with each Hero Talent being shared by two Class Specializations.
Hero Talent Specializationscan be changed as easily as Class Specializations, and are viewed in-between the Class talent tree and the Specialization talent tree.
By the time you reach the maximum level of 80 in The War Within, you will have every talent in your Hero Talent tree unlocked.
Death Knight Hero Talents
As a Class with three Specializations,Death Knightshave access to three Hero Talent Specializations:Deathbringer, Rider of the Apocalypse, and San’layn.
Deathbringer
Reminiscent of some of the Lich King’s most dangerous commanders, Deathbringer is the Hero Talentavailable to Blood and Frost Death Knights.
The ability at its core is Reaper’s Mark, whichreleases anonslaught of shadowfrost damageinto a Death Knight’s arsenal. This ability excels at empowering other Frost and Blood abilities, and proliferating itself through them and bursting at its own end.
Rider Of The Apocalypse
Available to Frost and Unholy Death Knights, the Rider of the Apocalypse Hero Talent revolves aroundcalling in the Four Horsemen of the Ebon Bladeto aid you in battle.
Calling the Four Horsemen (Sally Whitemane, Nazgrim, Thoras Trollbane, and Darion Mograine) into battle is caused by procs from a Death Knight’s other abilities. Additionally, this Hero Talent has options that empower your class mount, the Acherus Deathcharger, allowing you to mount it during combat.
San’layn
Bearing the namesake of the vampiric undead elven followers of the Lich King, the San’layn Hero Talent isavailable to Blood and Unholy Death Knights.
Death Knights who choose to follow this path will be able to focus ondraining the life-force of their enemiesto either empower themselves, or turn it against their foes. This Hero Talent’s skills include health-draining Vampiric Strikes and exploding Blood Beasts.
Demon Hunter Hero Talents
Due to theDemon HunterClass only having two Specializations, it also only has two Hero Talents. These areAldrachi Reaver and Fel-Scarred.
Both Demon Hunter Hero Talents are available to both Demon Hunter Class Specializations; Havoc and Vengeance.
Aldrachi Reaver
Aldrachi Reaver, a Hero Talent named after an alien race of warriors who fell while courageously fighting the demons of the Burning Legion, focuses on a Demon Hunter’smastery of their famed weapons; warglaives.
The core of Aldrachi Reaver is to consume soul fragments in order to activate the Reaver’s Glaive ability, which provides enhancements to other Demon Hunter abilities while active.
Fel-Scarred
The Fel-Scarred Hero Talent is tied to thedemonic and fiery aspectsof Demon Hunters.
It is centered around passive abilities that enhance the powers granted to Demon Hunters by the demon souls they have consumed, being their metamorphosis and fel-fire related skills. Abilities that are affected by Fel-Scarred enhancements include Immolation Aura and Eye Beam.
Druid Hero Talents
As the only Class with four Specializations,Druidis also the only class to have four Hero Talents. These are:Druid of the Claw, Elune’s Chosen, Keeper of the Grove, and Wildstalker.
Druid Of The Claw
Druid of the Claw is the Hero Talentavailable to the Feral and GuardianClass Specializations.
With both of these Specializations requiring a Druid to be in one of their beast forms during combat, Druid of the Claw empowers both of these forms;Bear Form and Cat Form. On top of enhancing the abilities of both forms, it also improves the viability of shifting between the two during a fight.
Elune’s Chosen
Relating to a Druid’s connection to astral magics, Elune’s Chosen is a Hero Talentavailable to Balance and Guardian Druidsthatempowers their lunar abilities.
As the moon goddess Elune has lent her power to many Druids over the years, to be chosen by her now involves a renewed dedication to your lunar-themed spells. By choosing this Hero Talent, a Druid’s astral arcane spells involving the moon and stars will be greatly enhanced, as well as giving a Druid’s Bear and Moonkin Forms increased resistance to magics of all kinds.
Keeper Of The Grove
The Keeper of the Grove Hero Talent relates to the powers of the eponymous keepers and dryad sisters, and isavailable to Balance and Restoration Druids.
This Hero Talent improves a Druid’s connection to the Emerald Dream. Because of this, a Druid that embarks upon this path will have their healing and eclipse spells empowered by the Dream, and their treants summoned by the Force of Nature spell will also be greatly empowered.
Additionally, thesynergy of a Druid and their treantsis expanded and improved upon.
Wildstalker
Wildstalker is the Hero Talentavailable to Feral and Restoration Druids. It is for the Druids who thrive deep in the wilds, working with nature to heal and hunt.
This Hero Talent causes a Druid’s abilities and spells to call forth plants to aid them in battle, these being thedangerous Bloodseeker Vines and the restorative Symbiotic Blooms. The proliferation of these plants causes these abilities and spells to have extra effects, and being a Wildstalker also increases the effectiveness of healing on a Druid who becomes one.
Evokershave access to three Hero Talents:Chronowarden, Flameshaper, and Scalecommander.
Chronowarden
OnlyAugmentation and Preservation Evokerscan choose the Chronowarden Hero Talent.
An Evoker who becomes a Chronowarden’s magic becomes even moreinfused with the time magic of the bronze dragonflight. Their spells receive additional effects that amplify (or repeat) the power and healing of them, and even apply extra buffs.
Flameshaper
Flameshaper is a Hero Talent dedicated to themastery of the fiery powers of the red and green dragonflights. Therefore, this Hero Talent isavailable to Devastation and Preservation Evokers.
The core ability of Flameshaper is Engulf. Engulf can both heal and harm, depending on the target of the Evoker using it, and is empowered by any periodic effects.
It also can enhance the subsequent power of the other breath abilities in an Evoker’s arsenal, and being a Flameshaper even improves the flight and hover abilities of an Evoker.
Scalecommander
In dracthyr culture, Scalecommanders are the leaders of their weyrns, in war and in peace. They are master tacticians who excel at inspiring their troops and devastating their opponents. As a Hero Talent, Scalecommander isavailable to Augmentation and Devastation Evokers.
The Scalecommander Hero Talentfocuses on the earthen magic of the black dragonflight, and uses it to cause volcanic Bombardments and Mass Disintegrations to destroy their enemies. Being a Scalecommander also provides an Evoker with greater maneuverability on the battlefield.
Hunter Hero Talents
There are three Hero Talents available toHunters. They areDark Ranger, Pack Leader, and Sentinel.
Dark Ranger
Named after and harnessing the power of the Forsaken’s Dark Rangers, this Hero Talent isavailable to Beast Mastery and Marksmanship Hunters.
While Hunters are widely known to be able to tap in to a bit of nature magic, Dark Ranger lets Hunters tap into a bit of shadow magic as well. This Hero Talent causes a Hunter and their pets' abilities tocause shadow damage, and Dark Ranger’s signature ability (Black Arrow) has significant synergy with this dark power.
Pack Leader
Available to Beast Mastery and Survival Hunters, the Pack Leader Hero Talent is for Hunters who are masters of their aspect abilities, and whowork in perfect harmony with their pets.
Pack Leader grants increased power to Hunters and pets alike. Abilities like Kill Command and Aspect of the Turtle are greatly enhanced, as are area of effect abilities and the basic attacks of pets.
Additionally, Hunters who choose this path will never be alone, having the ability to temporarily call forth more of their stabled beasts, and being able to truly fight in complete unison with their pets for greater power.
Sentinel
The Sentinel Hero Talent isavailable to Marksmanship and Survival Hunters. This path allows Hunters to fight like the night elven Sentinels,calling upon the power of natureto aid them even more.
The signature mechanic of this Hero Talent is the passive Sentinel ability, which is applied through a Hunter’s other abilities, and enhances them. Sentinel also damages enemies on its own, dealing arcane damage to a Hunter’s foes.
This Hero Talent even allows Hunters to call upon mystical astral owls to rain down arcane damage through Lunar Storms upon their quarry.
Mage Hero Talents
With access to three Class Specializations,Magesalso have access to three Hero Talents. These areFrostfire, Spellslinger, and Sunfury.
Frostfire
Frostfire is the Hero Talentavailable to Fire and Frost Mages. It is suitably tied to thefusion of the frost and fire magic schools.
On top of the eponymous Frostfire Bolt spell this Hero Talent brings to Mages, it also weaves in the passive effects of Fire Mastery, Frost Mastery, and Frostfire Mastery. These masteries empower the elemental spells that Frost and Fire Mages rely on, with Frostfire Mastery providing boons to the spells of both schools.
Spellslinger
Available to Arcane and Frost Mages, the Spellslinger Hero Talent revolves around the volatile nature of a Mage’s magic, and the crystalline shards it produces.
The core of this Hero Talent is theArcane Splinter and Frost Splintercrystals that a Mage who takes this path learns to wield. These splinters are conjured and sent forth from a Mage’s frost and arcane spells, and deal damage while embedding themselves in the Mage’s foes.
The embedded shards can be shattered, causing massive damage, and the Mage’s mastery over these forces can also increase the effectiveness of their magic barriers and Mirror Images.
Sunfury
Arcane and Fire Magesboth have access to the Sunfury Hero Talent. Named after the loyal followers of the blood elves' late Prince Kael’thas Sunstrider, this Hero Talent epitomizes the power that the prince and his most elite blood mages devoted themselves to.
Sunfury allows Mages who learn its ways to bring forthSpellfire Spheres and Arcane Phoenixes. These new mechanics increase the potency of a Mage’s fire and arcane spells, and bring their own power to bear on the battlefield.
Monk Hero Talents
Monkshave access to three Hero Talents:Conduit of the Celestials, Master of Harmony, and Shado-Pan.
Conduit Of The Celestials
Conduit of the Celestials is the Hero Talent thatMistweaver and Windwalker Monkshave access to. This Hero Talentinvokes the August Celestials(Chi-Ji, Niuzao, Xuen, and Yu’lon) to empower Monks who learn it.
Channeling the Celestial Conduit ability this Hero Talent grants Monks will not only allow a Monk using it to channel the powers of the August Celestials, but it also increases said Monk’s attack power on top of radiating nature damage and healing.
When an August Celestial is invoked, a Monk’s other abilities are enhanced upon their next use as well.
Master Of Harmony
Brewmaster and Mistweaver Monkshave access to the Master of Harmony Hero Talent. Monks who will choose to follow this path must be adept in the spiritual aspects of their Class, using their chi to sustain themselves and their allies.
This Hero Talent is focused on the balance of a Monk’s healing nature magic and their chi-infused physical abilities. Aspect of Harmony is the core mechanic, which collectsVitality through a Monk’s damage and healing, and releases it to aid themselves and their allies.
Shado-Pan
This Hero Talent will let your Monk take their place among the revered defenders of Pandaria, the eponymous Shado-Pan.Available to Brewmaster and Windwalker Monks, Shado-Pan is for those martial artists who have fully dedicated themselves to the art.
Shado-Pan will let Monksunleash Flurry Strikesupon their foes, weaving a massive amount of damage into their combat rotation. Additionally, a Shado-Pan Monk’s martial abilities and deftness in combat are empowered and enhanced.
Paladin Hero Talents
With three Class Specializations,Paladinshave three Hero Talents. They areHerald of the Sun, Lightsmith, and Templar.
Herald Of The Sun
Herald of the Sun is the Hero Talentavailable to Holy and Retribution Paladins. Evoking the powers of the Light through the sun, this Hero Talent is perfect for Paladins like the tauren Sunwalkers or those who follow in their hoofsteps.
Dawnlights are this Hero Talent’s bread and butter, a new ability that damages a Paladin’s foes and heals their allies by calling upon the radiant energy of the sun, or An’she as the tauren name and revere it. Paladins who embark upon this path are also empowered by their Dawnlights, being connected to them and having their other spells and abilities be improved due to them.
Lightsmith
Holy and Protection Paladinshave access to the Lightsmith Hero Talent. Lightsmiths will be able to create weapons made of light while on the battlefield, empowering themselves and their allies.
Reminiscent of the draenei’s holy warriors, the Vindicators, Lightsmith revolves around theHoly Armamentsthat this Hero Talent brings to a Paladin’s hands. These ethereal weapons can be bestowed on the Lightsmith Paladin or their allies, and enhance their damaging or defensive abilities.
The Holy Armaments can even be placed upon the field of battle, and can repeat and proliferate the effects of a Paladin’s spells and abilities.
Templar
Templar is the Hero Talent onlyavailable to Protection and Retribution Paladins. As a zealous bringer of justice, a Templar can utilize thewrathful and scorching powers of the Lightto the greatest effectiveness.
Templar’s strength lies in the extra effects it gives to a Paladin’s abilities. These effects include calling down righteous Empyrean Hammers and Hammers of the Light to smite a Paladin’s enemies and protect said Paladin and their allies.
Priestshave access to three Hero Talents:Archon, Oracle, and Voidweaver.
Archon
Archon is the Hero Talentavailable to Holy and Shadow Priests. Although these two Priest Specializations and the faiths they represent are often at odds with each other, Archon allows these Priests tobecome paragons of their respective faiths.
Archon excels in empowering a Priest and their flock through Power and Shadow Words, as well as increasing the potency of crowd control abilities like Psychic Scream.
Oracle
The Oracle Hero Talent revels in the healing capabilities of Priests. As such, it is onlyaccessible by Discipline and Holy Priests.
Oracle’s core abilities arePremonitions. These increase the potency of a Priest’s healing and defensive spells immensely. Befitting their name, Premonitions are cast before other spells in order to empower them, and even affect a Priest’s Atonement.
Voidweaver
Available to Discipline and Shadow Priests, Voidweaver is the Hero Talent that fully embraces the depths of shadow magic, delving deep into the powers of the Void.
Entropic Riftsare the key to a Voidweaver’s arsenal. They are created by the Void Torrent spell and follow a Priest’s enemies around, causing stacking damage and empowering the shadow spells available to said Priest.
These empowered shadow spells' effects range from consuming your Priest’s enemies' shields, to draining their health and sanity and changing certain spells into stronger ones temporarily.
Rogue Hero Talents
Roguehas access to three Hero Talents, and they are:Deathstalker, Fatebound, and Trickster.
Deathstalker
The Deathstalker Hero Talent isavailable to Assassination and Subtlety Rogues. Named after the notorious Rogue order of the Forsaken, it is for those Rogues who thrive on hunting their prey from the shadows.
Deathstalker’s Markis the skill introduced with this Hero Talent, and it is the heart of it. It works in tandem with Stealth and its related abilities, and boosts those abilities on the Rogue’s enemies marked by it.
Fatebound
Rough and tumble Rogues of theAssassination and OutlawSpecializations have access to the Fatebound Hero Talent.
If you choose Fatebound for your Rogue, you will gain theFatebound Coinskill, tying the fate of you and your foes to its flips. When you expend combo points, your Fatebound Coin will flip, granting you increased attack power or dealing direct damage to your enemies.
Flipping streaks of heads can turn fate to your side, increasing the likelihood of the Fatebound Coin landing in your favor.
Trickster
Trickster is the Hero Talentavailable to Outlaw and Subtlety Rogues. Rogues who choose this path excel at distracting their foes and striking when the time is right.
Tricksters gain additionalUnseen Bladesadded to their abilities, which Faze any enemies hit by them. Fazing allows these Rogues to deal massive bursts of damage, and mitigate damage aimed at them.
Shaman Hero Talents
There are three Hero Talents available toShamans. These areFarseer, Stormbringer, and Totemic.
Farseer
The Farseer Hero Talent is forElemental and Restoration Shamans. As a Farseer, Shamans can become the speaker, and hammer, of their ancestors.
The ancestors of Farseer Shamans are the central focus of the Hero Talent. It allows Shaman spells tocall forth Ancestorswho echo what the Shamans do, and increase the potency of their other abilities and spells.
Stormbringer
Elemental and Enhancement Shamanshave access to the Stormbringer Hero Talent. Stormbringer allows Shamans to becomeliving embodiments of the thundering elementsof the world.
Shamans who choose this path will have their electric spells greatly enhanced, as well as the capabilities and extent of their Maelstrom and Maelstrom Weapon effects. The temporary Tempest spell is also tied to this Hero Talent and its mechanics.
Totemic
Totemic is the Hero Talent forEnhancement and Restoration Shamans. Suitably, this Hero Talent revolves around theusage and empowerment of Shaman totems.
Naturally, Totemics use their totems to an even greater amount than other Shamans, making them larger, increasing their power, and gaining new synergy with each other and the Shaman who casts them.
The Hero Talents available toWarlocksareDiabolist, Hellcaller, and Soul Harvester.
Diabolist
Diabolist is the Hero Talentavailable to Demonology and Destruction Warlocks. For Warlocks with a penchant for summoning demons, Diabolist is the Hero Talent to choose.
Diabolist allows Warlocks to conductDiabolic Ritualsin order to summon demons of immense power, like Pit Lords and Overlords. This Hero Talent also empowers the demons it summons, and empowers the other demons and fire spells in a Warlock’s arsenal.
Hellcaller
Affliction and Destruction Warlockshave access to the Hellcaller Hero Talent. Curses and ramping up other spells is the bread and butter of Hellcaller.
The spellWitherreplaces a Warlock’s Immolate spell upon choosing this Hero Talent, and it works with other skills within it to increase the potency of the Warlock’s shadow and fire spells, while simultaneously tormenting their enemies.
Soul Harvester
BothAffliction and Demonology Warlockshave the Soul Harvester Hero Talent available to them.
Warlocks who embrace this Hero Talent open themselves up to the demons they work with, allowing one to inhabit their very souls. Having thisDemonic Entity within your Warlock’s soulwill allow them to detect Succulent Souls within the Soul Shards they create.
These Succulent Souls are the core mechanic of Soul Harvester, and they are used to bolster a Warlock and their demons, as well as letting Warlocks infect their foes with dangerous Fiendish Entities.
The three Hero Talents available toWarriorsareColossus, Mountain Thane, and Slayer.
Colossus
Colossus is the Hero Talentavailable to Arms and Protection Warriors. To be a Colossus is to be a living war machine, armored and armed to the teeth.
Demolishis the core ability of Colossus, and it lashes out at a Warrior’s enemies, causing great damage and shoring up their defenses. Colossus also provides new skills that synergize with it, as well as maximizing the effectiveness of the Warrior abilities involving weapons and armor. Colossus Warrior characters can even increase their size permamently by five percent.
Mountain Thane
Fury and Protection Warriorsare the ones who can access the Mountain Thane Hero Talent. Reminiscent of the legendary dwarven mountain kings, this Hero Talentimbues Warriors with the powers of stormsto wash their enemies away.
Being a Mountain Thane means that a Warrior who chooses this path’s abilities will be enhanced, enabling them to call down devastating Lightning Strikes and Thunder Blasts.
Slayer
The Slayer Hero Talent isavailable to Arms and Fury Warriors. Warriors who take up the ways of the Slayer become living vortexes of steel, screaming across the battlefield.
Slayer has skills that increase a Warrior’s movement capabilities on the field of strife, as well as allowing Warriors to unleash unbridled assaults with their weapons like never before. Slayer Warriors' enemies can even beMarked for Execution, further exposing them to their hunter’s attacks.
