[GameSpot] - WoW: Dragonflight Will Soon Introduce A Whole New Type Of DPS Specialization

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World of Warcraft's newest class, Evokers, are about to get a brand-new specialization, and it's unlike anything else currently playable in Blizzard's longrunning MMORPG.

Previously hinted at, Blizzard has finally revealed that come the game's newly announced 10.1.5 update, Evokers will be able to unlock the class' third specialization, called Augmentation. While technically a second DPS specialization for the class (and not a tank or healing spec as some fans theorized), Augmentation Evokers will nonetheless be extremely unique. Less focused on dealing damage themselves like other DPS specs, they are instead intended to significantly boost the performance of their allies.

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Using powers that had previously been forgotten to them, Augmentation Evokers will combine the magic of the Black Dragonflight and Bronze Dragonflight in order to buff allies. Blizzard notes that Augmentation Evokers will be able to buff specific party members or the whole group, and that many buff abilities have proximity-based targeting for ease of use.

"Augmentation Evokers deliver their damage in a wholly unique way," Blizzard writes in a preview blog. "They act as force multipliers, increasing their group's capabilities (and damage output) significantly."

Some Augmentation abilities players will have at their disposal include Ebon Might, a buff that increases the group's primary stat by a percentage of the Evokers, and an ability called Eruption that deals damage split among a group of enemies and increases the duration of Ebon Might's buff. It seems many of the Augmentation Evoker's abilities will synergize with each other, as another ability, Upheaval, launches enemies into the air and increases the duration of Ebon Might effects. Breath of Eons is a flying breath attack that sees the Evoker fly to a target and deal Temporal Wounds to enemies caught in the attack's path. Enemies affected by Temporal Wounds accumulate a portion of the damage dealt to them, after which the enemies are critically struck for that amount. Breath of Eons also increases the duration of Ebon Might effects.

Blizzard notes that due to the Augmentation Evokers unique role, it is still working on some aspects of the class, such as how combat logs and community websites and add-ons will be able to effectively measure the performance of Augmentation players. Despite those unique challenges, Blizzard says that the specialization "offers a unique opportunity to delve into a playstyle never before seen in World of Warcraft."

Augmentation Evokers will arrive as part of the game's 10.1.5 Fractures in Time update, which will introduce a new mega-dungeon that will bring players face to face with the most terrifying dragon in Warcraft lore, Galakrond.

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