Tuesday News, Maintenance, Patch and Updates Report

Each week, on Friday we deliver you a Weekly PTR Round UP of all the current PTR changes that have happened during the previous week. Last week we reviewed the Ulduar Patch notes and started keeping track of what has been confirmed as already implemented or implemented but might have some bugs.

However, that’s on Fridays and today is Tuesday. This is the day that is the day that Blizzard performs maintenance, implements changes, and sometimes surprise us with unexpected changes.

So we’ve decided that on each week we’ll bring you the news, announcements, and happenings affecting Hunters throughout Azeroth, the Outlands, and Northend.

Welcome to The Hunting Lodge’s Tuesday News, Maintenance, Patch and Updates Report.

Bornakk Announces the End of Arena Season

That’s right folks. Bornakk announced yesterday that the end was in sight of Arena Season 5. (source)

“We are nearing the end of Arena Season 5, which is currently scheduled to end with or shortly after the release of the next major content update, patch 3.1. A more specific date will be announced as we draw closer to the release of the patch.

As a general reminder, all Arena points will be reset with the start of Arena Season 6, but honor points will remain.” – Bornakk (09-Mar-2009)

Unfortunately, Bornakk wouldn’t go into an more details on this nor what this news means on the impending release of the 3.1 Ulduar Patch.

When WoW Insider reported on this, they stated that this might mean that we are heading towards an April release of the path.

Well, this Hunter just isn’t so sure about that. All I can say for sure, is that Bornakk has stated that the end of Arena Season 5 will coincide or follow shortly the release of the new patch.

Also, Bornakk announced that your honor will remain and roll over with the start of Season 6, but all ratings will be reset. This is great news compared to the debacle that happened during the start of Season 5. But we won’t go there.

Is Armor Penetration Making A Comeback?

Yap, folks it’s starting to look that way. I found this item while checking over the different loot items over on MMO-Champions Loot List.

Looks like the Giant’s Bane is a BOP item with some impressive stats. It starts off with a +38 Agility and +33 Stamina base stat adjustment; then starts to show some interesting stats +54 AP (okay, so we all like that), but then a +27 Haste Rating (seems like it could be useful for the Marksman and Survival Hunters) and then last we see something strange, it increases Armor Penetration by 21!?! What?? We’ve been down this road, ArPen is pretty much a wasted stat.

But there’s more..

• Rune Edge A whopping +121 Agi, +120 Stam, +160 AP and +86 CSR. Then we see that strange stat again +70 Arm Pen!?
• Gloves of the Fiery Behemoth with another +45 ArPen we’re starting to see a trend.
• Broach of the Wailing Night +46 ArPen
• Wrathstone Chance to increase +612 ArPen

And just so you don’t think it’s just in the gear. Look at the PTR Notes and notice something peculiar? Yep, that’s right.

ALL classes received a buff to ArPen and receive a 25% benefit increase.

So to me, either we’re expected to see some serious PvP action or those Ulduar bosses have a ton of armor that we’ll have to help mitigate.

I’ve included links to MMO Champion’s 3.1 Loot Pics for Hunter Gear.

• Gloves of Unerring Aim
• Gloves of the Fiery Behemoth
• Belt of the Ardent Marksman
• Iron Studded Mantle
• Leggings of the Tireless Sentry
• Belt of Dragons (from Pattern: Belt of Dragons req. LW 450)
• Drape of the Lithe
• Broach of the Wailing Night
• Wrathstone
• Rune Edge
• Giant’s Bane

That’s the news for now. There’s a ton more going on and next week we’ll bring it to you.

Good Night and Safe Hunting.