Hunter Tier 13 Preview and Retrospective

Blizzard has released a preview of the Hunter Tier 13 armor set that will be available in World of Warcraft Patch 4.3. You can click on the above image to view a larger version. Here's their description of the Wyrmstalker Battlegear:

"We like to tie a Hunter’s Tier armour in with an appropriate donor creature – it suggests the Hunter has actually hunted for the set! As there’s an awful lot of dragons in this patch, a draconic theme was the way to go. We wanted to reference but not simply reproduce the classic Dragonstalker set. To that end, we limited the use of dragon heads to the helm and chained leathery wings around the shoulders which gives the impression of a skeletal dragon crouching over the Hunter’s upper body."

In addition to the Tier 13 reveal, Blizzard has posted a visual guide to hunter Tiers 1-12 for Transmogrification purposes. You can view the hunter's armor history after the jump, and check out Wowhead's guide to find all your old tier gear. Also, be sure to browse through all of the currently released Tier 13 previews.

Priest Tier 13 Preview and Retrospective

Blizzard has released a preview of the Priest Tier 13 armor set that will be available in World of Warcraft Patch 4.3. You can click on the above image to view a larger version. Here's their description of the Vestments of Dying Light:

"Priests (and paladins for that matter) are often the most challenging classes to design ‘badass’ armor sets for, in contrast to the death knight and warlock, whose underlying concepts demand the unquestionably cool dark and sinister approach.

In this instance, however, the design asked for a bold, two-tone, ‘Venetian carnival style with creepy, soulless black eyes,’ which gave me a powerful, potentially edgy direction to explore. The set’s ‘Dying Light’ theme was visualized as a spiked, setting sun motif."

In addition to the Tier 13 reveal, Blizzard has posted a visual guide to priest Tiers 1-12 for Transmogrification purposes. You can view the priest's armor history after the jump, and check out Wowhead's guide to find all your old tier gear. Also, be sure to browse through all of the currently released Tier 13 previews.

Tier 13 Set Bonuses Revealed

Blizzard has released a list of the tenetative Tier 13 set bonuses that are coming in World of Warcraft Patch 4.3. The data is pre-PTR, so don't be surprised if anything changes before the patch officially launches. Check out the set bonuses after the jump and discuss them in our WoW general forum.

Blizzard has currently unveiled all of the Tier 13 set designs except for priest, hunter and death knight. Click on the image above to see all of the sets to date.

Paladin Tier 13 Preview and Retrospective

Blizzard has released a preview of the Paladin Tier 13 armor set that will be available in World of Warcraft Patch 4.3. You can click on the above image to view a larger version. Here's their description of the Battleplate of Radiant Glory:

"Design requested a set to ‘key off the Guardian of Ancient Kings summon,’ and I though the concept of ‘feathered’ plate mail, rendered in silver and gold, would create an aggressive, yet sweeping and powerful silhouette. The previous paladin raid set had a good deal of cloth, but we wanted this set to be entirely platemail.

The key to a strong paladin tier is hitting a balance between martial prowess and elegant grace -- tapping into that classic Arthurian knight archetype."

In addition to the Tier 13 reveal, Blizzard has posted a visual guide to paladin Tiers 1-12 for Transmogrification purposes. You can view the paladin's armor history after the jump, and check out Wowhead's guide to find all your old tier gear. Also, be sure to browse through all of the currently released Tier 13 previews.

Rogue Tier 13 Preview and Retrospective

Blizzard has released a preview of the Rogue Tier 13 armor set that will be available in World of Warcraft Patch 4.3. You can click on the above image to view a larger version. Here's their description of the Blackfang Battleweave:

"A 'bat-themed' armor set for rogues seems like a no-brainer, but we were careful to skirt the more obvious inspirations. World of Warcraft often makes playful references to pop culture, but it’s important -- particularly with player gear -- that what we create has integrity within our universe. Rogues look good in close-fitting masks, collars, and cowls rather than elaborate armored helms. It also helps reinforce the rogue's sneaky silhouette if the shoulder pads have a streamlined shape... even if that shape has sharp, bladed details."

In addition to the Tier 13 reveal, Blizzard has posted a visual guide to rogue Tiers 1-12 for Transmogrification purposes. You can view the rogue's armor history after the jump, and check out Wowhead's guide to find all your old tier gear. Also, be sure to browse through all of the currently released Tier 13 previews.

Mage Tier 13 Preview and Retrospective

Blizzard has released a preview of the Mage Tier 13 armor set that will be available in World of Warcraft Patch 4.3. You can click on the above image to view a larger version. Here's their description of the Timelord Regalia:

"It’s fun to put a spin on any caster class that moves it away from the usual wizardly archetype, and this set provided the perfect opportunity to do just that. Gnomish clockwork technology is an established part of the Warcraft universe, but it’s not something we’ve incorporated into a tier of player armor before. The combination of moving cogs, quilted fabric, and lots of buckled straps give the set an intriguing 'techno-mage' flavor."

In addition to the Tier 13 reveal, Blizzard has posted a visual guide to mage Tiers 1-12 for Transmogrification purposes. You can view the mage's armor history after the jump, and check out Wowhead's guide to find all your old tier gear. Also, be sure to browse through all of the currently released Tier 13 previews.

Shaman Tier 13 Preview and Retrospective

Blizzard has released a preview of the Shaman Tier 13 armor set that will be available in World of Warcraft Patch 4.3. You can click on the above image to view a larger version. Here's their description of the Spiritwalker’s Vestments:

"The best shaman sets are a mix of the animal and the elemental. This tier combines huge wolf-skull shoulder pads, bone fetishes, and fur with glowing shards of amber crystal. The entire set is lashed together with lengths of rope and heavily stitched leather, which lends the set a savage bearing."

In addition to the Tier 13 reveal, Blizzard has posted a visual guide to shaman Tiers 1-12 for Transmogrification purposes. You can view the shaman's armor history after the jump, and check out Wowhead's guide to find all your old tier gear. Also, be sure to browse through all of the currently released Tier 13 previews.

Druid Tier 13 Preview and Retrospective

Blizzard has released a preview of the Druid Tier 13 armor set that will be available in World of Warcraft Patch 4.3. You can click on the above image to view a larger version. Here's their description of the Deep Earth Vestments:

"The design called for "phosphorescent mushrooms, reminiscent of Zangarmarsh," so our main concern was avoiding making a helm that looked like a giant toadstool sombrero. We’re always looking to incorporate interesting light sources within a raid set, and bioluminescent vegetable growth certainly provides that. Twisting, organic shapes are often key elements of a druid set, and this tier is no exception, with writhing plant roots providing a frame for the glowing clusters of fungi."

In addition to the Tier 13 reveal, Blizzard has posted a visual guide to druid Tiers 1-12 for Transmogrification purposes. You can view the druid's armor history after the jump, and check out Wowhead's guide to find all your old tier gear. Also, be sure to browse through all of the currently released Tier 13 previews.

Warlock Tier 13 Preview and Retrospective

Blizzard has released a preview of the Warlock Tier 13 armor set that will be available in World of Warcraft Patch 4.3. Here's their description of the Faceless Shroud armor:

"A set with the flavor of the Old Gods about it - General Vezax from the Ulduar raid was a reference point. Any warlock tier is a great opportunity to bring a dark and warped aesthetic to player gear and this set was especially ripe for the treatment.

Replacing the caster’s face with writhing tentacles was the ‘hook’ I started the concept with and built out from there. We always try to include numerous points of illumination into a tier set as it helps to tie the various armour pieces together – whether that be glowing gemstones, fiery runes or, as in this case, bulging otherworldly eyes!"

In addition to the Tier 13 reveal, Blizzard has posted a visual guide to warlock Tiers 1-12 for Transmogrification purposes. You can view the warlock's armor history after the jump, and check out Wowhead's guide to find all your old tier gear.

Warrior Tier 13 Preview and Retrospective

Blizzard has released a preview of the Warrior Tier 13 armor set that will be available in World of Warcraft Patch 4.3. Here's their description of the Colossal Dragonplate armor:

"A simple concept – let’s make a Warrior Tier that looks like Deathwing! Gnarled dragon horn and angular elementium plating with burning fire behind it were the key ingredients.

The shoulder pads and helmets are uniquely modeled for each set, and that gives us great opportunities to create eye-catching silhouettes. In this instance, the sweeping horn shapes ensure a powerfully brutal-looking set for warriors."

So what are your thoughts on the set? Do you like the Deathwing theme? Join in on the discussion in our WoW general forum!

In addition to the Tier 13 reveal, Blizzard has posted a visual guide to warrior Tiers 1-12 for Transmogrification purposes. Take a trip down memory lane after the jump, and check out Wowhead's guide to find all your old tier gear.