The Fight with Rubberbanding Continues, BoA Stats Will Be Searchable in the AH, Anniversary Buff Clarifications, Idea for a Buff, Curse Weekly RoundUp
Update: Blizzard posted the official notes tonight, and you can see the changes from the PTR notes here!
Patch 5.3 Live This Week
Patch 5.3 is going live this week, less than three months after Patch 5.2 went live!
Heroic Scenarios give 120-150 Valor Points for your first every day and a chance to get a item level 516 item. The Challenge mode daily quest also gives you a chance at item level 516 gear.
The legendary quest line continues, with a reward of item level 600 cloaks.
The Kor'kron have taken over the Troll area in Orgrimmar, as well as Razor Hill, and are advancing on Sen'jin Village. You will team up with Thrall, Vol'jin, and Chen Stormstout to push them back and retake Razor Hill.
The weekly Barrens quest will give you a chance to buy an item level 489 item.
There are several new mounts in this patch, with the most interesting being the 
Enchanted Fey Dragon.
You can now use items in your bank and Void Storage for transmogrification.
A quest was added that will reveal the final Sha and reward you with item level 502 boots.
Four new scenarios, one battleground, and a new arena were added to the game.
There are lots of PvP changes, with a 65% base Resilience, less PvP Power and Resilience on gems, no more Resilience on most gear, the Conquest catch up cap implemented, and more!
The Brawler's Guild has some new bosses and other updates, along with some new shirts.
Heirloom shields are finally on the vendors.
You can now level mining and herbalism in Pandaria, no matter what skill level you are at.
There are many more changes, so be sure to read the full post!
Patch 5.3 Notes
Heroic Scenarios
Patch 5.3 adds Heroic Scenarios, which are made more difficulty by NPCs that do more damage and have increased health.
Heroic Scenarios require a pre-made group and an item level of 480 to queue for.
The first Heroic Scenario of the day will reward 120 Valor Points, with an additional 30 if you are able to complete the time based bonus objectives.
You will also earn a Heroic Cache of Treasures, which has a chance to drop epic item level 516 gear.
Doing another scenario after the first reverts to the old Greater Cache of Treasures and 70 Valor Points plus 30 Valor Points for the bonus objectives.
You can only complete a Heroic Scenario or Normal Scenario for the daily bonus Valor Points reward, not both.
Heroic Deeds is a one time only quest, found in your faction's Vale city, which will grant you the Bulging Heroic Cache of Treasures. This has a guarenteed item level 516 item inside.
Challenge Mode Daily Quest Reward
The Heroic Cache of Treasures has been added to the Challenge Mode Daily Quests. This gives you a chance at the item level 516 loot, better than what you can get from Raid Finder!
Legendary Questline
Patch 5.3 continues Wrathion's questline with a few more quests. You first visit Wrathion so that he can send you to collect blessings from the four Pandaria Celestials. There are four challenges, one for tanks, healers, and two different ones for DPS. After completing the challenge most suited to your class and spec, you will return to Wrathion to receive one of the item level 600 cloaks below. The line ends with you waiting for Patch 5.4 and the Siege of Orgrimmar.
If you aren't caught up just yet, keep in mind that the A Test of Valor quest now only requires you to earn 3000 Valor Points, down from 6000.
Be sure to listen to the audio if you are interested in the Burning Legion and what is coming!
tbody>tr">
Level
Type
Spec
Slot
Name
600
Back
Tank
Back
Oxhorn Bladebreaker
600
Back
Tank
Back
Oxhoof Greatcloak
600
Back
Melee
Back
Tigerclaw Cape
600
Back
Spell DPS
Back
Jadefire Drape
600
Back
Spell Spirit
Back
Cranewing Cloak
600
Back
Physical DPS
Back
Tigerfang Wrap
The Darkspear Rebellion
Patch 5.3 starts setting up the story for Patch 5.4 and brings the fight back to Azeroth. One of the first things Horde players will notice is the Troll area of the Valley of Spirits in Orgrimmar has been taken over by the Kor'kron Guard, with Kor'kron Overseers taking aim at the residents. The trainers, bank, auction house, and every other NPC has been shut down, only talking about how dangerous it is now.
Things aren't much better for the Trolls outside of Orgrimmar, as they are being kept in cages or down on their knees, blindfolded, in front of armed and Neutral flagged Kor'kron Grunts. Riko is standing on some crates as well, and he is likely involved in the Patch 5.3 quests.
Further south in Razor Hill the Kor'korn have also posted guards, but operations are still continuing normally there. High Overseer Bloodmane has moved down to Razor Hill from his position outside of Orgrimmar.
Moving further south to Sen'jin Village, the guard presence there has been greatly increased, with the guards asking if you are going to help and saying "Welcome to da' revolution".
Going west to the Barrens, it looks different if you are level 90, similar to the Krasarang Wild changes. You can help to escort the Barrens Caravans through safely, as they are attacked when they pass through the Barrens. Doing so will give you a box of surplus supplies, required for a new weekly quest.
Four new Kor'kron camps have been added around the Barrens, harvesting Stone, Lumber, Oil, and Meat for the war effort. It appears they have also hired some Goblin Mercenaries to handle some of the work.
There are several quests that will also take place here, such meeting up with Sully and Amber in Durotar, who go through the new Dranosh'ar Blockade area to gather intelligence. You then head down to find Vol'jin and Chen Stormstout in Sen'jin Village. After this you begin to collect supplies from the Barrens, defend Sen'jin Village from the Kor'kron assault, and finally capture Razor Hill from the Kor'kron.
The Alliance are taking part in this quest line with separate Alliance caravans in the Barrens, and are able to open a dialogue after rescuing Zen'tabra from the Kor'kron.
While all of these events are taking place in Azeroth, events are unfolding in Pandaria. Things begin with a conversation between Taran Zhu and Sunwalker Dezco about the massive pit that has been dug in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. The story behind this is revealed in the Dark Heart of Pandaria scenario, which is currently unavailable. The Alliance also get a view of the current story in the Blood in the Snow scenario.
Chen is troubled by these events, and sends you to find Seer Hao Pham Roo, an expert on the last emperor. Once you assist him in climbing Mount Neverrest you are rewarded with some item level 502 boots.
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
Taran Zhu: Tauren! What have your people done? You have dredged open a scar within our sacred Vale!
Sunwalker Dezco: Lord Zhu, please understand - the orc "Warchief" who ordered the deed no longer speaks for the whole of the Horde. Many voices are rising up against him.
Taran Zhu: Your politics are no concern of mine. Your Horde has disrespected the sanctity of this place. You are no longer welcome here - leave at once!
Sunwalker Dezco: Give us time, Lord Zhu. Give us the opportunity to bring Hellscream to justice.
Taran Zhu: Sunwalker, I respect your people. You have aided us in our campaign against the Sha and the Thunder King. Otherwise, I would've already ordered the Shado-Pan to purge this entire shrine. But my patience is at an end. The Horde must leave.
Sunwalker Dezco: Please. Give us time to make this right.
Taran Zhu stares grimly into the distance.
Taran Zhu: Very well. You have until season's end. No longer. We pandaren are no strangers to dealing with tyrants. The coming battle will try your souls. May the celestials guide your actions.
Battle of Razor Hill
The Horde begin by traveling to Sen'jin village after completing two of the new scenarios, and speaking with Vol'jin. He sends you in to the Barrens to collect 15 Lumber, Stone, Oil, and Meat, which requires killing one mob per item, looting crates with the items, or escorting the caravans that travel through the Barrens.
After gathering those supplies, you return to Vol'jin in time for the Battle of Sen'jin Village, in which you join Thrall and Chen Stormstout in defending the village from the Kor'kron attackers.
After a solid victory in Sen'jin Village, you march onward to Razor Hill with Vol'jin and Chen Stormstout. Upon arriving at Razor Hill, the battle is already underway in the air and on the ground. You defeat some guards, named NPCs, and release captive Razor Hill NPCs from cages before heading to see Vol'jin once again. Once at the small new Sanctuary area outside of Razor Hill, Baine Bloodhoof shows up to speak with Vol'jin about helping the revolution.
Darkspear Rebellion Quartermaster
Ravika, the Darkspear Rebellion Quartermaster can be found in Sen'jin Village before you complete all of the Battle for Razor Hill questline, and outside of Razor Hill once you have retaken the city. She sells various items for the new Barrens resources (Kor'kron Stone, Kor'kron Oil, Kor'kron Lumber, Kor'kron Meat).
The Latent Kor'kron Belt pieces cost 200 of the Barrens resources from the vendor, as well as rarely dropping from Kor'kron NPCs you are killing in the Barrens for the Battlefield: Barrens weekly quest. They can be combined with a Radical Mojo from the weekly quest to create a piece of item level 489 spec appropriate armor.
New Mounts
Patch 5.3 adds several new mounts to the game, but we don't have sources for all of them yet.
Enchanted Fey Dragon - No confirmed source yet.
Hearthsteed - Reward of the Hearthstone Beta.
Armored Red Dragonhawk - Reward of Mount Parade.
Armored Blue Dragonhawk - Reward of Mount Parade.
Brawler's Burly Mushan Beast - Rank 10 Brawler's Guild rewards access to purchase this mount.
Iron Hitching Post - Likely a TCG item.
Transmogrify From Bank and Void Storage
Patch 5.3 adds the ability to transmogrify to items that are located in your bank or Void Storage without having them in your bags!
New Scenarios
Four new Scenarios are being added in Patch 5.3.
Story and Lore
Lorewalker Cho will have a new story to tell in Patch 5.3, which you must listen to before doing the Blood in the Snow Scenario. You can also help the Old Seer climb Mount Neverest to learn about the final Sha and earn some item level 502 boots!
tbody>tr">
Level
Type
Spec
Slot
Name
502
Cloth
Spell Spirit
Feet
Modest Sandals
502
Cloth
Spell DPS
Feet
Unassuming Slippers
502
Leather
Spell Spirit
Feet
Treads of Respect
502
Leather
Physical DPS
Feet
Self-Effacing Boots
502
Mail
Physical DPS
Feet
Treads of Reticence
502
Mail
Spell DPS
Feet
Unpretentious Boots
502
Plate
Tank
Feet
Sabatons of the Humble
502
Plate
Melee
Feet
Subservient Greatboots
502
Plate
Spell Spirit
Feet
Boots of Boundless Patience
PvP Changes
There are a lot of changes coming to PvP in Patch 5.3, so be sure to read the PvP Gear in Patch 5.3 and PvP Gear in 5.2 and Beyond blog posts!
Battlegrounds, Rated Battlegrounds, and Arenas now have an ilevel cap. All gear will be scaled down to ilevel 496.
All characters now have a base Resilience of 65%.
PvP Power conversion ratio to obtain 1% damage at level 90 has been changed from 265 to 400.
Battle Fatigue now reduces the amount of healing and absorbs by 45%, up from 30%.
Healing specializations receive a 100% bonus to healing from PvP Power.
Damage specializations for Druids, Monks, Paladins, Priests, and Shamans receive a 70% bonus to healing from PvP Power.
All other specializations and classes (including tanking) receive a 40% bonus to healing from PvP Power.
Resilience has been removed from most PvP gear and set bonuses, excluding PvP Trinkets.
PvP Power and Resilience amounts have been halved on gems.
Dancing Steel and Jade Spirit now have a PvP version that shares the same visual effect as Glorious Tyranny, costs a scroll of the base enchant, and requires a 2200 rating.
The seasonal currency requirement of 7,250 Conquest Points earned will be lifted from weapons
The Conquest Point catch up cap will be introduced: (Current week of the season) * 1000 – (Conquest earned thus far this season)
Tyrannical Gladiator's Tabard and Tyrannical Gladiator's Greatcloak are available as new prestige items at 2500 rating for 1000 Conquest Points.
Battleground Roles
Patch 5.3 finally adds roles to queuing for random battlegrounds. The role you select is used to try and balance the number of healers on both sides.
Deepwind Gorge Battleground
Deepwind Gorge is set in the western part of the Valley of the Four Winds, in a gorge that is only present in the battleground, not in the regular world. This is a 15 player battleground for level 90 players.
The battleground has two different objectives, the first being the three mines. There is a northern Pandaren mine, central mine, and a southern Goblin mine. The mines are captured like the bases in other battlegrounds, just clicking the flag and capturing it. While you hold the mine NPCs will mine gold for your faction, bringing you closer to the 1600 resources required to win.
The second objective is the cart of gold placed at each faction's base. You can click the cart to attach it to yourself, and then walk back to your base to capture it. You do not need your own team's cart to be present to capture, unlike the normal battleground flags. Holding the cart limits your movement speed to normal running speed. If you kill the enemy cart holder, you must click on the cart to return it to your base before someone on the other team clicks to pick it up. Capturing the cart rewards you with 20 bonus honor and 200 resources and actually steals 200 from the enemy team.
Tiger's Peak Arena
Tiger's Peak is an open circle, with two smaller half circles that will allow some LoS on each side. There are two raised platforms on the left and right side of the arena that can only be climbed via a set of stairs on the side facing the wall. There is a fence around the side of the platform facing the center of the arena which you can jump over to leave the platform, but it is too high to jump from the arena to the platform. The fence does not block line of sight though, so you can cast on players in the center of the arena from the platform.
Patch 5.3 Achievement Rewards
Patch 5.3 adds many new achievements, including a few with rewards. You can pick up new titles from Pet Battles, Deepwind Gorge achievements, and the new Barrens quest line, as well as another Brawler's Guild invite and new shirt from the Brawler's Guild, and an Armored Dragonhawk for collecting 200 mounts!
tbody>tr" data-default-sort-slug="name" data-default-sort-order="asc">
Name
Side
Points
Reward
Category
Brutal Pet Brawler Win 250 PvP pet battles through Find Battle with a full team of level 25 pets.
10
Reward: Stunted Direhorn
Battle
Darkspear Revolutionary Aid Vol'jin's troll uprising during Patch 5.3: Escalation.
Horde
5
Rewards Title: Darkspear Revolutionary
Pandaria
Deadly Pet Brawler Win 1000 PvP pet battles through Find Battle with a full team of level 25 pets.
10
Title: Trainer
Battle
Deck Your Collection Defeat the following Brawler's Guild bosses.
Alliance
10
Rewards: Wraps of the Blood-Soaked Brawler
Brawler's Guild
Deck Your Collection Defeat the following Brawler's Guild bosses.
Horde
10
Rewards: Wraps of the Blood-Soaked Brawler
Brawler's Guild
Having a Brawl Reach Rank 9 with Bizmo's Brawlpub.
Alliance
10
Rewards: Brawler's Pass
Brawler's Guild
Having a Brawl Reach Rank 9 with Brawl'gar Arena.
Horde
10
Rewards: Brawler's Pass
Brawler's Guild
Hordebreaker Pit Vol'jin's troll uprising against Garrosh Hellscream's Horde during Patch 5.3: Escalation.
Alliance
5
Rewards Title:
the Hordebreaker
Pandaria
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