The announcement trailer for the third WoW expansion Cataclysm.

Edits: 1. Added race characteristics. 2. Race info updated with data from BlizzCon panels. 3. Added info about dungeons, raids and swimming.

New features: – level cap increased (from 80 to 85) – flying mounts usable in Azeroth (not only TBC/Wrath) – remade classic zones (e.g. Barrens divided in two, Darkshore devastated by a flood, Desolace becoming green with lots of grass and trees, Ashenvale ravaged by the Orcs and Azshara being remade into a low-level Horde area with direct connection to Ogrimmar) – Deadmines and Shadowfang Keep updated (added new level-85 5-player Heroic versions) – massive revamp of Warlock and Hunter classes (e.g. soul shards becoming a resource similar to Death Knight’s runes and Hunter’s mana changed into stamina-like focus) – new playable races (Goblins for the Horde and Worgen for the Alliance) – new race and class combinations (Troll Druid, Undead Hunter, Orc Mage, Tauren Paladin and Priest, Blood Elf Warrior, Human Hunter, Dwarf and Night Elf Mage, Gnome Priest and Dwarf Shaman) – talents overhaul – new Mastery system (passive abilities and stat increases based on the talent choices made) – new Path of the Titans system (allowing for greater character customization) – new secondary profession: Archaeology (unearthing and discovering artifacts) – new guild advancement system (guild experience levels, talent points and achievements) – new zones (Uldum, The Sunken City of Vashj’ir, Mount Hyjal, Deepholm and Twilight Highlands) – new starting zones (Lost Isles for Goblins and Gilneas for Worgen; both 1 to 15) – new zones and quests using phased-terrain technology (as seen in the Death Knight starting area) – new PvP zone of Tol Barad Island (Wintergrasp-like open-world PvP region) – new Arenas – new rated Battlegrounds system (best items for the best Battlegrounds champions) – new Battleground (The Battle for Gilneas City) – new dungeons (8 5-player Regular/Heroic dungeons: Grim Batol, Uldum x 2 [Halls of Origination and Lost City of Tol'vir], Deepholm, Skywall, Abyssal Maw x 2 [in Vashj'ir] and Blackrock Caverns [Blackrock Spire 2.0]) – new raids (4 10/25-player Regular/Heroic raid dungeons: Grim Batol, Skywall, The Firelands [in Mt. Hyjal] and Blackwing Descent [Blackwing Lair 2.0]) – new monsters (e.g. lava spitting Volcanoth or new types of Earth Elementals like the Warrior Caste) – new boss monsters (e.g. Dragon Aspect Deathwing and Queen Azshara) – new quests (part of them being revamped versions of old quests) – new items (many of them race specific, like Goblin contraptions; plus a new legendary two-handed axe available for Death Knights and Hunters in Icecrown Citadel) – new streamlined statistics found on items (e.g. Spell Power, Attack Power and Defense are removed and their bonuses are incorporated in a different way) – new swimming mechanics (specific to The Sunken City of Vashj’ir) – new ability: reforging (tailors, blacksmiths, leatherworkers, engineers, and jewelcrafters will be capable of customizing their gear by reducing a single statistic on applicable items and converting the lost points into another stat not already on the item) – new features in the graphics engine (e.g. new way of rendering water)

Characteristics of Goblins: – can choose all classes except paladin and druid – Rocket Jump (racial ability; activate your rocket belt to jump up to 20 yards, every 2 minutes) – Rocket Barrage (racial ability; fire your belt rockets at an enemy within 30 yards, every 2 minutes; shared cooldown with Rocket Jump) – Time is Money (passive racial ability; cash in on a 1% increase to attack and casting speed) – Best Deals Anywhere (passive racial ability; best possible gold discount, regardless of reputation) – Pack Hobgoblin (racial ability; calls in your personal servant, allowing you bank access every 30 minutes) – Better Living Through Chemistry (passive racial ability; Alchemy skill +15; your potions give more health/mana) – racials may be unlocked with levels so that the player won’t be able to use all bonuses from the start

Characteristics of Worgen: – can choose all classes except paladin and shaman – has two forms (true form, available all the time, and human form, available only when not in battle – both are purely cosmetic and provide no bonuses) – Aberration (passive racial ability; reduced duration of Curses and Diseases used against you by 15%) – Flayer (passive racial ability; Skinning skill +15; you skin creatures fast, and you use your claws. Rarrrr!) – Darkflight (racial ability; forces Worgen into true form and temporarily increases their movement speed by 70%, usable every 3 minutes) – passive racial bonus to all damage (+ 1%)

Please note that all of the above mentioned features and race characteristics may change as the game is still in development.

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