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Patch Notes — Patch Notes · WoW WotLK

Explore the history of updates, balancing changes, and gameplay improvements.

Original Wrath of the Lich King notes from 2008–2010 and the Wrath Classic updates from 2022 onward. Choose a period to browse.

14 updates of 14

Sources reviewed:

2010

3 updates
Major patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.3.5 — Defense of the Ruby Sanctum

Published: UnknownDeployed: 3 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

The Ruby Sanctum raid, Real ID friends and chat window improvements.

Dungeons & Raids

  • The Ruby Sanctum, a 10- and 25-player raid with Heroic mode, opens beneath Wyrmrest Temple.

General

  • Real ID lets mutual friends connect across Battle.net, and Dungeon Finder vote kicks depend on a player's history.

User Interface

  • Chat types can move into their own tabs, conversations glow on new messages, and a Friends list button joins the chat frame.
Minor patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.3.3 — Patch 3.3.3

Published: UnknownDeployed: 5 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

The Random Battleground queue, doubled honor and holiday bosses in the Dungeon Finder.

PvP

  • A Random Battleground queue for level 80 replaces battleground dailies, and battlegrounds no longer award Marks of Honor.
  • Honorable kills award twice as much honor.

Dungeons & Raids

  • Holiday bosses such as Ahune can be queued through the Dungeon Finder, and weekly quests reset with each region's maintenance.
Show more · 2 changes

Classes

  • Several raid buffs reach 100 yards, up from 45.

Classes— Death Knight

  • Chains of Ice applies Frost Fever, and Icy Touch causes very high threat in Frost Presence.
Minor patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.3.2 — Patch 3.3.2

Published: UnknownDeployed: 4 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

Frostwing Halls, Toravon, Arena Season 8 and easier Wrath dungeon bosses.

Dungeons & Raids

  • Frostwing Halls opens in Icecrown Citadel, and Toravon joins the Vault of Archavon.
  • Several dungeon encounters, including Skadi, Svala, Anomalus and Elder Nadox, become shorter.

PvP

  • Arena Season 8 begins, and healing is 10% less effective in battlegrounds, arenas and Wintergrasp.

Classes— Shaman

  • Shamanism adds more spell damage to Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning and Lava Burst.

2009

9 updates
Major patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.3.0 — Fall of the Lich King

Published: UnknownDeployed: 7 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

Icecrown Citadel, the Frozen Halls dungeons and the cross-realm Dungeon Finder.

Dungeons & Raids

  • Icecrown Citadel opens for 10 and 25 players, with The Forge of Souls, Pit of Saron and Halls of Reflection as new 5-player dungeons.
  • Naxxramas adds teleport orbs to Sapphiron's lair, and the Oculus becomes easier.

General

  • The cross-realm Dungeon Finder groups players across a battlegroup.
  • New-player changes: clearer character creation, faster regeneration at low levels and knockbacks that no longer dismount.
Show more · 3 changes

Classes

  • Area-of-effect damage caps are redesigned, and all pets receive 100% of their master's resilience.

PvP

  • Level 80 battleground dailies award 25 Arena points, and abilities with 10-minute or longer cooldowns can't be used in arenas.

Classes— Death Knight

  • Army of the Dead and Raise Ally have 10-minute cooldowns, and Scourge Strike is redesigned to deal extra Shadow damage per disease.
Minor patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.2.2 — Onyxia Returns

Published: UnknownDeployed: 4 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

Onyxia's Lair is rebuilt for level 80 to mark the fifth anniversary, with class and armor penetration tuning.

Dungeons & Raids

  • Onyxia returns as a level 80 raid for 10 and 25 players, dropping level 80 versions of classic loot and the rare Brood of Onyxia mount.

General

  • Armor penetration rating gives 12% less armor penetration per point.
Show more · 2 changes

Classes— Death Knight

  • Frost Presence's damage reduction rises from 5% to 8%; Vampiric Blood and Bone Shield have 1-minute cooldowns.

Classes— Druid

  • Typhoon's daze lasts 6 seconds, and Predatory Strikes lets finishing moves make the next Nature spell instant.
Major patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.2.0 — Call of the Crusade

Published: UnknownDeployed: 8 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

The Crusaders' Coliseum, the Isle of Conquest, Emblems of Triumph and cheaper, earlier riding.

Dungeons & Raids

  • The Crusaders' Coliseum opens: Trial of the Champion (5-player) and Trial of the Crusader and Trial of the Grand Crusader (10- and 25-player).
  • Crusaders' Coliseum bosses drop Emblems of Triumph, and Naxxramas and Heroic dungeons now drop Emblems of Conquest.

PvP

  • The Isle of Conquest, a 40-vs-40 siege battleground, opens for levels 71–79 and 80.
  • Battlegrounds grant experience for objectives (it can be turned off for 10 gold), Warsong Gulch gains a 20-minute timer, and Arathi Basin and Eye of the Storm end at 1,600 points.
  • Season 7 weapons and shoulders require 3v3 or 5v5 ratings.

General

  • Apprentice riding drops to level 20 and Journeyman to level 40, and Expert flying is trainable at level 60.
  • Raid loot can be traded with other eligible group members for two hours.
  • The Argent Tournament adds Crusader and Silver Covenant and Sunreaver dailies and rewards.
Minor patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.1.3 — Patch 3.1.3

Published: UnknownDeployed: 5 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

Tank and DPS tuning, an Overkill redesign and Mimiron adjustments.

Classes— Death Knight

  • Frost Presence grants 60% bonus armor, down from 80%.

Classes— Hunter

  • Hunter's Mark grants 500 ranged attack power, up from 300.
Show more · 3 changes

Classes— Rogue

  • Overkill now raises energy regeneration by 30% while stealthed and for 20 seconds afterward.

Classes— Warrior

  • Bloodthirst costs 20 rage on a 4-second cooldown, and Blood Frenzy grants 5/10% haste.

Dungeons & Raids

  • Mimiron's Rocket Strikes fly longer, and proximity mines arm before detonating and deal less damage.
Minor patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.1.2 — Patch 3.1.2

Published: UnknownDeployed: 6 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

The Equipment Manager, weekly Wintergrasp quests and a redesigned Innervate.

User Interface

  • The Equipment Manager can store and swap saved gear sets.

PvP

  • Vehicle health and damage in Strand of the Ancients and Wintergrasp scale with the operator's average item level, and Wintergrasp dailies become weekly quests.
Show more · 4 changes

Classes— Druid

  • Innervate grants 450% of the druid's base mana to the target over 20 seconds.

Classes— Priest

  • Divine Hymn heals 30% less, and Soul Warding reduces mana cost by 15%.

Classes— Warlock

  • Conflagrate consumes Immolate or Shadowflame to deal their damage instantly; Nether Protection reduces damage by 30%.

Items

  • Northrend food and drink restore more, and Ulduar 10-player hard mode weapons rise to item level 232.
Minor patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.1.1 — Patch 3.1.1

Published: UnknownDeployed: 3 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

Talent refunds to fix dual specialization, plus Ulduar and Culling of Stratholme fixes.

General

  • All talent points are refunded to address dual talent specialization issues.

Dungeons & Raids

  • XT-002 Deconstructor's trash packs can be engaged separately, and Culling of Stratholme map and illusion issues are fixed.

Bug Fixes

  • Profession links work between characters of different races and classes again, and nameplates return to normal size.
Major patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.1.0 — Secrets of Ulduar

Published: UnknownDeployed: 10 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

Ulduar, the Argent Tournament, dual talent specialization and broad class revisions.

Dungeons & Raids

  • The Ulduar raid opens in the Storm Peaks, and new maps are added for every Wrath dungeon.
  • Vault of Archavon bosses banish themselves before a Wintergrasp battle begins.

General

  • The Argent Tournament opens in Icecrown, with jousting, daily quests, capital-city reputation and new mounts, pets and tabards.
  • Players level 40 and higher can buy dual talent specialization from their trainer; glyphs no longer need a Lexicon of Power.
  • All talent points are refunded, and ground mounts can now swim.
Show more · 5 changes

PvP

  • Arena enemy unit frames are added, and players can queue for battlegrounds from anywhere.

Classes

  • Armor penetration rating is 25% stronger, and mana regeneration from Intellect and Spirit drops by 40% while in-combat regeneration talents improve.

Professions

  • Flasks last one hour and recipes make two; Inscription adds about 50 glyphs from Books of Glyph Mastery; gathering can no longer fail.

Classes— Death Knight

  • Anti-Magic Shell absorbs at most 50% of the death knight's health, and Blood Boil damages undiseased targets now that Pestilence deals no damage.

Classes— Paladin

  • Auras persist through death with a 40-yard radius, and Blessing of Kings is trainable at level 20.
Minor patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.0.9 — Patch 3.0.9

Published: UnknownDeployed: 6 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

Class tuning: Arcane Power and Presence of Mind share a cooldown, seals last 30 minutes, and casting-speed slows are halved.

Classes— Mage

  • Arcane Power raises damage and cost by 20% on a 2-minute cooldown and shares a category cooldown with Presence of Mind; Slow increases cast time by 30%.

Classes— Paladin

  • Seals last 30 minutes and can't be dispelled; Divine Plea reduces healing by 50% but can't be dispelled.
Show more · 4 changes

Classes— Priest

  • Inner Fire lasts 30 minutes and can't be dispelled.

Classes— Rogue

  • Hunger for Blood grants 5% damage per stack, and Mutilate deals 20% more damage to poisoned targets, down from 50%.

Classes— Warlock

  • Curse of Tongues slows casting by 25% (Rank 1) and 30% (Rank 2).

Dungeons & Raids

  • The fissures in the Obsidian Sanctum have a more visible color.
Minor patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.0.8 — Patch 3.0.8

Published: UnknownDeployed: 13 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

A broad balance patch: bonus-armor and silence rules, Wintergrasp ranks, Raise Ally, cat Swipe and the new Arcane Blast.

General

  • Bonus armor beyond an item's base armor is no longer multiplied by talents or by Bear, Dire Bear and Frost Presence bonuses.
  • Racial mount restrictions are lifted.
  • All silences share diminishing returns; Shield Wall, Barkskin, Guardian Spirit and Divine Protection are off the global cooldown.
  • More than 60 graveyards are added to Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms, and kill reputation no longer stops at lower levels.

PvP

  • Wintergrasp gains three ranks (Recruit, Corporal, First Lieutenant) with honor and Mark of Honor bonuses, and its vehicles and walls are tougher.
  • Deadly Gladiator's item rating requirements drop by 100.
Show more · 7 changes

Classes— Death Knight

  • Raise Dead splits into Raise Dead and Raise Ally (level 72).
  • Frost Presence grants 80% bonus armor and 15% magic damage reduction; Icebound Fortitude reduces damage by 20%, rising with Defense; Howling Blast loses its cooldown.

Classes— Druid

  • Cat Form gains Swipe at level 71, and any weapon can grant feral attack power based on its damage per second.

Classes— Hunter

  • Deterrence becomes a 5-second parry and spell deflect on a 90-second cooldown; Steady Shot scales from 10% of attack power instead of 20%.

Classes— Mage

  • Arcane Blast stacks to raise Arcane spell damage by 15% and its own cost by 200% per stack, up to three times.

Classes— Paladin

  • Hand of Reckoning arrives at level 16; Divine Shield, Divine Protection and Avenging Wrath can't be used within 30 seconds of each other.

Classes— Shaman

  • Shaman talent points are refunded, and Elemental Mastery now grants 20% critical strike chance for 30 seconds.

2008

2 updates
Minor patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.0.3 — Patch 3.0.3

Published: UnknownDeployed: 8 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

Balance and fixes before launch: talent refunds for druids, Swift Flight Form at level 71 and hunter aspect changes.

General

  • Resilience's damage reduction rises to 2.2 times its critical strike reduction.
  • Replenishment now benefits players below level 50.

Racials

  • Blood Fury no longer triggers the global cooldown; Shadowmeld's cooldown starts when it is used.
Show more · 5 changes

Classes— Druid

  • Druid talent points are refunded.
  • Swift Flight Form is trainable at level 71 with 300 riding skill.
  • Eclipse lasts 15 seconds with doubled bonuses but a 40-second cooldown.

Classes— Hunter

  • Aspect of the Dragonhawk combines Monkey and Hawk at levels 75 and 80; Aspect of the Monkey's dodge rises from 8% to 18%.
  • Disengage costs less mana, no longer needs a target and has a 25-second cooldown.
Major patchOriginal Wrath of the Lich King (2008–2010)

Patch 3.0.2 — Echoes of Doom

Published: UnknownDeployed: 12 changesOriginal Blizzard archive

The pre-expansion patch: new talents up to the 51-point tier, Inscription, achievements, the Barber Shop and Dalaran's move to Northrend.

General

  • Every character's talent points are refunded; all trees gain new talents, including the 51-point talents, and trainers teach new spells.
  • Dalaran leaves Alterac and the Barber Shop opens in the major cities; Stormwind Harbor and new zeppelin towers outside Orgrimmar and in Tirisfal Glades prepare the journey north.
  • The Achievement system arrives, crediting many earlier accomplishments retroactively.
  • Spell damage and healing bonuses merge into a single Spell Power stat, and hit, critical strike and haste ratings now apply to both melee attacks and spells.

Professions

  • Inscription becomes trainable up to skill 375.
Show more · 7 changes

Dungeons & Raids

  • Raids from Karazhan to Sunwell Plateau, plus Doom Lord Kazzak and Doomwalker, have less health and deal less damage.
  • Mounts are allowed in Ahn'Qiraj, and the Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal works as a normal mount.

User Interface

  • A Calendar for in-game events and raid scheduling opens from the minimap.
  • Companion pets and mounts move to a Pets tab in the character panel.

Classes— Hunter

  • Pets gain their own talent trees, every family gets a unique ability, and stables hold two more pets.
  • Aspects no longer cost mana; Aimed Shot becomes an instant shot on a 10-second cooldown.

Classes— Druid

  • Hurricane loses its cooldown, Entangling Roots works indoors, and Moonkin Form now restores mana on spell critical strikes instead of melee attacks.

Original 2008–2010 Wrath of the Lich King notes are kept apart from the 2022–2023 Wrath Classic updates. This curated archive covers every content patch and selected minor updates; the full notes are linked on each card. The calculator uses the Wrath Classic client 3.4.5.63697, the latest build (released for the China realms in 2025, which have no English patch notes), with the talent trees of patch 3.3.5.