New Battleground Brackets
The uneasy armistice between the Horde and Alliance is steadily cracking beneath the strain of Deathwing's devastating return and the Shattering of Azeroth, heralding a new era of bloody conflict.
The clash between the factions has also never been so hotly contested: Battleground brackets now match up teams more evenly. The new brackets span five levels each, except the final bracket composed of level 85 players:
10-14 30-34 50-54 70-74
15-19 35-39 55-59 75-79
20-24 40-44 60-64 80-84
25-29 45-49 65-69 85
Fighters can also join the battle in Arathi Basin, Eye of the Storm, and Alterac Valley at an earlier level than ever before:
Level 10 - Arathi Basin and Warsong Gulch
Level 35 - Eye of the Storm
Level 45 - Alterac Valley
Level 65 - Strand of the Ancients
Level 75 - Isle of Conquest
Level 85 - Battle for Gilneas and Twin Peaks
These changes should offer players a more consistently competitive experience in the Battlegrounds as their characters level, as well as provide for more exciting PvP conflict than ever before. Are you eager to try 35-39 Eye of the Storm? How about 45-49 Alterac Valley? Perhaps you'd like to cut your teeth on a 10-14 Arathi Basin.
Let us know what you think in the comments!
Comments (601)
Shadowmoon
Khaz Modan
WSG is a piece of crap. I'm glad I'll never have to play there again at any level. :D
Shadow Council
Wyrmrest Accord
Tichondrius
Greymane
Skullcrusher
Shadowsong
Example: in the 25-29 bracker, level 29 shamans will have access to stormstrike while shamans level 25-28 will not, leaving the incentive for a shaman to wait for level x9 in this bracket.
I think it would be even better if brackets were set up to be x9-x3 and x4-x8, so that players of all levels are on a much more even playing field in BG's.
BG's used to be set up like this, since before milestone talents and skills would only occur at x0 levels, but with the new talent system, milestone talents occur at levels x9.
Gul'dan
Shattered Hand
Aegwynn
Eonar
Frostwolf
Maybe I'll be more interested in PVP now.
Khaz Modan
Nathrezim
Lightbringer
Hakkar
Khadgar
If I have an account that isnt upgraded to TBC yet and I have a lvl 60 warrior and I que for a random BG will it throw me with the people who are leveling or with the people who have turned off exp gain? I have not turned off exp gain.
Runetotem
Nordrassil
Grizzly Hills
Gilneas
Blackrock
Drak'thul
Ysondre
Lightning's Blade
Bladefist
Dalaran
Azshara
i think you misunderstood: i think 5 level brackets are great.
what i don't like is that once again, my level 80 has to fight lvl 85s in the BGs. and unless i buy an expansion that i don't really wish to play, then i'm gonna get owned. i'm sorry, but there is no chance that an 80 can take out a competent 85 in epics.
why can't they run the top bracket at 81-85? someone like me isn't getting anything for my money. the game as i wish to play it gets ruined with each expansion. you don't have to agree with me, or play as i do, but can't you see where i'm coming from?
Azshara
Alterac Mountains
Did you even read the post beyond the title? Level 85 players are in their own "bracket" with only themselves.
If you do not pay for the expansion, you will be placed in the 80-84 bracket. However, the matchmaking system separates people who have not purchased an expansion from those who have, so you will only be matched up with other 80s who do not have Cataclysm.
Stop complaining about "the game being ruined with each expansion." You've been giving Blizzard $15 a month for this long... if you are so dissatisfied with the way the game is evolving, simply quit playing.
Blade's Edge
Quel'Thalas
Duskwood
Max level folks need to be fighting max level folks.
Someone more than four levels below the average opposition can contribute practically nothing to the outcome of a battleground.
Altar of Storms
Arathor
I have trouble feeling bad for people like Huntear who have been taking advantage of the old bracket ranges to pwn people w/ normal gear while they can accumulate the best a level-cap can get because they won't level out of it.
The Venture Co
Azshara
i think your brackets are terrible- but i'm not just going to flame, i have my reasons. i'm guessing they're calculated to sell product, but look at it from where i'm coming from: a casual PVP player. (but a competitive one)
i have a few toons at max level- and now i'm forced to buy the expansion or quit.
example: when WotLK dropped, my lvl 70 PVP hunter was suddenly forced into BGs with players from 70-79. i went from a top player to a lowbie that no one wanted in their group.
sure, i was going to buy it, but i didn't feel the need to rush out on day 1. and i still don't. i'll get there! and as everyone else buys it, i'll want to go play with them. but completely ruining my game play with the bracket layout really sucks. and it doesn't need to be that way.
i'll concede that i like the 5 level bracket idea. but PLEASE- reconsider where you draw the lines.
Blade's Edge
Medivh
About bloody time this change was made. I think I'd have preferred to see a bolster/tenacity system for lower levels like Warhammer, but this will work for now.
This will make BGs more enjoyable overall. More competitive play and not just a few x9's farming the lowbies trying to get some pvp experience.
I think this will make battlegrounds a more appealing method to, if not level, at least participate in more than the last 3 levels of every bracket.