WoW Forever Patch Notes: Midnight 12.1.5 Update Details

Blizzard Entertainment has detailed the upcoming 12.1.5 content update for World of Warcraft: Midnight, which introduces a series of new challenges and story conclusions. The update features the Labyrinth of Kindo'jan, a massive nine-chamber experience, and a focused single-boss raid encounter. According to the provided sources, the patch also brings the Aqir Invasions public events and a new gear progression system via Ascendant Venomstones, marking a mid-season refresh for Season 2.

Quick summary

• New single-boss raid against the C'Thraxxi general Kith'ix with multiple difficulty levels.
• Introduction of the Labyrinth of Kindo'jan, a nine-chamber mega-dungeon with Valeera Sanguinar.
• Aqir Invasions: hourly 10-minute public events in Eversong and Zul'Aman.
• New Ascendant Venomstones allow item level increases for fully upgraded Season 2 gear.
• Staggered rollout of quests and rewards starting the week of October 6.
• Crest cap removal scheduled for the week of October 20.

What happened

The 12.1.5 update concludes the narrative arc in Quel'Thalas and Zul'Aman. According to Blizzard, the defeat of Ula'tek weakened the restraints of Kith'ix, a C'Thraxxi general bound beneath the Venomous Abyss. Players will face Kith'ix alongside Lady Liadrin in a single-boss raid available in Story Mode, Raid Finder, Normal, Heroic, and Mythic difficulties. The Mythic version allows for flexible groups of 15 to 25 players.

A major addition is the Labyrinth of Kindo'jan, an ancient Amani funeral complex. This experience is designed as a sprawling, mega-dungeon-like challenge where players are accompanied by Valeera Sanguinar. The Labyrinth consists of nine chambers and offers rewards including Mythic gear. Players can complete the Labyrinth in one session or wing by wing, with each additional room increasing both the potential treasure and the risk.

The update also introduces Aqir Invasions, which are zone-wide public events in Eversong or Zul'Aman. These events occur for ten minutes every hour and consist of a series of objectives followed by a boss fight. There are six scenario types—three combat-focused and three non-combat-focused—with combat scenarios featuring one of eight possible affixes.

How we got here

The current story involves an uneasy peace between Quel'Thalas and Zul'Aman. The narrative progression led to the defeat of Ula'tek, which inadvertently awakened Kith'ix from his subterranean lair. This sequence of events sets the stage for the final confrontation in the 12.1.5 update.

The rollout of new features follows a specific timeline based on realm maintenance: - Week of October 6: Orin Straylight begins offering one additional Nebulous Voidcore per week. - Week of October 13: Orin offers the quest 'Ancient Depths, Ancient Venom'. - Week of October 20: Orin offers 'Ascending with Venomstones' and the crest cap is lifted.

Who are the involved

The update involves several key characters and factions. Lady Liadrin accompanies players in the raid against Kith'ix, the C'Thraxxi general. Valeera Sanguinar serves as the companion for those venturing into the Labyrinth of Kindo'jan. The Labyrinth itself is populated by interred spirits, looters, and the Vilebranch.

On the progression side, Decimus in Voidstorm provides the initial quest 'In the Catalyst's Shadow'. Orin Straylight in Silvermoon City is the central NPC for the Nebulous Voidcore and Ascendant Venomstone quest chains, facilitating the research and distribution of these power-ups.

What the sources say

Blizzard describes the Labyrinth of Kindo'jan as an option for players who enjoy Delves but seek a larger adventure with greater rewards. The company emphasizes that the Labyrinth is designed to be conquered on the player's own terms through dedicated progression systems. Regarding the Aqir Invasions, the developer notes that champions will be rewarded based on how many objectives they complete within the ten-minute window.

Regarding gear progression, the sources state that Ascendant Venomstones drop from Heroic or Mythic raid bosses, Mythic+ Keystone dungeons at +10 and above, Tier 11 Bountiful Delves, and Nightmare Prey Hunt Champion gear chests. Collecting 10 of these stones allows players to raise the item level of a fully upgraded Season 2 Hero, Myth, or maximum-quality Tidal Crafted weapon, trinket, or necklace. There is a discrepancy regarding the launch date: Blizzard mentions the week of October 13, one source states October 14, and another states October 13.

Explainer

In the context of this update, a 'Delve' is a scalable challenge typically completed with a companion. The 'Labyrinth' is an expanded version of this concept, functioning as a mega-dungeon. 'Nebulous Voidcores' are items used for bonus rolls to obtain additional loot, while 'Ascendant Venomstones' are a specific currency used to push the item level of top-tier gear beyond its usual limit.

The 'crest cap' refers to the maximum amount of currency players can earn weekly to upgrade their equipment. Lifting this cap allows players to acquire more upgrade materials without a weekly limit. 'Affixes' in the Aqir Invasions are modifiers that change the mechanics or difficulty of combat scenarios.

What comes next

Following the initial quest chain starting the week of October 6, players will move toward the main 12.1.5 content launch. The week of October 13 will see the introduction of the 'Ancient Depths, Ancient Venom' quest. Finally, during the week of October 20, the 'Ascending with Venomstones' quest will become available, enabling the use of Ascendant Venomstones and the removal of the crest cap.