Evokers have recently received exciting news for World of Warcraft: Dragonflight. It’s been announced that they'll be getting an extra specialization, the Augmentation Evoker, which has players buzzing with anticipation. Blizzard released a quick overview of the new spec’s unique abilities, but one of these seemed to hint at something unexpected for World of Warcraft's future.
The story in the most recent WoW patch, called Embers of Neltharion, focused heavily on the Black Dragonflight and its three key figures: Wrathion, Sabellian, and Ebyssian. These strong-willed dragons are doing everything in their power to restore the noble legacy of their flight and repair the damage done by their errant father Deathwing in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.
An Evoker Spell Icon Has Revealed World of Warcraft’s New Black Aspect
With the addition of World of Warcraft's Augmentation Evoker, a specialization that focuses on dealing damage and enhancing allies, Blizzard also showcased many of its spells. These Evokers have the same base abilities that the other two specializations rely on, such as Deep Breath or Disintegrate, but their unique spells revolve almost entirely around the Bronze and Black Dragonflights and their respective powers.
Invoking the power of World of Warcraft’s black dragons allows Augmentation Evokers to increase their maximum health and that of their party members as well. One particular spell, called Black Aspect’s Favor, enhances the effects of another protective spell called Obsidian Scales, which reduces a player’s damage taken. However, what caught the attention of many fans was not the spell’s effect, but its icon.
Since the spell is called “Black Aspect’s Favor”, it makes sense for the icon to be of a black dragon. But instead of depicting any random member of the Black Dragonflight, this particular icon, with its name literally stating that it’s supposed to be the Black Aspect, shows a dragon with a ring through its nose. Any player who has been paying attention to Dragonflight’s story knows that a particularly hot topic is who will take the mantle of Aspect of the Black Dragonflight.
The ring through the nose is a critical detail, one which hints at a very specific character becoming Aspect: Ebyssian, also known as Ebonhorn. Ebyssian is an ancient black dragon whose chosen mortal visage is that of a Highmountain Tauren, an allied race to the Horde. When he appears in his Tauren form, he has a golden ring through his nose, just as is depicted in the Black Aspect’s Favor spell. The implication here is clear. Ebyssian is the most likely choice for Black Aspect going forward.
This decision is not out of the blue, either. The quest campaigns in both the Forbidden Reach and Embers of Neltharion were almost exclusively based on Ebyssian’s character and his coming to terms with his identity. While Wrathion and Sabellian, the other two candidates for Aspect, have been bickering over the title all expansion, it seems story writers have subtly placed Ebyssian ahead in the race.
Ebyssian's personal journey has taken the forefront of the story in World of Warcraft's Embers of Neltharion, while his brothers, Wrathion and Sabellian, are beginning to show cracks in their leadership qualities. Sabellian seems far too eager to give in to rage or vengeance and may lead the flight down a dark path. Wrathion, on the other hand, is incredibly young and impetuous, and his inexperience makes him an unlikely choice. Ebyssian is the best all-around option for Aspect, as his humility and patience have been invaluable thus far.
Whether this leak was intended or not, and whether it proves to even be accurate, only time will tell. But many players do feel that Ebyssian is the best choice to lead his kin, given his wisdom and kind, level-headed demeanor. Whatever the future holds for the Black Dragonflight, players can bet that Ebyssian will be at the forefront of his family’s future, whether he is their Aspect or not.
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight is available now for PC.