Filed under: RPGs

It's patch day again in the World of Warcraft, and that means there's a whole bunch of upgrades and updates and brand new challenges, quests and things to do in the most successful MMO ever made. Joystiq's sister site WoW.com has all the patch 3.3 info you'd ever need, from the new Dungeon Finder system to class changes, to all of the various UI tweaks and tips for getting your add-ons ready. Find ten of our most popular posts of the past week after the break, and head over to WoW.com for the latest on the game's newest update.

Patch 3.3 is just around the corner in the World of Warcraft, and WoW.com is there as usual: we've got lots of information about what's coming in the new patch, including the new Icecrown raid instance, the cross-realm Dungeon Finder system, new loot and gear, lots of class updates and changes, and of course lots of new achievements and quests. Hit the break below to read ten of our most popular posts from the last week -- whether you're a new player or just coming back for the game's fifth anniversary, we've got something for you.

It's been a big week in the World of Warcraft -- aside from both the impending patch 3.3 release and the onset of the game's fifth anniversary (yes, it's been almost five years since Blizzard brought their MMO online), Blizzard has finally done something that many thought they would never directly do: start selling in-game items for real money. There was lots of argument about that one this last week, and you'll find that, along with the usual news and insights, over on Joystiq's sister site WoW.com. Check out our most popular posts of the last week in the second half of this post.

Things are hopping as usual over in Azeroth, and Joystiq sister site WoW.com is jumping in time with the tune. Patch 3.3 is being tested, and from what we know so far, it'll bring a new raid, new 5-mans, and possibly the end of the story of Arthas Menethil (a.k.a. The Lich King himself). Want to learn more? Read on!

News

• World of Warcraft Patch 3.3 PTR patch notes
  Here's what Blizzard has put in the new patch so far.
• Blizzard releases details on Icecrown Citadel
  Official details on what the new raids and instances will be like.
• Cataclysm starting zone lore and other new details revealed
  Hints on what we'll find in the starting zones of the new races. And boy do they sound fun.
• Patch 3.3 PTR: New Tauren skins found
  A new look for the cow people in patch 3.3.
• Patch 3.3 PTR: New weekly quests to do while raiding
  The new patch will bring with it more rewards for raiders who go after certain bosses.

Features

• Patch 3.3 PTR: Pit of Saron first impressions
  Our bloggers headed into the new instance, and survived long enough to come back with these impressions.
• Patch 3.3 PTR: Undocumented paladin changes
  Pally changes on the PTR so far.
• Scattered Shots: Patch 3.3, what's on the horizon for hunters
  Looking ahead to what's in store for ranged DPS.
• Arcane Brilliance: Patch 3.3 PTR changes for mages
  Blink is fixed? Go figure!
• Patch 3.3 PTR: Undocumented druid changes
  Updates for shapeshifters from the latest public test realm.

News

• Brewfest 2009: Coren Direbrew's new level 80 loot revealed
  Same boss for the Brewfest ingame holiday, but there is some new loot.
• Blizzard is tracking 180,000 bugs in WoW
  That includes fixed bugs, but still -- that's a lot of edited code.
• WoW.com's guide to Patch 3.2.2
  A brand new patch in the game, with some special anniversary fun included.
• High-rated PvPers do the robot
  A little bit of sneakiness on the part of PvPers.
• Tips for taking down Coren Direbrew
  Want to bring down the Brewfest boss? We've got you covered.

Features

• The Overachiever: Guide to Brewfest 2009 achievements
  Get all the points you can during the holiday celebration.
• Insider Trader: Patch 3.2.2 madness
  How to make some money in the newest patch.
• Raid Rx: 14 Patch 3.2 trinkets to check out
  Get some of the best raid healing trinkets around.
• Ask a Faction Leader: Garrosh Hellscream
  Everyone's least favorite Horde fanatic answers our readers' questions.
• AGDC09: Blizzard talks about the world behind Warcraft
  Interesting info from Blizzard's presentation at this years Austin Game Developers' Conference.

Cats and dogs, sleeping -- well, you know the drill. Blizzard introduced faction transfers to World of Warcraft last week, and as you might imagine, it has us WoW.com folks in a tizzy. Trolls becoming Humans? Night Elves becoming Tauren? It's one big scandal all around. Here's that story, and nine more popular ones, from Joystiq's World of Warcraft-obsessed sister site WoW.com.

News

• Faction change service now available
  For the first time in the game's history, players can switch from Horde to Alliance or vice versa.
• Patch 3.2.2: 5-man Coliseum jousting woes addressed
  The next patch will smooth out some issues folks have been having with the new 5-man instance.
• Play safe, because a trojan can get you banned
  Blizzard's Warden isn't just working for you: if it finds some malware, you might be asked to leave the game for good.
• Garrosh is not well-liked
  There are rumors going around (spoiler) about Garrosh Hellscream, and players aren't real happy about it.
• Yogg-Saron in blues
  Think you need epic gear to be great? Think again.

Features

• Spiritual Guidance: 12 reasons you don't want to play a Priest
  Our Priest columnist looks at the bad side of the clothy healing class.
• Officers' Quarters: Loot rage
  And how to deal with it.
• WoW Rookie: How not to be a noob
  Just imagine if this was required reading when you first started playing games. No more noobs!
• Ask a Faction Leader: Genn Greymane
  It's an advice column and a lore story all in one!
• Survey: Figuring out the faction transfer numbers
  Breaking down who's transferring where.

News

• Patch 3.2.2 Onyxia achievements
  Achievements from the second go-round of the big bad dragon fight for the game's 5th anniversary.
• BlizzCon 2009: First impressions of Cataclysm races
  Our staff breaks down their first impressions of the new races announced in the next expansion.
• BlizzCon 2009: The Guild's Michele Boyd and Jeff Lewis hands-on with the Worgen
  Two stars of The Guild webseries take on the playable Worgen demo available at BlizzCon.
• BlizzCon 2009: The Cataclysm trailer
  This is where it all began -- the expansion trailer revealed at BlizzCon's opening ceremony.
• Battle.net conversion to become mandatory soon
  With the onset of the new Battle.net, everyone's going to have to move over eventually.

Features

• BlizzCon 2009 Insider Trader: Cataclysmic professions
  This big feature (here's part two and part three) takes a look at what's new with professions in Cataclysm.
• BlizzCon 2009: Bingo fail
  Our bingo card for BlizzCon fails again. We need to stop making these so hard.
• BlizzCon 2009: Costumes, part two
  Here's a roundup of all the costumes we saw on the show floor.
• What does Blizzard have planned for an ingame launch event?
  We know there's going to be a launch event for the new expansion, but what will it look like?
• Guildwatch: "ur name is remembered"
  Here's our weekly look at guild drama, downed, and recruiting news from around the realms.

It's BlizzCon fever over on Joystiq sister site WoW.com. Blizzard's annual convention takes place this weekend in Anaheim, and boy are we ready to go there. While we're all packing and flying cross-country to see what Blizzard has in store for us (a new expansion announcement? More Diablo III and Starcraft II info?), you can read up on our most popular stories of the last seven days below.

News

• World of Warcraft: Cataclysm leaked
  Spoilers aplenty in this roundup of leaks about the expected new expansion.
• Onyxia returns in patch 3.2.2
  The big black dragon is back for another go-round.
• Possible new race/class combinations datamined
  A new PTR hints that certain races might be able to take on new classes soon.
• Patch 3.2.2 PTR: New Onyxia loot revealed
  What'll she drop? Find out here.
• Felicia Day unleashes geeky pop single
  The Guild folks release a pop song that's as geeky as it gets.

Features

• Raid Rx: Raid bosses that brought healers to their knees
  Our raid healing series looks at bosses that give healers an extra challenge.
• Breakfast Topic: What if you knew the day WoW would go offline?
  Would you play differently? Or not at all?
• PTR Patch 3.2.2: First impressions of Onyxia
  First look at the big 5th anniversary boss fight.
• All the World's a Stage: Reflections on the passing of a roleplayer's mom
  Very sad but poignant column -- a must read this week, whether you're an RPer or not.
• Totem Talk: Starting a Shaman
  How to begin being a totem-dropper.

News

• Cataclysm races leaked
  WoW.com reveals the new playable races in the Cataclysm expansion, to be announced at BlizzCon next week.
• Player reaction to the 5-man Trial
  What did players think of the brand new 5-man instance?
• Patch 3.2 Known Issues
  Here's what's still broken in the newest patch.
• BigRedKitty gets his own gun in Azeroth
  Our friend and former coworker BRK gets honored with his own piece of ingame gear.
• 53 Emblems per day
  Want to take advantage of the Emblem changes in the new Heroics? Run this route and farm as many emblems as you can.

Features

• Every kind of player's guide to patch 3.2
  Not sure what to do in patch 3.2? Let us help.
• Arcane Brilliance: Good and bad in patch 3.2
  The Mage column examines the pros and cons of what's happening to them in the recent patch.
• Insider Trader: Progressive professions
  How to move professions forward in the future of the game.
• Time is Money: On patrol
  Have only a little time but want to make a lot of gold? Join the Troll Patrol!
• World of Warcraft Patch 3.2 Mounts guide
  The mount changes have affected the game a lot -- here's the rundown of everything that's new.

News

• WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.2
  Everything you need to know (and then some) about the game's newest patch of content.
• World of Warcraft 3.2 release patch notes
  The official word on all of the changes going into the game today.
• WoW China hit with more censorship on relaunch
  China has made some more changes to the game overseas.
• Priest Q&A released
  Blizzard answers some questions about the game's biggest healing class.
• Class Q&A: Rogue
  More class Q&A, this time about the Rogue class.

Features

• Arcane Brilliance: Six essential Mage addons for PvE
  Here's a real treat for raiding Mages: six addons you probably should be using.
• Which class gets invited as what?
  This number cruncher examines the different roles that classes play in groups.
• World of Warcrafts: Baby Hordie shirt
  Wait, the Horde gets to be evil and look this cute? Unfair!
• Drama Mamas: Loot and leaving early
  Our new column about drama and how to prevent it examines what to do with that loot your raid is earning.
• Friday Night Gin: Your weekly blue roundup
  Have a glass of gin with Ghostcrawler and the other forum blues on Friday night.

News

• Sam Raimi to direct the WoW movie
  Yup, the man who directed Evil Dead and Spiderman will be taking us on a cinematic tour of Azeroth.
• Bruce Campbell and Metzen on the movie at Comic-Con
  And if Sam Raimi is there, then you know Bruce Campbell can't be far behind. Gimme some sugar, baby.
• Hunter Q&A released
  Blizzard talks about all things Hunters, including a few hints at what we'll hear from BlizzCon.
• Dwarf levels solely by exploring, gains World Explorer at level 17
  This guy conquered the world before he could even get a mount to ride.
• WoW.com's Guide to patch 3.2
  The next patch is right around the corner -- here's your review on what's in it.

Features

• World of WarCrafts: My Lich King Pony
  Our weekly column spotlighting crafts from around the community shows off a kids toy that's been... Scourged.
• The Light and How to Swing It: Five things every Paladin must do.
  Got a Plate-wearing healer? Here's what you've got to do with them.
• Insider Trader: Woodworking in the expansion?
  "Woodworking" has long been rumored as a new profession in the game, and IT examines how it might be implemented.
• What do you expect from a WoW movie?
  We ask our readers just want they want to see in a movie about the World of Warcraft.
• More ideas for player housing
  Custom places for players in-game is an idea that's been around for a while, but here's a few new takes on it.