The next patch for World of Warcraft will add a feature to the game for players who like things to be difficult. The Proving Grounds will test your skill, and you don’t even have to play in a party to experience this end game content.
Patch 5.4 is aimed at giving players back that which they’ve missed the most, a challenge. One of the biggest complaints World of Warcraft veterans have had was that the game has become too easy. And that it has. Levels 90s will now be able to test their skills in the Proving Grounds, a repeatable solo Scenario. The feature doesn’t change the entire game, but might give players a reason to give the end game content another go.
Getting into the Proving Grounds is as easy as chatting up an NPC in The Temple of the White Tiger in Kun-Lai Summit, or a class trainer who will then grant you access to the instance.
Once you’re there you will pick your role (tank, DPS, or healer) and be faced with a series of challenges based on that role. The instance will be available in different modes: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Endless. You’ll have to start at Bronze in order to move on to the next mode. Players will be able to enter the Proving Grounds as many times as they like and earn Achievements. Food and flasks will last their full duration during the instance, but potions will not be usable. The Proving Grounds will have its own Vendors, Soulwells, repairs and Reforgers.
It’s a great idea for players who like to go at it solo, but I do feel that more people would have tried it out if they could join a group finder, or even do the instance with their friends or guild mates. Having both the option to join either solo, or in a group would make the feature more attractive to all the types of players in the game.
If you want to know more about the Proving Grounds, you can head on over to the official blog.
Last Updated: July 17, 2013
Argentil
July 17, 2013 at 13:46
Seems like a bit of an oversight. Would be cool if you could at least spectate a friend’s solo performance if you join their instance. Like an arena environment.
I do agree that if they were adding solo content, they should have tweaked it to allow the option of having more players and adjusting the difficulty.
Yolanda Green
July 17, 2013 at 15:11
I get why they made it solo, otherwise it would just be another dungeon/instance difficulty. But there’s nothing wrong with adding both options if it’s an arena type mode. I don’t want to do an instance with NPCs…
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 17, 2013 at 13:47
Anyone want to start an argument over WoW vs Guild Wars?
Mathias
July 17, 2013 at 13:49
Sorry, WoW, but I couldn’t hear you from my Guild Wars 2 Asura’s hometown. We have dungeons that could make your proving grounds cry…
Theo Steenekamp
July 17, 2013 at 13:51
Pfft, try maintaining 5 homes on Hello Kitty Island…
John Ambitious
July 17, 2013 at 14:04
The level of badassness has reached critical limit
Kromas
July 17, 2013 at 13:53
Sorry Guild Wars (and wow) … I can’t hear you cause a zombie knocked me out in DayZ.
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 17, 2013 at 13:55
Sorry Wow, Guild and DayZ. Couldnt hear you from space……
Regards
EVE Online
Argentil
July 17, 2013 at 13:56
I concur. I just wish I had a reason to re-sub again, lol.
I’ll be in Eorzea if anyone is looking for me.
That Green Twit
July 17, 2013 at 14:04
*shakes angry fists at GW2 dungeons*
Yolanda Green
July 17, 2013 at 15:06
Sorry WoW! My soul belongs to Dota 2 now!
John Ambitious
July 17, 2013 at 13:51
I have no place here. Haven’t played either.
Argentil
July 17, 2013 at 13:54
Nor do I, I dislike both. Though I have played both. At least Blizzard’s amazing game technology and lore kept me around for the first 4 years. Guild Wars 1: Maxed a character in a month, got bored a week later and dumped it like a smelly carp. Guild Wars 2, maxed a character in 3 weeks, dumped it less than 3 weeks after that. GW lore is insipid.
Theo Steenekamp
July 17, 2013 at 14:01
Wildstar should be released now :(… I want something to play
Argentil
July 17, 2013 at 14:03
I know the feeling. I haven’t really played a proper MMO since GW2. FFXIV is only coming out late next month. Have you played TERA? That game rocks (for a f2p MMO).
Theo Steenekamp
July 17, 2013 at 14:10
Playing Rift and Tera atm. Also enjoyed Neverwinter, the PVE side of that game is really fun.
matthurstrsa
July 18, 2013 at 07:07
I just started playing Neverwinter, and for someone who hasn’t really delved into MMO’s much, I’m having a lot of fun. It helps that its free.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2013 at 14:16
Still not enough to get me back Blizzard!
Theo Steenekamp
July 17, 2013 at 14:19
How can a banana play games?
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 17, 2013 at 14:28
Via Split Screen.
BA DUM TSHHH!
Theo Steenekamp
July 17, 2013 at 14:30
hahahahaha, good one xD
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2013 at 22:43
HAHAHAHAHA Upvoted for pure awesomeness~
Kyle 'Monki' Diffenthal
July 17, 2013 at 14:48
Im the same with GW2, was amped then Leveled to 80 in about a 2 and a half days… then got bored and sad about life and went to Dota…
Now however, Rift all the way I say… F2P and the end game content is literally endless for the new users that have joined… Its not like playing catch up if you were in a guild and stopped playing for a bit… Plus… the sheer amount of SA guys playing it is amazing!
And the only thing you get if you do pay…. is a slight Xp boost.. Woop Dee Doo… Naat!
CrasH
July 17, 2013 at 14:55
Dont just want a SOLO in a MMO…
I just want a good MMO… any suggestions, besides the list below?
Wow is dead to me (will not go back again like before… want 40 man raids)
Aion (extreme grind, gear > skill, unbalanced classes, horrible crafting) – i heard it improved but just can go back
Tera was good (but none of my friends liked it – so left it – played tank and manual blocking is awesome)
Rift is intresting (but already losing intrest in it again. just missing something… then again, almost end level, will try hold out to see some end game)
SWTOR (good single story leveling – but end game killed it and left to never return – don’t know if it improved yet)
GW2 – grind to look pretty, but then you look at the gear and it all looks crap… plus world events, guild events are just a pub group mass dps’ing a mob down…
Eve – never played, wanted to maybe start but got told that if your not in one of the big guilds… you basically get blown up all the time and never have cash and to grow is very difficult (any truth?)
Waiting on wildstar as thats where everyone is going to go…
Yolanda Green
July 17, 2013 at 15:00
You should try Neverwinter if you like the arpg feel, or Defiance if you like the shooter genre. Both fun MMOs.
Kyle 'Monki' Diffenthal
July 17, 2013 at 15:04
Yeah Defiance is quite tight… And I must Admit that Trion is very good with their customer service and Forums
CrasH
July 17, 2013 at 15:15
Yaw saw the atricle earlier that they even added an expansion, will look at home on the gameplay and some mechanics of the game.
Anyone try ragnorok 2 online yet?
Theo Steenekamp
July 17, 2013 at 15:48
Ragnorok 2, feels like a well put together game. Has great potential and a good feeling of progress, just a huge grind to get anywhere, but rewarding. Think it fits with Diablo fans.
Kyle 'Monki' Diffenthal
July 17, 2013 at 15:00
Crash if your interested I have a few mates in the clan leveling and running around doing things in game and that… so if you’d like to join us we’d be glad to run with you so you can get your level on! In game is Zytan, ill be online from tomorrow so if your keen set your name up here and ill invite when I’m in game! I have a lvl 60 Rogue so im chilled to help out
CrasH
July 17, 2013 at 15:09
I am asuming Rift?
Kyle 'Monki' Diffenthal
July 17, 2013 at 15:24
Yes sorry lol that’s the one haha
Unavengedavo
July 17, 2013 at 15:44
I am waiting for Elder Scrolls Online
Theo Steenekamp
July 17, 2013 at 15:49
That and Wildstar, I also heard something about a Warhammer 40k MMO thats in the works.
Unavengedavo
July 17, 2013 at 15:54
The Warhammer 40k MMO has been in the works for a long while now. Last I heard it was in development limbo.
Theo Steenekamp
July 17, 2013 at 15:58
Makes me sad… downfall of THQ caused a gem to be lost.
Unavengedavo
July 17, 2013 at 15:59
There is hope!!!
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/25/warhammer-40k-eternal-crusade-mmo-announced
Tarisma
July 17, 2013 at 21:57
You could give the new FF a try. I’m in the beta (thanks LG) it’s cool looks very nice and the story seems quite cool. But to be honest I haven’t played for too long the day the last beta started the new GW2 content dropped and I went straight back to GW (the combat feels better and the new content is awesome) but I have promised to play further next beta I wanna see later game combat!
InsanityFlea
July 17, 2013 at 15:52
Something to keep me going until ESO.
Weanerdog
July 17, 2013 at 16:40
On another note is anyone in the MechWarrior online Beta?
Tarisma
July 17, 2013 at 21:53
I am. Haven’t played in about 8 months now though. Didn’t grab me.
Weanerdog
July 18, 2013 at 16:44
🙁
Accolonn
July 17, 2013 at 23:16
Well to be fair I will probably return to wow with the launch of the new expansion, and I am praying that Dailiecraft is then over and we can get back to some proper TBC like gaming. I love wow and played it for more than 7 years, I still pay my sub even though I never log in, I just sometimes miss the game. At the moment LoL has my heart, do yourselves a favor and check out lol esports over the weekends, it is so cool and well done, RIOT FTW!!! As for any questions about other games, once you’ve played wow no other MMO will ever truly be sufficient. All of them always lack something, especially if you played vanilla and TBC.
Mythryl
July 17, 2013 at 23:41
Hey wow Ima let you finish, but Neverwinter foundries are better m’kay
JC
July 18, 2013 at 09:07
neverwinter is a re-skin of another mmo owned by PerfectWorld. It’s called neverwinter, but the parralell to the real neverwinter ends there.It’s a farce. They bought the neverwinter brand to coax Forgotten Realms fans into swallowing turd.
Brenz
July 18, 2013 at 07:28
Not even near enough to spark my interest again, I play mmo’s to tackle bosses and instances in a group with tactics and a social atmosphere.
I will be giving my hard earned money to Final Fantasy upon release date.
Vampyre Squirrel
July 18, 2013 at 08:53
Yeah… I wouldn’t go do it just because I can… would for the achievements though, but then I haven’t had game time since January or something, and I have to study, so sorry WoW, me no play you!!!
My biggest problem with WoW is how frikken long it takes to level a character from 1 to 90, it feels endless, and if you’ve levelled more than one character to 85 or even 90, you get pretty sick of the areas to level in… yes there are other areas to level in, but I’ve done those too, a lot.