Blizzard recently announced changes to Timewalking dungeons, and like clockwork, the forums lit up with doomsayers and outrage.
These changes aim to make it possible to experience Timewalking dungeons more authentically, giving players the opportunity to use more abilities and practice their class’s damage rotations, healing spells, or defensives. When players wish to use Timewalking dungeons to level up, we want you to learn your class in realistic combat encounters, especially boss encounters. This also acknowledges and rewards players who take the time to acquire powerful gear, since better gear increases your damage, healing, and survivability. We will actively monitor testing and feedback and we will make further adjustments as needed.
Some players see this as Blizzard “nerfing fun,” but was mindless rushing really the point of Timewalking?
Timewalking Dungeon Drama
Timewalking truly has become a parody of itself. Twinked-out level 11 Warriors were one-shotting entire trash packs. Players were being locked out of boss encounters. Newer or levelling players never had the chance to use their abilities, much less understand how to play their class. For many, it was just another badge farm or XP grind.
That’s not fun, that’s content being bulldozed. The original concept of Timewalking was to let us revisit old dungeons with a semblance of their original challenge. What it became was a theme park ride: Press W to Win!
The Hypocrisy of the “Endgame Only” Crowd
Here’s where it gets rather interesting. A particularly vocal forum poster argued:
“The game begins and endgame.”
“I just want to get through these dungeons as quickly as possible to get to Mythic+.”
Let’s break that down. You’re grinding through Timewalking, a treadmill, to get to Mythic+, yet another treadmill. If your entire playstyle revolves around skipping 99% of the game to get to “content,” what’s the point?
This mindset turns an MMO into a checklist, not an RPG. It’s a habit loop, not a journey.
RPGs Are Meant to Be Experienced, Not Rushed
In games like Skyrim or Fallout, players slow down. They explore, build character backstories, and immerse themselves in the world. In World of Warcraft, it’s “go-go-go,” skip dialogue, chain-queue, avoid mechanics. Why is this genre-defining MMORPG the only one where skipping 99% of the game is not just common, but fiercely defended? It’s because of one word: ego.
People don’t want their efficiency challenged. They don’t want to “waste time” doing things that don’t involve topping meters or speedrunning. When Blizzard pumps the brakes on their ego-trip, they lash out.
Timewalking Isn’t Dead, It’s Reborn
Blizzard didn’t kill Timewalking. They made it worth playing again. Now, instead of being a glorified XP tunnel or badge farm, it’s shaping up to be a real piece of content. You’ll need to think, use cooldown, and actually play the game!
If that offends you? Maybe playing World of Warcraft isn’t for you.
