Dual speccing in three easy steps
by Eliah Hecht 
Apr 14th 2009 at 8:20AM
One of the biggest new features in today's patch 3.1 is dual spec capabilities. It's been through many iterations on the PTR, and there's a lot of information floating around (check out our full guide to dual specs), but here's the abbreviated version.
- Go see your class trainer. Bring 1,000g and be at least level 40. Make sure the glyphs you have on right now are the ones you want to be associated with your primary talent spec.
- Ask your trainer nicely for dual-spec capabilities, and pay that 1,000g.
- All your talents are now reset, and you now have access to a second set of them. Set up your talents as you wish, buy new skills as required, and add glyphs to your second spec.
Congratulations! You may now switch specs any time you're out of combat (except in arenas). The video above shows the process of switching specs; doing so also switches your action bars and your glyphs (you store a separate set of glyphs for each spec). Switching specs does not require a Lexicon of Power. In fact, Lexicons of Power are not required for anything any more, not even glyphing. Each of your two sets of talents can be reset just like you're used to resetting talents; resetting one does not disturb the other. Happy talenting!
Patch 3.1 is live and it takes us into Ulduar, delivers us dual specs, and brings significant changes to all the classes! We've got you covered from top to bottom with our Guide to Patch 3.1 and the official patch notes!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ei Apr 14th 2009 8:23AM
I cannot wait to try it out on my druid. xD
Zul Apr 14th 2009 8:24AM
Someone is confused on how to duel spec? Oh my.
Jimmy Apr 14th 2009 5:57PM
Someone is confused about how to spell dual? Oh my....
SarahTheGnome Apr 14th 2009 8:33AM
Any word on how the bar switching works with mods such as bartender? Will your action bar switch when you use such a mod? Or? Yeah sorry, I want to know already! But I am in EU so I have to wait for patch until tomorrow. Come on US people, share the goodness.
AZShizzle Apr 14th 2009 8:41AM
My bet is that 3.1 will in fact break Bartender and the publisher will make a new version that supports it.
Charlie Apr 14th 2009 8:41AM
It should. It already does this for things like Shadowform, vanish, etc
You will probobly have to get an updated version for it to work w/ dual specs, but yes it should work.
sephirah Apr 14th 2009 8:46AM
Macaroon has been updated to support dual spec bars.
Anyway, if you use macro, the modifier [spec:1] or [spec:2] should have been introduced to allow conditional actions based on your current spec.
Charlie Apr 14th 2009 8:46AM
Most dedicated developers were on the PTR testing it out.
Case in point: Dominos, the barmod i use, is up to date for 3.1 already
SarahTheGnome Apr 14th 2009 8:57AM
Thank you for your replies! I will update bartender, pray to the WoW lords that the developer was on PTR, and fix accordingly. I hope I don't need to get a new barmod because my UI looks so pwetty and I am too lazy to fix it all again.
JDM Apr 14th 2009 12:15PM
BTW, if I'm not mistaken, Bartender is being semi-maintained, but has been rebranded as Dominos (aka BT4 or something).
Rai Apr 14th 2009 8:44AM
Poor, poor Lexicon of Power. How the mighty has fallen.
I reckon 25% of people will still change glyphs next to it out of habit.
Charlie Apr 14th 2009 8:47AM
I never really saw the point. It was just a hassle that served no purpose IMO.
I guess they didn't want people switching glyphs where they couldn't respec as well kinda deal. But with dual-specs it woulda been really silly for them to keep it in.
Tirrimas Apr 14th 2009 9:15AM
No, the three steps are:
1. Grind.
2. Grind.
3. Grind.
jrizutko Apr 14th 2009 11:39AM
We all knew the price about a month ago. If you waited to save up the 1,000 g until now, then you have yourself to complain to.
Of course, you can make 1,000g easily in 3 hours of gathering, and 2 days of auctioning, so I don't see what the big deal is.
Radiophonic Apr 14th 2009 9:36AM
Did we really need the 1k gold sink from this? I think most new players (read: those who started playing after WoTLK came out) are having a hard enough time saving 6k for cold weather/epic flight. I sure hope these new dailies will help them out with earning some gold the same way the Quel'danas dailies helped us in BC.
jrizutko Apr 14th 2009 11:36AM
Well we didn't really "need" dual specs in the first place. Blizzard has always asked players to make choices about how they spend their resources. Warcraft/Diablo/Starcraft/World of Warcraft. Part of their central design pattern has always been to make players balance choices and priorities.
A big part of what makes WoW the game it is are the way you spend talent points and balance specs. Like it or not, offering a change to that dynamic as cheap or free would not be consistent with WoW.
Murph Apr 14th 2009 9:43AM
Massively overpriced and a great opportunity missed by Blizz to sort the constant shortage of healers & tanks for casual groups / PUGs. It should have been either free or a maximum of 100g per additional spec, then you could more or less guarantee that all hybrids would jump at it, not just high end folk that are a good way beyond casual.
Also, way to go, Blizz, with the continual gold sinks - the gold farming/selling scum must love you!
yossarian Apr 14th 2009 10:10AM
I don't see the problem. Whether you are "casual" or not, most players can save up 1k gold in a relatively short amount of time. Those that are interested in dual speccing have also had this information regarding the 1k cost for weeks.
I expect MOST 80s that aren't pure dps classes to have a 2nd spec within the week - it dramatically increases your chance to find a group if you can tank/heal. EVERY class that can tank and/or heal also has at least one tree dedicated to DPS, which is almost by default the most popular tree. It's a win-win, IMO.
jrizutko Apr 14th 2009 11:43AM
I personally wouldn't want to run with any tanks or healers who weren't into their role enough to be prepared for dual specs already.
Kryxx Apr 14th 2009 4:44PM
Pure dps classes are just as excited about dual specs. I can finally pvp without using a crappy pve spec or paying 100g every time to switch it around. Even those not interested in pvp will probably jump at the chance to have different pve specs.