Midnight hotfixes · PvP rating progression gets a boost and Ruby Life Pools gets a forces fix

Planning some arena matches or keys this weekend? Blizzard's hotfix list dated September 17 has a few changes worth knowing about. Here are the essentials from this update, without repeating the earlier entries in the rolling changelog.

More momentum for PvP rating progression

Linxy's bluepost announces increased rating inflation across all rated modes, particularly Battleground Blitz, Rated Battlegrounds and 3v3 Arena. The aim is better seasonal progression in response to player feedback.

That is not a promise of a particular number of points from your next win. The announcement gives no individual rating bonus or new reward threshold. Keep tracking your own rating against your goal rather than expecting an automatic jump.

Ruby Life Pools: kills should count toward enemy forces

Blazebound Destroyers and Primalist Flamedancers could fail to count if their threat table had no player when their death sequence ended. Blizzard has addressed that issue.

One side effect: their forces contribution disappears from the default UI tooltip. A missing tooltip value therefore does not by itself mean the kill awards no progress. Those are two different things to watch when planning a route.

The Coiled Altar and a PvP trinket

The Coiled Altar's Unnerving Fixation was selecting tanks too frequently. Meanwhile, Font of Venomous Rage deals 50% less damage in PvP. This entry is not a PvE nerf.

What should you watch next time you play?

Our practical checklist is short: watch the actual forces counter during a key, and assess your trinket separately for arena and dungeon play. A tooltip, the result of a kill and a mode-specific restriction are not interchangeable pieces of information.

These are hotfixes, not a PTR preview. Blizzard notes that some fixes may require realm restarts. Find Midnight guides and news on the expansion page.