Fishing has always been one of the most relaxing and rewarding side activities in World of Warcraft. For many players, it’s not just about catching fish; it’s about unwinding, earning achievements, and feeling like a vital part of Azeroth’s ecosystem. However, fishing in The War Within (TWW) expansion has left many anglers, myself included, deeply disappointed. What was once a serene escape has turned into a tedious grind. Let’s dive into why fishing in TWW is currently a mess.
The Mereldar Derby Fishing Weekly: A Case of Fun Gone Wrong
The Mereldar Derby used to be a weekly highlight for fishing enthusiasts. For one hour every Saturday, you could participate in an engaging activity and earn around 35 Derby Marks. It was quick, satisfying, and rewarding. However, a recent hotfix drastically changed the dynamic.
Now, the Derby awards a paltry 3 Derby Marks per week, with an additional 3 possible if you run it on an alt. This means you’re looking at a total of 13-15 Derby Marks per week, tops. To make matters worse, getting those extra Marks requires leveling fishing on alts, crafting equipment, and investing a significant amount of gold—all for a fraction of the previous rewards.
This change has tripled the time investment required for the same rewards, turning a once-fun activity into a chore. The thrill of fishing is replaced by the frustration of an unnecessary grind.
Algari Weaverline: A Cool Idea, Horribly Executed
The Algari Weaverline is a new fishing tool enchant that promises buffs while you fish. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, crafting this enchant is a nightmare.
First, it costs 100 Acuity to make, which fishermen have no natural way of earning. Secondly, while you can technically farm Threads of Algari Weaverline from fishing pools, the drop rate is abysmal. After spending seven hours actively fishing in pools, I haven’t received a single thread. The only viable way to get threads? You guessed it—buying them with Mereldar Derby Marks.
To reach level 100 in fishing (the max), you’ll need 2,000 Derby Marks, which at the current rate of 15 Marks per week will take an eye-watering 133 weeks per character. That’s over two years of grinding for what should be a straightforward side activity.
Fish Demand and Pricing: A Broken Economy
The fish economy in TWW is another glaring issue. Certain fish, like Kaheti Slum Shark, are in high demand because they’re used in the cheapest feast recipes. This has driven up their price, making them disproportionately more expensive than rarer, harder-to-catch fish like Queen Lurefish or Awakened Coelacanth.
This imbalance makes fishing mechanics feel frustratingly out of sync. Why are the rarer fish, which require more effort to catch, less profitable than the more common ones? It’s baffling. Worse, the buffs you get from throwing fish back into the water often cost more in materials than the fish themselves are worth. This creates a system where it’s more economical to mindlessly AFK fish for low-value catches than to actively pursue high-value ones.
A Broken Reel: Why It Matters
Fishing in The War Within feels like a series of missed opportunities. From the over-tuned grind of the Mereldar Derby to the poorly implemented Algari Weaverline and broken fish economy, the entire system needs an overhaul. Fishing should feel rewarding and fun, not like an endless grind for negligible rewards.
Conclusion: Time for a Hotfix to Fix the Fun
The War Within promised a lot, but its fishing mechanics have sunk to the bottom of the enjoyment barrel. Blizzard has an opportunity here to listen to its player base and make fishing great again. By restoring the Mereldar Derby’s rewards, increasing the drop rates for Algari Weaverline threads, and balancing the fish economy, they could reel us back in.
Until then, I’ll be wistfully remembering the days of relaxing fishing sessions in expansions past—because right now, fishing in TWW feels more like hard labor than a leisure activity. Let’s hope Blizzard hears our cries before our fishing rods gather dust.
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