Introduction to Upgrading Gear in Midnight
Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or a newcomer to the world of World of Warcraft: Midnight, understanding how to upgrade your gear efficiently is crucial for maximizing your character's potential. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the intricacies of the Midnight gear upgrade system, detailing the changes, updates, currencies, and tracks involved. With strategic insights and practical tips, you'll be ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.
Key Takeaways
The Midnight gear upgrade system is designed to provide players with a clear and structured path to enhancing their equipment. Key highlights of this system include:
Track-Based System: Each item belongs to a specific upgrade track, unique to its type and source.
Crest Costs: Upgrading an item costs 20 Crests per rank, with a weekly cap of 100 Crests in Season 1.
Track-Specific Crests: Hero items require Hero Crests, while Myth items need Myth Crests.
Crafted Gear: Requires 80 Crests to craft, adhering to the two-Embellishment rule.
Optimal Item Level Gain: Prioritize upgrading Hero and Myth gear over Champion items for faster progression.
Sources of Crests: Obtainable from raids, Mythic+ dungeons, Delves, Prey activities, and open-world events.
Valorstones Removal: Gear upgrades now solely require Crests and a small amount of gold.
Understanding Gear Upgrade Mechanics
The Midnight gear upgrade system is rooted in a track-based structure, where each item follows its unique upgrade path. Gaining proficiency in this system involves comprehending three main aspects: Crest costs and their weekly cap, gear upgrade limits, and the functioning of upgrade tracks.
Crest Costs and Weekly Cap
In the Midnight expansion, upgrading gear involves spending Crests, with each rank costing 20 Crests. These Crests are specific to the item's track, with Hero items requiring Hero Crests and Myth items needing Myth Crests. Season 1 introduces a weekly cap of 100 Crests, limiting upgrades to five per week under optimal conditions.
💡 Valorstones have been removed from the game, simplifying the upgrade process which now includes a minor gold cost.
Gear Upgrade Limits
Each item in Midnight has a defined upgrade track, including Adventurer, Veteran, Champion, Hero, and Myth tracks. Items can only be upgraded within their track, meaning a Champion item cannot be transformed into a Hero item simply by upgrading its rank.
Understanding Upgrade Tracks
Each item in Midnight follows a distinct upgrade track, which dictates its potential for enhancement. For instance, the Champion track caps at 6/6, equating to a 2/6 item in the Hero track. This ensures that items in the Hero track can be upgraded fully to 6/6 without interfering with the Myth track.
Upgrade TrackItem LevelWorld / QuestingDelves / BountifulDungeons (Drops)Dungeons (Great Vault)RaidsUnranked207QuestingAdventurer220World ActivitiesTier 1Veteran233Great VaultTier 5Tier 1Champion246Tier 7Mythic SeasonalTier 5Hero259Tier 8-11Mythic +6-7Mythic +2-3HeroicMyth272Mythic +10 or higherMythic
Where to Upgrade Gear in Midnight
For those looking to enhance their gear, Midnight's upgrade vendors, Cuzolth and Vaskarn, are stationed in Silvermoon City's primary hub, The Bazaar.
🗺️ To locate these gear upgrade vendors, head right from the Sanctum of Light and enter the building marked with a Crest Exchange signboard.
While accessing the upgrade interface doesn't require a lengthy questline, Vaskarn will prompt players to complete the Adventurer Gear first to familiarize themselves with the upgrading process. Once you've reached the necessary level and engaged in end-game content, the upgrade interface becomes automatically available. Note that this interface is character-based, not account-wide.
Navigating the Midnight Gear Upgrade Interface
To upgrade your gear, simply interact with the upgrade vendor to open the upgrade interface. Insert the item you wish to upgrade into the designated slot to view the current track, rank, and the maximum achievable rank. Additionally, you'll see the type of Crest required and the associated gold cost.
🔔 Once an item reaches the maximum rank within its track, it cannot be upgraded further or transferred to another track.
Currency Used for Gear Upgrades in Midnight
Crests are the primary currency for gear upgrades in Midnight. Each track uses its specific type of Crest, such as Hero Crests for Hero gear, and Myth Crests for Myth gear. The removal of Valorstones simplifies the process, now requiring only Crests and a small gold fee.
Types of Crests in Midnight
Adventurer Dawncrests
Veteran Dawncrests
Champion Dawncrests
Hero Dawncrests
Myth Dawncrests
It's important to note that lower-level Crests cannot upgrade higher-tier gear. Each track's unique currency adds a layer of strategy to gear progression.
Crest Costs in Midnight
Upgrading each rank in any track costs 20 Crests. This uniform cost allows players to plan and calculate upgrades efficiently. Crafted gear, however, requires 80 Crests, equating to four upgrade ranks in power. This can be earned relatively quickly through Mythic+ dungeons.
With a weekly Crest cap of 100, players can achieve five upgrades per week if they plan wisely, especially when aiming for the BiS Gear.
Strategies for Fast Item Level Increase in Midnight
Maximizing item level in Midnight is less about constant farming and more about timing your upgrades. To avoid wasting Crests, focus on upgrading items that will remain relevant beyond a week:
Hero Track: Prioritize upgrading these items as they offer the greatest potential for Season 1 longevity, fully upgradeable to 6/6.
Champion Track: Avoid fully upgrading these items, as they offer limited power gain in the long run.
Myth Track: Upgrade these items to their maximum potential as soon as possible for significant item level boosts.
Reserve Crests for Gladiator Title Boost or other high-end content rewards. Given the weekly cap, it's easy to mistakenly invest Crests in low-tier items, so focus on acquiring Hero track gear first.
Midnight Recommended Upgrade Order
Slot TypeUpgrade PriorityReasonWeaponVery HighLargest item level impact on overall DPS or throughputTier PiecesHighSet bonuses increase overall powerTrinketsHigh (if BIS)Strong scaling or unique effectsArmor SlotsMediumGood for smoothing ilvlChampion Track ItemsLowWeak long-term scaling
Best Ways to Farm Upgrade Materials in Midnight
Farming Crests in Midnight naturally aligns with completing weekly routines. The weekly cap makes choosing the right content more crucial than farming everything at once. Different activities offer different Crest types, so target the content that aligns with your desired upgrades:
Raids: A consistent source of Crests, with Normal and Heroic difficulties offering mid-tier Crests, and Mythic raids providing Myth Crests.
Mythic+ Dungeons: Reliable for farming, with higher key levels rewarding higher-tier Crests and better Weekly Vault options.
Delves: Offer upgrade materials based on tier difficulty.
Prey Activities: On Nightmare difficulty, may drop Champion-track items and Crests, subject to tuning changes in future seasons.
Blue Air Sparks: Collecting these in certain zones grants Coffer Key Shards and occasionally Adventurer Crests.
ActivityCrest TypeBest ForEfficiencyMythic RaidMythEndgame upgradesVery HighHeroic RaidHeroMid-to-high progressionHighMythic+ (High Keys)Hero / MythConsistent farmingVery HighDelvesVaries by TierSupplemental upgradesMediumPreyChampion / Hero (S1)Extra gearing optionsMediumBlue Air SparksAdventurerPassive incomeLow
Midnight Gear Upgrade FAQ
How Can I Upgrade Gear in Midnight?
To upgrade gear in Midnight, visit the upgrade vendor in the expansion hub to check the upgrade cost. If you have the necessary currency, place your item in the interface and use the required Crests to elevate your item's rank.
What Is the Weekly Crest Cap in Midnight?
During Season 1, the weekly Crest cap is set at 100 Crests per type. This allows you to upgrade your item up to five times each week. Keep in mind that this cap might adjust in future seasons.
How Do You Increase Item Level Fast in Midnight?
Focus on upgrading Hero and Myth items, prioritize weapons and tier pieces, and avoid expending Crests on rapidly replaced equipment.
Where Do Crests Drop in Midnight?
Crests drop from a variety of activities, including raids, Mythic+ dungeons, Delves, Prey events, and some open-world encounters like blue air sparks while flying.
What Is the Maximum Item Level in Midnight Season 1?
The highest item level attainable in Midnight Season 1 is 289, represented by a 6/6 item in the Myth track.
In conclusion, upgrading gear in Midnight requires careful planning to ensure you maximize your Crest usage. Starting with Hero track items and completing weekly activities will help you reach your goals efficiently. For those looking to expedite their progress, consider the services available through Koroboost.