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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsThe Queue: Legendaries are for suckers
by Alex Ziebart 
Feb 4th 2009 at 5:30PM
What? Me lace a post title with jealousy? I would never do that! Never ever! Okay, okay, maybe there's some jealousy there. Can you blame me? Screw purps, I want me some orange. Orange is where it's at, cat.
erogroth asked...
I have a question about legendary items. Do we know what Legendary items are planned for WotLK? Are there currently any in the game? If not what are planned for the future or can we speculate? It sounds like Ashbringer will not be a item that a player will be able to get. Is that true? Also, what about upgrade quest for old world legendary items. It seems like so much work went into getting them (Thunderfury anyone?) that it seems a shame that they are worthless.
Wrath of the Lich King doesn't have any legendary items yet that we've seen. We really have no idea what Legendary items they'll be adding in the future, but you're right about speculation. The two that people assume we'll be able to get our hands on are Ashbringer and Frostmourne, but at this point neither of them seem particularly likely unless something awful goes down at the end of Wrath. If Tirion bites the dust (which will be disappointing now that he's getting real in-game build-up), we'll probably get Ashbringer. I'm willing to bet that if we get Frostmourne, it'll be 'powered down' a little lore-wise. We'll probably damage it in some way in the Arthas fight, or it'll lose some zing when it's cut off from its connection to Ner'zhul. Something like that.
Or maybe we'll get something else entirely for our legendaries. We don't know.
As far as upgrading old world Legendaries, Blizzard has said that they don't really want to do that, though nothing says they won't change their mind on it later. The items are really, really good when you can get them, but they really shouldn't be the only weapon you ever use. As cool as having a Legendary is, it'd be sort of lame if it's the only item you ever used ever once you get it.
Serrano asked...
Any word on recipes coming out to upgrade the Axe/Hammer/Swordsmthing epic weapons like Blazefury?
We won't be seeing upgrades to Burning Crusade items.
ryanthered asked...
Speaking of soloing content, is it possible for a higher level arcane mage to solo instances in the same way a mail or plate wearer can? Assuming equal character and gear levels. I ask because I'm used to playing melee and could really clear stuff quickly and now am leveling a mage and generally feel very vulnerable going into enclosed spaces.
It's going to largely depend on the encounter. Any bosses that are casters and don't melee very much, you'll take them out easier than most melee would as long as you're using all of the tools available to you. The other question is, can you kite what you're trying to solo? Raid bosses you probably won't be able to do that, but a lot of 5-man bosses you can get away with kiting them around a bit or using terrain to make them chase you while you pelt away.
It's really going to depend on the encounter, and I highly recommend experimenting before deciding you can't do something. If you can blow up a boss before he blows you up, success! You can't take a beating as well as a Warrior can, but you do have the advantage of starting at range and higher burst potential. Experiment!
AyaJulia asked...
I've just respecced my hunter from BM to Surv--not because it's the flavor of the month spec, but because I was to be sure my 10-man group has Replenishment--and I was using a Spirit Beast before, which I can't use anymore. All of my non-exotic pets are still only 75. What would be the fastest, least grindy/annoying way to level my pet?
The obvious answer here is "quests," but I already did all of the quests in Northrend for money. Yes really, all of them. ^^;
There are always daily quests for mobs to kill, or you can stick to dungeons and/or Heroics. It shouldn't take terribly long to level that pet, so you might want to go the dungeons route to dodge grinding out dailies. Heroics will bring you emblems and such at the same time, so there's some extra benefit beyond just pet XP.
If you don't mind daily quests, it might be a good time to work on some of your reputation. The Ebon Blade has a number of daily quests that involve just plain killing things, and the Sons of Hodir have a few of those as well. If those aren't particularly attractive, you might be stuck just murderizing mobs somewhere. Sorry.
Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW Insider crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column! Leave your questions in the comments and we'll do our best to answer 'em!Filed under: Hunter, Mage, Blacksmithing, Analysis / Opinion, The Queue
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
KT Feb 5th 2009 1:39AM
That was unnecessarily rude. If you paid attention you would see that the person who asked the question said she would not bring her pet into Heroics and most comments have agreed so I'm not sure who you're yelling at here.
It was also stated in the question that the reason her pet wasn't leveled was because she respecced and couldn't use the exotic pet she had leveled with anymore. Not because she was "lazy."
Firestride Feb 4th 2009 5:46PM
I actually think it would be AWESOME if you got a legendary item and knew you'd never need to replace it. They're legendary!
OneWing Feb 4th 2009 5:47PM
Here's my problem with that theory of not updating Legendary weapons because it would be the only item you ever use: No one gets legendary weapons unless they are the hardest of the hard core. They will be replacing them if further raid epics and legendaries are more powerful. So you scale them so that they are replaced by 25-man epic raid equipment. It just doesn't make sense that legendary weapons should be able to be replaced by rep purchases or quest blues.
And from what I've been seeing from solo-ing videos is that clothies are reduced to using trickery to do the most intense encounters. But really, isn't that kinda what magic is built to do, anyhow? Mages are weak, just smarter than everyone else, so they come up with magic tricks to survive - rather painful and scary magic tricks, but still. As such, to pull of the really interesting "feats of strength," they just outsmart the instance that wasn't tuned to the current game. It isn't about raw damage in and damage out.
Dreadskull Feb 4th 2009 5:50PM
They should have Tirion and Darion come and fight the Lich King with us in the final battle up in the Lich King raid.
And then Tirion ends up dying, dropping the Ashbringer... then someone can grab it and can get a few minutes of god mode, only to completely exhaust the Ashbringer's power and have it be the sword model without the glowy circle thing... and then have it be just an epic two hander called "Tirion's Might" or something like that.
Dreadskull Feb 4th 2009 5:51PM
To add:
It'd technically give people what they've wanted, just not in legendary/ubar form :P
West Feb 4th 2009 5:51PM
Legendary weapons should be changed to bind on account and scale with level like a heirloom item. and what is better as a heirloom than a legendary?
That way my leveling guys could use the weapon that was passed down from their great forefather who wrestled it from the hand of an elemental long ago.
Would be better than simply sitting in a bank.. then again, might need to impose some min/max level requirements (or just leave them as 60) for balance.
jbodar Feb 4th 2009 7:47PM
Would you really want to see Ashbringer or Thunderfury used to beat on Murlocs in Elwynn Forest? Yeah, that's the stuff of legends...
West Feb 5th 2009 12:38AM
i would love to see a naked level 1 gnome tank hogger with a Thunderfury. now that would be the stuff of legend.
Kaphik Feb 4th 2009 5:52PM
"As cool as having a Legendary is, it'd be sort of lame if it's the only item you ever used ever once you get it."
I totally disagree. Legendary implies that these items transcend history itself, and are some of the most powerful items ever to exist. I think legendary weapons should scale with the owner, as he or she gains power and experience, the power of the weapon grows. Just because they know how to better utilize it. I mean, how legendary is Thunderfury now that a blacksmith can craft something that is superior?
Amak Feb 4th 2009 6:28PM
But how legendary is the item when you can 5-man the content to get it now?
Biggles Feb 4th 2009 6:02PM
Given you respecced for guild (or group) benefit - I would think your guild would be happy to help you level your pet in heroics. Mine would for any of our hunters, no questions asked (but I have a really good guild in that regard).
But - it seems to me you worry a bit much. If you're up front about it, anyone who says "sorry, you can't go because you're trying to level your pet" is maybe someone you shouldn't be bothering to group with anyway. Besides - I don't see a low level pet as being that much of a gimp or wipe-causer, especially if you're careful about how you handle it. Keep it back until the tank has good aggro and don't let it run off (which applies to a level 80 pet, frankly) and you should be good to go. If the slightly lower DPS really makes a difference - well, again, maybe that's not the group to run the heroic with...
Jeryia Feb 4th 2009 6:03PM
Hello,
I believe if we where to get Frostmourne as a drop from Arthas it would have a similar effect to the Corrupted Ashbringer.
The Corrupted Ashbringer was a drop in naxx(40 man). upon equiping it you would become hated by the argent dawn, and they would kill you on sight. The item had little value other than just being cool, and allowed you to access some quests.
I would expect Frostmourne, if it is to be at item, to be either a quest turn in, or a corrupted weapon.
-Jeryia
Arashikou Feb 4th 2009 7:22PM
And let's not forget that Corrupted Ashbringer constantly whispers little madnesses in your ear. Also, it makes the Scarlet Crusade bow down before you and can trigger an awesome event in Scarlet Monastery.
I wholly support Frostmourne being a similar "freaking awesome but mostly for show" item, preferably one anyone can use.
Thaumaturgos Feb 4th 2009 6:11PM
"As cool as having a Legendary is, it'd be sort of lame if it's the only item you ever used ever once you get it."
Ummm...
"Legendary" does seem to imply this very thing. It does seem to me that to quaify for "Legendary" status a weapon or armor piece must be so good that only another legendary piece can replace it.
Or are we rewriting the dictionary to 'rescale' "legendary"?
I like the suggestions of 15 and 16: make the weapon BOA, and/ or scale with the player to the point where a new legendary weapon comes into the game.
NoTomorrow Feb 4th 2009 6:52PM
Despite what many people think, the color of an item does not determine how good it is overall, but how good it is at the requisite level. For example, if someone has a level 30 purple dagger equipped at 50 saying "lol it's epic so BEST", they are wrong.
Danel Feb 4th 2009 8:26PM
"Legendary" just implies it has lore around it. It doesn't mean it's the best weapon ever, just that great things were done by one of its wielders.
Jacckk Feb 4th 2009 6:08PM
At Blizzcon, one of the panelists made a comment that they would like the casters to have some love on Legendaries next. I can't find it in your coverage, but it was on Slashdot here:
http://games.slashdot.org/games/08/10/14/1440209.shtml
They also made a similar comment at Blizzcon 2007 because the Naxx caster weapon was so short lived:
http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/04/professions-and-items-liveblog/
Lemons Feb 4th 2009 6:09PM
I think this question about legendary items was asked a long time ago (probably right before BC was released if I remember correctly), and the blues said something to the effect of "we don't want players to be able to use the same weapon forever."
Besides, how would they even make that work? If Thunderfury could be upgraded into a level 80 legendary item what would stop every warrior and his dog from easily grabbing it from the old world instances and upgrading it to the lvl 80 version?
Well you could say "well they should only be able to upgrade if they've had it since vanilla", but that would screw 98% of the people playing this game who didn't acquire it in vanilla, because surely a lvl 80 legendary item would be way better than anything you could get out of naxx atm.
All in all, WoW forces you to upgrade any time there is an expansion/major patch. You just can't just grab a legendary weapon (as difficult as that is) and then sit back and be uber leet forever.
Samcrow Feb 4th 2009 6:21PM
Here's my take on the Legendaries...we now have Legacy items which level with the character...why not do the same for Legendaries?
The Warglaives are beyond epic so their stats should most likely be better then anything currently in the game for that given level...I believe the current max dps for a 1 hander is about 156...why not have the warglaives just a step above that?
Dave007Dog Feb 4th 2009 6:18PM
I really think that Blizz will have multiple Ashbringers. I could see them adding a questline that would invovle a kind of retracing of the creation of the first Ashbringer.