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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsPatch 4.3 PTR: Chaos orbs no longer soulbound
by Mathew McCurley 
Oct 3rd 2011 at 6:30PM
Back in Wrath of the Lich King, Frozen Orbs were not initially soulbound but lost their restrictions and need-roll exclusivity over the course of the expansion. It was assumed that the same thing would happen to Chaos Orbs as time went on, and lo and behold, it has. Crafters will have to adjust prices accordingly now that a rare component will become less rare.
Patch 4.3 PTR: Chaos Orbs no longer soulbound
We have just made the following change in the PTR:
In 4.3, Chaos Orbs are no longer soulbound! Everyone will be able to roll on new orbs that drop, and any existing chaos orbs will become tradeable.
In 4.3, Chaos Orbs are no longer soulbound! Everyone will be able to roll on new orbs that drop, and any existing chaos orbs will become tradeable.
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back!
Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
Cambro Oct 3rd 2011 6:37PM
This is awesome. I've seen a bunch of new leatherworking and blacksmithing patterns for 4.3 that require 3 chaos orbs each, this will help immensely. I wonder what they will sell for on the auction house initially.
Felix_rew Oct 3rd 2011 6:42PM
Finally, the ones my engineer has can be used :D
Malkil Oct 3rd 2011 8:05PM
Ditto. I've ended up with 68 orbs that I can finally put to use, one way or another. >
vocenoctum Oct 3rd 2011 6:43PM
Though, frozen orbs were never souldbound. The BC stuff might have been, but not frozen orbs. You could roll need or greed (which prompted several debates on when to roll Need if ever) and they were eventually changed to Greed Only for the DF.
Smashbolt Oct 3rd 2011 7:41PM
Frozen orbs were soulbound until 3.1.
vocenoctum Oct 3rd 2011 8:22PM
Figuring my memory may have been faulty, I looked in 3.1+ patch notes and no mention. On Wowhead's comments they're mentioned as not being BOP. They also mention the vendor and stuff.
So, I'm pretty sure my memory is correct and frozen orbs were not BOP.
Vrykerion Oct 3rd 2011 8:42PM
Frozen Orbs were originally soulbound and heals can't crit.
In all seriousness, I too had no recollection of them ever being BoP. And after some digging, including WoWinsider's coverage of patch 3.1 and the patch notes, I can find nothing about them becoming BoE later on.
In fact they only thing I can find about Frozen Orbs were originally BoP is in Cata related threads about Chaos Orbs.
Can someone would kindly provide some sort of documentation to clear this up?
Bronwyn Oct 3rd 2011 9:31PM
Yeah, Frozen Orbs were not soulbound. Ever.
Bronwyn Oct 3rd 2011 10:17PM
Also unfortunately I don't have documentation, just a memory of being able to buy/sell them on the AH right away.
Cyno01 Oct 4th 2011 3:30AM
Frozen Orbs were never soulbound. I bought one after about 4 days finally for 1000g to make my goggles.
Jaydvd Oct 3rd 2011 6:47PM
Bout Gotdamn time, I was having a blacksmith craft the 378 plate dps boots the other day, and i owned 12 orbs, but still had to PAY the crafter to use THEIR orbs, and that was pretty much the last straw for me.
Saeadame Oct 3rd 2011 6:51PM
Yaaaay!!!!
facepalmer2 Oct 3rd 2011 6:51PM
WHoohoo! My engineer has like 40 orbs! ..wait a tink, Ill just send them to my tailor..>.
HappyTreeDance Oct 3rd 2011 6:53PM
Thank god.
Scunosi Oct 3rd 2011 6:55PM
Honestly I can't believe it took this long. Perhaps this makes more sense if we were going to have a 4.4 within the Cata timeline, but waiting 'til the absolute end of an expansion to make gear that wasn't even that good to start with more readily available just seems lousy of them. I realize some of the newer patterns are probably awesome, but even then if you're raiding and getting those patterns, you probably don't want to be hassled with having to farm your own orbs in 5-mans when you're used to Heroic Raids. It'll be nice for everyone to be able to make a little cash off them now and to spread craftables out more.
MrJackSauce Oct 3rd 2011 7:09PM
Does this mean that chaos orbs gained before the patch are NOT soul-bound also?
I know this may seem to be a simple question but you never know. They could try to halt the rapid influx of Chaos Orbs to (essentially) gate the gear acquirement. Or something.
Randomize Oct 3rd 2011 7:35PM
"In 4.3, Chaos Orbs are no longer soulbound...and any existing chaos orbs will become tradeable."
rip Oct 4th 2011 10:58AM
So simple a question it was even answered in the article!
Do you think when 4.3 comes out I can keep all my valor points?
Mperiolat Oct 3rd 2011 7:10PM
Woot! At last! Truth is I still need them to gear up for Heroics, but ah well.
Bellajtok Oct 3rd 2011 7:22PM
I'm never going to win another roll. Calling it now.