villiansv
Veteran
Update: With the XPOFF and XPON queues separate again, there's no games happening on EU - as such I won't be updating this guide for now. It should be more or less current for patch 8.2 if you do decide to make a 79.
Hello everyone. I wanted to add some resources for lvl 79 twinks. I did my best to find the BiS gear for all 4 armor types, going over all my random notes I'd made when planning my own twinks. This is usually based on socket numbers, but also on secondary stat preferences, and whether you want the 4-set bonus or not.
I'll throw a disclaimer right off the bat - I don't have a BiS twink for every (or even most) class/spec so it's entirely possible that I missed something, or my conclusions were wrong in some sections. So I urge you to provide constructive feedback in the comments. Did I miss an item? Is an item I listed actually not BiS? I'll edit as needed.
WARNING: Preliminary testing shows that ilvl 99/100 weapons with weightstones/sharpstones/oils are better than ilvl 103/109 weapons without. With patch 8.1.5 this means that to obtain the truly BiS weapons you will want to farm them before hitting 79. Plan ahead! Of course, if you don't plan on using these ever, continue farming all your gear at 79.
Without further ado, here's the google docs link for the gear - clicky
Trinkets are now included! If you have a trinket that is better than the ones listed, please reply below with your reasoning and I'll include it if it makes sense. However, trinkets are very much a personal choice dependent on your playstyle, and ultimately it's hard to give a definitive BiS list. That said, I don't think I've missed any popular ones.
I hope the above comes in handy for anyone considering twinking at 79.
Hello everyone. I wanted to add some resources for lvl 79 twinks. I did my best to find the BiS gear for all 4 armor types, going over all my random notes I'd made when planning my own twinks. This is usually based on socket numbers, but also on secondary stat preferences, and whether you want the 4-set bonus or not.
I'll throw a disclaimer right off the bat - I don't have a BiS twink for every (or even most) class/spec so it's entirely possible that I missed something, or my conclusions were wrong in some sections. So I urge you to provide constructive feedback in the comments. Did I miss an item? Is an item I listed actually not BiS? I'll edit as needed.
WARNING: Preliminary testing shows that ilvl 99/100 weapons with weightstones/sharpstones/oils are better than ilvl 103/109 weapons without. With patch 8.1.5 this means that to obtain the truly BiS weapons you will want to farm them before hitting 79. Plan ahead! Of course, if you don't plan on using these ever, continue farming all your gear at 79.
Without further ado, here's the google docs link for the gear - clicky
Trinkets are now included! If you have a trinket that is better than the ones listed, please reply below with your reasoning and I'll include it if it makes sense. However, trinkets are very much a personal choice dependent on your playstyle, and ultimately it's hard to give a definitive BiS list. That said, I don't think I've missed any popular ones.
Patch 8.1.5 introduces some ilvl changes. In brief, blues and purples dropping from dungeons or rewarded from quests get bumped in ilvl. Blues go 99-->103, and purples go 100--109. This applies to newly dropped items, and items obtained after the most recent stat squish (patch 7.3.5).
How does this affect 79s? At first glance, we get a bit more stats, which is great. For the most part, whatever was BiS before 8.1.5 remains BiS after (not so for 70s, but that's not the purpose of this guide). However, we should also consider:
How does this affect 79s? At first glance, we get a bit more stats, which is great. For the most part, whatever was BiS before 8.1.5 remains BiS after (not so for 70s, but that's not the purpose of this guide). However, we should also consider:
- We get some new BiS items. Definitely, a new BiS shield and a new BiS offhand item.
- It is less clear-cut what the best bow/gun is - we will have the old BiS heirloom (now ilvl 101) with the nerfed Incendiary Ammunition, vs ilvl 109 epic ranged weapons from ToC, HoR, and PoS, vs the 103 beefy secondaries Scholazar Basin quest reward.
- Sharpening stones and oils can not be used on ilvl 101+. Preliminary testing shows enhancement shaman lose about 2-3% dmg. Casters literally lose about 30 int, which is not great. So I've added a few decent quest rewards for existing 79s to the list, and added at what levels you should farm the weapons you want as a 79 in the making (pause at lvl 74 for epic weapon farm, and at lvl 77 for blue weapon farm).
- Eternal Belt Buckle can no longer be used on the epic belts (max ilvl for it is 103), unless you get them at a lower level. I think only mail users are affected here, and even they have blue alternatives that are as good, or better.
- https://www.wowhead.com/item-set=571/whitemend-wisdom now works, giving more glass cannon options to cloth users. Requires 50 Outland Tailoring to activate the set bonus.
- maybe more, will keep updating this.
In general, 1h+offhand is very slightly better. It boils down to 2 sockets vs 18 int, or 10 crit vs 8 int (assuming the 5int/5crit gems are used). The difference is minor though so compare the secondaries you get to make a final decision. The Manual of the Tides offhand quest reward is incredibly well itemised, and is usually the BiS option together with a 1h - unless you want versa over crit+haste.
That depends. Some set pieces have zero secondaries, so if you go for the 4-set you gain the proc but you lose out on raw stats.
If you are a healer, the answer is no.
If you are a mail DPS, the answer is yes (unless you're an ele shaman).
If you're cloth DPS, the answer is no - the proc on that set is weak, and you give up a lot of secondary stats to gain it. You should probably be using the Wrath of Spellfire set anyways, which prevents you from getting the full dungeon set.
If you're plate or leather DPS, it really depends. Check the linked doc, and see for yourself if the loss in secondary stats is worth it to you. Moonkins obviously get no benefit from the 4-set bonus.
The plate, mail and cloth set pants have no sockets (vs 3 on off-set pieces), so they shouldn't be used. The leather set shoulders are afaik not currently obtainable.
You should almost always go for the 2-set bonus, unless for some reason you really prefer haste/versa over crit (usually healer specs, or lack of slots due to using one or both of the crafter cloth sets).
If you are a healer, the answer is no.
If you are a mail DPS, the answer is yes (unless you're an ele shaman).
If you're cloth DPS, the answer is no - the proc on that set is weak, and you give up a lot of secondary stats to gain it. You should probably be using the Wrath of Spellfire set anyways, which prevents you from getting the full dungeon set.
If you're plate or leather DPS, it really depends. Check the linked doc, and see for yourself if the loss in secondary stats is worth it to you. Moonkins obviously get no benefit from the 4-set bonus.
The plate, mail and cloth set pants have no sockets (vs 3 on off-set pieces), so they shouldn't be used. The leather set shoulders are afaik not currently obtainable.
You should almost always go for the 2-set bonus, unless for some reason you really prefer haste/versa over crit (usually healer specs, or lack of slots due to using one or both of the crafter cloth sets).
Plate: chest+shoulders for 2-set, everything but the pants (0 sockets) for 4-set.
Mail: Pick anything except pants, they are all BiS regardless.
Leather: head+pants for 2-set (gloves+pants if you prefer the 3-socket offset helm), everything but the shoulders (unobtainable) for 4-set.
Cloth: pick from shoulders, chest and gloves for 2-set, everything but the pants (0 sockets) for 4-set.
Mail: Pick anything except pants, they are all BiS regardless.
Leather: head+pants for 2-set (gloves+pants if you prefer the 3-socket offset helm), everything but the shoulders (unobtainable) for 4-set.
Cloth: pick from shoulders, chest and gloves for 2-set, everything but the pants (0 sockets) for 4-set.
The fastest way to go back to the dungeon entrance is to delete your hearthstone, then Esc --> Help --> Character Stuck and click the button there. This will kill you in 10s and you will respawn at the dungeon entrance. You take no durability damage. This does not work in Magisters' Terrace, but works everywhere else. Remember that hearthstone toys such as The Innkeeper's Daughter still work even if you have no hearthstone - so you can keep that one deleted all the time.
Some items are easier to obtain via the dungeon finder than via a boost by a high level (legacy loot mode is your enemy). E.g. I was after the chestpiece from the Mechanar 2nd boss on my monk. As a brewmaster loot spec, the chest is the only option that could drop - so if I get a drop, it will be the chest item. Similarly the plate set chest is the only reward if you select Prot as a Warrior or Paladin, or Frost as a DK.
If you are getting boosted (i.e. legacy loot mode is enabled), keep in mind that you get 2 drops per boss for the party. If you are alone with a high level, try to solo the boss if you can for double the chance for your drop. If you are with another 79, try to duo the bosses with the booster logged off. Note that if it takes you longer to solo the boss than to get to him, it's generally a bad idea to solo. Soloing breaks up the monotony, though, and also counteracts the 10 instances/hour limit.
Some items are easier to obtain via the dungeon finder than via a boost by a high level (legacy loot mode is your enemy). E.g. I was after the chestpiece from the Mechanar 2nd boss on my monk. As a brewmaster loot spec, the chest is the only option that could drop - so if I get a drop, it will be the chest item. Similarly the plate set chest is the only reward if you select Prot as a Warrior or Paladin, or Frost as a DK.
If you are getting boosted (i.e. legacy loot mode is enabled), keep in mind that you get 2 drops per boss for the party. If you are alone with a high level, try to solo the boss if you can for double the chance for your drop. If you are with another 79, try to duo the bosses with the booster logged off. Note that if it takes you longer to solo the boss than to get to him, it's generally a bad idea to solo. Soloing breaks up the monotony, though, and also counteracts the 10 instances/hour limit.
Old Hillsbrad Foothills - A lot of the BiS gear comes from the last boss here (Epoch Hunter). This dungeon is a drag, with a 110 clearing it takes 12-15 minutes from start to finish. As such, I highly recommend to solo the last boss (have your booster log off after clearing the 3 trash waves before the boss - quick vid showing how it's done). You can solo him on healer specs - I have done so on a resto shaman, MW monk, disc priest and holy pala in heirlooms only (and on a Blood DK in half-twink gear).
The first boss is also soloable by healers.
Blood Furnace - the last boss is a joke, you can solo him on a hybrid dps spec if you have a way to clear the debuff you get from the adds before him (done it on a ret paladin). Healers will have no problems.
Mana Tombs - the first boss is soloable by healers and Blood DKs.
Sethekk Halls - the last boss is soloable by healers or a geared Blood DK, but it's highly recommended you have a dispel for his mana shield. You only need 1, so a Blood Elf character is enough.
The Slave Pens - time-saving skip: after the 2nd boss, you normally go up a ramp and then jump down in some water. Before you jump, you're on a bridge of sorts. Look left, you will see the 3rd boss. You can jump off here towards him, any sort of slow fall or leap ability will get you across. Last boss does not seem soloable, he hits way too hard.
The Underbog - the 2nd boss is soloable with creative kiting. Kite him back through the dungeon to the ramp you go up when you get to his room (where you make a U turn after you ascend it). If you drop from the ramp, he will go around and follow it. You need this so his dot stacks reset. I've only done it on a holy paladin. Save your CDs for the end, he enrages at low HP.
The last boss is soloable by healers, though he hits hard and seems to crit often. Stay at high HP.
Ahn'Kahet - the 2nd boss is soloable by healers if you time your def cooldowns with his stun (done on a holy pala). Takes forever, though.
Azjol'Nerub - the last boss is soloable by healers and Blood DKs, but takes forever with his submerge.
Trial of the Champion - do make sure to complete the quest there, as it allows you to skip the lengthy roleplay at start. Nothing seems soloable here.
The first boss is also soloable by healers.
Blood Furnace - the last boss is a joke, you can solo him on a hybrid dps spec if you have a way to clear the debuff you get from the adds before him (done it on a ret paladin). Healers will have no problems.
Mana Tombs - the first boss is soloable by healers and Blood DKs.
Sethekk Halls - the last boss is soloable by healers or a geared Blood DK, but it's highly recommended you have a dispel for his mana shield. You only need 1, so a Blood Elf character is enough.
The Slave Pens - time-saving skip: after the 2nd boss, you normally go up a ramp and then jump down in some water. Before you jump, you're on a bridge of sorts. Look left, you will see the 3rd boss. You can jump off here towards him, any sort of slow fall or leap ability will get you across. Last boss does not seem soloable, he hits way too hard.
The Underbog - the 2nd boss is soloable with creative kiting. Kite him back through the dungeon to the ramp you go up when you get to his room (where you make a U turn after you ascend it). If you drop from the ramp, he will go around and follow it. You need this so his dot stacks reset. I've only done it on a holy paladin. Save your CDs for the end, he enrages at low HP.
The last boss is soloable by healers, though he hits hard and seems to crit often. Stay at high HP.
Ahn'Kahet - the 2nd boss is soloable by healers if you time your def cooldowns with his stun (done on a holy pala). Takes forever, though.
Azjol'Nerub - the last boss is soloable by healers and Blood DKs, but takes forever with his submerge.
Trial of the Champion - do make sure to complete the quest there, as it allows you to skip the lengthy roleplay at start. Nothing seems soloable here.
Use this amazing thread to gem and enchant your shiny new gear. However, keep in mind that it's aimed at 70s and some consideration for being 79 should be taken. If the thread lists 2 alternate enchants, one of which is a TBC era one, and the other is newer - use the newer enchant. That's because TBC enchants stop scaling at 70, and you can eke out a point or 2 by using newer ones. For example, Cat's Swiftness and Assasin's Step are equivalent at 70, but at 79 Assassin's Step gives 1 more Agi.
As a 79 you also have access to mastery, and depending on your class/spec it may be a good stat to get a little more of. In these cases, consider using the mastery ring enchants, Pandaren's Step, https://www.wowhead.com/item=74722/enchant-gloves-superior-mastery / https://www.wowhead.com/item=52784/enchant-gloves-greater-mastery or https://www.wowhead.com/item=74700/enchant-bracer-mastery
As a 79 you also have access to mastery, and depending on your class/spec it may be a good stat to get a little more of. In these cases, consider using the mastery ring enchants, Pandaren's Step, https://www.wowhead.com/item=74722/enchant-gloves-superior-mastery / https://www.wowhead.com/item=52784/enchant-gloves-greater-mastery or https://www.wowhead.com/item=74700/enchant-bracer-mastery
Food:
Blackened Dragonfin (Agi),
Dragonfin Filet (Str),
Firecracker Salmon (SP, there are other equivalent recipes for casters),
Blackened Worg Steak (Track Humanoids).
Fish Feast is best for casters, but needs more mats.
See also all secondary stat recipes here.
Flasks:
Flask of Endless Rage (AP),
Flask of Pure Mojo (Versa),
Flask of Distilled Wisdom (Int) / Flask of Supreme Power (SP),
The above 2 caster flasks are by far the best. However, they require Black Lotus, a notoriously rare herb, so are likely very hard to farm, or very expensive to buy. Use Flask of the Frost Wyrm (SP) as a weaker but more accessible alternative.
There may be some Elixir combos that would theoretically be slightly better, but the fact that flasks persist through death makes them superior.
Potions:
Shared Cooldown:
Haste Potion (15s 245 haste, about 2/3rds of a Bloodlust),
Free Action Potion (24s of stun/root/slow immunity),
Swiftness Potion (15s of 50% runspeed),
Major Rejuvenation Potion (the mana restore is very beneficial for hybrid classes that have innately small mana pools, like Ret/Prot paladins, Enh/Ele shamans, or Balance/Feral druids),
Potions that do not share a cooldown with the above 4:
Runic Healing Potion,
Healthstone (you don't need a warlock - simply queue for the Proving Grounds from your class trainer and you can get one, then leave the PG).
Weapon Enhancements:
NOTE: These require weapon ilvl to be <=100. Post-8.1.5 you will need to farm dungeons before hitting 79 to be able to use these. Plan ahead!
Adamantite Sharpening Stone / Adamantite Weightstone (Melee DPS, 9 dmg + 7 crit),
Superior Wizard Oil (Casters, 32 Int),
Superior Mana Oil (All classes/specs, 20 versa).
Remember that you can mix and match the sharpening/weightstones and the Mana Oil if you dualwield, depending on your preferences. I personally use a weightstone on MH and Mana Oil on OH on my Enh Shaman.
Others:
Noggenfogger Elixir (Being tiny makes a difference. Play a Tauren Priest and then a Gnome Priest and see for yourself
. Joking aside, it's generally not useful against good players, but does provide 2 trash debuffs to protect against purge/dispel/spellsteal. The average leveler is definitely less likely to target you with this on, which is still great.)
Blackened Dragonfin (Agi),
Dragonfin Filet (Str),
Firecracker Salmon (SP, there are other equivalent recipes for casters),
Blackened Worg Steak (Track Humanoids).
Fish Feast is best for casters, but needs more mats.
See also all secondary stat recipes here.
Flasks:
Flask of Endless Rage (AP),
Flask of Pure Mojo (Versa),
Flask of Distilled Wisdom (Int) / Flask of Supreme Power (SP),
The above 2 caster flasks are by far the best. However, they require Black Lotus, a notoriously rare herb, so are likely very hard to farm, or very expensive to buy. Use Flask of the Frost Wyrm (SP) as a weaker but more accessible alternative.
There may be some Elixir combos that would theoretically be slightly better, but the fact that flasks persist through death makes them superior.
Potions:
Shared Cooldown:
Haste Potion (15s 245 haste, about 2/3rds of a Bloodlust),
Free Action Potion (24s of stun/root/slow immunity),
Swiftness Potion (15s of 50% runspeed),
Major Rejuvenation Potion (the mana restore is very beneficial for hybrid classes that have innately small mana pools, like Ret/Prot paladins, Enh/Ele shamans, or Balance/Feral druids),
Potions that do not share a cooldown with the above 4:
Runic Healing Potion,
Healthstone (you don't need a warlock - simply queue for the Proving Grounds from your class trainer and you can get one, then leave the PG).
Weapon Enhancements:
NOTE: These require weapon ilvl to be <=100. Post-8.1.5 you will need to farm dungeons before hitting 79 to be able to use these. Plan ahead!
Adamantite Sharpening Stone / Adamantite Weightstone (Melee DPS, 9 dmg + 7 crit),
Superior Wizard Oil (Casters, 32 Int),
Superior Mana Oil (All classes/specs, 20 versa).
Remember that you can mix and match the sharpening/weightstones and the Mana Oil if you dualwield, depending on your preferences. I personally use a weightstone on MH and Mana Oil on OH on my Enh Shaman.
Others:
Noggenfogger Elixir (Being tiny makes a difference. Play a Tauren Priest and then a Gnome Priest and see for yourself
. Joking aside, it's generally not useful against good players, but does provide 2 trash debuffs to protect against purge/dispel/spellsteal. The average leveler is definitely less likely to target you with this on, which is still great.)I hope the above comes in handy for anyone considering twinking at 79.
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