I have yet to receive any of these. Is there a prerequisite quest or something that is needed to unlock them? I tried to look online and through blue posts, but there is very little information available. Why would a core upgrade item be released without an explanation on how to obtain it? Also, from what I can find this is completely RNG enabled. Why would a core upgrade item for increasing ilvl be tied to RNG and only obtainable through competitive play where others with better RNG can then maintain a competitive advantage? This seems very short sighted and almost like they forgot ilvl was increasing and needed to through something into the game for PvP because they forgot. I don’t even see them as an option for rewards, only the illustrious strongboxes.
No prereq. You play rated and they just appear in your bag after the game ends. They have a chance to drop regardless of win/loss. I agree with your points. It’s gross but that’s blizz.
I guess I’ll keep grinding away with no way to estimate progress. If it takes too long, then I’m half tempted to find others that want to just grind out turbo fast loses in 2’s until I can upgrade. Not like that bracket even matters thanks to the gladiator restrictions. I mean that is a different topic all together that only one type of competitive PvP is considered worthy enough for title and mount when some peoples mains are never going to be competitive enough to get it in the current structure.
both toons have 4, bet you cant get 5 yet?, anyone get 5?
Yes many people have far more than 5. I’ve upgraded both weapons and have 3 matrixes in my bags along with 3 Voidslivers. You get them a lot from 3s and BGB
Sometimes you get several in a row, sometimes you get nothing in a row. Just keep playing.
And you’re right, they were poorly introduced.
Anyone know if there is a minimum rating requirement?
On WoWhead someone said they got one at zero rating.
0 cr / 0 mmr - you should be able to farm these.
Drop rate is atrocious for some and good for others. RNG I guess. 
The fact Blizzard still hasn’t told people how these work is INSANE to me lol. They even seem to have increased the drop rate because initially the drop rate was really bad. But nothing in hotfixes nothing. Mark my words PvP is going to be turned into something completely different when the world soul saga is over, if it exists at all unless there are some major changes in leadership. Recent leadership has show for a while now they have no interested in addressing PvP issues. They just throw us a new game mode here and there then ignore all the problems/issues with those as well.
But hey we definitely wanted a decor battle PvP mode. Everyone was asking for that.
I think they want out of the PvP game. They obviously struggle to balance it, lacks a clear direction, has not had any innovation in maybe 10 years (?), and they have to constantly update it. I think they are going to try and bring in AI to review the data and have it auto-generate changes that will be reviewed by one or two people. The industry wants to push vibe code and scaling for AI to replace people, even though all current data points and analytics show that 90% of AI integrations have produced no additional benefits and something like 50% have lost productivity.
They don’t struggle to balance it honestly. They could balance PvP completely separate but they don’t. Judging by some changes recently it’s clear some people making decisions don’t PvP or even review PvP feedback in any meaningful way. Most of the reaction comes after the AWC which is a TERRIBLE way to balance the game.
It’s not that they balance because of AWC. They just don’t want changes to disturb it while it’s going on. At least that’s the way I always saw it.
This is true for most esports. I used to own an esports team for a MOBA that is no longer around and was a featured streamer. Most of the time they will not make any major changes. Sometimes if they do implement changes, depending on hosting and location you could play on the old patch with replicated or guest accounts. If the teams are locked in and they know they have to push a specific change, more for itemizing, they may allow you advanced access to a PTR environment to test and run scrims with the changes to that everyone is prepped. Worst cases they will ban an item or character and give you advanced notice. That one sucks because it usually means someone is getting benched.
I’m not calling bs, but that is a real damn cool thing, ngl.
I don’t know how to send private messages on here. I can send you the vids. They are still on Youtube and my Twitch page.
I don’t need to see them I appreciate it :>
They do make some changes based on AWC though. But yes they also a lot of times don’t make changes when any of the esports are going on and the RWF.
Sure for the experts AWC is cool to watch, maybe(?), but for others its boring as batcrap. Wouldn’t epics make for a better spectator ‘sport’ for general public and casuals?
Anyone can follow 80 players smashing it up across a few objectives and well lead and played matches can get close and tense.
since it’s rated, i will never upgrade my weapon since i hate thse modes.
i could like, just purposefully not try but i am sure people would get very upset with me so i won’t do it.
i mean i can just do super easy lvl 11 devels for the pve ones so why does it have to be rated in pvp?
why can’t randoms give them too?