Once again, like I cannot fathom why I constantly have to post the same thing. Cataclysm only weapons were rating locked, the Elite set was as well how it was strictly cosmetic.
The same kind of applied in wrath too, except there was I believe a better set bonus.
Also even when the rating locks were in it was NEVER all gear at XXXX, it was always these pieces at 1200, these at 1400, and shoulders at 2k weapon at 2200.
Want to lock weapons behind 2400, no problem. Want to lock all gear behind 2400 thats a terrible badly designed system.
As has already been linked, the devs themselves have stated that rating locked gear is bad for the gameâŚ
âGear matters and gear is awarded proportional to your rating achieved in the arena just as it is in PvE content. This is their philosophy and this is the way it is going to be for Shadowlands.â
Once again, despite what Ion mr Anti PVP, and Pro Raiding thinks, thats simply not how Arena Works. Its not a raid, it doesnât work the same way AT all. its not even close to comparable.
My thoughts on this tend to shift from one side to the next, but ultimately I think:
This pvp gearing system is miles better than what we have in BFA.
The biggest concern (Imo) weâre facing is raid trinkets being viable in pvp.
The pvp trinket set bonus needs a much larger buff. The bonus should be revised to increase damage done to players, and reduce damage taken from players. This is easy to implement, and has no stat tax implications we may see down the road.
We still donât have enough information as to how the upgrade / progression system will work. That said, the range weâre looking at is 213 @ 1600 - 226 @ 2100 (potentially 2400, though we have seen a datamined 226 at 2100). If 2100 is the cap, rather than 2400, I think itâs a reasonable range for a gear ilvl progression. If this provides greater incentive for PvPâers to engage in rated conquest, I think thatâs great. Qâing rated, particularly arena, can be a really rewarding and competitive experience if you can stick with it and you find some friends you legitimately enjoy playing with.
If versatility ends up being a highly valuable stat for many classes in pve, PvEârs may very well be required to pvp. If this is the case, itâs likely this system wonât last long.
PvP set bonuses on armor would also be nice to have again, even if theyâre not too huge. It always felt good to get that 2nd or 4th piece of gear. They donât have to be class specific, as this would just add yet another layer of balancing blizzard would have to handle, but just nominal boosts to damage done or reductions to damage taken would be nice. Still, itâs likely this wonât happen, as blizzard seems set on homogenizing pvp gear with pve. Primary issue with that is the viability of versatility across the two elements of gameplay
How about with the ilvl boost from WoD? They are already adding something similar with PvP trinket bonus.
We need PVP gear separated again. It clearly does not work to have them tied together. The three worst expansions for gearing in PVP are the ones where âgear is gearâ.
One thing we can say, after the constant defense of this system with âIs always been that wayâ
When it was rating locked, it was piece by piece. That would be at least more acceptable that what we have currently. Lets follow Elite set monikers or something.
Combatant (1400 - 1599): 226 wrist and waist
Challenger (1600 - 1799): 226 hands, legs, feet
Rival (1800 - 2099): 226 head, shoulder, chest
Duelist (2100 - 2399): 226 cloak, Weapon, Rings
That spreads the wall out, so there not this sudden jump of a Large difference.
And dont tell me âtHeRe iS LIttLe dIfFrEncEâ thats simply not true.
I fought a full 475/85 gushing DH the other day on my 460/5 mostly with 480 azerite and some 475s. His gushing did almost 3x as much damage per tick as mine, all of his abilities did 1.5x as much as mine. The difference is very large.
They could do this system easy too, go back to the old ways. Make the elite set actual gear again, and upgradeable to 226, or be 226, the regular conquest gear stops at 216 or whatever.
You can buy elite pieces when you reach the rating, it unlocks the mog by doing so, like the old system.
We actually have no idea what it is. Youâre basing your thoughts on some data mined stuff which is very unreliable. I fully expect it to be like bfa rating locked.
Im stating right now in BFA, someone with Mythic Ilvl Gear, does 2x as much Damage as I do in mostly Heroic Ilvl Gear. (Granted my example is using corruptions that scale on Ilvl)
Im not talking about fresh boosts vs Geared toonsâŚ