As previously outlined, in the 5.5.3 patch, players can upgrade non-Thunderforged versions of items to have an item-level equivalent to their Thunderforged variant.
Additional Details
The core goal here is to make Thunderforging less of a random experience and to place value in non-Thunderforged items. A byproduct of this system is that players will gain item levels much faster.
The non-random/deterministic item level system has to live alongside a few other systems and changes made to Mists of Pandaria Classic that we feel have been beneficial overall and should be preserved.
Changes
Non-Thunderforged items will be upgradeable twice for 3 items level each time, totaling an increase of 6 item levels.
These upgrades will cost 250 Valor Points each (500 total).
These upgrades will only be available for the first 4 weeks of Throne of Thunder.
Beginning with the 5th week (currently scheduled to be January 6, 2026), these will swap over to the current 5.5.1 cost for epic item upgrades (1000 Justice Points each (2000 total)).
With this early phase, our goal is to keep item level gains from trivializing the new content during the progression stages. While some item level gain is okay, we recognize it is the price for a less random system. This also keeps Valor Points relevant early on, keeps item upgrades feeling like a choice against reputation gear early, and keeps Thunderforged gear feeling valuable early on. A Thunderforged item will save you 500 Valor Points to spend somewhere else.
With the later phase, our goal is for non-Thunderforged gear, Justice Points, and Valor Points to be relevant. We’re aiming for Valor Points to be less-gated and frustrating for players who wish to upgrade off-spec or other gear they might choose.
Please Note
Valor Points will reset with the release of the Thunder King patch.
Celestial Gear will not be able to be upgraded, as they do not have Thunderforged variants.
Tier Gear will not be able to be upgraded, as they do not have Thunderforged variants.
Valor/reputation gear from the Shado-Pan Assault will not be able to be upgraded, as they do not have Thunderforged variants.
Only items that have a Thunderforged variant with +6 item levels can have the non-Thunderforged versions upgraded. Our goal here is to make the gap between non-Thunderforged and Thunderforged versions of items more satisfying.
It seems strange not to let tier gear be upgraded. We just saw this tier that y’all allowed it. Is it intended that some classes won’t use tier since alternatives at higher ilvls may be better than some of the weaker tier bonuses?
In Wizard of Oz, the Straw Man was played by Ray Bolger, but many people often overlook that Ray also played Hunk, Dorothy’s real world soft-spot. You see, Hunk is the archetype for the oblivious (ie, not having a brain). Thankfully, Blizzard picks up the mantle for us here today.
Perhaps one day, Grobbulus will exist. But to paraphrase the prognostications of @Fwoibles, it’s already too late. And with that swan song, there is only one thing left to write… So long, and thanks for all the [Krasarang Paddlefish]!
Cata had similar tokens that were bought from the twilight/inferno dungeon currency and when MoP hit they became vendor trash so i’d assume the same thing will happen again