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We post a lot of stuff here at WoW Insider, and chances are that you missed some of our weekly features. But don't fret it -- here are our top weekly features from the last seven days, so if you missed them the first time around, we're here to make sure that doesn't happen again. Raid Rx: Analyzing your healers, part 3Marcie Knox continues her series on how to get the most of your healers during a raid. Officers' Quarters: Cracking the whipHow to keep your guild rolling all the way up through the expansion. Ask WoW Insider: When to gem and enchantOur readers sound off on the best time to take advantage of getting your gear min-maxed with gems and enchants. Spiritual Guidance: Seven tips to prepare your Priest for WrathMatt "Matticus" Low gives you a nice checklist for getting your Priest ready to head up to Northrend. More of our great weekly content after the break.
Season 4 Brutal Gladiator gear guide
Now that Season 4 has finally arrived, it would probably be good to take a look at the Arena gear you'll be purchasing with all those stored Arena points. Even though most people have concurred that the new Brutal Gladiator gear is appropriately brutally ugly, a lot of the pieces are excellent and many players will need to purchase them in order to stay competitive in the latest, harshest Arena season. Most of the Brutal Gladiator armor sets and equipment require personal ratings in order for players to be able to purchase them, so the new Season 4 gear will not flood the community the same way past seasons did. Even Honor-bought items such as bracers, boots, and rings will require participation in the Arenas in order for players to qualify for purchasing them. We've put together a review of all the Brutal Gladiator armor sets for you to review, with a brief analysis of each piece and an assessment of whether it's worth the Arena points and the bother to grind for the personal ratings. We've also compared Season 4 gear with their equivalent Vengeful Gladiator pieces so you can tell at a glance how much of an improvement each piece is from its predecessor. Take a look after the jump at our extensive gear guide.%Gallery-25440%
Brutal Gladiator's Refuge
The Brutal Gladiator's Refuge is the armor set for Restoration Druids. It is a kodohide, or leather armor usable only by Druids and is usually matched with Guardian's Kodohide armor pieces. The armor set can be purchased from Big Zokk Torquewrench in Netherstorm and Ontokk Shatterhorn in Shattrath City. The matching Guardian items may be purchased from Doris Volanthius in the Hall of Legends and Lieutenant Tristia in the Champion's Hall. Brutal Gladiator's Kodohide Gloves The Brutal Gladiator armor piece for the hands are the cheapest and easiest Season 4 Arena gear to obtain. With no personal rating requirements, most players will be able to purchase this piece and is the Arena gear likely to be most widespread as soon as the season begins. The PvP-oriented bonus of Cyclone cast time reduction is the same for the Brutal Gladiator's Wyrmhide Gloves. The gloves have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent): 354 Armor (+25)+49 Stamina (+6)+39 Intellect (+5) +21 Resilience (+0) +88 Healing / +30 Spell Damage (+9 / +3)10 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Reduces the cast time of Cyclone by .1 secs.Classes: Druid WoW Insider says: These gloves are low-cost and have no rating requirements, and the high Stamina and good +Healing make it making it one of the best Season 4 purchases, specially for starting Arena players. Brutal Gladiator's Kodohide LegguardsThe leg armor possesses a personal rating requirement of 1550, which isn't too difficult to obtain, particularly for Restoration Druids. While not as accessible as the gloves, the leg armor is highly visible on a character and is also likely to be a popular purchase, even at 1875 Arena points. The leggings have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):478 Armor (+35)+65 Stamina (+7)+50 Intellect (+6) +31 Resilience (+0) +114 Healing / +38 Spell Damage (+13 / +4)16 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Classes: DruidWoW Insider says: The lack of sockets mean that the only customization that can be done will be through Tailoring or Leatherworking enchants. The leggings are an excellent Brutal Gladiator piece, with over 100 +Healing and massive mp5 as an added bonus. Brutal Gladiator's Kodohide TunicWith three sockets, the chestpiece is the most customizable Arena armor piece, and is the next best purchase after the gloves. Furthermore, 1600 should be relatively easy for Restoration Druids, who do extremely well in 2v2 and 3v3. In PvE, the chest armor is traditionally a drop from the final boss in a series (Magtheridon drops Tier 4 chest token, Kael'thas drops Tier 5 chest token, Illidan drops Tier 6 chest token, etc.). Arenas are different in this regard, but the item level of the chest is identical to PvE chest pieces. Sunwell Plateau breaks from tradition in that the final boss, Kil'jaeden, does not drop chest tokens or armor. However, the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is equivalent to the drops from Entropius and is the best combination of cost and restriction among all the armor pieces. The tunic has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):541 Armor (+40)+69 Stamina (+14)+40 Intellect (+5) +27 Resilience (+0)+101 Healing / +34 Spell Damage (+13 / +4)11 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5) Socket Bonus: +4 Resilience Rating Classes: DruidWoW Insider says: With +Healing that actually breaks the 100 mark without the benefit of sockets, this chest piece is easily one of the best purchases for healing Druids in Season 4. The additional Red Sockets can be used to pump up that healing even further, not to mention that it's a whopping +14 Stamina over its predecessor. Because of its PvE equivalent, obtaining the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is almost like killing Entropius in Sunwell Plateau. Well, ok not really, but if you don't raid, that's about as close to a raid drop as you're going to get. Brutal Gladiator's Kodohide HelmThe helm is very likely the last Brutal Gladiator armor piece that many players will obtain. With the shoulders at an extremely prohibitive 2200, most players will only manage 4/5 of Season 4. Restoration Druids should conceivably have no trouble getting to 1700 for this helm, which costs the same as the chest and leg armor pieces. With a personal rating attached to it, the Brutal Gladiator helm might be one helm graphic that players would like to leave on. It is also identical in model to the pieces that drop off Kil'jaeden in Sunwell Plateau. The helm has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):447 Armor (+32)+65 Stamina (+7)+45 Intellect (+6) +29 Resilience (+0)+103 Healing / +35 Spell Damage (+13 / +5)11 Mana / 5 Secs (+3 / 5)Socket Bonus: +4 Resilience RatingClasses: DruidWoW Insider says: Over +100 Healing on a single armor piece is a great purchase for healers, no matter how you look at it. Coupled with 11mp5, this Kodohide Helm is works well for PvE if you don't raid the endgame. Brutal Gladiator's Kodohide Spaulders The 2200 personal ratings requirement for the shoulders are almost Gladiator-level for most Battlegroups, and will likely be a very rare sight in most realms. It is quite likely that more than a few Restoration Druids will be sporting these through the season, however. It is the cheapest item after the gloves, but it is also the most difficult to get. Blizzard's reasoning for this is that the shoulders are the most "visually impacting" armor piece, confirming Blizzard's opinion that PvP achievements should be on display. The spaulders have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):430 Armor (+30)+49 Stamina (+6) +29 Intellect (+5)+20 Resilience (+0)+66 Healing / +22 Spell Damage (+9 / +3)7 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Socket Bonus: +3 Resilience RatingClasses: DruidWoW Insider says: Brutal Gladiator Shoulders are peacock gear. While it has the rare mp5 for shoulders, it is stat-wise a very modest upgrade from the previous season's shoulder piece which is a full 250 ratings easier to obtain. Fortunately, more than a few skilled Resto Druids will be able to obtain these. Guardian's Kodohide Belt Because it is a visual match for the Brutal Gladiator's Refuge, and because it comes with no personal ratings requirement, the belt is most likely to be the most widely distributed Season 4 gear. It is purchasable with Honor points, so even players who do not participate in Arena PvP can obtain it. The belt has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):322 Armor (+22)+49 Stamina (+6)+35 Intellect (+5) +26 Resilience (+0) +84 Healing / +28 Spell Damage (+9 / +3)11 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Classes: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: The belt has a low Honor cost and is ratings-free. It's not even a question. Even outside of PvP, this belt trumps most PvE healing belts outside of Sunwell Plateau, comparable to the Belt of Primal Majesty from Gurtogg Bloodboil in the Black Temple where haste takes the place of this belt's mp5. It's the best belt that casual players can get for this spec.Guardian's Kodohide BracersThe only other Guardian piece with a socket is the amulet, which doesn't have a personal rating requirement. Coupled with the fact that bracers are visually insignificant, being hidden under gloves or robes, most players feel that there's little urgency to get them. A 1575 personal ratings requirement also requires decent performance in Arenas. The bracers have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):253 (+17)+43 Stamina (+14)+25 Intellect (+3)+18 Resilience (+0) +46 Healing / +16 Spell Damage (+6 / +2)8 Mana / 5 Secs (+1 / 5)Socket Bonus: +2 Resilience RatingClasses: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: The mediocre +Healing makes this piece less viable for PvE than other pieces, but possesses a Red Socket as opposed to the typical Yellow Socket for bracers. It also has a massive +14 Stamina upgrade from the Vindicator version. Definitely worth the purchase if only for the Red Socket and mp5. Guardian's Kodohide BootsThe most visually important match of all Guardian items -- although it won't be seen on Tauren feet, the boots are a big jump from a 1575 personal ratings requirement and is as demanding to get as the head piece at 1700 personal ratings. It is also as expensive to purchase as the belt, which has no ratings requirement. The slippers have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):385 Armor (+28)+49 Stamina (+6)+35 Intellect (+5) +26 Resilience (+0) +84 Healing / +28 Spell Damage (+9 / +3)11 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Classes: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: Although 1700 is the highest personal ratings requirement outside of the weapons and shoulders, the boots are among the best healing boots before Sunwell Plateau gear. It is comparable to the Enchanted Leather Sandals from Kaz'rogal in Hyjal Summit and is a good option for those unable to raid the endgame. %Gallery-25440% Looking for more Season 4 info? We've rounded up everything you need to know about the Brutal Gladiator season right here.
Brutal Gladiator's Thunderfist
The Brutal Gladiator's Thunderfist is the armor set for Elemental Shamans. It is a mail armor set usable only by Shamans and is usually matched with Guardian's Mail armor pieces. The armor set can be purchased from Big Zokk Torquewrench in Netherstorm and Ontokk Shatterhorn in Shattrath City. The matching Guardian items may be purchased from Doris Volanthius in the Hall of Legends and Lieutenant Tristia in the Champion's Hall. Brutal Gladiator's Mail GauntletsThe Brutal Gladiator armor piece for the hands are the cheapest and easiest Season 4 Arena gear to obtain. With no personal rating requirements, most players will be able to purchase this piece and is the Arena gear likely to be most widespread as soon as the season begins. Its bonus is the same as all other Shaman armor, an increase to the range of Shock spells. The gauntlets have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent): 694 Armor (+55)+52 Stamina (+6)+28 Intellect (+5)+32 Spell Critical (+4) +22 Resilience (+0)+43 Spell Damage / Healing (+5)Improves the range of all Shock spells by 5 yards.Classes: Shaman WoW Insider says: As with all Season 4 gloves, the lack of a rating requirement essentially makes it a freebie. The improvement over its Season 3 equivalent is worth the upgrade, and an increase in Shock range is always good for the Shaman who would prefer to keep her opponents at bay.Brutal Gladiator's Mail LeggingsThe leg armor possesses a personal rating requirement of 1550, which isn't too difficult to obtain, specially for the burst-heavy Elemental Shaman. While not as accessible as the gloves, the leg armor is highly visible on a character and is also likely to be a popular purchase, even at 1875 Arena points. The leggings have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):971 Armor (+77)+71 Stamina (+7)+38 Intellect (+5)+34 Spell Critical (+5)+33 Resilience (+0)+59 Spell Damage / Healing (+6)11 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Classes: ShamanWoW Insider says: The lack of sockets on this armor piece mean that the only customization that can be done will be through Tailoring or Leatherworking enchants. That said, the overall stat gain from the previous season's leggings are substantial enough to warrant an eventual upgrade. Brutal Gladiator's Mail ArmorWith three sockets, the chestpiece is the most customizable Arena armor piece. It is also arguably the best Brutal Gladiator armor piece for Elemental Shamans. In PvE, the chest armor is traditionally a drop from the final boss in a series (Magtheridon drops Tier 4 chest token, Kael'thas drops Tier 5 chest token, Illidan drops Tier 6 chest token, etc.). Arenas are different in this regard, but the item level of the chest is identical to PvE chest pieces. Sunwell Plateau breaks from tradition in that the final boss, Kil'jaeden, does not drop chest tokens or armor. However, the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is equivalent to the drops from Entropius and is the best combination of cost and restriction among all the armor pieces. The armor has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):1110 Armor (+88)+61 Stamina (+7)+33 Intellect (+5)+34 Spell Critical (+5)+28 Resilience (+0)+49 Spell Damage / Healing (+7)11 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Socket Bonus: +4 Spell CriticalClasses: ShamanWoW Insider says: A 1600 personal rating should be relatively easy to achieve for Elemental Shamans, and the two Yellow Sockets contribute to more burst potential or faster casts. The chest piece is a one of the best purchases among the Brutal Gladiator armor gear outside of the gloves. Because of its PvE equivalent, obtaining the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is almost like killing Entropius in Sunwell Plateau. Well, ok not really, but if you don't raid, that's about as close to a raid drop as you're going to get.Brutal Gladiator's Mail HelmThe helm is very likely the last Brutal Gladiator armor piece that many players will obtain. With the shoulders at an extremely prohibitive 2200, most players will only manage 4/5 of Season 4. Many Elemental Shamans will obtain 1700 rather easily. With a personal rating attached to it, the Brutal Gladiator helm might be one helm graphic that players would like to leave on. It is also identical in model to the pieces that drop off Kil'jaeden in Sunwell Plateau. The helm has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):902 Armor (+72)+74 Stamina (+7)+29 Intellect (+6)+32 Spell Critical (+6)+32 Resilience (+0)+55 Spell Damage / Healing (+6)Socket Bonus: +4 Resilience RatingClasses: ShamanWoW Insider says: There's nothing particularly compelling about the Season 4 mail helm, although most Elemental Shamans would like to eke out every little drop of Spell Damage and Crit from their gear. Considering 1700 is a realistic target, specially for Elemental Shamans, it's a good upgrade.Brutal Gladiator's Mail SpauldersThe 2200 personal ratings requirement for the shoulders are almost Gladiator-level for most Battlegroups, and will likely be a very rare sight in most realms. Some Elemental Shamans will be wearing these through the season. Although it is the cheapest item after the gloves, it is also the most difficult to get. Blizzard's reasoning for this is that the shoulders are the most "visually impacting" armor piece, confirming Blizzard's opinion that PvP achievements should be on display. The spaulders have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):832 Armor (+66)+47 Stamina (+4)+26 Intellect (+4)+26 Spell Critical (+4)+21 Resilience (+0)+34 Spell Damage / Healing (+5)8 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Socket Bonus: +3 Resilience RatingClasses: ShamanWoW Insider says: Brutal Gladiator shoulders are purely for show. The minimal improvement over the previous season's spaulders make it less compelling coupled with the fact that Season 3 shoulders look so much more badass. Guardian's Mail GirdleBecause it is a visual match for the Brutal Gladiator's Thunderfist, and because it comes with no personal ratings requirement, the belt is most likely to be the most widely distributed Season 4 gear. It is purchasable with Honor points, so even players who do not participate in Arena PvP can obtain it. The girdle has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):624 Armor (+49)+49 Stamina (+6)+34 Intellect (+4)+34 Spell Critical (+5)+27 Resilience (+0)+40 Spell Damage / Healing (+5)Classes: Hunter, ShamanWoW Insider says: Like most belt pieces in Season 4, the Guardian's Mail Girdle is one of the best purchases players can make. The low Honor cost and no personal ratings requirement make the piece a no-brainer.Guardian's Mail BracersThe only other Guardian piece with a socket is the amulet, which doesn't have a personal rating requirement. Bracers are also not visually impacting, hidden away underneath gloves or robes, making them non-essential to a set. They also have a modest 1575 personal rating requirement, necessitating some success in Arenas. The bracers have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):471 (+39)+33 Stamina (+4)+20 Intellect (+3)+24 Spell Critical (+3)+15 Resilience (+0)+30 Spell Damage / Healing (+3)Socket Bonus: +2 Resilience RatingClasses: Hunter, ShamanWoW Insider says: Because the Guardian items do not confer a set bonus, there's no real need to obtain the bracers. On the other hand, 1575 is extremely feasible for an Elemental Shaman, and the yellow socket contributes to more +Spell Crit or even +Haste.Guardian's Mail SabatonsThe most visually important match of all Guardian items, the boots are a big jump from a 1575 personal ratings requirement and is as demanding to get as the head piece at 1700 personal ratings. It is also as expensive to purchase as the belt, which has no ratings requirement. The sabatons have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):763 Armor (+61)+49 Stamina (+6)+34 Intellect (+4)+34 Spell Critical (+5)+27 Resilience (+0)+40 Spell Damage / Healing (+5)Classes: Hunter, ShamanWoW Insider says: Even with a 1700 personal ratings requirement, the boots are a good purchase as its a good improvement overall from the last season. It is also, like the helm, the most attainable Season 4 item outside of the weapons and shoulders. %Gallery-25440% Looking for more Season 4 info? We've rounded up everything you need to know about the Brutal Gladiator season right here.
Brutal Gladiator's Battlegear
The Brutal Gladiator's Battlegear is the armor set for Warriors. It is a plate armor usable only by Warriors and is usually matched with Guardian's Plate armor pieces. The armor set can be purchased from Big Zokk Torquewrench in Netherstorm and Ontokk Shatterhorn in Shattrath City. The matching Guardian items may be purchased from Doris Volanthius in the Hall of Legends and Lieutenant Tristia in the Champion's Hall. Brutal Gladiator's Plate GauntletsThe Brutal Gladiator armor piece for the hands are the cheapest and easiest Season 4 Arena gear to obtain. With no personal rating requirements, most players will be able to purchase this piece and is the Arena gear likely to be most widespread as soon as the season begins. As with other Arena gloves, the bonus is a significant reduction to the Rage cost of Hamstring. The gauntlets have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent): 1239 Armor (+98)+42 Strength (+5)+59 Stamina (+7)+37 Critical Strike (+5) +24 Resilience (+0)Hamstring Rage cost reduced by 3.Classes: Warrior WoW Insider says: These gloves are low-cost and have no rating requirements, making it a good purchase no matter how you look at it. The gloves are decent improvements over the previous season, but work very well for starting Arena players, as well.Brutal Gladiator's Plate LegguardsThe leg armor possesses a personal rating requirement of 1550, which isn't too difficult to obtain, specially for Warriors, who are well represented in Arenas. While not as accessible as the gloves, the leg armor is highly visible on a character and is also likely to be a popular purchase, even at 1875 Arena points. The legguards have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):1735 Armor (+138)+57 Strength (+4)+77 Stamina (+7)+18 Hit (+6)+53 Critical Strike (+6)+22 Resilience (+0)84 Armor Penetration (+0)Classes: WarriorWoW Insider says: The lack of sockets mean that the only customization that can be done will be through Tailoring or Leatherworking enchants. It has improved +hit, which will free up yellow gem slots in other pieces, but it's disappointing that there's no improvement to Armor Penetration. Considering the same point cost, the chestpiece is a better purchase.Brutal Gladiator's Plate ChestpieceWith three sockets, the chestpiece is the most customizable Arena armor piece, and is the next best purchase after the gloves. A 1600 rating is a realistic target for Warriors, and because it costs the same as the leg armor, players should try to obtain it. In PvE, the chest armor is traditionally a drop from the final boss in a series (Magtheridon drops Tier 4 chest token, Kael'thas drops Tier 5 chest token, Illidan drops Tier 6 chest token, etc.). Arenas are different in this regard, but the item level of the chest is identical to PvE chest pieces. Sunwell Plateau breaks from tradition in that the final boss, Kil'jaeden, does not drop chest tokens or armor. However, the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is equivalent to the drops from Entropius and is the best combination of cost and restriction among all the armor pieces. The chestpiece has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):1983 Armor (+158)+45 Strength (+6)+76 Stamina (+9)+18 Hit (+6)+45 Critical Strike (+6)+24 Resilience (+0)84 Armor Penetration (+0)Socket Bonus: +4 Critical StrikeClasses: WarriorWoW Insider says: A team and personal rating of 1600 is a modest target for Arena Warriors. The chestpiece is the best Arena purchase for its price and rating requirement. Because of its PvE equivalent, obtaining the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is almost like killing Entropius in Sunwell Plateau. Well, ok not really, but if you don't raid, that's about as close to a raid drop as you're going to get.Brutal Gladiator's Plate HelmThe helm is very likely the last Brutal Gladiator armor piece that many players will obtain. With the shoulders at an extremely prohibitive 2200, most players will only manage 4/5 of Season 4. Even at 1700 personal rating, Warriors shouldn't have much trouble obtaining this helm, which costs the same as the chest and leg armor pieces. With a personal rating attached to it, the Brutal Gladiator helm might be one helm graphic that players would like to leave on. It is also identical in model to the pieces that drop off Kil'jaeden in Sunwell Plateau. The helm has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):1611 Armor (+128)+45 Strength (+6)+68 Stamina (+7)+18 Hit (+6)+41 Critical Strike (+6)+25 Resilience (+0)84 Armor PenetrationSocket Bonus: +4 Critical StrikeClasses: WarriorWoW Insider says: The helm has a Meta Socket and a Yellow Socket, although some players would prefer Red. 1700 is a relatively easy goal, although the Season 4 helm is only a marginal improvement over its predecessor. If the personal ratings aren't a barrier, then go for it. If it's difficult to achieve, there's no harm in sticking to the Vengeful Gladiator's Plate Helm.Brutal Gladiator's Plate ShouldersThe 2200 personal ratings requirement for the shoulders are almost Gladiator-level for most Battlegroups, and will likely be a very rare sight in most realms. Although it is the cheapest item after the gloves, it is also the most difficult to get. Blizzard's reasoning for this is that the shoulders are the most "visually impacting" armor piece, confirming Blizzard's opinion that PvP achievements should be on display. The shoulders have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):1487 Armor (+118)+38 Strength (+5)+64 Stamina (+7)+35 Critical Strike (+5)+20 Resilience (+0)Socket Bonus: +3 Critical StikeClasses: WarriorWoW Insider says: Brutal Gladiator shoulders are purely for show. The low improvement over its Season 3 equivalent and have no +Hit nor Armor Penetration. Although quite a few Warriors will likely be sporting these deep into the season, they aren't great improvements its predecessor. Guardian's Plate BeltBecause it is a visual match for the Brutal Gladiator's Battlegear, and because it comes with no personal ratings requirement, the belt is most likely to be the most widely distributed Season 4 gear. It is purchasable with Honor points, so even players who do not participate in Arena PvP can obtain it. The belt has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):1115 Armor (+88)+40 Strength (+5)+56 Stamina (+7)+40 Critical Strike (+5)+30 Resilience (+0)Classes: Warrior, PaladinWoW Insider says: No ratings requirement, purchasable with Honor points, and looks great. The belt is obtainable by any Warrior, and is the best belt for its level of availability.Guardian's Plate BracersThe only other Guardian piece with a socket is the amulet, which doesn't have a personal rating requirement. Coupled with the fact that bracers are visually insignificant, being hidden under gloves, the urgency to obtain them is very low. They also have a modest 1575 personal rating requirement, necessitating participation -- and moderate success -- in Arena play. The bracers have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):841 (+69)+28 Strength (+3)+40 Stamina (+4)+24 Critical Strike (+3)+17 Resilience (+0)Socket Bonus: +2 StrengthClasses: Warrior, PaladinWoW Insider says: These bracers are harder to obtain than the Brutal Gladiator's Plate Legguards, but give little improvement over the old version. It has no special bonus and has no visual impact. It's a wonder why Blizzard pegged the personal rating for bracers at 1575, although many Warriors will probably not have a problem getting it.Guardian's Plate GreavesThe most visually important match of all Guardian items, the boots are a big jump from a 1575 personal ratings requirement and is as demanding to get as the head piece at 1700 personal ratings. It is also as expensive to purchase as the belt, which has no ratings requirement. The greaves have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):1363 Armor (+108)+40 Strength (+5)+56 Stamina (+7)+40 Critical Strike (+5)+30 Resilience (+0)Classes: Warrior, PaladinWoW Insider says: Because of the 1700 personal rating, only players who manage to get the helm will be able to purchase the boots. Of all the Honor-bought items in Season 4, the boots are the most visually impacting and players looking to have a matching set should strive to get to the rating. %Gallery-25440% Looking for more Season 4 info? We've rounded up everything you need to know about the Brutal Gladiator season right here.
Brutal Gladiator's Vestments
The Brutal Gladiator's Vestments is the armor set for Rogues. It is a leather armor usable only by Rogues and is usually matched with Guardian's Leather armor pieces. The armor set can be purchased from Big Zokk Torquewrench in Netherstorm and Ontokk Shatterhorn in Shattrath City. The matching Guardian items may be purchased from Doris Volanthius in the Hall of Legends and Lieutenant Tristia in the Champion's Hall. Brutal Gladiator's Leather Gloves The Brutal Gladiator armor piece for the hands are the cheapest and easiest Season 4 Arena gear to obtain. With no personal rating requirements, most players will be able to purchase this piece and is the Arena gear likely to be most widespread as soon as the season begins. The glove bonus to Deadly Throw is one of the best of all PvP gloves. The gloves have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent): 368 Armor (+25)+37 Agility (+4)+55 Stamina (+6)+24 Critical Strike (+5)+22 Resilience (+0)+48 Attack Power (+8)Causes Deadly Throw to interrupt spellcasting and prevent any spell from that school from being cast for 3 secs.Classes: Rogue WoW Insider says: One of the simplest choices a Rogue should make in Season 4. It has the lowest Arena point cost and have no personal ratings requirement, making it sure to be one of the most popular items though the season.Brutal Gladiator's Leather LegguardsThe leg armor possesses a personal rating requirement of 1550, which isn't too difficult to obtain, specially for the Arena-popular Rogue. While not as accessible as the gloves, the leg armor is highly visible on a character and is also likely to be a popular purchase, even at 1875 Arena points. The legguards have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):506 Armor (+35)+40 Agility (+5)+74 Stamina (+7)+17 Hit (+5)+30 Critical Strike (+5)+40 Resilience (+0)+60 Attack Power (+10)84 Armor Penetration (+0)Classes: RogueWoW Insider says: The highest armor for a leather leg piece, massive Stamina, high critical strike rating and a modest 1550 personal rating make this one of the best buys in Season 4, despite the 1875 Arena point cost.Brutal Gladiator's Leather TunicWith three sockets, the chestpiece is the most customizable Arena armor piece, and is the next best purchase after the gloves. Rogues should also have little trouble getting to 1600. In PvE, the chest armor is traditionally a drop from the final boss in a series (Magtheridon drops Tier 4 chest token, Kael'thas drops Tier 5 chest token, Illidan drops Tier 6 chest token, etc.). Arenas are different in this regard, but the item level of the chest is identical to PvE chest pieces. Sunwell Plateau breaks from tradition in that the final boss, Kil'jaeden, does not drop chest tokens or armor. However, the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is equivalent to the drops from Entropius and is the best combination of cost and restriction among all the armor pieces. The tunic has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):569 Armor (+40)+36 Agility (+5)+71 Stamina (+7)+17 Hit (+5)+22 Critical Strike (+5)+25 Resilience (+0)+58 Attack Power (+10)84 Armor Penetration (+0)Socket Bonus: +4 Resilience Rating Classes: RogueWoW Insider says: As always, the Arena chest piece is always the best armor piece to get because of its customizability and traditionally high stats. The Brutal Gladiator Leather Tunic is no different. Because of its PvE equivalent, obtaining the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is almost like killing Entropius in Sunwell Plateau. Well, ok not really, but if you don't raid, that's about as close to a raid drop as you're going to get. Brutal Gladiator's Leather HelmThe helm is very likely the last Brutal Gladiator armor piece that many players will obtain. With the shoulders at an extremely prohibitive 2200, most players will only manage 4/5 of Season 4. Many Rogues will be able to reach 1700 with ease for this helm, which costs the same as the chest and leg armor pieces. With a personal rating attached to it, the Brutal Gladiator helm might be one helm graphic that players would like to leave on. It is also identical in model to the pieces that drop off Kil'jaeden in Sunwell Plateau. The helm has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):475 Armor (+32)+36 Agility (+5)+72 Stamina (+7)+17 Hit (+5)+26 Critical Strike (+5)+25 Resilience (+0)+62 Attack Power (+10)84 Armor Penetration (+0)Socket Bonus: +4 Resilience RatingClasses: RogueWoW Insider says: Ironically, many Druids will drool over this helm for its massive armor and stamina. Rogues can take pride in keeping this helm graphic on, as a 1700 personal rating is a small price to pay for one of the best Rogue helms in the game.Brutal Gladiator's Leather Spaulders The 2200 personal ratings requirement for the shoulders are almost Gladiator-level for most Battlegroups, and will likely be a very rare sight in most realms. Rogues in 2v2 and 3v3 brackets have been known to hit these ratings. It is the cheapest item after the gloves, but it is also the most difficult to get. Blizzard's reasoning for this is that the shoulders are the most "visually impacting" armor piece, confirming Blizzard's opinion that PvP achievements should be on display. The spaulders have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):430 Armor (+30)+39 Agility (+4)+55 Stamina (+4) +31 Critical Strike (+4)+25 Resilience (+0)+38 Attack PowerSocket Bonus: +3 Resilience RatingClasses: RogueWoW Insider says: Brutal Gladiator Shoulders are peacock gear. These shoulders are good, decent upgrades from the previous season, but not quite worth the massive 250 rating point differential. Guardian's Leather Belt Because it is a visual match for the Brutal Gladiator's Vestments, and because it comes with no personal ratings requirement, the belt is most likely to be the most widely distributed Season 4 gear. It is purchasable with Honor points, so even players who do not participate in Arena PvP can obtain it. The belt has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):280 Armor (+22)+37 Agility (+5)+55 Stamina (+6)+24 Critical Strike (+5)+30 Resilience (+0)+48 Attack Power (+8)Classes: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: With the low Honor cost and no personal ratings restriction, this belt should be among the most widespread Rogue belts come Season 4. If you have the Honor, go buy it.Guardian's Leather BracersThe only other Guardian piece with a socket is the amulet, which doesn't have a personal rating requirement. Coupled with the fact that bracers are visually insignificant, being hidden under gloves or robes, most players feel that there's little urgency to get them. A 1575 personal ratings requirement also requires decent performance in Arenas. The bracers have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):211 (+17)+28 Agility (+3)+37 Stamina (+4)+15 Critical Strike (+3)+15 Resilience (+0)+32 Attack Power (+6)Socket Bonus: +2 Resilience RatingClasses: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: Although these are targeted towards Rogues, it's highly likely that many Rogues will be purchasing the "Druid" version Guardian's Dragonhide Bracers. The Red Socket, higher armor and crit all contribute to a conceivably better purchase. Guardian's Leather BootsThe most visually important match of all Guardian items, specially since almost all Rogues save for Orcs and Trolls have their feet covered up. It's a big jump from a 1575 personal ratings requirement and is as demanding to get as the head piece at 1700 personal ratings, but Rogues have historically gotten to those levels with ease. It is also as expensive to purchase as the belt, which has no ratings requirement. The slippers have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):343 Armor (+28)+33 Agility (+4)+55 Stamina (+6)+24 Critical Strike (+5)+26 Resilience (+0)+48 Attack Power (+8)Classes: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: Among the few PvP pieces with "normal" armor levels, there's nothing particularly remarkable about these boots but are the best, if only, choice for Rogues in Season 4. %Gallery-25440% Looking for more Season 4 info? We've rounded up everything you need to know about the Brutal Gladiator season right here.
Brutal Gladiator's Sanctuary
The Brutal Gladiator's Sanctuary is the armor set for Feral Druids. It is a dragonhide, or leather armor usable only by Druids and is usually matched with Guardian's Dragonhide armor pieces. The armor set can be purchased from Big Zokk Torquewrench in Netherstorm and Ontokk Shatterhorn in Shattrath City. The matching Guardian items may be purchased from Doris Volanthius in the Hall of Legends and Lieutenant Tristia in the Champion's Hall. Brutal Gladiator's Dragonhide Gloves The Brutal Gladiator armor piece for the hands are the cheapest and easiest Season 4 Arena gear to obtain. With no personal rating requirements, most players will be able to purchase this piece and is the Arena gear likely to be most widespread as soon as the season begins. The glove bonus to Maim is one of the best of all PvP gloves. The gloves have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent): 368 Armor (+25)+35 Strength (+4)+36 Agility (+4)+48 Stamina (+4)+25 Intellect (+4)+13 Hit (+4) +22 Resilience (+0)Causes Maim to interrupt spellcasting and prevent any spell from that school from being cast for 3 secs.Classes: Druid WoW Insider says: Although Feral Druids have traditionally been underrepresented in Arenas, these gloves should be freebies. Incidentally, many Feral Druids also find these gloves excellent for tanking. The armor is higher than the Kodohide or Wyrmhide gloves, but relatively low compared to PvE gloves. Some Druids find that the Resilience and +Hit more than make up for it.Brutal Gladiator's Dragonhide LegguardsThe leg armor possesses a personal rating requirement of 1550, which isn't too difficult to obtain, even for Feral Druids. While not as accessible as the gloves, the leg armor is highly visible on a character and is also likely to be a popular purchase, even at 1875 Arena points. The legguards have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):478 Armor (+35)+40 Strength (+4)+41 Agility (+4)+61 Stamina (+6)+34 Intellect (+4)+17 Hit (+5)+18 Critical Strike (+5)+29 Resilience (+0)84 Armor Penetration (+0)Classes: DruidWoW Insider says: The lack of sockets mean that the only customization that can be done will be through Tailoring or Leatherworking enchants. Hit rating, armor penetration, and other good stats make this leg armor almost as good a purchase as the chest piece.Brutal Gladiator's Dragonhide TunicWith three sockets, the chestpiece is the most customizable Arena armor piece, and is the next best purchase after the gloves. In PvE, the chest armor is traditionally a drop from the final boss in a series (Magtheridon drops Tier 4 chest token, Kael'thas drops Tier 5 chest token, Illidan drops Tier 6 chest token, etc.). Arenas are different in this regard, but the item level of the chest is identical to PvE chest pieces. Sunwell Plateau breaks from tradition in that the final boss, Kil'jaeden, does not drop chest tokens or armor. However, the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is equivalent to the drops from Entropius and is the best combination of cost and restriction among all the armor pieces. The tunic has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):569 Armor (+40)+34 Strength (+4)+36 Agility (+5)+61 Stamina (+7)+26 Intellect (+4) +16 Hit (+4)+23 Critical Strike (4)+26 Resilience (+0)84 Armor Penetration (+0)Socket Bonus: +4 Resilience Rating Classes: DruidWoW Insider says: The best Brutal Gladiator purchase outside of the gloves, some Druids will use this to tank even in raids, as some Druids will take Resilience to compensate for the reduced armor. Because of its PvE equivalent, obtaining the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is almost like killing Entropius in Sunwell Plateau. Well, ok not really, but if you don't raid, that's about as close to a raid drop as you're going to get. Brutal Gladiator's Dragonhide HelmThe helm is very likely the last Brutal Gladiator armor piece that many players will obtain. With the shoulders at an extremely prohibitive 2200, most players will only manage 4/5 of Season 4. Feral Druids can conceivably achieve 1700 for this helm, which costs the same as the chest and leg armor pieces. With a personal rating attached to it, the Brutal Gladiator helm might be one helm graphic that players would like to leave on. It is also identical in model to the pieces that drop off Kil'jaeden in Sunwell Plateau. The helm has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):461 Armor (+32)+36 Strength (+4)+35 Agility (+4)+64 Stamina (+7)+28 Intellect (+5) +17 Hit (+5)+31 Critical Strike (+4)+25 Resilience (+0)84 Armor Penetration (+0)Socket Bonus: +4 Resilience RatingClasses: DruidWoW Insider says: More than most PvP pieces, the Dragonhide set works very well for PvE, and many Druids can make use of the helm, particularly for DPS. It's one of the best cat DPS helmets in the game, so Feral Druids would do well to strive for the 1700 personal rating.Brutal Gladiator's Dragonhide Spaulders The 2200 personal ratings requirement for the shoulders are almost Gladiator-level for most Battlegroups, and will likely be a very rare sight in most realms. It's uncertain how many Feral Druids will be able to achieve that rating in Season 4. It is the cheapest item after the gloves, but it is also the most difficult to get. Blizzard's reasoning for this is that the shoulders are the most "visually impacting" armor piece, confirming Blizzard's opinion that PvP achievements should be on display. The spaulders have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):430 Armor (+30)+34 Strength (+4)+34 Agility (+4)+47 Stamina (+4) +20 Intellect (+4)+21 Critical Strike (+4)+21 Resilience (+0)Socket Bonus: +3 Resilience RatingClasses: DruidWoW Insider says: Brutal Gladiator Shoulders are peacock gear. Considering that most players who will obtain these items will be Restoration Druids who have Arena points to spare, it's not even worth considering. Guardian's Dragonhide Belt Because it is a visual match for the Brutal Gladiator's Sanctuary, and because it comes with no personal ratings requirement, the belt is most likely to be the most widely distributed Season 4 gear. It is purchasable with Honor points, so even players who do not participate in Arena PvP can obtain it. The belt has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):322 Armor (+22)+34 Strength (+4)+33 Agility (+3)+46 Stamina (+4)+24 Intellect (+4) +25 Critical Strike (+4)+26 Resilience (+0)Classes: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: With the low Honor cost and no personal ratings restriction, this belt should be among the most widespread Feral gear come Season 4. It's a no-brainer purchase once you have the Honor for it.Guardian's Dragonhide BracersThe only other Guardian piece with a socket is the amulet, which doesn't have a personal rating requirement. Coupled with the fact that bracers are visually insignificant, being hidden under gloves or robes, most players feel that there's little urgency to get them. A 1575 personal ratings requirement also requires decent performance in Arenas. The bracers have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):253 (+17)+25 Stength (+3)+25 Agility (+3)+33 Stamina (+4)+24 Critical Strike (+3)+18 Resilience (+0)Socket Bonus: +2 Resilience RatingClasses: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: The best bracers most Druids will get outside of Sunwell Plateau, it is also an excellent choice for Rogues. The higher armor, resilience, and crit coupled with a Red Socket make up for losses in attack power, agility, and stamina. Probably the best Guardian bracers available due to the versatility. Guardian's Dragonhide BootsThe most visually important match of all Guardian items -- although it won't be seen on Tauren feet, the boots are a big jump from a 1575 personal ratings requirement and is as demanding to get as the head piece at 1700 personal ratings. It is also as expensive to purchase as the belt, which has no ratings requirement. The slippers have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):385 Armor (+28)+34 Strength (+4)+33 Agility (+4)+46 Stamina (+4)+24 Intellect (+4)+25 Critical Strike (+4)+26 Resilience (+0)Classes: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: Although 1700 is the highest personal ratings requirement outside of the weapons and shoulders, these boots are also good for tanking, making its usefulness extend outside of Arenas. Definitely a good purchase if you can manage the ratings. %Gallery-25440% Looking for more Season 4 info? We've rounded up everything you need to know about the Brutal Gladiator season right here.
Brutal Gladiator's Wildhide
The Brutal Gladiator's Wildhide is the armor set for Balance Druids. It is a wyrmhide, or leather armor usable only by Druids and is usually matched with Guardian's Wyrmhide armor pieces. The armor set can be purchased from Big Zokk Torquewrench in Netherstorm and Ontokk Shatterhorn in Shattrath City. The matching Guardian items may be purchased from Doris Volanthius in the Hall of Legends and Lieutenant Tristia in the Champion's Hall. Brutal Gladiator's Wyrmhide Gloves The Brutal Gladiator armor piece for the hands are the cheapest and easiest Season 4 Arena gear to obtain. With no personal rating requirements, most players will be able to purchase this piece and is the Arena gear likely to be most widespread as soon as the season begins. The PvP-oriented bonus of Cyclone cast time reduction is the same for the Brutal Gladiator's Kodohide Gloves. The gloves have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent): 354 Armor (+25)+47 Stamina (+4)+28 Intellect (+4)+16 Spell Critical (+4) +22 Resilience (+0) +49 Spell Damage / Healing (+6)6 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Reduces the cast time of Cyclone by .1 secs.Classes: Druid WoW Insider says: These gloves are low-cost and have no rating requirements, and the high Stamina and good +Healing make it making it one of the best Season 4 purchases, specially for starting Arena players. Brutal Gladiator's Wyrmhide LegguardsThe leg armor possesses a personal rating requirement of 1550, which isn't too difficult to obtain, even for Moonkin Druids. While not as accessible as the gloves, the leg armor is highly visible on a character and is also likely to be a popular purchase, even at 1875 Arena points. The legguards have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):492 Armor (+35)+65 Stamina (+7)+40 Intellect (+5)+27 Spell Critical (+5) +31 Resilience (+0) +67 Spell Damage / Healing (+5)11 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Classes: DruidWoW Insider says: The lack of sockets mean that the only customization that can be done will be through Tailoring or Leatherworkingenchants. Even then, the low ratings requirement for these legguards make it very appealing for all the stats it gives, including a 1.72% spell crit from the +Intellect and +Spell Crit Rating.Brutal Gladiator's Wyrmhide TunicWith three sockets, the chestpiece is the most customizable Arena armor piece, and is the next best purchase after the gloves. In PvE, the chest armor is traditionally a drop from the final boss in a series (Magtheridon drops Tier 4 chest token, Kael'thas drops Tier 5 chest token, Illidan drops Tier 6 chest token, etc.). Arenas are different in this regard, but the item level of the chest is identical to PvE chest pieces. Sunwell Plateau breaks from tradition in that the final boss, Kil'jaeden, does not drop chest tokens or armor. However, the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is equivalent in item level to the drops from Entropius and is the best combination of cost and restriction among all the armor pieces. The tunic has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):541 Armor (+40)+62 Stamina (+7)+33 Intellect (+5)+18 Spell Critical (+5) +27 Resilience (+0)+59 Spell Damage / Healing (+6)7 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5) Socket Bonus: +4 Resilience Rating Classes: DruidWoW Insider says: Although 1600 personal rating might be restrictive to some beginning Moonkin Druids, the chest piece is worth the grind because it's a decent upgrade over its Season 3 counterpart. Because of its PvE equivalent, obtaining the Brutal Gladiator chest armor is almost like killing Entropius in Sunwell Plateau. Well, ok not really, but if you don't raid, that's about as close to a raid drop as you're going to get.Brutal Gladiator's Wyrmhide HelmThe helm is very likely the last Brutal Gladiator armor piece that many players will obtain. With the shoulders at an extremely prohibitive 2200, most players will only manage 4/5 of Season 4. Moonkin Druids, although not very popular in Arenas, can manage 1700 for this helm, which costs the same as the chest and leg armor pieces. With a personal rating attached to it, the Brutal Gladiator helm might be one helm graphic that players would like to leave on. It is also identical in model to the pieces that drop off Kil'jaeden in Sunwell Plateau. The helm has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):447 Armor (+32)+65 Stamina (+7)+35 Intellect (+6)+22 Spell Critical +28 Resilience (+0)+59 Spell Damage / Healing (+13 / +5)8 Mana / 5 Secs (+3 / 5)Socket Bonus: +4 Resilience RatingClasses: DruidWoW Insider says: The spell crit on this helm isn't quite as good as on the legguards, but Meta and Yellow Sockets give enough options for customization to make it a worthy purchase. Brutal Gladiator's Wyrmhide Spaulders The 2200 personal ratings requirement for the shoulders are almost Gladiator-level for most Battlegroups, and will likely be a very rare sight in most realms. It's not certain we'll see many Moonkin Druids sport these. It is the cheapest item after the gloves, but it is also the most difficult to get. Blizzard's reasoning for this is that the shoulders are the most "visually impacting" armor piece, confirming Blizzard's opinion that PvP achievements should be on display. The spaulders has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):416 Armor (+30)+49 Stamina (+6) +24 Intellect (+4)+13 Spell Critical (+8)+22 Resilience (+0)+41 Spell Damage / Healing (+5)5 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Socket Bonus: +3 Resilience RatingClasses: DruidWoW Insider says: Brutal Gladiator Shoulders are peacock gear. The stats for the Wyrmhide shoulders are so minimal to even warrant a 2200 personal ratings tag outside of showing off. Guardian's Wyrmhide Belt Because it is a visual match for the Brutal Gladiator's Wildhide, and because it comes with no personal ratings requirement, the belt is most likely to be the most widely distributed Season 4 gear. It is purchasable with Honor points, so even players who do not participate in Arena PvP can obtain it. The belt has the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):322 Armor (+22)+49 Stamina (+6)+35 Intellect (+5) +26 Resilience (+0) +44 Spell Damage / Healing (+4)11 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Classes: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: Even though it has no spell crit, this belt has a low Honor cost and is ratings-free. It's a must have item for all aspiring Moonkins, definitely the best Season 4 purchase even for players who have no intention of stepping into Arenas.Guardian's Wyrmhide BracersThe only other Guardian piece with a socket is the amulet, which doesn't have a personal rating requirement. Coupled with the fact that bracers are visually insignificant, being hidden under gloves or robes, most players feel that there's little urgency to get them. A 1575 personal ratings requirement also requires decent performance in Arenas. The bracers have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):253 (+17)+35 Stamina (+4)+23 Intellect (+3)+18 Resilience (+0) +27 Spell Damage / Healing (+4)8 Mana / 5 Secs (+1 / 5)Socket Bonus: +2 Resilience RatingClasses: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: The great thing about these bracers are the Red Socket as opposed to the typical Yellow Socket for bracers, although the upgrade from last season's version is very moderate. If a Moonkin can manage 1575 and spare the dirt cheap 11,794 Honor, why not? Guardian's Wyrmhide BootsThe most visually important match of all Guardian items -- although it won't be seen on Tauren feet, the boots are a big jump from a 1575 personal ratings requirement and is as demanding to get as the head piece at 1700 personal ratings. It is also as expensive to purchase as the belt, which has no ratings requirement. The slippers have the following stats (number in parentheses are the improvements over its Season 3 equivalent):385 Armor (+28)+49 Stamina (+6)+35 Intellect (+5) +26 Resilience (+0) +44 Spell Damage / Healing(+4)11 Mana / 5 Secs (+2 / 5)Classes: Rogue, DruidWoW Insider says: 1700 is the highest personal ratings requirement outside of the weapons and shoulders, and might be a challenge for Moonkins only starting to do Arenas. A decent item, to be sure, but players looking for more spell crit for more burst should look at better raid drops if they can manage it. %Gallery-25440% Looking for more Season 4 info? We've rounded up everything you need to know about the Brutal Gladiator season right here.
"How I made 100,000 gold"
A player by the name of Kunzite recently submitted to us that he had released his gold-making guide, subtitled "How I Made 100,000 Gold." With a title like that, I had to check it out, and it has some very interesting tips in it. It is extremely long, which makes it all the more surprising that it's free. A lot of the tips are along the lines of playing the auction house, but there are also some helpful introductions to concepts like opportunity cost (a vital thing to wrap your head around in WoW), and detailed lists of what crafts you can turn a profit in (if only by disenchanting them), and so on. I know I'll be coming back to this site – I haven't read it all yet, but it is a very nice resource, and who couldn't use a little more gold? I've already implemented one of his suggestions and found it to be quite lucrative: farming for Fel Armaments and Marks of Sargeras from warlocks at Legion Hold. My previous go-to gold-making strategy (fishing in Nagrand) was getting me 200-300g an hour typically; Legion Hold would be more like 400g if I sold everything, and I need the Aldor rep anyway (so I'm selling the Armaments and turning in the Marks). The best part about Legion Hold is that the mobs there are perma-spawned: there are always at least certain number alive at a time, so no matter how many people are farming there, you never have to wait for spawns. Kunzite's guide, like Jame's killer leveling guides (Alliance, Horde), is astonishingly high-quality – and completely free! Go check it out if you have any interest in better ways to make gold. And to Kunzite, thank you for making this great resource available to the community.
Jacek Antonelli's special blend
Jacek Antonelli, whom you already likely know as the creator of the Blender BVH animation exporter for Second Life, has released an excellent tutorial on getting to grips with Blender and the exporter, so that you can get into this excellent free tool for creating animations. Her tutorial is simple, straightforward, witty and well-illustrated. If you create Second Life animations, but don't use Blender -- or you want to get into creating animations for Linden Lab's virtual world, you owe it to yourself to take a look at this.
Official SSO quest guide
The official US website came back up an hour or two ago, and with it came a "reputation tips" guide for the Shattered Sun Offensive. Now I asked myself when I saw this, of all the factions, why SSO? They're one of the easiest, not to mention most profitable, factions out there; surely people can just do a bunch of dailies and get to Exalted in a week or so.However, it turns out that although this presents itself as a faction guide, what it really is is a quest guide. It covers all the Isle of Quel'Danas daily quest as well as the SSO-associated Outland dailies. While you won't find anything new in there if you've done the quests a few times, newcomers to the Isle may find some useful tips, such as: Do Further Conversions and Arm the Wards at the same time. You can take the readings for Know Your Ley Lines while being attacked. You don't have to have killed the Emissary of Hate to plant the banner on him for The Battle Must Go On; just find the corpse. You have to be wearing the goggles to see the distortions for The Multiphase Survey. Your Flare can pick up charges off the Incandescent Fel Sparks for Blast the Gateway even if you're not the one who kills the Spark, as long as you're nearby. I must confess, I've stopped doing the dailies altogether now, as I'm Exalted on both my 70s and have faster ways to get gold when I need it. But it is certainly one of the more enjoyable reputation grinds.
New Players Guide: Your first login
Ok, you're done clicking sliders and choosing your race and class as part of the character creation process. You've watched the opening cinematic - you watched the cinematic, right? Did you stay through the credits to see the bonus scene? No? Good thing there wasn't one. Now you're sitting in starting area for your race, staring at the user interface (UI) for the first time and could be going, "Oh, man. What do all these buttons do?"As far as UIs, World of Warcraft's isn't that bad actually. If you want to see a game with a horrid interface, take a gander at Second Life; that UI will scar your brain.
EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Empyrean Age
With EVE Online's Empyrean Age patch just over a week away, it's time for those getting involved to start preparing for the patch. Aside from following the patch day mantra of "set a long skill training" and getting a nice book to read while the server is down, there are always things you can do beforehand to get ready for the post-patch festivities. Whether you're a veteran corp CEO forming a PvP militia or a new player starting out on a 14 day trial to take part in the action, there are important preparations to make by June 10th. In this guide, I will cover the main points on what you can do in the coming week to make the most of the patch.Getting in on the action:Once the Empyrean Age patch goes live on June 10th, you'll undoubtedly want to get stuck right in to the action. Details on the game mechanics that allow individuals and corps to sign up to factional warfare are plenty but advice on what to do after signing up is surprisingly scarce. Although fighting between warring factions can occur anywhere in EVE, most of the fighting and faction warfare missions will be concentrated into stretches of low security space around the borders between warring factions. According to CCP developer Greyscale, the Caldari will be defending the new Black Rise region and a few constellations in The Citadel against the Gallente. The Gallente will be initially poised in Placid region and some low security systems in Essence. The Amarr are defending The Bleak Lands region and the upper parts of Devoid while the Minmatar defend Metropolis and areas of Heimatar. Read on for information on how to set up an effective player militia, where to set up your base of operations and how to profit off the coming war.
MMOG Podcast Roundup: May 24th - May 31st
Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there. As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.Today we'd like to highlight a podcast that really needs no introduction. The late, lamented Games for Windows magazine had (in our opinion) probably the best podcast over at the 1up network. Though they're now running the PC games site for 1up instead of a print mag, the show goes on. Regular hosts Jeff Green, Sean Molloy, Ryan Scott, and Shawn Elliot wax philosophic each week about PC gaming, nerd TV, comics, books, and occasionally MMOs. Well worth a listen even when our favorite genre isn't on the table, it's a part of 1up's stable of generally great podcasts.
MMOG Podcast Roundup: May 17th - May 23rd
Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there. As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.Well worth listening to this week: Massively Speaking's fellow VirginWorlds collective member Voyages of Vanguard. VoV is one of the oldest VirginWorld podcasts, and has gone through a number of hosts over the years. Current hosts Luper and Beau have a great rapport, and are willing to really go at it in conversation if need be. This week they've got a huge argument going on the concept of raiding; thought-provoking and well worth giving a listen to.
MMOG Podcast Roundup: May 9th - May 16th
Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there. As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.This week it's well worth mentioning the entire VirginWorlds network of podcasts. Started by Brent Lassi and the VirginWorlds podcast itself, the network now plays host to some 16 podcasts ranging across the entire spectrum of MMOs. If you're an MMO player, you're going to find something in the network to like. Lore, PvP, raiding ... all your bases are covered. They've even got a guy talking about about how you can interact with folks better IRL. It's worth noting that in my off hours I contribute to the collective via my personal site. So ... I'm biased. It's still a great site, and you should definitely check it out.
All the best AoC pre-launch info in one spot
Are you excited yet? Age of Conan's Early Access Weekend is soon upon us, and the forums -- both official and unofficial -- are ablaze with information, speculation and anticipation as that final retail launch date closes in on us.The good people over at Ten Ton Hammer have gathered a wonderful compilation of the best of the best when it comes to AoC forum posts, fan site info and all the general information you'll need to get started on the right foot this coming May 20th. If you were lucky enough to get into the Early Access Weekend, feel free to leave some comments to this post as to your impressions of the game outside of beta.
Ask Massively: Age of Conan survival guide (for your computer)
It's time, once again, to unleash the prognosticative and philosophical pulchritude of Ask Massively, where the only thing we take seriously is alliteration. As frequent readers (both of you) of this column might know, we are rapidly approaching the release date for Age of Conan, and while I'm sure it will be difficult to find any information on that new and exciting upcoming title, I thought we would touch on something a little more "real world-centric" while getting in the requisite amount of hype at the same time. Dear Ask Massively I'm eagerly anticipating the upcoming launch of Age of Conan along with what appears to be 90% of your writing staff. I was fortunate enough to play in the beta, and I have some serious concerns about performance on my machine. I don't think it can all be explained by "debugging code" as you mentioned in a previous column, do you have any suggestions for things I can do in order to get better game play? I know that I'm going to be stuck on the hardware treadmill and eventually be forced to upgrade, I just don't want to have to do it right now. What is a Barbarian-in-training supposed to do? -Junior Barbarian Junior, today is your lucky day. Like you, I have been playing the Age of Conan beta, and , like you, I had some fairly severe issues with frame rate. In the interest of full disclosure, I will provide my own system specs after the jump. Suffice to say that my system isn't exactly a "budget gamer" system, but at the same time, it isn't "top of the line" either. I was able to tweak a few settings in the game that improved my game play experience immensely. In fact, it improved it so much that I created a new character and leveled her to 10 in the time it used to take to load a zone in some of the older beta clients. (Editor's note: that's only a mild exaggeration) If you would like to have your questions answered by our staff of sleep deprived caffeine junkies, drop us a line either via our tip line or via email at ask AT massively DOT com. My most sincere condolences to my long lost Nigerian uncle's family. Had I known that he would leave me 25 million dollars in his will, I may have sent you guys birthday cards every year or something. For more on our topic-du-jour, read on after the jump.
MMOG Podcast Roundup: Apr. 25th - May 9th
Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there. As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.This week I want to make it a point to mention the Van Hemlock podcast, the audio companion to the really excellent Van Hemlock MMO blog. Hemlock and his cohost Jon take on the world of MMO titles with a quirky attitude, an educated perspective and (most impressively) a British accent! If you've at all enjoyed Hemlock's writing in the past, you'll equally appreciate his verbal impressions of the genre. Very much worth a listen.
MMOG Podcast Roundup: Mar. 14th - Mar. 21st
Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there. As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.Our spotlight this week rests on The Instance, a fantastic World of Warcraft podcast that reached 100 episodes this past week. They've been going strong since January of 2006! Back then they were talking about the Ahn'Quiraj event and rumours of which races would show up in the Burning Crusade expansion; my oh my how time flies. Make sure you stop over and give their hundredth show a listen - well worth your time. Congratulations!
