Essential Tasks Before Patch 12.0.5 & What to Skip

Key Preparations for Patch 12.0.5

Patch 12.0.5 is on the horizon, bringing with it a plethora of new content and significant changes to gearing up. Before the patch goes live, there are essential tasks you should prioritize to maximize your readiness and efficiency. Here's a guide on what to focus on and what you can afford to delay until the patch is out.

Complete Void Forge Quests

One critical pre-patch task is completing the Void Forge weekly quests. These quests provide invaluable gearing opportunities, such as acquiring two pieces of Myth Track gear weekly. Ensure you're up to date with these quests by checking with Desimus in Voidtorm. If you find yourself behind, don't worry; the quests can be completed sequentially by using void cores, which drop from dungeons, delves, or raid boss kills.

1. Check your current quest status with Desimus in Voidtorm.
2. Aim to be at 5 of 5 on the Void Forge tracker by the end of the week.
3. Engage in endgame content to gather the necessary void core shards.
4. Remember, quest completion is account-wide, benefiting all your characters.

Dive into Mythic Plus Dungeons

Mythic Plus dungeons are currently more accessible than ever, with rewarding gear drops that can significantly enhance your character's performance. Here's why you should consider diving into them before Patch 12.0.5:

• Completing Void Forge allows for two weekly nebulous void cores, offering bonus rolls for extra loot in Mythic Plus content.
• By finishing two +10 keystone dungeons weekly, you can secure three pieces of Myth Track gear.
• The new patch introduces new achievements and mounts for Mythic Plus enthusiasts, providing additional goals and rewards.

Pay Attention to Class Changes

It's crucial to stay informed about class-specific changes, as several early updates for Patch 12.0.5 were reverted. For instance, frost mages will retain their two charges of Ray of Frost, and preservation evokers will see a new talent option. Make sure to read the patch notes thoroughly for any relevant updates pertaining to your class or specialization.

Catch Up on Story Quests

Take this opportunity to finish any outstanding story quests. Completing the max level story campaign not only offers narrative closure for the Midnight expansion but also unlocks potential content in future patches like 12.0.7 or 12.1.

• Story quests can lead to rewards such as a new Hearthstone toy and the Paradot Dragon Hawk mount.
• Both raids in the campaign are accessible on story mode, allowing completion without actual raid participation.

What to Delay

Given the impending changes in the patch, certain activities can be postponed:

• Leveling Alts: The new void assaults and incursions span levels 80 to 90, making them accessible without requiring prior alt leveling.

By focusing on these tasks, you can ensure your character is optimally prepared for the exciting changes coming with Patch 12.0.5 while saving time and effort by efficiently prioritizing your activities.

The impending patch 12.0.5 brings a fresh perspective on leveling and gearing up, offering ample opportunities to streamline your gameplay efficiently. New events, such as void assaults and incursions, promise a more engaging leveling experience for your alternative characters (alts). Instead of repeatedly grinding dungeons or quests, these events provide an alternative as their participation speed is influenced by the number of players in the zone. During the early days of testing, it became evident that assaults could be completed swiftly, especially with a sizeable group, enhancing the leveling speed considerably.

Additionally, the patch introduces a timewalking event, typically more efficient than dungeon runs, making it a valuable opportunity to focus on leveling alts. However, given the new gear acquisition methods introduced, leveling alts early could benefit those eager to jump straight into gearing when the patch goes live.

New Gearing Opportunities

With the release of patch 12.0.5, the process of gearing up becomes significantly more accessible. A key aspect of this is the ability to directly purchase champion and hero gear through a vendor using the new field accolade currency. Here’s a glance at how the system works:

• Champion Gear: Costs 75 field accolades per piece.
• Hero Gear: Costs 500 field accolades per piece.

You can farm field accolades consistently through various activities:

1. Void Assaults: Approximately 8 field accolades per completion.
2. Void Incursions: Tend to offer double the accolades of assaults.
3. Ritual Sites: Provide a more intensive challenge but allow for faster accumulation of field accolades, ranging from 20 per tier one run to over 100 for tier five.

   This setup offers an endless opportunity to farm hero gear, making the process relatively stress-free and more efficient than previous methods reliant on Delves and restored coffer keys.

Comparison of Field Accolades and Gearing

The shift in gearing priorities renders old methods, such as the Delve seasonal journey, less appealing, particularly since accessing hero gear via old methods required achieving rank nine in the track—a formidable task for many. The introduction of new avenues allows players to gear up with less effort, and to do so faster. Consequently, pursuing Delves for gear may soon become obsolete in favor of these newer, conveniently available options.

In light of these changes, players focused on solo content might consider pausing efforts in obtaining gear until the new patch is live, appreciating the streamlined and efficient pathways now available.