WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 3 has been active for nearly 6 weeks now, accompanied by 6 resets of Sunken Temple, bringing us closer to reveal the Phase 4. As the upcoming Phase 4 promises an array of rewards, fresh profession recipes, elevated PvP ranks, and other exciting additions, now is a great time to start laying the foundation.
Gain Reputations
Firstly, let's focus on reputations. In Phase 4, there are several reputations worth grinding, but the PvP faction reputations with Warsong Gulch and Arathi Basin stand out. If you haven't reached Exalted yet, it's advisable to work towards maxing out these reputations.
Warsong Gulch will continue to offer and upgrade current epic braces available for levels 40-50, extending into Level 60. These braces, particularly the plate versions, have historically remained powerful, often considered BiS even in later content phases like Ahn'Qiraj.
Additionally, at Level 60, players will gain access to epic leggings, with some armor types proving notably stronger than others. Even if new itemization emerges early in Level 60 that surpasses these rewards, there will still be an immediate power boost compared to current gear.
Arathi Basin will also provide compelling rewards at Level 60. Each armor type will have a three-piece set available, offering a decent upgrade. Casters, in particular, will benefit from access to potent spell power weapons, such as the spell power dagger, which rivals the Azuresong Mageblade dropped in Molten Core.
Onyxia Attunement Chain
The Onyxia Attunement quest chain is notable for its length, offering access to the Onyxia'a Lair upon completion. Alliance players initiate this achievement in Burning Steppes with the quest 'Dragonkin Menace', which leads to subsequent quests culminating in 'A Shred of Hope'.
However, progression halts here as further advancement requires quest items from defeating the General Angerforge and Golem Lord Argelmach in Blackrock Depths - currently unavailable because of their revelry in the Grim Guzzler. Unfortunately, Horde players cannot commence this achievement yet, necessitating patience until the next phase.
Farm Demonic Runes
For mana players, acquiring Demonic Runes should be a priority. While you might currently feel that mana isn't a concern, recent statements have highlighted the importance of managing mana as a crucial gameplay element. This implies that mana will once again become a valuable and finite resource in Phase 4, especially considering that raid encounters are likely to be lengthier.
Given this context, stockpiling Demonic Runes is advisable. Unlike other mana potions, Demonic Runes do not share a cooldown, making them a versatile resource. Although they share a cooldown with Mage mana gems, they can still prove useful for Mages during prolonged fights.
Profession Planning
The next thing you could be preparing is professions. While we currently cannot get many of the high-level recipes that drop from certain dungeons or raids, we can always be prepared by having our professions at the max level of 300 ready for Phase 4. With this, the chances are that any new craftable from your selected profession will probably require 300 to learn and craft.
If your profession is already at Level 300, you should instead be aiming to gather some materials for certain crafts. Some crafts have always historically proven to be very powerful and would be extremely hard to replace, even with new itemization. A great example of this would be the Lionheart Helm from Blacksmithing.
Some materials you could gather right now or even get from the auction house with your WoW SOD Gold while the prices are cheaper could be materials such as Arcanite Bar, Blue Sapphire, Azerothian Diamond, Wicked Claw, Mooncloth, various different Essences, and Golden Pearls.
There will be many more materials you could also aim to grab early, so I'd highly suggest looking into what you'd be able to craft in the coming phase and plan accordingly to your profession.
Get Honor Tokens
Preparing honor tokens for PvP advancement can be a wise move as you progress to higher levels. In the Blood Moon Stranglethorn Vale PvP event, you have the opportunity to accumulate these tokens, stacking them in anticipation of the upcoming WoW SOD Phase 4.
However, it’s essential to note that this event has undergone significant adjustments, particularly in terms of the tokens acquisition. Unlike before, where you could stack up to 250 Copper Blood Coins, now you can only stack up to 99 commendations, each costing 1 Silver Blood Coin.
Despite the nerf, accumulating these tokens remains beneficial. A boost of 25,000 honor can significantly aid your progression. Additionally, since the specifics of PvP rewards for the upcoming phase remain uncertain, having a head start in accumulating honor ensures readiness for any new rewards introduced.
