Quick memes:
The lowest ilvl gear we're gonna look at here is heroic dungeon gear dropping at 359. I think anything below that isn't worth talking about/and that it's fully reasonable to have at least 359 in every slot pre season 1. If you can think of something that drops above 359ilvl that's not on this list I probably forgor, say something.
A few of the gear sources we're going to look at give you the option of choosing what slot they will occupy. Anytime you have this opportunity it's recommended to save the resources used to obtain the item as late as possible so you can select the item slot that gives you the most benefit.
ILVI Reference Chart:
* Hold your coins before buying so you can choose the best slot. ** Requires you to obtain the equivilent Titan Training Matrix as a drop. Save these until later so you can choose the best slot. Most likely the item you want will have a recipe tied to renown so it might take a nit for the guild crafter to have it, however this shouldn't be a problem if you're holding until end of next week. *** Unlike other profession gear this trinket only comes at one ilvl, equivilent to MO gear. Class by class basis of if this is worth the gold, however I think most people should skip it even if it s an upgrade at the current gold cost.
Cobalt Ring - 389 Hold your coins before buying so you can choose the best slot.
MO Crafted - 372 to 382**
Renown Rep Gear - 376
World Activity Gear - 376
Darkmoon Deck - 372***
MO Gear -372
Heroic Crafted - 359 to 369**
War Mode Gear - 366*
Heroic Gear - 359
WQ Gear - 340 to 382
Where To Get Everything:
Cobalt Ring:
A vendorable ring with a proc effect. Comes from farming mobs in the Cobalt Assembly of The Azure Span. A small quest is required to start the reputation and can be picked up in the same area. One of the npcs you talk to during this will have a small upgrade tree that is tied to your reputation and costs Dragon Isles Supplies. Don't forget to purchase the reputation bonus from him once you hit 2/5 level. At 4/5 level the ring becomes purchaseable from a nearby npc.
Renown Rep Gear:
The 4 main reputations for the expansion each have their own gear slot that they'll sell a 376 piece for once a renown level is reached.
Dragonscale Expedition -> Gloves -> Renown 12
Maruuk Centaur -> Boots-> Renown 11
Iskaara Tuskarr -> Bracers -> Renown 14
Valdrakken Accord -> Belt -> Renown 16
I'm honestly not sure if reaching each of these before raid release is realistic, but for the nolife mega gamers I would recommend focusing on rep farming after your weeklies to try and get all 4. Reputation sources include, campaign quests, side quests (check your sojourner achievement progress to track), world quests, weekly activities.
The items will be seld by the quartermasters located in their respective cities.
Crafted Gear:
The final boss of heroic and mythic dungeons can drop a Titan Training Matrix item. This is a soulbound item that increases the ilvl of a crafted piece when used as a reagent for the recipe. Talk to a crafter of the gear type you want to work out how you'll get your item. If you're unsure of who to talk to don't forget that we have our professions listed at raid.neatgang.com
Warmode Gear:
Completing various activites in warmode awards Bloody Tokens which can be spent at Fieldmaster Emberath (location 43 42 in Valdrakken) for 366 gear. I think this is the only pvp gear worth mentioning for preseason, as honor gear can't be fully upgraded until the season begins at which point I'd recommend m+ over pvp gear unless your spec highly values versatility. Hopefully you won't have much of this equipped for the raid release but it's worth mentioning as it's above heroic dungeon ilvl and you can select what slot you purchase.
World Activities:
Weekly activities tied to the various reputations of dragonflight. Some are repeatable for additional rep gain but the main draw seems to be an epic cache awarded on first weekly completion that offers a chance at a Epic 376 item. Each one is unlocked at either a certain renown level or upon campaign completion, and once unlocked on a character is immediately available on alts. You can press the funny button on your world map if you need help finding them. Included in this list are: -The Black Dragonflight Weekly World Quest -Siege on Dragon Bane Keep -Maruuk Centaur Hunt -Tuskaar Feast
My Recommended Routing for PreSeason:
1. Turn on War Mode and live in it, grab air bounties when you can 2. Do your MO World Tour 3. Do World Quests that offer an upgrade and daily PVP WQs 4. Complete Weekly World Activities 4. Spend free time working on cobalt ring in group farm, can turn off war mode for this if needed 5A. If crafter, level crafting proffession 5B. Once Completed spend free time cleaning up sidequests 6. Do Heroics if nothing else is left
