Can You Dismantle Gear in World of Warcraft? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you absolutely can dismantle gear in World of Warcraft, but the process and available methods have changed significantly over the game’s expansions. The most prevalent method involves using the Scrapper, a feature introduced in the Battle for Azeroth (BfA) expansion. This allows you to break down unwanted gear into valuable crafting materials. However, that’s not the only way gear can be taken apart. This article explores the nuances of dismantling gear in WoW, along with providing answers to frequently asked questions.

How Does Dismantling Gear Work?

The primary method for dismantling gear in modern World of Warcraft is through the Scrapper. This machine, unlocked by progressing through the Battle for Azeroth storyline, allows players to convert gear into materials used in crafting. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

• Accessing the Scrapper: The Scrapper is typically located near the main hub in BFA zones. You’ll need to unlock it through questing.
• Using the Scrapper: Simply interact with the Scrapper, and a window will appear. You can place up to nine pieces of eligible gear into the window by right-clicking them in your inventory.
• The Scrap Button: Once you’ve loaded your gear, click the “Scrap” button. The Scrapper will then break down the items one by one, providing you with various crafting resources.

What Kind of Gear Can Be Dismantled?

The Scrapper is quite versatile, accepting a broad range of gear, including:

• BfA Level Gear: All gear that is level-appropriate for the Battle for Azeroth expansion.
• Crafted Items: Armor and weapons crafted via professions.
• Quest Rewards: Items received from completing quests.
• World Drops: Gear found while exploring the open world.
• Dungeon and Raid Gear: Most gear obtained from dungeons and raids within the BfA expansion.

However, there are exclusions. Gear purchased directly from vendors generally cannot be scrapped. The system focuses on items you’ve acquired through your own efforts.

Beyond the Scrapper: Other Methods and Concepts

While the Scrapper is the most common dismantling tool, there are other related aspects and techniques in World of Warcraft that touch upon the idea of taking gear apart.

Disenchanting

Prior to the introduction of the Scrapper, disenchanting was the primary method of breaking down gear for materials. While not dismantling in the strictest sense of the word, it achieved a similar outcome of converting unwanted gear into resources. Players with the Enchanting profession can still disenchant items, yielding enchanting dusts and essences, which are valuable for crafting enchants. Disenchanting is particularly relevant for gear from older expansions.

Leatherworking Disassembly

In specific cases, certain crafting professions have had item disassembly related abilities. For example, in older content, leatherworkers could disassemble armor to get materials like ancient scales, however, this is rarely in use in the modern game.

Salvaging

The concept of salvaging exists within WoW. You can obtain Salvaged Crates containing a mix of materials, sometimes ore, and occasionally even epic-quality gear. However, these aren’t the result of your direct actions like scrapping, rather they come from other in-game activities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about dismantling gear in World of Warcraft, providing a deeper understanding of the topic.

1. Can I dismantle gear from older expansions?

   • While the Scrapper is primarily for Battle for Azeroth gear, you can still disenchant gear from older expansions if you have the Enchanting profession.

2. Is there a limit to how many items I can scrap at once?

   • The Scrapper allows you to put 9 items at a time for dismantling.

3. Can I recover items I accidentally scrapped?

   • You can use the Item Restoration page on the Blizzard website to attempt to restore sold, destroyed, or disenchanted items, including those scrapped. However, some items may not be recoverable. Customer Support will not restore items.

4. What materials do I get from scrapping?

   • The materials you receive from scrapping vary depending on the type and quality of the item. Common materials include Hydrocores, Expulsom, and various BFA crafting reagents.

5. Does it cost anything to use the Scrapper?

   • No, using the Scrapper is free. It’s a resource management tool.

6. Can I scrap armor purchased from a vendor?

   • Generally, you cannot scrap items directly purchased from vendors.

7. Can I remove gems from gear before scrapping?

   • Gems can be removed from gear by an appropriate profession (Jewelcrafting), but the scrapping process will destroy the gems. It is best to remove any valuable gems beforehand.

8. Are there any penalties for wearing the wrong armor type?

   • While there’s no penalty before level 50, after reaching level 50, wearing the correct armor type grants a 5% primary stat bonus. Wearing the wrong armor won’t penalize you, but it will make you weaker.

9. Where do I turn in Armor Scraps?

   • Armor Scraps are generally used for specific crafting activities or for faction reputation. Specific vendors and turn in quests for scraps are typically associated with specific older content or world events.

10. Can I remove an embellishment from gear?

    • Yes, if an embellishment was added with a Finishing Reagent, you can remove it by recrafting the item with Griftah’s All-Purpose Embellishing Powder.

11. Can I scrap gear in the Shadowlands expansion?

    • While the Scrapper was introduced in Battle for Azeroth, it remains usable for BfA gear in subsequent expansions like Shadowlands.

12. Can I unlearn a specialization?

    • Yes, certain specializations like Engineering can be unlearned at an Engineering Trainer.

13. Can I uncrafter items?

    • No, once crafted, items cannot be uncrated and Customer Support cannot assist with this. You can however, sell bind on equip items on the auction house.

14. Is there a dismantle ability?

    • The Dismantle ability exists as a Outlaw rogue PvP talent, not for general item breakdown.

15. Is selling carries allowed in WoW?

    • Selling in-game services like carries for real money is strictly prohibited. Organizations offering such services are also against Blizzard’s policies.

Conclusion

The ability to dismantle gear in World of Warcraft is a useful tool for resource management. While disenchanting has been a long-standing method, the Scrapper from the Battle for Azeroth expansion provides a convenient way to break down unwanted gear for crafting materials. By understanding these methods and the associated rules, players can effectively manage their inventories and optimize their crafting pursuits in WoW.