Does Valor Reset Every Season in World of Warcraft? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, Valor points typically reset at the start of each new season in World of Warcraft. This is a crucial aspect of the game’s seasonal structure, designed to keep the economy fresh and encourage players to actively participate in the current content. When a new season begins, any accumulated Valor points are converted into a small amount of silver or gold and added to your total, effectively nullifying your accumulated points from the previous season. There are no mail retrievals for this conversion, it is purely an automatic action by the system. This reset mechanism ensures that all players start on an equal playing field regarding Valor at the beginning of each new season.
The Purpose of Valor Resets
The primary goal behind seasonal Valor resets is to maintain game balance and encourage player engagement. If Valor points were persistent across seasons, players who actively grinded in one season would have a significant advantage over those who did not. By resetting Valor each season, the game ensures:
- Equal Opportunity: Each player begins the season with a fresh start, encouraging everyone to engage in the season’s content rather than relying on previously farmed resources.
- Relevance of Content: Resets incentivize players to participate in the new season’s dungeons, as they are the main source of Valor for upgrading gear.
- Economic Balance: By preventing the hoarding of Valor, the game avoids an imbalance where players with vast amounts of older currency might dominate the market in the new season.
- Fresh Experience: Resetting Valor helps create a feeling of progression as players need to re-earn and spend Valor on upgrades.
How Valor Resets Work
When a new season launches in World of Warcraft, the system automatically performs a Valor reset. Here’s a breakdown of what happens:
- Automatic Conversion: All your current Valor points are automatically converted into a nominal amount of silver or gold.
- No Mail: This conversion happens without sending any in-game mail. Your new gold/silver total is simply adjusted automatically.
- Zero Starting Point: You begin the new season with zero Valor points, regardless of how many you possessed before.
This process ensures a clean slate, setting the stage for a new phase of gameplay and progression.
The Evolution of Valor and Its Reset Rules
Over the history of World of Warcraft, the specifics around Valor have evolved. Initially, Valor was a prominent currency for upgrading gear, often with strict weekly earning caps. However, the system has undergone several changes, including times when there have been periods of uncapped Valor earning, and, in the case of Dragonflight, a complete replacement of the system. Here is a brief look at how Valor has behaved in recent times:
- Traditional Valor Caps: In previous expansions, such as Shadowlands, Valor was typically capped weekly to limit the rate at which players could upgrade gear, with these caps being removed or increased as the season progressed.
- Uncapped Valor: At times, the cap on Valor has been removed completely in later parts of seasons, allowing players to obtain as much Valor as needed to gear up.
- Seasonal Reset: The constant has been that at the beginning of the new season, a Valor reset is always implemented, which was accompanied with the conversion to a small amount of gold or silver.
- Dragonflight Changes: In the Dragonflight expansion, Valor was phased out by patch 10.1 and replaced by a new system involving Flightstones, Shadowflame Crests, and Shadowflame Crest Fragments. This completely removed the need for any kind of reset.
While Valor’s purpose and mechanics have shifted, the core principle of a seasonal reset has remained a consistent part of the game’s design.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Valor Resets
Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to Valor resets, providing further insight into how they work and what players can expect:
1. Will my Valor points be mailed to me after a reset?
No, the converted gold or silver is automatically added to your total. There is no mail involved in the conversion process.
2. Does the Valor cap also reset each season?
Yes, the weekly earning cap for Valor resets each season. Initially, there is always a limit that increases weekly, and which has been removed from later patches in an individual season. This cap reset is an important part of a new season’s gameplay loop.
3. What happens to any other points like Conquest and Honor?
Conquest points also reset every season, similar to Valor. Honor points usually do not reset, but this can sometimes depend on the patch or particular season.
4. What is the purpose of the silver/gold conversion at the reset?
The silver or gold conversion of Valor at the reset is largely symbolic, designed to empty the old currency without providing any real purchasing power in the new season. It acknowledges the time spent earning Valor but ensures no advantage is carried into the new season.
5. Are Valor points used for upgrading gear?
In previous expansions, Valor was primarily used for upgrading gear obtained from Mythic+ dungeons. However, in Dragonflight, the currency was replaced by Flightstones, Shadowflame Crests, and Shadowflame Crest Fragments.
6. What is the fastest way to earn Valor points?
While Valor is no longer used in Dragonflight, in previous expansions, the fastest way to farm Valor was to complete low-level Mythic+ dungeons. Completing these dungeons awarded a fixed amount of Valor, which was then boosted when someone in the group gained mythic+ rating from that dungeon.
7. Was Valor capped at any point in Dragonflight?
Initially in Dragonflight, Valor was capped, however, this cap was removed as of patch 10.0.5 in the week of Feb 14th. However, Valor was later removed as a currency and replaced with other types of item-upgrade systems starting in Patch 10.1.
8. Can I refund Valor upgrades?
Refunds for Valor upgrades are not possible within World of Warcraft. This is because of the permanent nature of item upgrades.
9. How do I know when a new season is about to start?
Blizzard will always announce the start of a new season well in advance via their game launcher, official forums, and in-game notifications.
10. Why is it important that Valor resets each season?
The reset of Valor each season provides a fairer start for all players in new content, removes the advantages gained from previous seasons, and encourages engagement with new content.
11. Did Valor ever have a hold limit?
Yes, previous versions of Valor have had a cap on the amount that you can hold. For example, in previous expansions you could hold 5,000 Valor.
12. Is Valor the same as Honor?
No, Valor is a currency obtained from PvE activities, primarily Mythic+ dungeons, while Honor is obtained through PvP activities.
13. Is there more than one season of Valor in WoW?
The term ‘seasons’ has multiple meanings withing the game. There is a popular TV show called Valor, which is unrelated to World of Warcraft. However, in World of Warcraft terms, a season will usually last several months before being replaced with new content. Each of these seasons involves a valor reset.
14. Can you stop earning experience in WoW to farm valor?
Experience points and valor have never been directly linked, and cannot be used together. Experience points can be paused through NPCs in major faction cities.
15. Will Valor return to Dragonflight in the future?
Currently, there are no indications of the Valor system returning in Dragonflight. Blizzard has opted for a different gear upgrade system using Flightstones, Shadowflame Crests, and Shadowflame Crest Fragments.
Conclusion
The seasonal reset of Valor in World of Warcraft is an integral part of the game’s cyclical design. It ensures fairness, encourages player engagement, and maintains the relevance of new content. While Valor’s mechanics have changed over the years, the fundamental principle of a seasonal reset has remained a constant. By understanding this system, players can better plan their gameplay and make the most of each new season.