Will Legendaries Matter in Dragonflight? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short, direct, and definitive answer is: No, Shadowlands legendaries will not matter in Dragonflight, not in the way you’ve come to know them. Their powerful effects and bonuses will be disabled outside of Shadowlands content. This means you won’t be bringing your covenant-infused, game-changing legendary to the Dragon Isles, nor will they be a factor in most legacy content outside of Shadowlands. The era of Shadowlands legendaries, soulbinds, conduits, and covenant abilities is, for the most part, concluding with the arrival of Dragonflight. Let’s delve into the specifics of what this means and how it will impact your gameplay.
The Sunset of Shadowlands Power
The introduction of Dragonflight marks a significant shift in character power progression. Gone are the days of relying on Shadowlands systems to augment our abilities in the wider world. All power granted from the Shadowlands—including, most notably, legendary effects, soulbinds, conduits, and covenant abilities—will be inactive when you step outside of Shadowlands zones. This is not a bug or a temporary measure; it’s an intended reset, designed to allow the new systems of Dragonflight to take center stage.
This change is intended to:
- Create a level playing field: With everyone starting the Dragonflight expansion with limited access to prior power progression, it helps ensure that new character progression is more impactful in the long-run.
- Promote engagement with Dragonflight systems: The design encourages you to invest in the new systems that are offered, including talents, new gear, and crafting.
- Prevent power creep: Shadowlands legendaries were incredibly powerful, and retaining them would dramatically impact the power curve in the next expansion.
Specifics of Legendary Deactivation
While your Shadowlands legendary items won’t lose their stats or item level when in Dragonflight, the crucial thing to understand is that their legendary effects will be inactive. This means that the procs, stat bonuses, and unique abilities that made them so potent will simply not function outside of Shadowlands areas. It’s essential to recognize that your carefully crafted or painstakingly earned legendaries will largely become stat sticks, not game-changers, in Dragonflight.
Legendaries in Shadowlands Content
It’s important to note that within the Shadowlands zones themselves, all of your Shadowlands powers will continue to function as normal. This includes legendaries, soulbinds, conduits, and covenant abilities. You can still explore, complete quests, run dungeons, and even participate in Shadowlands Timewalking events using all of your previously acquired powers. This functionality is also being kept for returning Season 4 Mythic+ dungeons that were initially introduced in Shadowlands such as Iron Docks and Grimrail Depot.
The Rise of Dragonflight Systems
Dragonflight introduces completely new systems for character progression. Instead of relying on borrowed power from previous expansions, you will be focusing on:
- Updated Talent Trees: Dragonflight implements redesigned talent trees allowing for more impactful choices and customization.
- Dragon Isles Gear: New armor and weapons from dungeons, raids, and world content in the Dragon Isles will be the primary drivers of your character’s power.
- Dragonriding: The new dynamic flying system is also crucial for navigation and will introduce its own progression system with talents and glyphs.
- Crafting and Professions: Improved crafting systems with the introduction of new crafts and specializations.
These Dragonflight systems will take precedence and will become the foundation of your character’s capabilities in the expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify the impact of these changes, let’s address some common questions:
1. Will Shadowlands Legendaries work in Dragonflight content?
No, Shadowlands legendary effects will not function in Dragonflight content. The legendary items themselves will be equipable but only provide their base stats. Their unique powers will be inactive.
2. Will Shadowlands Covenants and Covenant Abilities work in Dragonflight?
Covenant abilities will also be disabled outside of Shadowlands content. You won’t be able to use your covenant-specific abilities, soulbinds, or conduits in the Dragon Isles or when doing older legacy content.
3. Can I still earn Renown and Covenant rewards in Dragonflight?
Yes, you can still join covenants, earn renown, and collect covenant rewards, soulbinds, and conduits. However, these benefits and powers will only be active within Shadowlands zones.
4. Can I use Shadowlands legendary appearances for transmog in Dragonflight?
You can collect transmogrification appearances for Shadowlands legendaries. However, the transmog can only be used by the specific item type. For example, a legendary cloak will only be able to be transmogged on to other cloak slot pieces. Transmog for shadowlands legendaries can be obtained in Mythic Sanctum of Domination.
5. Will my Heart of Azeroth work in Dragonflight?
The Heart of Azeroth will not grant its special abilities in Dragonflight. It will still provide its base stats, but its abilities are deactivated, similar to Shadowlands legendaries.
6. Do Legendaries work in Timewalking?
Shadowlands powers, including legendaries, do not function in Timewalking except when it is specifically for Shadowlands Timewalking content. This prevents you from leveraging those powers in other expansion’s Timewalking events.
7. What about the new Evoker Legendary in Dragonflight?
The Evoker has its own specific legendary weapon called Nasz’uro, the Unbound Legacy. This is a Dragonflight-specific legendary and is not related to Shadowlands legendaries. It is a 457 ilvl Fist Weapon and has a unique legendary effect designed specifically for the Evoker class.
8. What are the best Legendaries for other classes in Dragonflight?
There are no Shadowlands Legendaries that are the best for any class in Dragonflight. Dragonflight will have its own new gear progression and system for item bonuses. Shadowlands legendaries only work in Shadowlands. An example is that for Fury Warriors, Signet of Tormented Kings was considered a good legendary in Shadowlands, but it does not function outside of the Shadowlands.
9. Can I use all my mounts in Dragonflight?
Yes, you can use all of your mounts in Dragonflight, but only specific mounts can be used for Dragonriding in the Dragon Isles. Your other mounts will still be able to be used for ground movement, but will not be able to fly in the Dragon Isles.
10. How do you unlock Dragonriding mounts?
You will unlock the first Dragonriding mount, the Renewed Proto-Drake, through completing quests early in the Dragon Isles. Additional mounts will be unlocked as you progress through the Dragon Isles.
11. Can I fly with my old mounts in Zandalar, Kul Tiras, and other BFA zones?
Yes, with Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7, flying is now unlocked in Zandalar, Kul Tiras, Nazjatar, and Mechagon for all characters that possess the correct riding skill. You will no longer need the Pathfinder Achievement to fly in these zones.
12. Are Mythic Dungeons still available in Dragonflight?
Yes, Mythic+ dungeons are a core part of the endgame in Dragonflight. This provides challenging content for all players.
13. What is the easiest Mythic+ dungeon in Dragonflight?
Shadowmoon Burial Grounds is considered one of the easiest Mythic+ dungeons in Dragonflight due to having only four bosses.
14. Is questing or dungeons faster for leveling in Dragonflight?
Questing can often be faster than dungeons for leveling if you are above level 20, due to the ability to quickly complete starting quests for each expansion.
15. Are heroic dungeons a good way to gear up in Dragonflight?
Heroic dungeons provide good gear for preparation for the start of the Dragonflight Season One. This can be a good way to gear up as Mythic+ dungeons and raid content are not available before the season launch.
Conclusion
In summary, while your hard-earned Shadowlands legendaries will remain a piece of your character’s history, their legendary effects will not extend to Dragonflight content. They will essentially be stat sticks outside of Shadowlands content. Dragonflight is introducing its own unique power systems, focusing on new talents, gear, dragonriding, and crafting, shifting away from the borrowed power systems of previous expansions. Prepare to embrace the new challenges and systems of the Dragon Isles, where a fresh start awaits all adventurers.