The items Blizzard is hiding WoW Forever beta

What Blizzard hides

Blizzard announced it at BlizzCon.

“One of the things we’re doing is we’re actually obfuscating all items in the game. So you will not see an item’s stats until it drops for you, until it drops for someone on your server. So that means you will not go into the first raid tier knowing what your BiS list is. The first week will be the Wild West of people getting items and going up on Wowhead or whatever. […] I think we’re hoping to capture as much of that surprise and discovery as possible.”

These items are not encrypted. Their data is not in the files, so nobody can extract it before the server sends it.

How an item gets revealed

1. 1
   You loot the item, see it at a vendor, click its link in chat, or an addon asks for it.
2. 2
   The game asks Blizzard’s server for its details. Until the answer comes, the tooltip reads Retrieving item information.
3. 3
   The server answers with the name, stats and effects, and the game keeps them in a cache file in your WoW folder.
4. 4
   Raidbots, a simulation site, gathers the cache files of many players into one. Every item in that file has its page here, updated every two hours.

Asking is not enough

On September 25, I used an addon to ask the server for all 12,600 hidden items, one by one. It answered for about a third and sent nothing for the rest.

How many are revealed

Classic items3,163 of 5,006

Most come back as they were. 602 have new stats, effects or damage.

Season of Discovery leftovers925 of 5,168

Season of Discovery items still in the files. Nothing says they will be in Forever.

Latest items revealed

October 13 to 14

• Triune AmuletItem level 44, Neck, Classic item

October 12 to 13

• High Priestess's KiltItem level 59, Legs
• Coldbringer SpineItem level 43, Two-Hand
• Crown of MaldazzarItem level 58, Head
• Grimlok's Tribal VestmentsItem level 47, Chest, Classic item
• Robes of the LichItem level 43, Chest, Classic item
• Icemetal BarbuteItem level 43, Head, Classic item
• Fleshhide ShouldersItem level 42, Shoulder, Classic item
• Engineering GlovesItem level 40, Hands, Classic item

October 11 to 12

• Cliffbreaker's PauldronsItem level 52, Shoulder
• Feardred's GauntletsItem level 54, Hands
• Well-Worn PitchforkItem level 38, Two-Hand
• Recoiling Gnarlybark StaffItem level 57, Two-Hand
• Blackthorne MaulItem level 57, Two-Hand
• Baron Charr's SceptreItem level 60, Main Hand, Classic item
• Nordic LongshankItem level 43, One-Hand, Classic item
• Papal FezItem level 43, Head, Classic item

October 10 to 11

• Stone Keeper SpireItem level 49, Two-Hand
• Firebird LeggingsItem level 48, Legs
• Moonchaser's HeaddressItem level 46, Head
• Surveyor's GlovesItem level 44, Hands
• Oilskin LeggingsItem level 47, Legs, Classic item
• Archaedic StoneItem level 47, Finger, Classic item
• Flameseer MantleItem level 47, Shoulder, Classic item
• CragfistsItem level 46, Hands, Classic item
• Ironshod BludgeonItem level 42, Two-Hand, Classic item
• The PacifierItem level 41, Two-Hand, Classic item
• Iridescent Scale LeggingsItem level 47, Legs, Classic item

October 9 to 10

• Abomination ChainItem level 42, Neck
• Maiden's CircleItem level 61, Finger, Classic item
• Hand of RighteousnessItem level 44, Main Hand, Classic item
• Gauntlets of DivinityItem level 44, Hands, Classic item
• Baelog's ShortbowItem level 43, Ranged, Classic item
• Herod's ShoulderItem level 42, Shoulder, Classic item
• Horned Viking HelmetItem level 42, Head, Classic item
• Battered Viking ShieldItem level 42, Off Hand, Classic item
• Inquisitor's ShawlItem level 42, Shoulder, Classic item
• Deathmage SashItem level 41, Waist, Classic item
• Warchief KiltItem level 39, Legs, Classic item
• Medal of CourageItem level 47, Neck, Classic item
• Drake-scale VestItem level 46, Chest, Classic item
• Precision ArrowItem level 40, Ammo, Classic item

October 8 to 9

• Archmagister's Faceted PendantItem level 35, Neck
• Violet Sorcerer's MantleItem level 35, Shoulder
• Ponderous OrbItem level 35, Held In Off-hand
• Felbough ArmItem level 34, Two-Hand
• Garb of Fallen FelbarkItem level 34, Chest
• Blightleaf RopeItem level 34, Waist
• Violet Sorcerer's LeggingsItem level 34, Legs
• Spine of the DevourerItem level 33, Two-Hand
• Slitherwrap GirdleItem level 33, Waist
• Manascale TreadsItem level 33, Feet
• Guardian's DualbladeItem level 33, Two-Hand
• Unstable Crystalline ShoulderpadsItem level 33, Shoulder
• Refractory ScaleguardsItem level 33, Legs
• Tendonscraper DaggerItem level 33, Main Hand
• Cartilage ShapersItem level 33, Hands
• Bonepile GazeItem level 33, Off Hand
• Violet Sorcerer's SandalsItem level 33, Feet
• Violet Sorcerer's WrapsItem level 33, Hands

A Classic item that changed

In Forever, Rockslicer deals more damage, needs level 18 and lets you gather ore without Mining. Shadowfang’s shadow bolt hits harder, but the sword itself does less damage per second.

Rockslicer

Item Level 21

Binds when picked up

Two-HandAxe

36 - 55 DamageSpeed 3.30

(13.8 damage per second)

+7 Strength

Requires Level 16

Sell Price: 2011

Rockslicer

Item Level 23

Binds when picked up

Unique

Two-HandAxe

52 - 78 DamageSpeed 3.30

(19.7 damage per second)

+7 Strength

+7 Nature Resistance

Requires Level 18

Use: Slice open and gather from a target Copper, Tin, Silver, or Iron Vein (does not require Mining).

30 Charges

Sell Price: 3189

All 602 are in the item list.

Raids, dungeons and sets

Classic’s loot lists show where the hidden items drop.

Raids

The beta stops at level 30, so almost nothing from the raids is revealed.

Classic dungeons

The first six dungeons, up to Blackfathom Deeps and The Stockade, are fully revealed. Past level 30, very few items are.

Tier sets

Blizzard hid three tiers whole: Dungeon Set 1 and tiers 1 and 2. Dungeon Set 1 has since been revealed, with changes. The others were not hidden, and their stats are Classic’s.

Sets made for Forever

The files give the names of 27 sets that did not exist in Classic, and the list of their pieces. The 18 six-piece sets form 9 families, as many as there are classes, with one to four variants each: most likely one per role. Every piece is still hidden.

• Defias Enforcer's GarbItem 287019, still hiddenItem 276741, still hiddenItem 287020, still hiddenItem 276746, still hiddenItem 287021, still hidden
• Krol'dok BattlegearItem 275006, still hiddenItem 287014, still hiddenItem 275005, still hiddenItem 287013, still hiddenItem 287012, still hidden
• Violet Sorcerer's VestmentsViolet Sorcerer's MantleViolet Sorcerer's LeggingsViolet Sorcerer's SandalsViolet Sorcerer's WrapsViolet Sorcerer's Robes
• Rotmender's RaimentRotmender's GarbRotmender's SashRotmender's LeggingsRotmender's TreadsRotmender's Gloves
• Blessing of KalimdorMark of the Pack LeaderSignet of the ZhevraRaptor Hide Cloak
• Partners in CrimeFirst Mate BandBand of the Better Half
• Rider of the PlaguelandsSignet of the Soulless RiderBlade of Senseless SlaughterHorseman's Unyielding Shroud
• Goliaths' Adaptive GarmentsItem 251769, still hiddenItem 251770, still hiddenItem 251771, still hidden
• Blessed PlateBlessed Plate ChestBlessed Plate HelmBlessed Plate BeltBlessed Plate LeggingsBlessed Plate BracersBlessed Plate GauntletBlessed Plate BootsBlessed Plate Pauldrons
• Grovekeeper FerocityItem 280992, still hiddenItem 280993, still hiddenItem 280994, still hiddenItem 280997, still hiddenItem 280995, still hiddenItem 280996, still hidden
• Grovekeeper EclipseItem 280998, still hiddenItem 280999, still hiddenItem 281000, still hiddenItem 281003, still hiddenItem 281001, still hiddenItem 281002, still hidden
• Grovekeeper RageItem 280986, still hiddenItem 280987, still hiddenItem 280988, still hiddenItem 280991, still hiddenItem 280989, still hiddenItem 280990, still hidden
• Grovekeeper RaimentItem 280977, still hiddenItem 280976, still hiddenItem 280974, still hiddenItem 280965, still hiddenItem 280971, still hiddenItem 280967, still hidden
• The Spiritcaller's StormItem 280963, still hiddenItem 280962, still hiddenItem 280961, still hiddenItem 280958, still hiddenItem 280960, still hiddenItem 280959, still hidden
• The Spiritcaller's RageItem 280957, still hiddenItem 280956, still hiddenItem 280955, still hiddenItem 280952, still hiddenItem 280954, still hiddenItem 280953, still hidden
• The SpiritcallerItem 280951, still hiddenItem 280944, still hiddenItem 280950, still hiddenItem 280949, still hiddenItem 280947, still hiddenItem 280945, still hidden
• Justice BattleplateItem 280937, still hiddenItem 280942, still hiddenItem 280941, still hiddenItem 280938, still hiddenItem 280940, still hiddenItem 280939, still hidden
• Justice ArmorItem 280936, still hiddenItem 280935, still hiddenItem 280934, still hiddenItem 280931, still hiddenItem 280933, still hiddenItem 280932, still hidden
• Justice BattlegearItem 280930, still hiddenItem 280929, still hiddenItem 280928, still hiddenItem 280925, still hiddenItem 280927, still hiddenItem 280926, still hidden
• Raiments of ConvictionItem 280924, still hiddenItem 280923, still hiddenItem 280919, still hiddenItem 280920, still hiddenItem 280922, still hiddenItem 280921, still hidden
• Vestments of ConvictionItem 280918, still hiddenItem 280917, still hiddenItem 280912, still hiddenItem 280913, still hiddenItem 280915, still hiddenItem 280914, still hidden
• Battleplate of GloryItem 280910, still hiddenItem 280909, still hiddenItem 280908, still hiddenItem 280905, still hiddenItem 280907, still hiddenItem 280906, still hidden
• Battlegear of GloryItem 280904, still hiddenItem 280903, still hiddenItem 280902, still hiddenItem 280899, still hiddenItem 280901, still hiddenItem 280900, still hidden
• Wildstalker ArmorItem 280898, still hiddenItem 280897, still hiddenItem 280896, still hiddenItem 280893, still hiddenItem 280895, still hiddenItem 280894, still hidden
• Demonheart RaimentItem 280887, still hiddenItem 280882, still hiddenItem 280883, still hiddenItem 280888, still hiddenItem 280886, still hiddenItem 280889, still hidden
• Grimstitch ArmorItem 280877, still hiddenItem 280876, still hiddenItem 280879, still hiddenItem 280875, still hiddenItem 280872, still hiddenItem 280878, still hidden
• Manaflare RegaliaItem 280455, still hiddenItem 280454, still hiddenItem 280450, still hiddenItem 280451, still hiddenItem 280453, still hiddenItem 280452, still hidden

What is encrypted

This time the data is in the files, but encrypted: nobody can read it without a key, and Blizzard only sends the key the day it opens the content. Until then, all anyone can do is count what each key protects. There are 13:

• Two raids and their 22 bosses. Blizzard has announced two, Hyjal and the Barrow Deeps, and these are almost certainly them.
• A series of 79 quests in a zone of their own, with 63 items and a boss.
• The five new dungeons from level 35 up and their 34 bosses: they are the only new dungeons whose maps are missing from the files.
• 10 more quests, with a battle pet.
• 1 more quests, with a battle pet.
• Two mounts, one key each.
• A battle pet.
• Two cosmetic items, one key each.

None of them is on the public list of known keys.