World of Warcraft says goodbye to the popular tier sets. We reveal what the developers expect from this.
In World of Warcraft, there are thousands of different items, but only a few of them remain as memorable to players as the tier sets. These armor sets, available for every class in the game, not only have a unique appearance but also come with powerful set bonuses.
Wearing two or four pieces of a set usually grants a powerful passive buff, such as increased damage on certain abilities or reduced cooldowns.
But the popular tier sets will soon be a thing of the past. In an interview with Gameinformer, Game Director Ion Hazzikostas revealed that there will be no traditional tier sets in Battle for Azeroth.
While there will still be matching armors, they will be visually adapted to their original location rather than the actual class. For example, a set from a troll raid would likely look very “trollish” on all classes.
The main reason for the elimination of tier sets is the bonuses that were available on them. Hazzikostas explains that tier sets have changed drastically over the years. In the past, players would work on a set for 6-8 months and feel proud of it.
Nowadays, players get one or two pieces of the set early on, along with the first bonus. This effectively “locks” the respective armor slots for the player. Those with a set bonus from the chest and shoulders will not easily swap these items, even if a significantly better item drops for these slots.
“It limits the options. Now it feels more like a disadvantage rather than a strength.”
Players will not have to completely forgo bonuses. These are now simply part of the Azerite system with the Heart of Azeroth. This allows players to unlock different bonuses on various items.
What do you think about the removal of traditional tier sets? A good decision? Or was this always a main reason for you to go raiding at all?
