WoW: Dragonflight's New Upgrade System Confuses Some Players

World of Warcraft: Dragonflight's Embers of Neltharion update introduces a new, more general gear upgrade system that Blizzard hopes will make gearing in the MMORPG simpler. While the new system certainly has its benefits over the old one, it also confuses some players, only to consult some complicated-looking diagrams to get the hang of it. Need more cheap WOW gold? You can find all you need at U7buy!

The new system allows PvE gear obtained from raids, open worlds, and Mythic+ dungeons to be upgraded using currencies called Flightstones and Shadowflame Crests, replacing single-function systems like the old Valor system dedicated to upgrading Mythic+ gear. The idea sounds great, and for those more focused on open-world content or raids, it's definitely a great way to continue elevating the character by playing more content. In an FAQ, Blizzard said the goal of the system is to keep the base players' game experience simple.

However, simplicity seems debatable. While Flightstones are obtainable from almost any endgame event and are fairly straightforward, the real confusion surrounding the new system stems from the many different types of crests, crest fragments, and gear subdivisions that determine how powerful specific gear becomes. Depending on the difficulty of obtaining the gear, different types of badges are required for upgrading. This confuses players who try to help their gaming buddies make sense of it all in the form of various flowcharts and "cheat sheets" that look like the PPT on your business meeting.

At this point, it's too early to tell whether the new system is a success or failure. Some players seem to be okay with the system, saying it's not that complicated. Others seem to find it more confusing than before. For its part, Blizzard appears to be open to feedback. In a blog post, Blizzard says that the system is still in development and it's designed specifically for Dragonflight Season 2. Throughout the season, the system will be evaluated and teams will decide whether to continue using it. What happens to the system "depends on how players interact with and react to the system," Blizzard said.

WoW: Dragonflight Season 2 introduces a new Mythic+ Dungeon rotation along with new raids, and PvP season, starting May 9th. The game's 10.1 updates arrived on May 2, introducing a new underground area for dragon riding, additional story content, and the long-awaited ability to create guilds across factions.

While Dragonflight hasn't sold as well as some of the MMO's previous expansions, Activision-Blizzard did say in a recent earnings report that player retention in the West is much higher compared to previous expansions, partly due to Blizzard's "More content available faster than ever." But we already know what happened to the players in the East. WoW: Dragonflight's 10.1 update is the first of two major updates planned for 2023.