Introduction
World of Warcraft has introduced a structured gear progression system to help players navigate the game’s item level brackets efficiently. The latest expansions, particularly The War Within, categorize gear into distinct gear tracks such as Explorer gear, Champion gear, Hero gear, and Myth gear. These tracks define the gear classification system, ensuring that players progress smoothly through different equipment tiers based on their PvE and PvP engagement levels.
This guide will explain:
- What gear tracks are and how they work.
- Differences between Explorer, Champion, Hero, and Myth gear.
- The best ways to progress through each gear track.
- Optimal strategies for upgrading gear efficiently.
By the end of this WoW Gear Tracks Guide, you’ll have a complete understanding of gear track progression and how to optimize your character’s equipment tiers.
1. What Are Gear Tracks in WoW?
A. The Purpose of Gear Tracks
Blizzard introduced gear tracks to provide a clear progression system for gearing in The War Within. Each track represents a tier of equipment that players can upgrade within a set item level range.
This structured system:
- Simplifies gearing progression without excessive RNG.
- Provides clear upgrade paths through PvE and PvP content.
- Ensures fairness in item level progression, allowing casual and hardcore players to compete effectively.
B. How Gear Tracks Work
Each gear track consists of several item level brackets, and players must progress through these ranks by earning upgrade materials from content like dungeons, raids, and PvP.
The primary gear tracks include:
- Explorer Gear (Entry-Level Gear)
- Adventurer Gear (Heroic Dungeon Level)
- Veteran Gear (Mythic 0 Equivalent)
- Champion Gear (Raid-Ready Equipment)
- Hero Gear (Mythic+ Tier Gear)
- Myth Gear (Endgame Best-in-Slot Equipment)
2. Breakdown of WoW’s Gear Tracks
Each gear track corresponds to different content difficulty levels. Below is a detailed breakdown of each tier and how it fits into gear track progression.
A. Explorer Gear: The Foundation of Endgame Gearing
Explorer Gear is the first step in the gearing process for max-level players.
- Item Level Bracket: Low-level gear, suitable for fresh level 80 characters.
- Obtained From:
- World quests
- Normal dungeons
- Open-world rare enemies
- Upgrade Potential: Limited upgrades, meant to transition players into better content.
Best Strategy:
Quickly replace Explorer Gear with Adventurer Gear by running Heroic dungeons and completing weekly world quests.
B. Adventurer Gear: The Mid-Tier Progression Track
Adventurer Gear represents the next step in gear upgrades, preparing players for mid-tier dungeons and casual PvP.
- Item Level Bracket: Equivalent to Heroic Dungeon drops.
- Obtained From:
- Heroic dungeons
- High-end world quests
- PvP battleground rewards
- Upgrade Potential: Can be enhanced using PvE or PvP upgrade tokens.
Best Strategy:
Focus on running Heroic dungeons repeatedly to farm set bonuses and higher item level versions.
C. Veteran Gear: The Entry-Level Raid and Mythic Dungeon Track
Veteran Gear prepares players for Mythic 0 dungeons and Raid Finder content.
- Item Level Bracket: Slightly below Normal Raid difficulty.
- Obtained From:
- Mythic 0 dungeon bosses
- PvP Rated Battlegrounds & Solo Shuffle
- Weekly event rewards
- Upgrade Potential: Moderate upgrades, but capped at a mid-tier level.
Best Strategy:
Use Valor Points and PvP Honor upgrades to boost gear effectiveness before attempting raids.
D. Champion Gear: The Raid-Ready Track
Champion Gear is considered high-end PvE equipment, making it essential for Heroic dungeons, Normal raids, and low Mythic+ keys.
- Item Level Bracket: Equivalent to Normal Raid drops.
- Obtained From:
- Normal Raids
- High-level Mythic+ dungeons (Keystone 5-9)
- PvP Conquest Rewards
- Upgrade Potential: Strong, with multiple upgrade levels using currency.
Best Strategy:
Target weekly raid lockouts and Mythic+ dungeons to maximize upgrade efficiency.
E. Hero Gear: Mythic+ Competitive Progression
Hero Gear is designed for high-end PvE and PvP competitors, providing access to cutting-edge gear mechanics.
- Item Level Bracket: Higher than Normal Raid but lower than Mythic Raid.
- Obtained From:
- Heroic Raids
- High Mythic+ Keys (Keystone 10-15)
- Rated PvP (Arena & RBGs at high ranks)
- Upgrade Potential:
- Upgradeable through raid tokens and Mythic+ Valor.
Best Strategy:
Players should run high Mythic+ dungeons weekly to farm Hero Gear faster.
F. Myth Gear: The Pinnacle of WoW Gear Tracks
Myth Gear is the highest-tier equipment in The War Within, available only through the most difficult endgame content.
- Item Level Bracket: Best-in-Slot (BiS) for all classes.
- Obtained From:
- Mythic Raids
- Mythic+ Keystone 16+
- Gladiator-Level PvP
- Upgrade Potential: Fully upgradeable, often requiring raid-based currency.
Best Strategy:
Participate in weekly Mythic raids and push high Mythic+ keystones for BiS drops.
3. How to Progress Through WoW’s Gear Tracks Efficiently
A. Prioritize the Right Content
To progress quickly, focus on:
- Heroic dungeons → Mythic 0 → Normal Raids → Mythic+ dungeons.
- PvP Conquest gear as an alternative gearing path.
- Weekly world quests and faction vendors for upgrades.
B. Maximize Upgrade Currency
Gear tracks use various upgrade systems, including:
- Valor Points (for Mythic+ gear upgrades).
- PvP Honor/Conquest upgrades for competitive play.
- Raid tokens for set-piece enhancements.
C. Plan Around Weekly Lockouts
- Complete your Great Vault objectives weekly for maximum loot selection.
- Run dungeons and PvP to reach multiple reward thresholds.
4. Advanced Strategies for Optimizing Gear Track Progression
Understanding WoW’s gear tracks is one thing, but optimizing your progression requires strategy. Below are advanced tips to ensure you climb the gear track progression as efficiently as possible.
A. Prioritizing the Best Gear Sources
Different content offers different rewards, so focus on the most efficient sources for your current gear track:
Key Takeaways:
- Prioritize the fastest available content based on your current item level.
- Mix PvP and PvE rewards for efficient dual progression paths.
- Avoid wasting upgrade materials on gear that will quickly be replaced.
B. Maximizing the Great Vault for Weekly Rewards
The Great Vault is the best weekly loot system, offering gear from multiple content sources.
How to Optimize Your Great Vault Picks:
- Always complete at least one Raid, Mythic+, and PvP objective to unlock more choices.
- If pushing high keys, prioritize Mythic+ slots for maximum upgrade potential.
- Pick items that replace your lowest ilvl slot for the biggest power increase.
By maximizing your Great Vault objectives, you avoid RNG loot frustration and progress faster.
C. Using Upgrade Tokens Efficiently
Many gear tracks allow gear to be upgraded using currency.
- Valor Points (For Mythic+ Upgrades) → Farm Mythic+ keys for Valor farming.
- Honor & Conquest Points (PvP Gear) → Prioritize weapons and trinkets for PvP gear upgrades.
- Whelpling/Drake/Aspect Crests (PvE Raiding) → Use these for upgrading raid-level gear.
Best Items to Upgrade First:
- Weapons (Biggest DPS increase).
- Trinkets (Raid BiS trinkets are often overpowered).
- Set Pieces (Tier Set bonuses make a massive impact).
D. Avoiding Common Mistakes in Gear Progression
Even experienced players make mistakes when progressing through gear tracks. Here are some things to avoid:
1. Ignoring Secondary Stats
- Not all gear upgrades are actually better.
- Prioritize gear with optimal secondary stats for your class/spec.
2. Wasting Currency on Low-Priority Upgrades
- Don’t upgrade gear that will be replaced soon.
- Save Valor, Honor, and Raid Tokens for BiS slots.
3. Ignoring Mythic+ for Easy Gear
- Many players avoid Mythic+, but even low-level keys offer fast gear progression.
- Run at least 3 Mythic+ dungeons weekly for Great Vault efficiency.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the fastest way to progress through gear tracks?
The fastest path depends on your preferred content:
- For PvE Players: Spam Mythic+ dungeons and Raid Finder.
- For PvP Players: Solo Shuffle and Rated PvP for Conquest Gear.
- For Casual Players: World Quests, Weekly Events, and Crafting.
Q2: Should I focus on PvP or PvE for gearing?
- PvE gear is better for PvE (Raiding & Dungeons).
- PvP gear scales in combat, making it strong for both PvP and solo PvE.
- Best Strategy: Use both paths for faster gearing.
Q3: How do I know when to stop upgrading lower gear tracks?
- Once you reach Adventurer/Veteran gear, stop upgrading Explorer gear.
- Once you enter Normal Raiding or Mythic 0, stop upgrading Veteran gear.
- Save upgrade materials for Champion+ gear.
Q4: What are the best gear tracks for casual solo players?
- Explorer & Adventurer gear tracks provide the best solo-friendly progression.
- Delves, World Quests, and Solo PvP offer decent gear without needing groups.
Q5: Is Myth gear required for high-end content?
- Yes, for top-tier Mythic Raiding & Competitive PvP.
- No, if you’re only doing Normal/Heroic Raiding or Mythic+ 10-15.
6. Conclusion: Mastering WoW’s Gear Tracks for Optimal Progression
The gear tracks system in World of Warcraft offers a structured way for players to progress through item level brackets efficiently. Whether you’re a casual player farming open-world gear or a hardcore raider pushing for Mythic+ loot, following a clear progression path will ensure faster and smarter gear upgrades.
Final Summary:
✅ Explorer Gear → Entry-level for new players (World Quests & Normal Dungeons).
✅ Adventurer Gear → Pre-Raid & PvP prep (Heroic Dungeons, BGs).
✅ Veteran Gear → Raid Finder & Mythic 0 equivalent (PvP & Dungeon Upgrades).
✅ Champion Gear → Normal Raiding & Mythic+ (Best for mid-tier PvE players).
✅ Hero Gear → Mythic+ 10-15 & Heroic Raiding (PvE endgame focus).
✅ Myth Gear → Best-in-Slot for Mythic Raiding & Gladiator PvP.
By using these strategies, you’ll ensure smooth gear track progression, whether you’re playing solo, PvP, or high-end PvE.