The Best Place for Your Bank Alt (Horde)

The Tauren area in the Valley of Wisdom in Orgrimmar gives you easy access to a mailbox, an auctioneer and a bank all within a short distance, you don't even have to dismount!
 

Heart of Fear Raid Location

Heart of Fear normal mode is released today. The coordinates for the entrance are 85, 13 in the Dread Wastes.

Map after the break.

Mogu'shan Vault Entrance

The entrance to Mogu'shan Vault is located in the northeast of Kun-lai Summit in Mogu'shan Terrace. The coordinates are 59, 39.

Quicker Way to Get Your Mail

This is an old tip, if you have more than 50 items in your mail box, or you bought something on the auction house, usually you have to wait 1 minute after you empty the mailbox for the next batch to show up. Type /reload to reload your ui and have it show up instantly.

Glory of the Pandaria Hero Part 1

As always, finishing the dungeon achievements in MoP will reward you with a mount.

Today's post covers achievements in Scarlet Hall, Scarlet Monastery and Scholomance. As always I'll try to keep these brief.

Guide to Rares of the Valley of Four Winds

Continuing from the last set of rares, you'll find that the items dropped by these rares are much more interesting. As always, drops are not guaranteed. Note that most of these drops have the restriction of only being usable in outdoor Pandaria, so you will not be able to use them in Battlegrounds, Arenas and Raids. The one item that has a lot of potential to be awesome is Crystal of Insanity, which is a free reusable flask that provides 500 to each stat, it is less than the 1000 stat flasks available, however a healer could benefit from this as it would provide 500 to int and spirit. Click in to find out what each rare drops.

Hidden Klaxxi Dailies

Looking for an extra boost to your Klaxxi rep? Depending on where the dailies are located for each day, you can do one of these three hidden dailies. They all involve killing a champion mob that drop a quest item you can turn in.

Kypa'rak's Core - If the dailies active today are near the Briny Muck, look for Kypa'rak around 33, 58. He is a giant ringworm that drops Massive Kyparite Core.

The Warlord's Ashes - If the dailies are active in the Terrace of Gurthan, look for a broken Mogu statute at 66, 31. You'll know you're there if you see a green and a red rune in front of him. /Lay in the green rune and /kneel in the red rune (works better with 2 people but you can do it with one if you're fast) and he'll spawn. Kill him for Ashes of Warlord Gurthan.

The Matriarch's Maw - If your dailies are near the Clutches of Shek'zeer (41, 3) look for Karanosh, she is a giant bug type. Killing her yields Enormous Kunchong Mandibles.

Blood Spirits and How to Get Them

Have you been to the Black Market Auction House or done any raiding yet? If you have, chances are you've seen recipes that craft ilvl 496 items. For those that are keeping track, 496 level items drop from Terrace of Endless Spring and Heart of Fear. These recipes all require a reagent called Blood Spirit. Blood Spirit is the Mists of Pandaria raid crafting item, much like Living Ember from Fire Lands, unlike the previous reagents that have a chance to drop from each boss, you get these by disenchanting raid epics. In this post from the official WoW blog, it's mentioned that they are obtained by disenchanting raid weapons, however, they also have a chance to drop when you disenchant any raid level epic, including LFR armor. You can find a list of items that use blood spirits here.

Double your alt Druid/Monk/Ret/War/Dk's leveling dps with archaeology

If you're leveling an alt that can use polearms you should go do some archaeology first on your main. One of the new artifacts in Pandaria is the Spear of Xuen. This is already a good entry level lfr/raid weapon, but notice that it is bind on account and useable at level 85. When compared to an 85 equip like Kiril, Fury of the Beasts (lfr version in this example for ease to obtain), you see that the damage per second stat is nearly doubled. You will hit like a truck with this spear, a bit unbalanced for battlegrounds (Alterac Valley call to arms this weekend, you gain 6-11% of your Xp bar per win), so enjoy it while it lasts.

I recommend this agility weapon even for plate dps because most melee attacks do a % of weapon damage (crusader strike, mortal strike, obliterate). It really doesn't matter that agility is only good for a slight dodge and crit increase, the weapon damage upgrade over say Gurthalak, Voice of the Deeps more than justifies using it. You could use this at 90 just to get started on heroics but I would ditch it as soon as a comparable strength weapon drops.

This took me a few solves to get, it popped up right when I hit 600 skill level. It is a 180 Pandaria Archaeology Fragment rare solve, so try to focus on pandaren dig sites, most of the sites in Jade Forest yield Pandaria Archaeology Fragment.  Consider using Lorewalker's Map to reset dig sites if none are available in Jade Forest. Depending on your luck you may see it a lot earlier or later than me.

Notes about Hallow's End

Hallow's End started yesterday and runs through October 31st. You can queue from the LFD menu.

The Headless Horseman drops 4 rings:
Wicked Witch's Signet
Band of the Petrified Pumpkin 
Seal of Ghoulish Glee 
The Horseman's Ring

There is no tank ring, plate dps, don't be surprised if the tank rolls against you.

The Horseman does not drop The Horseman's Sinister Slicer and The Horseman's Horrific Hood. They have a chance to show up in the Loot-filled Pumpkin. This is obtained on the first kill everyday.

If you're working on The Black Prince rep or leveling up, consider picking up Unburdened or Grim Visage buff for 10% more rep and exp per kill.

Casters, reforge to expertise for more spell hit

If you need a bit more spell hit to cap (1537 rating or 15%), and your equipment already has hit rating, consider reforging into expertise. Traditionally expertise has always been a stat for melee to take dodge and parry off the hit table, but with patch 5.0.4 the stat now has some uses for casters. You can really optimize your gear by reforging for expertise on pieces that have hit rating and a secondary stat that's not very valuable to your spec. For example, a demo lock could reforge haste into expertise on a piece like the Sandals of the Shadow and get more hit rating out of it.

The reason why expertise is being converted to spell hit is to help some melee classes that cast spells (lightning bolt, exorcism, consecration) reach their spell hit cap without having to add more hit rating. For casters, it's more hit rating in exchange for a weak stat you normally wouldn't stack anyways.

Mogu'shan Vault LFR Guide Part 2

Mogu'shan Vault Part 1 | Mogu'shan Vault Part 2 | Heart of Fear Part 1 | Heart of Fear Part 2 | Terrace of Eternal Spring | Throne of Thunder Part 1 |  Throne of Thunder Part 2 | Throne of Thunder Part 3 | Throne of Thunder Part 4  | Siege of Orgrimmar Part 1 | Siege of Orgrimmar Part 2 | Siege of Orgrimmar Part 3 |

Type /loot to see what everyone's rolling

See something for offspec but not sure if you should roll need or greed? Type /loot and click the + button next to the item to see if anyone's needing it or if it's going to be disenchanted.

Perfect Cut Uncommon Gems vs Rare Gems

Yes, they give the exact same amount of stats, so make sure you search for both and buy whichever one is cheaper. Perfect cut gems have a chance (10-15%) to be produced by any uncommon type cuts a jewelcrafter makes.

An example:

Perfect Quick Sunstone vs Quick Sun's Radiance

Guide to Rares of Jade Forest

Rare mobs in Mists of Pandaria work a little different from previous expansions. These mobs spawn much more often, usually one to two hours after they are killed. When killed they will drop a piece of bind on pick up rare armor, a chance to drop a Small Bag of Goods containing gathering goods, and each rare has a special item; think vanity, epic or trinket. Killing all 56 rares will grant you the achievement Glorious! This post will cover the rares found in the Jade Forest, there are a total of 8 rares here. All rares of the same type have the same attack patterns.

Krax'ik 39, 62
Notable item: Needlefang Throatripper
Type: Mantid.
He is stealthed so you have to get close to see him. Stun or get behind him when he casts Blade Flurry, avoid tornadoes, when he casts Windsong you can not outrun him, stun him or use defensive cooldowns.

Kor'nas Nightsavage 44, 71
Notable item: Darkstaff of Annihilation
Type: Mogu Sorcerer.
Interrupt Shadow Bolt, Move out of Void Clouds.

Aethis 33, 50
Notable item: Pool-Stirrer
Type: Jinyu.
Interrupt torrent, run out of rain dance.

Mister Ferocious 42, 38
Notable item: Ook-Breaker Mace
Type: Hozen.
Run away from bananarang. Stun him when he starts going bananas or run away. Kill him before your toss filth debuff gets too high, can be blocked or bubbled off.

Ferdinand 53, 45
Notable item: Ook-Breaker Mace
Type: Yaungol
Run out when he casts Yaungol Stomp. Kite him during bellowing rage. Stay within 20 yards of him to avoid rushing charge.

Urobi the Walker 57, 71
Notable item: Pathwalker Greatstaff
Type: Pandaren
Run out of spinning crane kick. Interrupt Healing Mists. Stay within 15 yards to avoid Chi Burst.

Sarnak 64 74
Notable item: Fishsticker Crossbow (BOE)
Type: Saurok
He is in a cave at sea level. Stay within 20 yards to avoid being pulled in with Grappling Hook. Every now and then he'll Vanish and ambush you for some damage, use your damage reduction cooldowns when he does this. He'll also bleed you with Vicious Rend.

Morgrinn Crackfang 42, 17
Notable item: Fangcracker Battlemace
Type: Mogu Warrior
Get out of the way when he casts Devastating Arc. Cleave down the add when he uses Summon Quilen. Dispel Titanic Strength1 enrage or kill him before it gets to be too much.

BONUS:

Martar the Not-So-Smart 55, 30
Notable item: Martar's Magnifying Glass
While he's not considered a silver dragon portrait rare, he has a chance to drop an interesting trinket.

Mists of Pandaria Preraid Leather Gear - Intelligence

Head:

• Snowdrift Helm - 2250 Valor Points, Revered with Shado-Pan - Valor Quartermaster
• Hood of Viridian Residue - Siege of Niuzao Temple - Vizier Jin'bak

Amulet:

•  Links of the Lucid - 1250 Valor Points, Honored with Klaxxi - Valor Quartermaster
• Dorian's Necklace of Burgeoning Dream - World Drop
• Mindcapture Pendant - Mogu'shan Palace - Xin the Weaponmaster 
• Necklace of Disorientation - Shado-Pan Monastery - Sha of Violence
• Mindbreaker Pendant - Temple of the Jade Serpent - Sha of Doubt
• Anarchist's Pendant - Scholomance - Instructor Chillheart

Shoulder:

• Whitepetal Shouldergarb - 1750 Valor Points, Revered with Golden Lotus - Valor Quartermaster
• Incarnadine Scarlet Spaulders - Scarlet Monastery- High Inquisitor Whitemane

Cloaks:

• Sagewhisper's Wrap -1250 Valor, Honored with Shado-Pan - Valor Quartermaster
• Cloak of Snow Blossoms - 1250 Valor, Honored with Shado-Pan - Valor Quartermaster
• Cloak of Hidden Flasks (2 Charges, does not reset) - Stormstout Brewery - Hoptallus
• Cape of Entanglement - Temple of the Jade Serpent - Liu Flameheart
• Cloak of Cleansing Flames - Mogu'shan Palace - Gekkan

Chest:

• Mistfall Robes - 2250 Valor Points, Revered with Golden Lotus - Valor Quartermaster
• Wildblood Vest -  Leatherworking, Recipe at Honored with Golden Lotus
• Chestguard of Arcing Flame - Siege of Niuzao Temple - Commander Vol'Jak
• Chestguard of Despair -Temple of the Jade Serpent - Sha of Doubt
• Warming Chestguard of the Golden Lotus - Golden Lotus Revered Quest

Wrist:

• Clever Ashyo's Armbands -1250 Valor Points, Honored with August Celestials - Valor Quartermaster
• Star Summoner Bracers - Shado-Pan Monastery - Gu Cloudstrike

Hand:

• Ogo's Elder Gloves - 1750 Valor Points, Revered with August Celestials - Valor Quartermaster
• Wildblood Gloves - Leatherworking, Recipe at Honored with Golden Lotus
• Vellum-Ripper Gloves - Scarlet Halls - Flameweave Koegler
• Rattling Gloves - Scholomance - Rattlegore

 Waist:

• Klaxxi Lash of the Harbinger - 1750 Valor, Revered with Klaxxi - Valor Quartermaster
• Hurricane Belt -Mogushan Palace - First Boss

Legs:

• Wind-Reaver Greaves - 2250 Valor, Revered with Klaxxi - Valor Quartermaster
• Leggings of Whispered Dreams - Temple of the Jade Serpent - Lorekeeper Stonestep
• Darkbinder Leggings - Shado-Pan Monastery - Taran Zhu

Boots: 

• Boots of the High Adept - 1750 Valor Points, Revered with August Celestials - Valor Quartermaster
• Crushing Treads of Anger - Sha of Anger Quest Item
• Airstream Treads - Gate of the Setting Sun - Striker Ga'dok
• Treads of Corrupted Water - Temple of the Jade Serpent - Wise Mari

Ring:

• Seal of the Prime - Exalted with Klaxxi Quest.
• Seal of the Lucid - Exalted with Klaxxi Quest.
• Leven's Circle of Hope - 1250 Valor Points, Honored with Golden Lotus - Valor Quartermaster
• Simple Harmonious Ring - 1250 Valor Points, Honored with Golden Lotus - Valor Quartermaster
• Ring of the Shipwrecked Prince - World Drop
• Vithrak, Gaze of the Dead Man - Scarlet Halls - Flameweave Koegler
• The Horseman's Ring - Halloween Event, Coming Soon 
• Wicked Witch's Signet - Halloween Event, Coming Soon
• Alemental Seal - Stormstout Brewery - Yan-Zhu the Uncasked
• Eye of the Tornado - Shadow-Pan Monastery - Master Snowdrift
• Ring of Malice - Shado-Pan Monastery - Taran Zhu
• Viscous Ring - Gate of the Setting Sun - Commander Ri'mok
• Beastbinder Ring - Scarlet Halls - Houndmaster Braun
• Tribune Signet - Scarlet Monastery- High Inquisitor Whitemane
• Signet of the Hidden Door - Scarlet Monastery - Thalnos the Soulrender

Trinkets:

• Blossom of Pure Snow - 1750 Valor Points, Revered with Shado-Pan - Valor Quartermaster
• Scroll of Revered Ancestors - 1750 Valor Points, Revered with Shado-Pan - Valor Quartermaster
• Relic of Chi Ji - Complete Darkmoon Crane Deck
• Relic of Yu'lon - Complete Darkmoon Serpent Deck
• Thousand-Year Pickled Egg - Coren Direbrew, Brewfest
• Mithril Wristwatch - Coren Direbrew, Brewfest
• Price of Progress - Scholomance - Darkmaster Gandling
• Vision of the Predator - Gate of the Setting Sun - Striker Ga'dok
• Vial of Ichorous Blood -  Siege of Niuzao Temple - General Pa'valak 
• Flashfrozen Resin Globule - Siege of Niuzao Temple - Vizier Jin'bak
• Empty Fruit Barrel -  Stormstout Brewery - Ook-Ook

Mists of Pandaria Preraid Leather Gear - Agility

By now you've probably reached or are close to 90, I made a list of agility leather items by slot to help you gear up before raids. Randomized item level 463 armor can also be contained in Cache of Treasures for completing a random Scenarios, chance of it dropping seems pretty low.



Head: 

• Red Smoke Bandana -2250 Valor Points, Revered with Shado-Pan - Valor Quartermaster
• Soulburner Crown - Scholomance - Lilian Voss 
• Windblast Helm - Siege of Niuzao Temple - Wing Leader Ner'onok

Amulet:

• Choker of the Klaxxi'va - 1250 Valor Points, Honored with Klaxxi - Valor Quartermaster
• Don Guerrero's Glorious Choker - World Drop
• Scorched Scarlet Key - Scarlet Halls - Flameweave Koegler
• Engraved Amber Pendent - Siege of Niuzao Temple - Vizier Jin'bak

Shoulder:

• Imperion Spaulders - 1750 Valor Points, Revered with Golden Lotus - Valor Quartermaster
• Fizzy Spaulders -  Stormstout Brewery - Yan-Zhu the Uncasked
• Doubtridden Shoulderguards - Temple of the Jade Serpent - Sha of Doubt

Cloaks:

• Blackguard Cape -1250 Valor, Honored with Shado-Pan - Valor Quartermaster
• Wind-Soaked Drape - Temple of the Jade Serpent - Wise Mari
• Aerial Bombardment Cloak - Siege of Niuzao Temple - General Pa'valak

 Chest:

• Softfoot Silentwrap - 2250 Valor Points, Revered with Golden Lotus - Valor Quartermaster
• Greyshadow Chestguard -  Leatherworking, Recipe at Honored with Golden Lotus
• Vulajin's Vicious Breastplate - World Drop
• Korloff's Raiment - Scarlet Monastery - Brother Korloff
• Nimbletoe Chestguard - Stormstout Brewery - Ook-Ook
• Delicate Chestguard of the Golden Lotus - Golden Lotus Revered Quest

Wrist:

• Quillpaw Family Bracers - 1250 Valor Points, Honored with August Celestials - Valor Quartermaster
• Lightblade Bracer - Scarlet Monastery - Armsmaster Harlan
• Saboteur's Stabilizing Bracers - Gate of the Setting Sun - Saboteur Kip'tilak

Hands:

• Fingers of the Loneliest Monk - 1750 Valor Points, Revered with August Celestials - Valor Quartermaster
• Greyshadow Gloves - Leatherworking, Recipe at Honored with Golden Lotus
• Hound Trainer's Gloves -  Scarlet Halls - Houndmaster Braun
• Tombstone Gauntlets - Scholomance - Darkmaster Gandling

Waist:

• Klaxxi Lash of the Borrower - 1750 Valor, Revered with Klaxxi - Valor Quartermaster
• Belt of Brazen Inebriation -  Stormstout Brewery - Hoptallus
• Icewrath Belt - Scholomance - Instructor Chillheart

Legs:

• Dreadsworn Slayer Legs - 2250 Valor, Revered with Klaxxi - Valor Quartermaster
• Wall-Breaker Legguards - Gate of the Setting Sun - Raigonn
• Ghostwoven Legguards -  Scholomance - Jandice Barov

Boots:

• Tukka-Tuk's Hairy Boots - 1750 Valor Points, Revered with August Celestials - Valor Quartermaster
• Boots of Raging Haze - Sha of Anger Quest Item
• Boots of Plummeting Death - Mogu'shan Palace - Xin the Weaponmaster 
• Dashing Strike Treads - Scarlet Monastery- High Inquisitor Whitemane

Rings:

• Seal of the Windreaver - Exalted with Klaxxi Quest.
• Anji's Keepsake - 1250 Valor Points, Honored with Golden Lotus - Valor Quartermaster
• Perculia's Perculiar Signet - World Drop
• Seal of Ghoulish Glee - Halloween Event, Coming Soon
• Signet of Dancing Jade - Temple of the Jade Serpent - Liu Flameheart
• Seal of Hateful Meditation - Shado-Pan Monastery - Taran Zhu
• Pulled Grenade Pin - Gate of the Setting Sun - Saboteur Kip'tilak

Trinkets:

• Hawkmaster's Talon - 1750 Valor Points, Revered with Shado-Pan - Valor Quartermaster
• Relic of Xuen - Complete Darkmoon Tiger Deck
• Coren's Cold Chromium Coaster - Coren Direbrew, Brewfest
• Searing Words - Scholomance - Darkmaster Gandling
• Flashing Steel Talisman - Scarlet Monastery- High Inquisitor Whitemane
• Windswept Pages - Temple of the Jade Serpent - Lorekeeper Stonestep

Mogu'shan Vault LFR Guide Part 1

Mogu'shan Vault Part 1 | Mogu'shan Vault Part 2 | Heart of Fear Part 1 | Heart of Fear Part 2 | Terrace of Eternal Spring | Throne of Thunder Part 1 |  Throne of Thunder Part 2 | Throne of Thunder Part 3 | Throne of Thunder Part 4  | Siege of Orgrimmar Part 1 | Siege of Orgrimmar Part 2 | Siege of Orgrimmar Part 3 |

Why You Should Pug World Bosses

There are no bosses that unlock via a PvP zone like in Wrath and Cataclysm, instead there are two world bosses that will drop tier pieces and pvp gear when killed. They are Sha of Anger and Galleon. You should do these bosses at least once a week as the first kill will give you a chance at loot, you can repeat this for more chances at loot if you have Elder Charm of Good Fortune to burn. Sha of Anger is guaranteed to drop Claw of Anger on your first kill, looting it gives you a quest to pick up some 476 level boots. He also has a chance to drop Reins of the Heavenly Cloud Serpent. He usually respawns every two hours or so in Kun-Lai Summit in various locations

Galleon is located in the Valley of Four Winds and at 70, 63, near the South East border. He has a chance to drop Son of Galleon's Saddle, his spawn timer is longer than the Sha's.

Below is a quick guide to the bosses:

Sha of Anger

He'll select random people to mind control until they're at 50% health.
He summons adds.
Don't stand in black clouds.
Hits everyone with shadowbolts periodically.
Run back if you die and keep fighting.


Galleon

Don't stand where Canonballs are about to land.
Stomp is unavoidable, just deal with it.
Aoe adds.

Get an ilvl 450 Weapon Fast

If you just hit 90, you're gonna want to upgrade your weapon, I know it's hard to let go of that sword you looted off of Deathwing that makes the tentacles, but it's gotta go. Here's an easy way to get an upgrade. Queue up for the scenario The Arena of Annihilation. Accept the quest once you're inside the instance. The arena is basically the ring of blood from the previous expansions, minus spamming in /1 for groups. Queues go pretty fast, and in about 15 minutes you'll have a respectable weapon for heroics.
Rewards are:

Maki's Mashing Mace
Satay's Stabbing Sword
Liuyang's Lovely Longstaff
Cloudbender Kobo's Chilled Crossbow
Scar-Shell's Scintillating Staff
Chagan's Cheery Chopper
Jol'Grum's Frozen Mace (Alliteration chainbreaker)
Liuyang's Light-Lit Longshank

MoP Flight Trainers

Once you hit 90, you're gonna want to pick up your flight training. Wisdom of the Four Winds is not available in Orgrimmar. To get the training you need to fly in Pandaria, you need to go to your faction's hub in the Vale of Eternal Blossom.

Skydancer Shun  is the Horde Trainer, located at the Shrine of Two Moons (62,32)
Cloudrunner Leng is the Alliance Trainer, located at Shrine of Seven Stars (84, 61)

I've marked it on the map below, red for the Horde trainer, blue for the Alliance Trainer.

It should cost 2,500 gold to purchase, rep with the Golden Lotus will lower the trainer cost, but you're not going to want to grind out the rep without flying to save 500 gold.

Elder Charms of Good Fortune

Charms are awarded for most dailies you do in MoP. Each week you can turn in 90 Lesser Charms of Good Fortune for 3 Elder Charms of Good Fortune at your respective faction’s hub in Vale of Eternal Blossoms. You can hold a max of 10 Elder Charms, each time you down a raid boss or a world boss, a window will pop up asking if you want to make an extra roll for 1 Elder Charm. This gives you another chance at loot from this boss. The window for rolling goes pretty quickly, if you’re in a guild group make sure to check the boss’ corpse to see if the piece you want dropped, otherwise you might end up with two copies of the same item. It is pretty easy to accumulate these as most dailies give 1-2 charms, make sure you get 90 of them each week for a chance at 3 extra pieces of loot.