Hyjal Summit and The Barrow Deeps will introduce the first opportunities to obtain the new raid tier rewards. However, defeating bosses is only the beginning. Players must follow the appropriate quest progression or gather the materials required for Artisan's Tier 1 crafting. Preparing early can make a noticeable difference once the raids become available.
Why Tier Tokens Are Different This Time
In WoW Forever, raid tier tokens do not directly turn into finished armor pieces. Instead, an eligible boss can drop a class-specific token that starts a dedicated questline.
This changes how players should approach raid progression. Getting the token is an important milestone, but it does not mean the equipment is immediately available.
After activating the token, you need to complete additional objectives. Some of these require group participation, so solo players should be prepared to find parties or coordinate with a guild.
The final reward from the regular quest route is an item level 65 tier piece.
Hyjal Summit and The Barrow Deeps
The first two raids offer different group sizes.
Raid
Group Size
Main Purpose
Hyjal Summit
20 players
Raid progression and tier tokens
The Barrow Deeps
10 players
Raid progression and tier tokens
Both raids are part of the initial tier gearing experience, and eligible bosses can reward the tokens needed to begin class questlines.
Before joining, make sure your character has suitable equipment and that you understand your role. Tanks should check their survivability, healers should prepare for group damage, and damage dealers should understand their main abilities and encounter responsibilities.
A well-prepared group can spend more time learning encounters and less time dealing with avoidable problems.
Following the Class Questline
Once you obtain a suitable token, use it to activate the corresponding quest.
The questline is designed around your class, so the exact requirements may differ between characters. Rather than assuming that every class follows the same objectives, read the instructions carefully after accepting the quest.
Group activities are an important part of this progression.
You may need to leave the raid environment to complete dungeon runs, outdoor objectives, or other cooperative tasks. This makes communication useful throughout the process.
For guilds, it may be worth organizing smaller groups specifically for these objectives. That way, players who have already obtained tokens can continue progressing without waiting for another full raid session.
After completing the required tasks, turn in the quest to receive your item level 65 reward.
Artisan's Tier 1: Another Way to Fill Equipment Slots
The crafting system provides an alternative when direct token drops are not going your way.
Aara Night Meadow, also known as the Keeper of Knowledge, sells the recipes, patterns, and plans associated with Artisan's Tier 1. Players can find this vendor in the Mount Hyjal area.
The required profession depends on the armor category:
Tailoring is used for cloth armor.
Leatherworking covers leather and mail.
Blacksmithing handles plate armor.
You should aim for profession skill 300 before the raids open if you want to be ready to learn the patterns.
However, the crafting materials still connect directly to raid activities. Malleable Essence of Nature is obtained by disenchanting eligible loot from Hyjal Summit and The Barrow Deeps.
Therefore, this is a bad-luck protection system rather than a way to skip the introductory raids.
Understanding the Crafted Gear Limit
Artisan's Tier 1 equipment has item level 61, making it slightly lower than the item level 65 pieces obtained through the regular token quest route.
More importantly, players can initially equip only one crafted tier piece.
The restriction can eventually increase to two pieces by obtaining a Rosing Seed Pod. Crafted armor is limited to shoulders, hands, legs, and feet, while the regular token system covers all six tier slots.
Both equipment types can contribute to the same tier bonus progression. This makes crafted armor particularly useful when you have obtained several regular tier pieces but are still missing a particular slot.
Instead of waiting indefinitely for another token, you can work toward a crafted replacement while continuing your normal raid progression.
Three Things to Do Before December 9
There is no reason to wait for the raids to open before improving your character.
Get your profession ready. Reaching skill 300 in Tailoring, Leatherworking, or Blacksmithing gives you a head start on the crafting route.
Improve your dungeon equipment. Farm level 60 dungeons and prioritize items that support your class and specialization. A balanced equipment setup is more useful than chasing item level without considering your actual stats.
Complete Tier 0 and Tier 0.5 quests. These progression sets provide a useful starting point for characters preparing to enter the new raids.
It is also a good idea to talk with your guild about raid schedules and loot arrangements. Since the token system involves additional group objectives, having a consistent team can make the entire process easier.
Choosing Your Progression Strategy
The regular raid token route should remain your primary goal if you want to build a complete tier set. It offers item level 65 equipment and access to all six available slots.
Artisan's Tier 1 works better as a secondary option for filling gaps. Its lower item level and equipment restriction make it less suitable as a complete replacement, but the shared set bonus progression gives it a useful role.
For players who need help managing the time involved in character preparation, buy World of Warcraft Forever Boosting is another option they may come across when exploring progression services. Regardless of the route you choose, understanding the quest requirements, profession needs, and equipment restrictions should come first.