As World of Warcraft: Dragonflight enters Season 4, players are once again faced with the exciting challenge of upgrading their gear to remain competitive in dungeons, raids, and PvP content. Gearing efficiently in Dragonflight Season 4 requires an understanding of the revamped upgrade systems, weekly activities, dungeon and raid rotations, and the best ways to earn powerful loot. Whether you’re returning after a break or pushing high-end content, this comprehensive Dragonflight Season 4 gearing guide will help you make the most of every opportunity to strengthen your character.
Season 4 Overview: What’s New in Gearing
Revamped Upgrade System
Dragonflight Season 4 introduces a unified gear upgrade system that simplifies item progression. The system revolves around flightstones and crests, which are earned through almost all forms of PvE content. These currencies are used to upgrade gear across various item levels and difficulty tiers, making it easier for players to fine-tune their gear progression without heavy reliance on RNG.
Seasonal Rotation of Raids and Dungeons
One of the most important aspects of Season 4 is the reintroduction of earlier Dragonflight raids and dungeons through a seasonal rotation. Vault of the Incarnates, Aberrus, and Amirdrassil return with updated loot tables and scaling, offering high-level gear that can be upgraded. The Mythic+ dungeon pool has also changed, meaning players need to refocus their strategies and routes to earn optimal loot and currency.
Understanding the Upgrade Currency
Flightstones
Flightstones are the basic currency used to upgrade gear in Dragonflight Season 4. You can earn flightstones from a variety of sources, including:
- Completing Mythic+ dungeons
- Weekly quests
- World content and open-world events
- Killing raid bosses
Flightstones are not capped weekly, which encourages regular play. However, there is a soft cap on the amount required for upgrades at higher item levels, so planning is still important.
Crests and Crest Fragments
Alongside flightstones, players will need crests to upgrade gear beyond certain item level thresholds. These crests come in tiers based on the content’s difficulty:
- Whelpling’s Crest: for LFR and Normal content
- Drake’s Crest: for Heroic dungeons and mid-tier Mythic+
- Wyrm’s Crest: from Heroic raids and high-tier Mythic+
- Aspect’s Crest: from Mythic raids and +16 or higher Mythic+ runs
Fragments drop individually and can be combined into full crests. These are essential for upgrading gear beyond specific breakpoints.
Best Activities for Gearing Up
Mythic+ Dungeons
Mythic+ remains one of the most efficient ways to gear in Dragonflight Season 4. With the rotating dungeon pool, you’ll want to learn the mechanics of each dungeon and aim for high-key completions to earn better gear and crest rewards. Running Mythic+ regularly also helps fill your Great Vault with high-quality choices.
Raiding
Season 4 brings back all three major Dragonflight raids with updated loot scaling. Whether you prefer LFR, Normal, Heroic, or Mythic difficulty, participating in weekly raid clears gives you powerful gear and crest fragments. Bosses drop tier set pieces and trinkets that are often best-in-slot for many classes.
World Quests and Events
While not as lucrative as instanced content, world quests and special events (like Time Rifts and Fyrakk Assaults) provide steady sources of flightstones and starter gear. These are especially useful for catching up on alts or filling in gear gaps early in the season.
Optimizing the Great Vault
How the Great Vault Works
The Great Vault offers weekly rewards based on how much content you completed in the previous week. The three main categories are:
- Raids (up to 3 bosses)
- Mythic+ dungeons (up to 8 dungeons)
- PvP (based on Honor earned)
The more objectives you complete, the more choices you’ll get in your Vault. The item level of these rewards is based on the difficulty of the content completed, making the Vault one of the best sources of endgame gear.
Vault Strategy Tips
To maximize your Great Vault gearing:
- Try to complete at least 8 Mythic+ dungeons for the highest number of choices.
- Kill as many raid bosses as possible at your highest difficulty.
- If you participate in PvP, push for higher Honor gains or ratings to improve rewards.
Crafting and Profession Gear
Using Spark of Dreams
In Season 4, players continue using Sparks to craft high-end gear. The Spark of Dreams remains the central crafting catalyst and is earned through quests and time-gated activities. Combine Sparks with Profession Knowledge and optional reagents to create customizable and upgradeable gear pieces.
Stat Customization and Embellishments
Crafted gear allows players to choose secondary stats and embellishments, making them incredibly valuable. Popular embellishments like Blue Silken Lining or Toxic Thorn Footwraps can enhance class performance in specific builds. Always consult class-specific guides or sim your character to choose the most optimal crafts.
Tier Sets and Best-in-Slot Items
How to Get Tier Gear
Tier set pieces return in Season 4, with class bonuses that significantly enhance performance. These pieces drop from raid bosses and can also be acquired through the Revival Catalyst system, which allows players to convert eligible gear into tier pieces once per week.
Prioritizing Best-in-Slot Gear
Focus on acquiring and upgrading gear that is considered best-in-slot (BiS) for your class and specialization. These items typically include specific weapons, trinkets, or tier pieces that synergize with your talents and build. Websites and community resources can help identify what to target first.
Gearing for PvP
Honor and Conquest
PvP gear in Season 4 still operates with the scaling system where items increase in power during PvP combat. Earn Honor for starter gear and Conquest for higher-tier equipment. Weekly PvP objectives also contribute to the Great Vault and provide valuable upgrade currencies.
Upgrading PvP Gear
Use Honor to upgrade gear obtained through Honor and Conquest points. PvP-specific stat priorities may differ from PvE, so always double-check your builds and target the right gear for your playstyle.
Final Tips and Planning
Stay Consistent Weekly
To make steady gearing progress in Dragonflight Season 4:
- Do weekly dungeon and raid clears for crests and Vault slots
- Complete world quests and events for bonus flightstones
- Farm sparks and materials for crafted gear
- Optimize your Vault by pushing Mythic+ or PvP
Balance Alt Characters
If you’re managing multiple characters, consider focusing on one main for progression while using world content and catch-up mechanics on your alts. The upgrade system is account-friendly to a degree, but focusing your effort can yield faster BiS completion on your main.
Gearing up in Dragonflight Season 4 offers more flexibility and control than ever before. With the introduction of a streamlined upgrade system, rotating endgame content, and multiple viable gearing paths, players can progress at their own pace while still reaching powerful item levels. Whether you’re pushing Mythic+ dungeons, raiding weekly, or climbing PvP ladders, staying informed and consistent is the key to maximizing your character’s potential this season. Dive into Azeroth, earn your flightstones and crests, and forge your path to peak performance.