How to Get Cataclysm PvP Gear

Major changes have come to World of Warcraft since the Cataclysm expansion was released, leaving old and new players alike running in circles around Azeroth searching for familiar vendors. The system for gaining PvP gear in WoW has changed quite a bit, but the good news is that it may now be easier than ever for new players to catch up and level the playing field in the realm of PvP if they play smart when earning their gear.

Instructions

1. Start queuing for random battlegrounds as soon as you reach level 85. Competing in random battlegrounds awards the player a bonus to honor points whether you win or lose, and the quicker you earn honor, the sooner you can start getting better gear and becoming more competitive.

2. Play shrewdly in early battleground matches. You will most likely be competing with players that have already replaced some or all of their gear at level 85, leaving you at somewhat of a handicap. If your class is ranged, try to stay at the back of packs, run with clusters of your teammates, or use objects in the field to hide behind. Melee classes should be aware of where their team is, and perhaps even try to solicit the favor of a healer by fighting nearby and keeping other players off of him. Staying alive longer means more damage, which translates to more honor points.

3. Locate the Honor Quartermaster in your capital city. For the Horde, this NPC is a male troll named Blood Guard Zar'shi, found in a large building on the west cliff overlooking the Valley of Strength in Orgrimmar. For the Alliance, look for Knight-Lieutenant T'Maire Sydes, a female human in the honor hall at the very south corner of Old Town in Stormwind.

4. Browse through the gear the Honor Quartermaster sells and compare it to your own. There are two complete sets of armor available (which differ in stats and should be selected based on your spec), along with several trinkets, necklaces and rings.

5. Determine which piece of gear would be the largest overall improvement in your stats. If you have enough honor points already, go ahead and make your first purchase. Otherwise, continue queuing for random battlegrounds until you can afford the piece you want. Continue to do random battlegrounds for honor until you have at least 1,000 resilience.

6. Find a partner to start a 2v2 arena team with. Neither of you needs any arena experience, but if your rating will become important to you, finding someone of a class that compliments yours may be a wise choice.

7. Start doing arena matches in addition to battlegrounds until you get the max number of conquest (arena) points you can earn for the week. At 1250 conquest points you can afford the least expensive pieces of conquest gear, but it may be wise to wait a week longer if you need more points for the better pieces. Conquest vendors are located near the Honor Quartermasters in the capital cities.

8. Continue playing battlegrounds and doing arenas, replacing green quality gear for blues and purples as you go.

Tips & Warnings

• Gemming and enchanting your gear may seem like a waste if you just plan to replace it, but all new PvP purchases should at least be socketed with green gems and inexpensive enchants when possible. Every little bit of extra DPS or health means that you can earn honor or conquest points that much faster.

References

• Wowhead.com: Honor Quartermasters
• Wowhead.com: Conquest Quartermasters