At level 82, I am still wearing most of my level 80 northrend gear. I had about a 5800gs before Cata released, and had 3 distinct sets of gear: PvP (6070-ish), Tank (5700-ish), and Damange (5400-ish) and I've found, questing through Vashj'ir, that most of the green level gear is NOT better than any of the stuff I already had. I'm around level 82 I I've maybe replaced 3 or 4 items with quest gear.

Green gear at a similar iLevel is not even comparable to purple gear. Don't change your gear or spend money on the AH just because it's got a higher iLevel!!! I have found gear that might be a 'slight' improvement as far as stats go, but the gear has no mastery or sockets, which for me turns the tide on whether I want to switch or not.

When deciding on gear, don't just base it on iLevel alone!

 

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Just curious, do you socket gear as you level? I never bother as it gets out-leveled so quickly.


I have noticed in previous expansions though I have found what you did, I ended up with few upgrades til I got to or near max level (despite sort of hints by Blizz to the contrary).


Also fyi someone did note that for clothies Hyjal was much better for early upgrades (not sure what you play).


(I have CAT not going to 85 just yet though.)

 

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I am a protadin/pvpadin. I've never really done the retadin/dps thing.

None of the standard quest gear/drops have sockets yet. For me that is the deal breaker between switching.

I'm not saying the new gear sucks, I"m just saying that for me, being pretty well geared from before the expansion, I'm not yet seeing the substantially improved gear that I had expected.

Surely that'll come, as I've looked at the higher end gear. I have the feeling, though, that people will switch to a new piece of gear simply because it has a higher iLevel.

(This is the first time I've played a WoW expansion just as it was released.)

 

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I think I misread part of what you wrote also, you mean current max level gear has sockets and maybe item bonuses, mastery, and the new stuff doesn't - I think, if so yes that's the main difference that has been for me, gear straight stats would be sidegrades or minor upgrades but removing socket/ or set bonus made the current stuff better.


For wotlk I had mostly the same gear at 80 as I did at 70 on my druid and rogue.

 

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Try instances with that 30k hp. Item level does matter, just check the stats of the item.

I am full of blues and greens at level 83, 4.9k GS but 52k HP 47k Mana Holy priest. Think i better wear my 5.7k gs 80 gear? Stop being gearscore stupid.

My priest is going from Tier 6/high end BC gear straight to Cata gear. For me, every piece is a super upgrade.

My holy pali is going straight from noob 80 the sunday before to 82 and most upgrades. I think I have doubled my mana and hp pool.

At least the new greens look halfway decent. Not tier 10 or ICC quality, but better than previous greens over the years.

 

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As you get 82+ your 80 gear is not giving you 100% (I don't know the actual break down level to level) stats and equal level gear is beating it out stat wise.

In Deepholm you'll start replacing gear. The fact is the first 2 zones reward item level 288~ gear which would be statistical upgrades if you invested enchants for them (which most people won't). However Deepholm rewards item level 300+ which is an upgrade even un-enchanted.

 

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