The Patch 10.1 PvE gear upgrading system is more complex and may be confusing for some, so we’ve put up a guide explaining the different types of gear and upgrade requirements.
Where is the Gear Upgrade Vendor Located in Patch 10.1?
Cuzolth can be found in Loamm (Zaralek Cavern) at 56.53 55.92. You will be mainly upgrading gear in the new hub, but the Valdrakken upgrade vendor will work too.
What’s Needed to Upgrade Gear in Patch 10.1?
Flightstones, a new currency that drops from all types of Season 2 content.
Shadowlame Crests, crafting reagents from Mythic Dungeons, Raids, and select Zaralek Cavern weekly activities.
Flightstones
Flightstones are a new Season 2 exclusive currency added in Patch 10.1 used to upgrade Dragonflight Season 2 PvE gear.
When Can You Start Earning Flightstones?
Flightstones will begin to drop on May 9, 2023, when Dragonflight Season 2 begins.
What Type of Gear Can Be Upgraded with Flightstones in Patch 10.1?
As Flightstones are exclusive to Season 2, you can only use them to upgrade Dragonflight Season 2 PvE gear.
How Do You Earn Flightstones in Patch 10.1?
You will receive Flightstones from a variety of content in Embers of Neltharion. You can get them by participating in outdoor content. World Quests will reward you with Flightstones.
The mobs you kill in quest areas will also give you a small number of Flightstones. Here’s sample loot from a Fyrakk Assault.
Flightstones will also drop in raids and dungeons. However, the current drop rate is unknown.
Shadowflame Crests
Shadowflame Crests are Crafting Reagents used to upgrade gear and to craft an optional reagent for crafted gear. You will need different crests to upgrade different types of gear. You can obtain them from Season 2 content, including Aberrus bosses, Mythic+ Dungeons, and outdoor content.
Whelpling’s Shadowflame Crest – Used to upgrade higher-item level Adventurer (Rank 5-8) and lower-level Veteran gear, or to craft an optional reagent for crafted gear.
Earned from: Dragonflight Mythic Dungeons Below Level 6. Aberrus bosses on Raid Finder Difficulty, World Quests. Treasures, and activities in Zaralek Cavern.
Drake’s Shadowflame Crest – Used to upgrade higher-level Veteran (Rank 6-8) and lower-level Champion gear.
Earned from: Dragonflight Mythic Dungeons between Level 6 and 10, Aberrus bosses on Normal Difficulty, select weekly activities in Zaralek Cavern.
Wyrm’s Shadowflame Crest– Used to upgrade higher-level Champion and lower-level Hero gear, or to craft an optional reagent for crafted gear.
Earned from: Aberrus bosses on Heroic Difficulty, Dragonflight Mythic Dungeons between Level 11-15.
Aspect’s Shadowflame Crest – Used to upgrade Hero gear to Item Level 441, or to craft an optional reagent for crafted gear.
(Speculation) Earned from Select Heroic Aberrus raid bosses, Dragonflight Mythic Dungeons between Level 16-20.
Shadowflame Crest Exchange
Vaskarn lets you exchange Shadowlame Crests if you need a specific one. The NPC can be found near Item Upgrades.
You can buy 1 Whelpling’s Shadowflame Crest for 1 Drake’s Shadowflame Crest.
You will receive 1 Drake’s Shadowflame Crest for 1 Wyrm’s Shadowflame Crest.
You can buy 1 Wyrm’s Shadowflame Crest for 1 Aspect’s Shadowflame Crest.
An Overview of Gear Types in Patch 10.1
We have different tiers of gear in Embers of Neltharion. All gear types have 8 Upgrade Levels except Heroic (5 Upgrade Levels) and Mythic Gear (no Upgrade Levels).
Explorer Gear in Patch 10.1 (Green Gear)
Item Level 376-398.
Drops frequently in Zaralek Cavern from quests and mobs.
Gear quality changes to Rare at Rank 3.
You will only need Flighstones to upgrade Explorer gear.
Adventurer Gear in Patch 10.1 (Blue Gear)
Item Level 389-411.
Drops rarely from outdoor Zaralek Cavern activities
Gear quality changes to Epic at Rank 5.
You will need Flightstones and Whelpling’s Shadowflame Crest for Rank 5-8 upgrades.
Veteran Gear in Patch 10.1 (Epic Gear)
Item Level 402-424.
Drops from Fyrakk Assault, select Zaralek Cavern activities, and 10.1 end-of-campaign quests.
You will need Flightstones and Drake’s Shadowflame Crest for Rank 6-8 upgrades.
Champion Gear in Patch 10.1 (Epic Raid Quality Gear)
Item Level 415-437.
Drops in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible, the Great Vault, or, Weekly Bonus Event Chests.
You will need Flightstones, Whelpling’s Shadowflame Crest, and Wyrm’s Shadowflame Crest for Rank 5-8 upgrades.
Hero Gear in Patch 10.1 (Heroic Raid Quality Gear)
Item Level 428-441.
Only has 5 Upgrade Levels.
You will need Flightstones, Wyrm’s Shadowflame Crest, and Aspect’s Shadowflame Crest for upgrades.
Aberrus raid bosses will drop gear at different upgrade levels. For instance, the last Heroic Aberrus boss will drop a piece at 4/5 Upgrade Levels and Item Level 437.
Mythic Gear in Patch 10.1
Item Level 444.
Cannot be currently upgraded on the 10.1 PTR.
Mythic+ Dungeon Gear in Patch 10.1
Mythic Dungeon Gear continues to use Valor for Upgrades. It has 13 ranks and starts at Item Level 376.
