The items Blizzard is hidingWoW Forever beta

What Blizzard hides

Blizzard announced it at BlizzCon.

“One of the things we’re doing is we’re actually obfuscating all items in the game. So you will not see an item’s stats until it drops for you, until it drops for someone on your server.”

These items are not encrypted. Their data is not in the files, so nobody can extract it before the server sends it.

How an item gets revealed

1. 1
   You loot the item, see it at a vendor, click its link in chat, or an addon asks for it.
2. 2
   The game asks Blizzard’s server for its details. Until the answer comes, the tooltip reads Retrieving item information.
3. 3
   The server answers with the name, stats and effects, and the game keeps them in a cache file in your WoW folder.
4. 4
   Raidbots, a simulation site, gathers the cache files of many players into one. Every item in that file has its page here, updated every two hours.

Asking is not enough

On September 25, I used an addon to ask the server for all 12,600 hidden items, one by one. It answered for about a third and sent nothing for the rest.

How many are revealed

Classic items2,943 of 5,006

Most come back as they were. 438 have new stats, effects or damage.

Season of Discovery leftovers923 of 5,168

Season of Discovery items still in the files. Nothing says they will be in Forever.

Latest items revealed

September 25 to 29

• Eternally Frozen BandItem level 62, Finger
• Winds of TanarisItem level 53, Trinket
• Quillord Mail LeggingsItem level 34, Legs
• Painwalker BucklerItem level 34, Off Hand
• Wyvern Heart BandItem level 34, Finger
• Faerie Dragon's SkinItem level 32, Back
• Wail of DeathItem level 61, Ranged
• Unmovable SabatonsItem level 58, Feet
• Unerring PurposeItem level 56, One-Hand
• Ogre Sorcerer BeltItem level 56, Waist
• Ironback SignetItem level 53, Finger
• Chimaera Hide LegsItem level 50, Legs
• Fishscale HauberkItem level 46, Chest
• Heart of AlteracItem level 39, Held In Off-hand
• Needletooth's NeedletoothItem level 37, One-Hand
• Denmother's HideItem level 37, Back
• Bloodstained PantsItem level 36, Legs
• Arcane Charged RobesItem level 34, Chest
• Ursol'lok's PawsItem level 33, Hands
• Budding Leaf BeltItem level 32, Waist
• Still Water BandItem level 29, Finger
• Snapped Branch WandItem level 27, Ranged
• Ring of SaviorsItem level 46, Finger, Classic item
• Magiskull CuffsItem level 62, Wrist, Classic item
• Swinetusk ShankItem level 35, Main Hand, Classic item
• Agamaggan's ClutchItem level 35, Finger, Classic item
• Whisperwind HeaddressItem level 34, Head, Classic item
• Watchman PauldronsItem level 32, Shoulder, Classic item
• VendettaItem level 31, One-Hand, Classic item
• Death Speaker RobesItem level 31, Chest, Classic item
• Petrolspill LeggingsItem level 30, Legs, Classic item
• Gizmotron MegachopperItem level 29, Two-Hand, Classic item
• Supercharger Battle AxeItem level 28, Two-Hand, Classic item
• Frigid RingItem level 62, Finger, Classic item
• First Mate HatItem level 40, Head, Classic item
• Vibrant Silk CapeItem level 36, Back, Classic item
• Cloak of RotItem level 33, Back, Classic item
• Jurassic WristguardsItem level 33, Wrist, Classic item
• Humbert's HelmItem level 30, Head, Classic item
• Humbert's PantsItem level 29, Legs, Classic item
• Humbert's ChestpieceItem level 28, Chest, Classic item
• Vicar's RobeItem level 26, Chest, Classic item
• Tactician's StaffItem level 31, Two-Hand, Classic item

A Classic item that changed

In Forever, Rockslicer deals more damage, needs level 18 and lets you gather ore without Mining. Shadowfang’s shadow bolt hits harder, but the sword itself does less damage per second.

Rockslicer

Item Level 21

Binds when picked up

Two-HandAxe

36 - 55 DamageSpeed 3.30

(13.8 damage per second)

+7 Strength

Requires Level 16

Sell Price: 2011

Rockslicer

Item Level 23

Binds when picked up

Unique

Two-HandAxe

52 - 78 DamageSpeed 3.30

(19.7 damage per second)

+10 Strength

Requires Level 18

Use: Slice open and gather from target Copper, Tin, Silver, or Iron Vein (does not require Mining).

Sell Price: 31s 89c

All 438 are in the item list.

Raids, dungeons and sets

Classic’s loot lists show where the hidden items drop.

Raids

The beta stops at level 30, so almost nothing from the raids is revealed.

Classic dungeons

The first six dungeons, up to Blackfathom Deeps and The Stockade, are fully revealed. Past level 30, very few items are.

Tier sets

Blizzard hid three tiers whole: Dungeon Set 1 and tiers 1 and 2. Dungeon Set 1 has since been revealed, with changes. The others were not hidden, and their stats are Classic’s.

Sets made for Forever

The files give the names of 27 sets that did not exist in Classic, and the list of their pieces. The 18 six-piece sets form 9 families, as many as there are classes, with one to four variants each: most likely one per role. Every piece is still hidden.

• Defias Enforcer's GarbItem 287019, still hiddenItem 276741, still hiddenItem 287020, still hiddenItem 276746, still hiddenItem 287021, still hidden
• Krol'dok BattlegearItem 275006, still hiddenItem 287014, still hiddenItem 275005, still hiddenItem 287013, still hiddenItem 287012, still hidden
• Violet Sorcerer's VestmentsItem 273051, still hiddenItem 286988, still hiddenItem 286987, still hiddenItem 286989, still hiddenItem 273044, still hidden
• Rotmender's RaimentItem 286978Item 286980Item 271207Item 271214Item 286979
• Blessing of KalimdorItem 285331Item 285330Item 285329
• Partners in CrimeItem 284715Item 284716
• Rider of the PlaguelandsItem 284102, still hiddenItem 284101, still hiddenItem 284100, still hidden
• Goliaths' Adaptive GarmentsItem 251769, still hiddenItem 251770, still hiddenItem 251771, still hidden
• Blessed PlateItem 250594Item 250593Item 250592Item 250591Item 250590Item 250588Item 250587Item 250586
• Grovekeeper FerocityItem 280992, still hiddenItem 280993, still hiddenItem 280994, still hiddenItem 280997, still hiddenItem 280995, still hiddenItem 280996, still hidden
• Grovekeeper EclipseItem 280998, still hiddenItem 280999, still hiddenItem 281000, still hiddenItem 281003, still hiddenItem 281001, still hiddenItem 281002, still hidden
• Grovekeeper RageItem 280986, still hiddenItem 280987, still hiddenItem 280988, still hiddenItem 280991, still hiddenItem 280989, still hiddenItem 280990, still hidden
• Grovekeeper RaimentItem 280977, still hiddenItem 280976, still hiddenItem 280974, still hiddenItem 280965, still hiddenItem 280971, still hiddenItem 280967, still hidden
• The Spiritcaller's StormItem 280963, still hiddenItem 280962, still hiddenItem 280961, still hiddenItem 280958, still hiddenItem 280960, still hiddenItem 280959, still hidden
• The Spiritcaller's RageItem 280957, still hiddenItem 280956, still hiddenItem 280955, still hiddenItem 280952, still hiddenItem 280954, still hiddenItem 280953, still hidden
• The SpiritcallerItem 280951, still hiddenItem 280944, still hiddenItem 280950, still hiddenItem 280949, still hiddenItem 280947, still hiddenItem 280945, still hidden
• Justice BattleplateItem 280937, still hiddenItem 280942, still hiddenItem 280941, still hiddenItem 280938, still hiddenItem 280940, still hiddenItem 280939, still hidden
• Justice ArmorItem 280936, still hiddenItem 280935, still hiddenItem 280934, still hiddenItem 280931, still hiddenItem 280933, still hiddenItem 280932, still hidden
• Justice BattlegearItem 280930, still hiddenItem 280929, still hiddenItem 280928, still hiddenItem 280925, still hiddenItem 280927, still hiddenItem 280926, still hidden
• Raiments of ConvictionItem 280924, still hiddenItem 280923, still hiddenItem 280919, still hiddenItem 280920, still hiddenItem 280922, still hiddenItem 280921, still hidden
• Vestments of ConvictionItem 280918, still hiddenItem 280917, still hiddenItem 280912, still hiddenItem 280913, still hiddenItem 280915, still hiddenItem 280914, still hidden
• Battleplate of GloryItem 280910, still hiddenItem 280909, still hiddenItem 280908, still hiddenItem 280905, still hiddenItem 280907, still hiddenItem 280906, still hidden
• Battlegear of GloryItem 280904, still hiddenItem 280903, still hiddenItem 280902, still hiddenItem 280899, still hiddenItem 280901, still hiddenItem 280900, still hidden
• Wildstalker ArmorItem 280898, still hiddenItem 280897, still hiddenItem 280896, still hiddenItem 280893, still hiddenItem 280895, still hiddenItem 280894, still hidden
• Demonheart RaimentItem 280887, still hiddenItem 280882, still hiddenItem 280883, still hiddenItem 280888, still hiddenItem 280886, still hiddenItem 280889, still hidden
• Grimstitch ArmorItem 280877, still hiddenItem 280876, still hiddenItem 280879, still hiddenItem 280875, still hiddenItem 280872, still hiddenItem 280878, still hidden
• Manaflare RegaliaItem 280455, still hiddenItem 280454, still hiddenItem 280450, still hiddenItem 280451, still hiddenItem 280453, still hiddenItem 280452, still hidden

What is encrypted

This time the data is in the files, but encrypted: nobody can read it without a key, and Blizzard only sends the key the day it opens the content. Until then, all anyone can do is count what each key protects. There are 10:

• Two raids and their 22 bosses. Blizzard has announced two, Hyjal and the Barrow Deeps, and these are almost certainly them.
• A series of 79 quests in a zone of their own, with 63 items and a boss.
• The five new dungeons from level 35 up and their 34 bosses: they are the only new dungeons whose maps are missing from the files.
• 10 more quests, with a battle pet.
• A mount that is also a vehicle.
• A battle pet.
• Two mounts, one key each.
• Two cosmetic items, one key each.

None of them is on the public list of known keys.