Welcome to our SoD Phase 5 huge changes and raid investments guide. We will cover a breakdown of new dungeons, class and spell changes, famous NPCs, new legendary weapons, and more. The focus is on strategies to make smart investments ahead of Phase 5, particularly in profiting from upcoming raid content like Blackwing Lair (BWL) and Zul'Gurub (ZG). If you're looking to boost your preparation, don't forget to buy some WoW SoD gold to stay ahead in Phase 5!
New Dungeons and Possible Heroic Mode
There are three new dungeons in SoD Phase 5, named Burning of Andorhal, Starfall Barrow Den, and Shadow Hold. These dungeons are likely to come with a heroic difficulty setting, as data mining revealed a new string that suggests players will be able to switch between normal and heroic modes. This marks a significant potential addition to WoW Classic, introducing a challenge and rewards system similar to modern WoW expansions. There is also speculation that heroics could apply to other new dungeons like Demon Fall Canyon.
Class and Spell Changes
Some key highlights include threat reduction for Boomkin and Retribution Paladins, Shadow Priest DoTs (damage-over-time abilities) now critting for 200% damage, and Warlock's Metamorphosis increasing threat by 85% while reducing all damage done by 20%. Additionally, Hunters will see a significant change with their Lock and Load ability, which now only procs once every 8 seconds.
Famous NPCs and Legendary Weapon Data Mining
The data mining of famous NPCs from WoW's past, including Arthas and Mannoroth. A new legendary weapon, 
Hammer of the Lightbringer, was data-mined. The weapon is thought to be part of the new dungeon, Burning of Ander Hall, and seems to be designed for Paladins. The weapon features both DPS and tanking capabilities, making it a highly versatile legendary weapon.
Zarab Enchantments and Class-Specific Gear
Zarab enchantments provide leg and helm enchants for each class specialization. The enchantments offer various stat boosts such as stamina, spell damage, strength, and hit rating, depending on the class. Furthermore, class-specific epic weapons were data-mined, including two-handed staffs for Druids, swords for Hunters, shields for Shamans, and more. These weapons are spec-specific and designed to offer bonuses and transformation effects that align with each class's playstyle.
Trinkets and Tier 2 Set Bonuses
Several new trinkets were also discovered, such as the Tarnished Bronze Scale, which grants the ability to notice overlooked items dropped by powerful enemies. Other trinkets provide crit chance boosts, spell damage increases, and strength buffs. Additionally, Blackwing Lair trinkets include Mind Quickening Gem. Tier 2 set bonuses were data-mined. These set bonuses offer a variety of stat boosts and abilities for each class.
Armed with the first knowledge and experience, plus all the information about changes, it's the perfect time to decide on which consumes and items to invest in for SoD Phase 5.
Raid Consumables for Blackwing Lair and Zul'Gurub
We recommend investing in essential items like Onyxia Scale Cloaks, as well as protection potions (greater fire and shadow protection). These consumables are expected to increase in price due to the demand for progression through Blackwing Lair, where bosses like Nefarian require players to have specific resistances. You should focus on gathering materials like Elemental Fires, Grave Moss, and Dreamfoil to craft potions, as these resources will likely see a spike in demand.
Consumable Investments and Raid Supplies
Consumables will hold strong value, particularly for Mongoose potions and Mana potions, as they will be heavily required for raiding. Another suggestion is to invest in Fire Water, Black Lotus, and other key items to craft potions and flasks that will be in high demand during the launch of Phase 5. We suggest players consider stocking up on Dark Runes, used for regenerating mana, and Stonescale Eels, which are crucial for different raid flasks, as these are expected to become more expensive. If you want to gain an edge fast, try to make use of WoW SoD boosting services to maximize the value of your consumable investments.
Zul'Gurub Recipes and New Gear
The introduction of Zul'Gurub will also bring new recipes, and you should know the importance of preparing for these changes in advance. Key items like Mooncloth and Ironweb Spider Silk are good investments, as they will be used for Bloodvine garb recipes, a highly anticipated set for casters. Along with this, new weapon oils, including Brilliant Wizard Oil and Brilliant Mana Oil, will become essential for casters and healers. These oils can be crafted using large brilliant shards, which are recommended as a smart investment ahead of the patch.
Server Merges and Market Exploitation
A significant change in Phase 5 will be the server mergers, which will bring together multiple realms into single, large PvE and PvP servers. This presents a unique opportunity to make gold by exploiting price differences between smaller and larger servers. For example, smaller servers may have cheaper gathering materials, while larger servers may offer lower prices on raid consumables. Players are advised to keep track of item prices on different servers using tools like JP Worgen to monitor these discrepancies and transfer items between servers for profit.
Maximizing Gold with Smart Transfers
Players are encouraged to maintain Alts on the original servers post-merge to continue gathering resources at lower costs. By doing so, they can farm materials like Black Lotus, Golden Pearls, and other rare items, which can later be transferred to higher-population servers for profit. This strategy allows for efficient and incremental stockpiling of valuable resources that will be in demand once the merges are complete.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, Phase 5 is expected to present multiple opportunities to make gold, whether through investing in raid supplies for Blackwing Lair, profiting from Zul'Gurub recipes, or taking advantage of server mergers to maximize profits. The smart players who prepare in advance can potentially make thousands of gold by timing their investments correctly.
