With release of patch 10.1.0, players will have a new way to upgrade their gear to the new levels with this new system. The upgrade system that comes with Embers of Neltharion will replace Valor points and Storm Gear as the methods to get catch-up gear or get stronger equipment in slots that don't have it. You’ll be able to upgrade almost any item, including gear from World Quests, Mythic Keystones, PvP Arena and the latest raid Aberrus.

    Each gear item that can be upgraded will have a threshold to how much you can upgrade it. Based on base item level of an item, it will be a part of certain tier of upgrades: Explorer, Adventurer, Veteran, Champion, and Hero. All tiers will require new Flightstone currency to upgrade the items, with stronger items requiring new Shadowflame Crests of different variety obtainable only from harder content.

    There are two currencies you’ll gain for completing any acvitity in the new patch: Flightstones and Shadowflame Crests. Flightstones can be earned by completing all activities, including World Quests, Fyrakk Assaults, opening chests, defeating rare enemies, dungeons, raids, etc. Shadowflame Crest Fragments will be only obtainable from the end-game activites, such as Mythic Keystone dungeons, Raid and Arena. Depending on how difficult the content you are completing is, you will obtain one of four different varieties of Shadowflame Crest Fragments. After collecting 15 of the fragments from the same tier, you'll be able to combine then to create one Shadowflame Crest. You will be able to earn 150 Crest Fragments (10 Crests) of each type per week, and this cap will increase as the season progresses. You will also have an option to downgrade your Shadowflame Crests in case you want to upgrade a lower-level gear piece.

    Also, once you upgrade gear on your main character, every alt character on your account will get 50% Flightstone discount when upgrading to match their highest item level item piece. You’ll still need to collect the required amount of Shadowflame Crests, but it will require a bit less effort to catch up your alts now.

    You will also be able to use Shadowflame Crests in crafting! Enchanters will be able to turn them into Enchanted Shadowflame Crests, which can be used to set a new range at which the gear will be crafted. The crafter’s skill will still determine how high the item level of a piece of gear will be.