What does BiS mean?
Best in slot means the strongest item for an equipment slot in a particular build and situation. While levelling, a useful upgrade you can get now is often the better goal.
SECTION 01
Choose your next upgrade
Start with the equipment you have and the content you can reach. Check the level needed to equip an item, whether it suits your build and how much time it takes to obtain.
A weapon deserves particular attention because it changes the damage of your attacks. A higher-quality name or more armour does not explain the whole item: compare its actual properties.
During levelling, keep moving through quests rather than holding back your entire journey for one rare drop.
SECTION 02
Understand the item tooltip
Weapon damage and speed: compare the damage range as well as the time between swings.
Spell power: supports the Holy-damage part of your build. Do not dismiss it just because you fight in melee.
Hit and critical strike: Forever combines these bonuses across melee and spells. Check the wording on the item.
Old Classic lists can miss updated item effects. Inspect the Forever version of an item before planning a purchase or a dungeon run.
Sources: How Forever equipment has changed
SECTION 03
Weapons worth looking for
Rhahk’Zor’s Hammer — an early Deadmines weapon.
Scepter of the Abandoned — a weapon from the Ruins of Lordaeron.
These are useful places to begin looking for upgrades, rather than a fixed ranking for every character. Compare a drop with your current weapon and talent setup.
Sources: Early weapon recommendations · Dungeon equipment sources
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Class quests & crafted gear
Alliance: The Test of Righteousness rewards Verigan’s Fist. The questline includes a Deadmines visit, so check the quest before arranging your run.
Undead: the Diplomatic Incident questline rewards Wolfsbane.
Crafting is another way to fill a weak slot. Look at the material cost before choosing between a crafted item, a quest reward or a dungeon drop.
SECTION 05
Use gear that fits your build
Two characters at the same level can want different equipment. A slow two-handed weapon and a spell-focused setup place different demands on gear.
Keep useful alternatives when bag space allows. Before replacing an item, consider the abilities and talents you are using, rather than following a single stat in isolation.
For the combat basics, return to the Retribution guide. This equipment guide covers WoW Forever beta; item details may change with updates.