Legacy points are the part of WoW Forever that pays off the most in the long run: you earn them once for the whole account, and each character spends them on its own perks. This guide is practical: how to reach 16 points without leveling other classes, what each rank does across the 21 perks with the beta client's numbers, what each row of the tree unlocks and three sample builds depending on what you plan to do with the character. The basics of the system (the 65 challenges and the account rewards) are in how the Legacy system works.
In short: each challenge gives 1 point, once, for the whole account. A character can spend 16 at launch, and with a single character and two crafting professions you can earn up to 29. The system opens with your first point, usually on reaching level 25. The perks sit in three trees (Professions, Adventure and Resourcefulness): the first column is open, the second needs 5 points spent in that tree and the third needs 10. To track what you've done, there's the Legacy checklist.
How to get the 16 points with a single character
You don't need to level alts. These are the challenges a single character completes along the way, in the order they usually land:
| Challenge | Points | When it lands |
|---|---|---|
| Your class at level 25 | 1 | On reaching 25. Opens the system |
| Novice Spelunker: 6 dungeons | 1 | Around 25-30. See the list below |
| Two crafting professions at 150 | 2 | While leveling, if you keep them up |
| Honor ranks 3 and 7 | 2 | With some PvP. Battlegrounds give experience and honor at once |
| Your class at level 45 | 1 | At 45 |
| Experienced Spelunker: 10 dungeons | 1 | Around 40-45 |
| Two professions at 225 | 2 | Around 40-45 |
| Your class at level 60 | 1 | At 60 |
| Two professions at 300 | 2 | Already at max level |
| Master Spelunker: 17 dungeons | 1 | Already at max level |
| Explorer: the Explore Azeroth achievement | 1 | Whenever you like; it gives points along the way |
| Lord Valthalak Laid to Rest: his quest chain | 1 | At max level |
That adds up to 16. If you have some left over, there are more: honor ranks 10, 13 and 14, exalted with the reputations of the four battlegrounds, the PvP season's week 4, 7 and 10 quests, and the three raids (Onyxia, Hyjal Summit and the Barrow Deeps). Why it pays to go past 16 even if you can't spend them: the account rewards count points earned, and the last one, the spectral bear mount, asks for 55.
Professions only count if they are crafting ones: alchemy, blacksmithing, enchanting, engineering, leatherworking and tailoring. Gathering and secondary professions have no challenge. If your character takes mining and herbalism, that doesn't add anything. To level them without wasting time, see the shopping list for each profession.
The dungeons for each challenge
From the beta client (build 1.60.1.70205):
| Challenge | Dungeons |
|---|---|
| Novice Spelunker (6) | Ragefire Chasm or Hall of Thanes (one per faction), Ruins of Lordaeron, Wailing Caverns, The Deadmines, Shadowfang Keep and the Excavation Site |
| Experienced Spelunker (10) | City of Dalaran, Blackfathom Deeps, Gnomeregan, The Drowned City, the four Scarlet Monastery wings, Razorfen Kraul and Krol'dok Stronghold |
| Master Spelunker (17) | Razorfen Downs, Uldaman, Zul'Farrak, Maraudon, Alcaz Prison, The Temple of Atal'Hakkar, Blackrock Depths, Blackmaw Hold, Lower and Upper Blackrock Spire, Scholomance, both halves of Stratholme, the three Dire Maul wings and The Shaper's Terrace |
The first is the easiest to complete along the way: with the dungeons you already run while leveling from 15 to 30 you'll have it. Which dungeon fits your level is answered by What should I do at my level?.
In the beta
Blizzard announced on October 1 that, in an upcoming week of the beta, all testers will receive 16 Legacy points so they can try the perks without leveling several classes. They are for the beta only. If you play it, that's the time to try the builds in this guide.
How the tree is laid out
Each perk has between 1 and 5 ranks and, according to Wowhead's calculator, each rank costs one point. Each tree has three columns:
- First column: open from the start.
- Second column: needs 5 points spent in that tree.
- Third column: needs 10 points in that tree (except Master Chef and Luremaster, which ask for 5).
Some perks are also linked to the one on their left and can't be taken without it. We mark that in the tables with "Requires".
With 16 points and these rules, the usual move is to put 10 in one tree to reach its third-column perk, and spread the other 6. Reaching the third column of two trees doesn't work (that would be 20).
What each perk gives, rank by rank
Numbers from the beta client (TraitDefinitionEffectPoints table, build 1.60.1.70205). The client is a beta, so names or values may change.
Professions
| Perk | Column | Ranks | What it gives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working Overtime | 1 | 5 | +4% chance to gain skill in any trade per rank (up to +20%) |
| Bountiful Harvest | 1 | 5 | +20% scarce materials from mining, herbalism and skinning per rank (up to +100%) |
| Bartering | 2 | 2 | −5% / −10% on vendors' gold prices |
| Performance Bonus | 2 | 3 | 5 / 10 / 15% chance of double Merchant's Favor when turning in a crate. Requires Bountiful Harvest |
| Master Chef | 3 (needs 5) | 5 | +10% chance of an extra dish per rank (up to 50%) |
| Luremaster | 3 (needs 5) | 2 | 25% / 50% chance of an extra fish when fishing with bait |
| Dedicated Study | 3 (needs 10) | 1 | +1 point per day in your lowest trade; with all at 300, elemental essences. Requires Bartering |
Adventure
| Perk | Column | Ranks | What it gives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Well Rested | 1 | 5 | Rested experience builds up 4% faster and its cap rises 4% per rank (up to +20%) |
| Thrill of Adventure | 1 | 5 | You recover 1% of maximum health and mana per rank (up to 5%) when you land the killing blow on an enemy that gives experience. Doesn't work in dungeons, raids or battlegrounds |
| Talented | 2 | 5 | Each rank moves your first talent point one level earlier: level 9, 8, 7, 6 and, at maximum, 5. Requires Well Rested |
| High Alert | 2 | 2 | You detect stealth as if you had 1 / 2 more levels. Doesn't work in battlegrounds |
| Field Guide | 2 | 3 | −8 / −17 / −25% cooldown on campsite items |
| Field Medicine | 2 | 2 | −5 / −10 s to Recently Bandaged. Doesn't work in dungeons, raids or battlegrounds |
| Frequent Flier | 3 (needs 10) | 1 | −50% flight prices and your gryphon or bat flies 20% faster. Requires Field Guide |
Resourcefulness
| Perk | Column | Ranks | What it gives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gourmand | 1 | 3 | Food lasts 33 / 67 / 100% longer |
| The Quick and the Dead | 1 | 2 | You run 5 / 10% faster as a ghost and your helpful spells cost nothing for 1 / 2 min after resurrecting (or until you enter combat) |
| Reinforce | 1 | 5 | −8% durability lost on death per rank (up to −40%) |
| For Great Honor | 2 | 5 | +2% honor per rank (up to +10%) |
| Permanence | 2 | 2 | Class group and raid buffs (Arcane Intellect, Power Word: Fortitude…) and campsite buffs last 50 / 100% longer. Requires Gourmand |
| Diplomat | 2 | 5 | +2% reputation per rank (up to +10%) |
| Reagent Economy | 3 (needs 10) | 1 | Your class abilities stop asking for reagents bought from a vendor. Requires The Quick and the Dead |
There are also six more slots, two per tree, which the client marks as "will be added in a future update".
"Talented" doesn't give more than 51 points
This is the most repeated question and the client settles it in the perk's own text: you start earning talent points earlier, "but you still won't be able to get more than 51 talent points in total". With all five ranks:
- At level 30 you have 26 points instead of 21. That's what the level 30 builds in the calculator use.
- You reach 51 points at level 55, not 60.
- At level 60 you have the same 51 as without the perk.
That's why Talented is a perk for leveling: it pays off a lot on your second, third and fourth character and nothing at max level. Next to the required level, the talent calculator already shows the level you reach with Talented.
Three sample builds
These are starting points, not the only way to do it. Each character spends points on its own: what you put on your warrior isn't taken from your mage, so each one can run a different spread.
For leveling (alts)
| Perk | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Well Rested | 5 | More rested experience, accumulated faster. Opens the second column |
| Talented | 5 | Talent points from level 5. You reach 10 points in Adventure |
| Field Guide | 1 | Required for Frequent Flier, and the campsite already gives experience |
| Frequent Flier | 1 | Half-price, faster flights |
| Thrill of Adventure | 4 | Fewer stops to eat and drink between fights |
| Total | 16 |
For professions and gold
| Perk | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Working Overtime | 5 | +20% chance to gain skill on every craft |
| Bountiful Harvest | 3 | More scarce materials when gathering. With Working Overtime that makes 8 |
| Bartering | 2 | −10% at vendors. You reach 10 in Professions and Dedicated Study requires it |
| Dedicated Study | 1 | A free point per day in your lowest trade |
| Performance Bonus | 3 | More Merchant's Favor from crates |
| Luremaster | 2 | If you fish with bait. If not, Master Chef |
| Total | 16 |
At max level: PvP, raids and reputation
| Perk | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reinforce | 5 | −40% durability on death: less gold on repairs |
| For Great Honor | 5 | +10% honor. If you don't do PvP, Diplomat: +10% reputation |
| The Quick and the Dead | 2 | You get back to your body sooner and buff for free. Required for the next one |
| Reagent Economy | 1 | No more buying class reagents |
| Gourmand | 3 | Food lasts twice as long |
| Total | 16 |
Want to mix? Nothing stops you: for example, 5 in Well Rested + 5 in Talented for leveling and the remaining 6 in the first column of another tree (Working Overtime, Reinforce or Gourmand).
What we still don't know
- The exact cost of each rank. Wowhead's calculator counts one point per rank and the client doesn't say otherwise; we take it as correct until it shows up in the game.
- Whether a linked perk asks for one rank of the previous one or all of them. Wowhead asks for one.
- How Talented is built. In the client it's a node with five single-rank choices (level 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5) and Wowhead's calculator shows it as five ranks. The effect is the same.
- What the six missing slots will be and when the cap of 16 will go up. Blizzard says more challenges, perks and caps will come in future patches, with no dates.
- Names and values. This is the beta client, so names or values may change before launch. We'll use the in-game ones once it ships.
Frequently asked questions
How do you earn Legacy points in WoW Forever?
By completing challenges: leveling each class to 25, 45 and 60, crafting professions to 150, 225 and 300, dungeon groups, honor ranks and PvP reputations, raids, exploring Azeroth and the Lord Valthalak chain. Each one gives 1 point, once, for the whole account.
How many Legacy points can a character spend?
16 at launch. You can earn 65, and with a single character and two crafting professions, up to 29. Points past 16 count toward the account rewards.
Does Talented give 5 more talent points at level 60?
No. It moves your points earlier (the first one arrives at level 5 instead of 10), but the cap is still 51. You reach 51 at level 55 and at level 60 you have the same.
Where is the best place to put Legacy points?
It depends on what you do with that character. For leveling alts, Adventure (Well Rested, Talented and Frequent Flier). For trades, Professions (Working Overtime and Dedicated Study). At max level, Resourcefulness (Reinforce, honor or reputation, and Reagent Economy). Since each character spends its own, each can run a different spread.
Are Legacy points account-wide?
The points are: what one character earns counts for all of them. Each character spends them in its own tree, without taking them from the others.
