Why GearScore Doesn’t Work in The Burning Crusade Anniversary

GearScore is one of the more polarizing addons that has ever been added to World of Warcraft, gaining popularity in the original Wrath of Lich King expansion. The addon assigns a numerical value to players based on the armor they have equipped and is essentially interpreted as "higher number = better gear." While later versions of World of Warcraft, including the WotLK, had that sort of progression of "higher item level = better gear," this isn't a methodology or gearing path that fits within Classic or TBC, as there are plenty of items that don't have a high item level, but they're still a best-in-slot piece for a player.

TBC Pre-Raid/Phase 1 Best in Slot Gear

Thus, should someone in TBC Anniversary ask for someone's GearScore, it doesn't accurately capture how well-optimized a player could be. Below, we'll provide a few examples of items that are best-in-slot/must-haves in TBC to show why GearScore, as a measuring stick for players, isn't a great tool.

Wolfshead Helm

Believe it or not, a level 40 leather helmet that can be bought on the Auction House is a Feral Druid DPS's best in slot helmet until Phase 5 when a player replaces it with Duplicitous Guise from Kil'jaeden in Sunwell Plateau or 2-piece Tier 6, but either way, you get the picture: this helmet lasts Feral Druid DPS for almost the entire game.

Feral Druid DPS TBC BiS Lists

Powershifting is an incredibly important part of the rotation for Feral Druid DPS, and in doing so, Wolfshead Helm provides the player with 20 energy whenever they shapeshift into Cat form. GearScore wouldn't capture this whatsoever, as it has an item level of 45. Meanwhile, the Tier 4 head slot for Feral Druid is item level 120.

Shadow Priest Shadow Damage Gear

Shadow Priests are one of the most important support roles in TBC, and to gear them properly, you want to stack as much shadow damage as possible, as spell critical strike rating isn't as important. It's not as important because it only affects Mind Blast and Shadow Word: Death. Besides those, a lot of your damage comes from Mind Flay, Vampiric Touch, and Shadow Word: Pain, which are all spells that cannot crit.

Shadow Priest TBC Pre-Raid BiS

So, what does a Shadow Priest aim for? Items like Illidari Cloak, Illidari Bindings, Nethersteel-Lined Handwraps, and even Flawless Wand. As you can see, if you asked a Shadow Priest's Gear Score, it wouldn't even be remotely relevant to whether their character is geared properly.

Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian

Yes, Atiesh is more of an extreme example, as most players won't have this, but did you know it's technically best-in-slot for one of your Warlocks until they get Zhar'doom, Greatstaff of the Devourer from The Black Temple?

Warlock TBC BiS Lists

The equipment effect of increasing the damage and healing done for your party adds DPS to your group. The item level is a respectable 90, but for context, The Nexus Key out of Tempest Keep: The Eye has an item level of 141.

These are just a few examples among many. Reddit user Filipe1998W made a post with many more. Do you use Gear Score in TBC? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below!