Adventurers everywhere are getting ready as the highly anticipated final major content patch for WOTLK Classic Phase 4 is released on October 10th. The highlight of the launch is undoubtedly Icecrown Citadel raid, launching on October 12th, offering tough challenges and legendary encounters.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with preparation tips and hints for Icecrown Citadel raid, and aim to help you get off to a better start at the start of Phase 4.

Maximize RDF

First, the first trick you need to know is to maximize your RDF gains. In Phase 4 we have the new Gamma Dungeon, where every boss will give you Defiler’s Scourgestones.

You can use these Defiler’s Scourgestones to purchase items like Flare of the Heavens at the new vendor. You can even get 245 item level ToC Trinkets like Reign of the Dead.

Gamma Dungeon has a very similar mechanic to Phase 3’s Titan Rune Beta Dungeons. And combining Gamma Dungeon with the new RDF is the ultimate key to your success using the new RDF system in new and existing roles.

You can queue up unlimited times to enter Gamma Dungeon and be fully prepared in the shortest amount of time. If you want to maximize your speed through the level, you can queue up with random players, or have a fixed group.

If you are a new character, your item level must be above 200 to Gamma Dungeon through RDF system. Fortunately, that number will probably be higher by launch.

Now you can get 238 item levels of Furious gear simply by going through the dungeon, which is easy enough to meet your gear requirements.

Even if you’re fully in that position, you’ll still need to farm Primordial Saronite via RDF at a rate of 12 Defiler’s Scourgestones per dungeon. This Primordial Saronite will be used to craft new BoE boots and legs that are better than anything your character has now.

While you’re queuing up for RDF, don’t forget to complete Heroic Daily Quests. In addition to the three Emblems of Frost rewards in Bounty Satchel, two Emblems of Frost Heroic quests are also required.

I also definitely recommend taking part in the weekly raids, where you can form raid groups and kill bosses like Sartharion.

Professions Preparation

Next, players are preparing themselves for their professions. Because the biggest change in Phase 4 is that most of the cooldowns for Tailoring and Mining have disappeared. This means Titansteel Bar’s profits will be completely crushed. The exception is Glacial Bag, which still exists. Even though Blizzard gave us a new 24 slots bag, it doesn’t do much.

As for raiding, most raid-focused players still prioritize Engineering or Jewelcrafting to maximize stats. However, some top speedrunning guilds are converting five players per team to Leatherworking. That’s because you can use Drums of Speed to power up raids and go faster.

If you focus on making money, you can prioritize Cooking, Enchanting and Alchemy. In the beginning, I even bought a Chef’s Hat. It has 20 Waterlogged Recipes on it, which can help us make thousands of Fish Feasts, with a profit of 80 silver each.

Back to Enchanting, though everyone will get three separate sets of level 10 gear. This means Enchant Chest has tripled. Meanwhile, because of the extreme difficulty, everyone will need more potions than in Trial of the Crusader.

Also, we can’t forget about the new recipes, which will be available to earn Honor Points and Ashen Verdict Reputation. There is always a decent profit margin for refined BoE gear, especially if you are willing to farm Primordial Saronite yourself via RDF system.

Consumables

We just discussed how Alchemy became a popular gold manufacturer. According to the latest round of PTR data, Heroic dungeon had nearly 4,000 wipes but only 84 kills. With these wipes, consumption of all types will skyrocket.

Therefore, I’ve been stocking up on Potion of Speed and Potion of Wild Magic. Because their usage will increase significantly. If you can’t afford to enchant your gear because it’s twice as expensive, you’ll also need multiple sets of Enchanting Vellum for each gear slot. This can really ruin your experience at this stage of the game.

WOTLK Classic Phase 4 Gold

Having money to spend is the most important tip in Phase 4, as WOTLK Classic Gold is the key to unlocking the near-best legs and boots. I recommend farming most of Primordial Saronite yourself. But you can also save time by buying them on Auction House.

There is also much more tradable BoE gear at this stage than in previous raids. Each one costs tens of thousands in WOTLK Classic Gold. Gold is also the key to completing “Purification of Quel’Delar” to get Battered Hilt.

Especially if you don’t already have an Abyss weapon, getting a 251 item level weapon like Battered Hilt will save you hours of time.

Raid Planning

The most overlooked step when planning any phase is raid preparation and planning. As a first step, these battles are nearly impossible without accurate planning.

Then you should make sure all your characters are ready for a 25 man raid. This is because missing the first lock will put you far behind the rest of the rated crowd, unless you’re in a world-record speed running guild.

Also, you need to target all normal modes as your primary target. But for easier battles, like Gunship Battle or Festergut, the gear really doesn’t make any difference. It’s much better to complete all the locks than to be stuck on Putricide Heroic for 10 hours.

You should also target a group of members to complete all 10-man raids in the first week. For gear, getting 277 item level Ashen Verdict is crucial. If you want to get Ashen Verdict Reputation in the first week, you must also plan to start farming trash as early as possible. This way, you can earn gold and gain a reputation in just a few hours.

Icecrown Citadel in WOTLK Classic Phase 4 provides a thrilling and challenging experience for looters. While some bosses are good at trying early on, others may require better gear and experience.

Whether you’re a veteran or experiencing Icecrown Citadel for the first time, prepare for an epic journey filled with challenges. Good luck to your team in Phase 4!