Heroic World Tier is returning in Patch 12.0.7, being one of the features of the new Showdown zones. We have unlocked the feature and are looking at what dangers await you once the patch goes live!
Unlocking Heroic World Tier and Recommended Item Levels
To unlock Heroic World Tier for Showdown zones, you must complete the achievement 
Heroic Tendencies, which requires killing a World Boss in either Naigtal or Val. Doing this unlocks Heroic World Tier for both zones.
Once Heroic World Tier is unlocked, you will get a prompt to choose which World Tier you want to be in once you interact with the Void Portal that brings you to these worlds in Voidstorm. These look similar to the Delves entrance menu. Once unlocked, you can enter and leave whichever World Tier at any time by leaving the zone and reinteracting with the Void Portal.
Heroic World Tier in Showdowns, like in Legion Remix, is no joke. Here are the recommended item levels for each world tier:
- Normal World Tier is recommended for ilvl219 or above.
- Heroic World Tier is recommended for ilvl274 or above.
Besides the significant item level requirements, Heroic World Tier also offers more dangers:
- Creatures can now have multiple affixes.
- More Elites will patrol throughout the map.
- A squad of powerful Elites will hunt you as you do things in Showdown zones.
The rewards are worth it for those looking to catch up, though. Rare mobs drop Champion-level gear, and the World Boss for the area will drop a Hero piece of gear, weekly.
Patrol Elites and the Hunt System
One of the main dangers of Heroic World Tier are powerful elites that patrol the map. These are shown on your map with a skull vignette and do not drop anything worth noting. They are relatively easy to skip, but they will eventually bring the fight to you.
When you complete tasks in Showdown zones on Heroic World Tier, you may notice a debuff that says you’re being 
Stalked. As of the time of posting, this is the only indication that you’re being hunted. As you continue to complete tasks in Showdown zones, the debuff will change to 
Hunted. This change means that any time you are in combat, a Patrol Elite will ambush you, no matter where you are.
Once the ambushing elite is killed (or he kills you), the hidden Stalked debuff will reset. The debuff does go up fairly frequently, so it is an extra danger to keep your eye on.
Revamped Affix System
The affix system we first saw in Legion Remix is also returning in Showdowns. The system has been greatly expanded, and mobs in Heroic World Tier can now get buffed from a selection of 37 affixes. So far in PTR testing, the highest number of affixes we have seen on a mob is 4.
There are four achievements related to Showdown affixes: 
Power Creep, 
Cradle of Power, 
Absolute Power, and 
Power Beyond Measure. Each achievement requires defeating a number of creatures with affixes.
Killing mobs with affixes does not give any extra rewards, but they will drop arcane orbs that will increase your haste via 
Astral Acceleration. Here’s a list of all new affixes for Showdown Heroic Tier mobs in 12.0.7:
Power Creep Affixes
Arcane Presence ( Enchanted) | Spell Damage increased by 20%. |
Blood Infusion ( Heavy Wounds) | Spells and attacks have a chance to bleed the target, reducing Healing received. |
Brutal Presence ( Brutality) | Melee and Ranged damage increased by 30%. |
Curse Infusion ( Haunting Strikes) | Spells and attacks have a chance to curse the target, reducing Casting Speed. |
Disease Infusion ( Petulance) | Spells and attacks have a chance to inflict a disease that reduces Attack Speed. |
Enrage Infusion ( Raging Power) | Attack speed increases as their Health decreases, up to 10%. |
Magic Infusion ( Arcane Exposure) | Spells and attacks have a chance to expose the target, increasing Damage Taken. |
Poison Infusion ( Toxic Power) | Spells and attacks have a chance to inflict a disease that reduces Attack Speed. |
Snare Infusion ( Chill Touch) | Spells and attacks have a chance to snare the target, reducing Movement Speed. |
Swift Presence ( Heightened Reflexes) | Movement and Attack Speed increased by 20%. |
Vigorous Presence ( Invigorated) | Maximum Health increased by 25%. |
Cradle of Power Affixes
 Gravity Shackles | Binds the feet of nearby players, inflicting Cosmic damage and reducing Movement Speed. This effect stacks. Jumping removes a stack. |
 Void Shields | Emanates shields to friendly creatures within 20 yards. |
 Arcane Sacrifice | Sacrifices a portion of its maximum health to gain an absorption shield. |
 Shadow Strikes | Occasionally summons spectral assassins that dash through players. This deals Shadow damage to anyone in its path. |
 Mycelium Network | Aggro radius increased by 50%. |
Sleeping Gas ( Slumber Spores) | Occasionally emits spores that put anyone who steps on them to sleep. |
 Chill Touched | Attacks reduce the target’s movement speed by 2%. This effect stacks. Upon reaching 10 stacks, the target becomes frozen. |
 Ice Shield | Immune to all crowd control and interrupt effects. |
Absolute Power Affixes
 Cosmic Tethers | Periodically summons void tethers that inflict Comic damage to players in the area. |
 Voidmaw | Upon reaching 50% health, summons a Voidmaw that attacks with increasing Attack Speed. |
 Phase Stepping | Summons aggressive simulacrum to its aid at 66% and 33% health. |
 Unraveling | Upon death, an unbound soul drifts towards a nearby player, exploding on contact. |
 Infested | Infested with explosive fungal spores that explode on death. |
 Mushroomancy | Occasionally spawns mysterious mushrooms that can either buff you or deal a heavy DOT effect. |
 Frozen Core | Explodes upon death, dealing Frost damage to targets within 6 yards. |
 Icy Beam | Occasionally summons a rotating beam of ice, dealing Frost damage to players in the area. |
Power Beyond Measure Affixes
 Cosmic Horror | Occasionally summons a Cosmic Horror that deals Shadow damage and fears target looking towards it. |
 Spiraling Quasar | Occasionally summons Spiraling Quasars that orbit it, dealing Cosmic damage to anyone hit. |
 Essence Balance | Periodically redistributes the health of all allies within 10 yards, ensuring they share max health percentage. |
 Excess Energy | Occasionally expels energy with attacks and spells, dealing Arcane damage to anyone hit. |
| Springcap Patch | Periodically spawns mushrooms under targets. Upon contact, inflicts Nature damage and knocks them back. |
 Thorny Vine | Releases thorny vines that bind players, inflicting Nature damage and reducing movement speed. |
 Glacial Spike | Targets an ice spear at a player, inflicting Frost damage. Glacial Spike hits the first target in its trajectory. |
 Steam Vents | Periodically spawns steam vents under targets. These deal Nature damage to players under them. |
Heroic World Tier was an acclaimed feature of Legion Remix, and it is nice to see a return. What are your current impressions of the mode? Will you engage with it in Patch 12.0.7?
For more updates on World of Warcraft: Midnight and beyond, visit our main WoW news hub.
