{"id":41718,"date":"2026-10-05T11:52:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T11:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/?p=41718"},"modified":"2026-10-05T11:52:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T11:52:08","slug":"wow-midnight-guide-for-returning-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wow-midnight-guide-for-returning-players\/","title":{"rendered":"WoW Midnight Guide for Returning Players: 12.1.5"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Patch 12.1.5 arrives on <strong>October 13<\/strong> with weekly maintenance, bringing a new single-boss raid, a nine-chamber Labyrinth, the Season 2 mid-season refresh, and a class tuning pass. If you are coming back after a break, the most useful thing you can do is start the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/currency=3418\/nebulous-voidcore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Nebulous Voidcore<\/a> quest chain during the week of October 6 so you are not behind when the patch goes live. The update also adds catch-up mechanics to Prey renown specifically aimed at returning players.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-arrives-on-october-13\">What arrives on October 13<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/ptr-2\/zone=17059\/the-unbinding-of-kithix\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">The Unbinding of Kith&#39;ix<\/a> is a single-boss raid with Story Mode, Normal, Heroic, and Mythic difficulties, and on Mythic you face <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/npc=198952\/kithix\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Kith&#39;ix<\/a> with a flexible group of <strong>15\u201325 players<\/strong>. The Labyrinth of Kindo&#39;jan is a nine-chamber, Delve-like gauntlet with a Tier 11 solo challenge, Mythic gear, cosmetics, and titles. A new story campaign, &quot;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/ptr-2\/achievement=63519\/the-promise-of-tomorrow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">The Promise of Tomorrow<\/a>,&quot; returns you to Quel&#39;Thalas and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/zone=15947\/zulaman\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Zul&#39;Aman<\/a>. Aqir Invasions are new zone-wide public events in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/zone=15968\/eversong-woods\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Eversong<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/zone=15947\/zulaman\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Zul&#39;Aman<\/a> that run for <strong>ten minutes each hour<\/strong>, with six scenario types and eight possible combat affixes.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"start-the-voidcore-chain-before-the-patch\">Start the Voidcore chain before the patch<\/h2>\n<p>During realm maintenance the week of October 6, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/npc=269987\/orin-straylight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Orin Straylight<\/a> begins offering one additional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/currency=3418\/nebulous-voidcore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Nebulous Voidcore<\/a> a week to bonus roll for loot. Accept &quot;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/quest=97945\/in-the-catalysts-shadow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">In the Catalyst&#39;s Shadow<\/a>&quot; from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/npc=235697\/decimus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Decimus<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/zone=15458\/voidstorm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Voidstorm<\/a>, then pick up &quot;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/quest=97978\/prismatic-potential\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Prismatic Potential<\/a>&quot; from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/npc=269987\/orin-straylight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Orin Straylight<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/zone=15969\/silvermoon-city\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Silvermoon City<\/a>, and complete both before weekly maintenance during the week of October 6. Turning in &quot;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/quest=97978\/prismatic-potential\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Prismatic Potential<\/a>&quot; starts Orin&#39;s research, after which he offers &quot;Umbral Blessings of the Catalyst,&quot; unlocking the ability to trade gold, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/currency=3316\/voidlight-marl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Voidlight Marl<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/currency=3443\/veteran-mistcrest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Veteran Mistcrests<\/a> for one extra <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/currency=3418\/nebulous-voidcore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Nebulous Voidcore<\/a> a week.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-raise-your-item-level\">How to raise your item level<\/h2>\n<p>During maintenance the week of October 13, Orin offers &quot;Ancient Depths, Ancient Venom,&quot; and after his research completes during the week of October 20 he offers &quot;Ascending with Venomstones&quot;. That quest unlocks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/ptr-2\/item=280562\/ascendant-venomstone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Ascendant Venomstones<\/a>, which drop from every Heroic or Mythic raid boss, Mythic+ Keystone dungeons at +10 and above, Tier 11 Bountiful Delves, and Nightmare Prey Hunt Champion gear chests. Collect <strong>10 of them<\/strong> and use them near the Catalyst in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/zone=15969\/silvermoon-city\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Silvermoon City<\/a> to raise the item level of a fully upgraded Season 2 Hero, Myth, or maximum-quality Tidal Crafted weapon, trinket, or necklace. The crest cap is lifted the week of October 20 as well.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"prey-catch-up-and-warband-reputation\">Prey catch-up and warband reputation<\/h2>\n<p>Prey gets catch-up mechanics to increase renown gains: players below rank 4 receive <strong>4000 Journey progress<\/strong> (a full rank) per hunt, taking precedence over the Journey progress from your first four hunts a week, while players between ranks 4 and 9 receive 2000 Journey progress from each of their first four hunts a week. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=1306913\/afflicted-soul\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Afflicted<\/a> and Tormented Souls can no longer be used while a hunt is active and must be used between hunts. Legion and Battle for Azeroth reputations are now shared across the warband.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"class-changes-to-know\">Class changes to know<\/h2>\n<p>Devourer Demon Hunter gets the largest pass. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=1221167\/collapsing-star\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Collapsing Star<\/a> now has increased range after it starts casting, no longer goes on cooldown for 5 seconds when its cast is cancelled, and only slows Fury drain during its cast for a limited time. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=1244220\/voidpurge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Voidpurge<\/a> now reduces the cooldown of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=473728\/void-ray\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Void Ray<\/a> during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=471306\/void-metamorphosis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Void Metamorphosis<\/a> by 2.5 seconds, up from 2. Many Devourer talents have changed positions, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=1246167\/the-hunt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">The Hunt<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=1226033\/eradicate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Eradicate<\/a> moving to the middle gate. For Void-Scarred, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=452415\/demonic-intensity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Demonic Intensity<\/a> now causes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=1221167\/collapsing-star\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Collapsing Star<\/a> to reset the cooldown of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=1246167\/the-hunt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">The Hunt<\/a>, its empower effect for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=1246167\/the-hunt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">The Hunt<\/a> increases damage by 30%, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=452409\/violent-transformation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Violent Transformation<\/a> resets the cooldown of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=1241937\/soul-immolation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Soul Immolation<\/a>. Restoration gets a redesigned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=1263879\/natures-bounty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Nature&#39;s Bounty<\/a>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=8936\/regrowth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Regrowth<\/a> heals up to 3 allies with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/spell=774\/rejuvenation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Rejuvenation<\/a> active for 15% of its healing, prioritizing the lowest-health allies.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"mythic-and-achievements\">Mythic+ and achievements<\/h2>\n<p>Keystone Myth returns in 12.1.5, and the &quot;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/ptr-2\/achievement=63690\/midnight-keystone-myth-season-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Midnight Keystone Myth: Season 2<\/a>&quot; achievement requires a Mythic+ rating of at least <strong>3600<\/strong>, rewarding &quot;the Venomous Contender&quot; title and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/item=275436\/timelost-saddle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Timelost Saddle<\/a>. Targeted dungeon tuning adjustments come with it to address difficulty outliers. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/achievement=12503\/snake-eyes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Snake Eyes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/achievement=12507\/snake-eater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Snake Eater<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/achievement=12508\/good-night-sweet-prince\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Good Night, Sweet Prince<\/a> are no longer required for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/achievement=12812\/glory-of-the-wartorn-hero\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Glory of the Wartorn Hero<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to skip the resource gathering for your professions while you re-gear, the <a href=\"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/wow\/boost\/professions-kits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WoW Midnight Professions Kits Boost<\/a> supplies the materials and instructions to take a chosen profession to level 100.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-changed-in-season-2-before-you-left\">What changed in Season 2 before you left<\/h2>\n<p>Patch 12.1, Curse of Ula&#39;tek, launched <strong>nine weeks<\/strong> before 12.1.5 and introduced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/zone=16365\/the-coiled-isle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">The Coiled Isle<\/a>, Midnight&#39;s Season 2, a new Mythic+ dungeon pool, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wowhead.com\/zone=16915\/the-venomous-abyss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Venomous Abyss<\/a> raid. Players can no longer be knocked back while feared or disoriented.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Start the Nebulous Voidcore quest chain the week of October 6 with this WoW Midnight guide for returning players before patch 12.1.5 arrives October 13.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33680,"featured_media":41719,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3],"tags":[1446],"post_kind":[97],"ppma_author":[127],"class_list":["post-41718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wow","category-all","tag-wow-midnight-guide-for-returning-players","author-dina"],"acf":{"faq_header":"","faq_items":[{"question":"<h3>When does patch 12.1.5 go live?<\/h3>","answer":"<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">October 13, following weekly maintenance.<\/p>"},{"question":"<h3>What is the Labyrinth of Kindo'jan?<\/h3>","answer":"<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">A massive nine-chamber, Delve-like gauntlet with a Tier 11 solo challenge, Mythic gear, cosmetics, and titles, played with Valeera Sanguinar as your companion.<\/p>"},{"question":"<h3>Do I need to do anything before October 13?<\/h3>","answer":"<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Complete &quot;In the Catalyst&#39;s Shadow&quot; and &quot;Prismatic Potential&quot; before weekly maintenance during the week of October 6 to get an early start on the Nebulous Voidcore chain.<\/p>"},{"question":"<h3>Which classes get changes in 12.1.5?<\/h3>","answer":"<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Devourer and Void-Scarred Demon Hunter get the largest pass, with Hunters and Rogues getting less, plus a Restoration redesign.<\/p>"}],"wpwp_short_description":"Start the Nebulous Voidcore quest chain the week of October 6 with this WoW Midnight guide for returning players before patch 12.1.5 arrives October 13.","wpwp_plus_for_views":""},"authors":[{"term_id":127,"user_id":33680,"is_guest":0,"slug":"dina","display_name":"Dina","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dina-avatar.webp","url2x":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dina-avatar.webp"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33680"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41718\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41718"},{"taxonomy":"post_kind","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_kind?post=41718"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epiccarry.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=41718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}