The Great Vault Trap
The Great Vault makes every reset feel a little bit like Christmas. For those good little trolls and orcs who did all of their content the week before, it contains nine shiny goodies we can pick one item from. The real challenge comes from picking the item that will provide the biggest power boost for the longest period of time.
Here’s the bottom line right up front: The highest track item is almost always where it’s at. Having a clear plan helps you dodge the temptation trap and actually accelerate your gear progression instead of slowing it down.
Highest Track is Where It's At
As a rule of thumb, the highest track item is where it’s at. Sometimes an exception can be made for a lower track best-in-slot trinket, but that’s a rare case. Also, don’t confuse track with item level.
Take my main as an example. The group I’m with is progressing in normal raids and sometimes I join heroic raid pugs. I run keys at +10 or higher regularly. And I dabble with tier 11 delves and nightmare prey hunts. This means my vault is going to have:
- Champion track gear in the top row
- Myth track gear in the middle
- Hero track gear in the bottom
With that Great Vault configuration, the top and bottom rows can pretty much be disregarded. Which means I’m hunting for a Myth track item for a slot that doesn’t have a Myth track item in it yet. If it turns out that I already have optimal Myth track items for the slots the Great Vault contains, then I default to grabbing the 6 Thalassian Tokens of Merit for a Radiant Jewelbinder instead.
Exceptions Before You Take the Tokens
Before settling for the tokens when there is no highest track item I can use in the Great Vault, it’s worth checking for two things:
- A best-in-slot trinket
- A tier piece or a slot item that can be catalyzed into a tier piece to complete a tier set bonus
These will generally provide a better power boost than an extra gem socket even if the item is from a lower track.
When You Have Multiple Highest Track Options
Things can get a little complicated when you find yourself lucky enough to have to pick between multiple highest track options in the vault. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be tempted to either pick the item that will give you the biggest power boost right now or snag the one that replaces the lowest item level slot. Short term that makes a lot of sense, but often playing the long game pays better dividends.
The long game comes in the form of picking a unique best-in-slot item because the chances of seeing it again in the next few vaults or looting soon is close to nil. So it could be weeks or months before getting another chance at getting it.
Think about it. Let's say one of you best in slot items is a trinket that drops in a dungeon like Algeth'ar Puzzle Box that drops from Echo of Dragosa in Algeth'ar Academy. A Myth track version of it will never drop regardless of the Mythic Keystone level. Which means the Great Vault is currently the only place one has a chance of getting it. The chances of seeing it in the Great Vault is roughly 1% to 6% depending on the number of Myth track slots unlocked in a given week.
This holds true for any other specific dungeon loot item in the current season and for raid loot items in content that you aren’t regularly clearing week to week. Making prioritizing these items is likely the most rewarding play.
Tier pieces or slot items that can be catalyzed are a solid second priority.
Last, but not least, come items that upgrade slots to the highest tier available in the Great Vault.
Help! What Do I Do With Multiple Specifically Named Best-in-Slot Options?
First of all, calm down. Next, understand that best-in-slot is only best-in-slot when used in conjunction with all the other best-in-slot items from a best-in-slot gear list. This means that most, if not all, of the best-in-slot items in your vault, unless it’s a trinket, are probably not your best-in-slot right now.
Best bet is to go with the trinket, probably. Assuming you have one in your vault. If you have two to pick from, then I will suggest looking at a trinket rank list tto help you pick the best one for the content you play the most.
If trinkets aren’t in play, then it’s time to sim yourself and figure out which item provides the better power boost right now.
- For DPS, Raidbots is where it's at
- For healers, try QuestionablyEpic
- For tanks, Raidbots might help but realize that the sims don't factor in survivability
That's A Lot To Remember
Meh. It's not all that much once you trim out the explanations. But if it helps, the priorities can be summarized as follows:
- Highest track specific named dungeon item (or raid item from content you aren't regularly clearing) starting with trinkets
- Use a trinket rank list to pick between multiple trinkets
- Use Raidbots or QuestionablyEpic to between multiple named items
- Highest track tier set item or slot item that can be catalyzed
- Lower track trinket
- Lower track tier set item or slot item that can be catalyzed to complete set bonus
- Thalassian Tokens of Merit for a Radiant Jewelbinder
Hope this helps!
