WoW Forever Area Bonuses Guide
WoW Forever gives many items a bonus that depends on where you are. A trinket that adds a little spell power anywhere doubles it in a swamp, a set bonus restores twice the mana in haunted lands, and a horn gives more health inside cities and strongholds. The tooltip only names the type of area, and Blizzard has not published which zones belong to which type. The game files do: every type is a fixed list of zones, dungeons and raids, and one place can belong to several types at once.
Below you will find how area bonuses work, the full list of zones and dungeons for each of the nine area types, every item with an area bonus that is in the game, sorted by type, the items that change with day and night, and where each bonus pays off most.
How Area Bonuses Work in WoW Forever
An area bonus is an extra on top of the item's normal effect. Outside the right area you get the base value, inside it the effect is doubled, tripled or switched on, depending on the item. The tooltip updates with you: in a swamp it shows the doubled number, so you can check a bonus by opening the tooltip on the spot. The bonuses also work inside dungeons that belong to the area type: players have seen the swamp bonus of Defias Enforcer's Garb doubled in The Temple of Atal'Hakkar.
These are the rules worth knowing before you plan gear around them:
- A place can have several types. Tirisfal Glades counts as forest, wasteland and haunted at once, and Swamp of Sorrows as forest, swamp and haunted, so every matching item gets its bonus there.
- Dungeons and raids count too. Most dungeons are strongholds or cities, and many are also haunted, cavernous or swampy. Scholomance, for example, is both haunted and a stronghold.
- Cities count as more than cities. Undercity is a city, a wasteland, haunted and underground, while Stormwind City also counts as forest and grassland.
- Volcanic is the exception. Molten Heart of the Mountain names volcanic areas, but the game files have no list for them yet. Burning Steppes, Searing Gorge and Molten Core are the obvious candidates, so check the tooltip there.
Which Zones Count as Each Area Type
This table comes from the area lists in the WoW Forever game files, build 1.60.1. The first column of places is the open world, the second lists dungeons, raids, battlegrounds, cities and towns of the same type.
One item uses its own short list: Swamp Roamer's Band only counts Dustwallow Marsh and Swamp of Sorrows, not every swamp.
Items With Area Bonuses in WoW Forever
Most area bonuses sit on trinkets, but there are also rings, a necklace, a shield and five dungeon sets. Many are new in Forever or are classic items that got an area bonus added. The tables below sort them by area type, with the bonus as the tooltip states it and where the item comes from.
Swamp Items
Swamp bonuses pay off in Dustwallow Marsh, Swamp of Sorrows, Un'Goro Crater and the swamp dungeons, from Wailing Caverns to Maraudon and The Temple of Atal'Hakkar.
| Item | Slot | Item level | Area bonus | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Briarwood Reed | Trinket | 60 | Up to 15 spell damage and healing, doubled in Marsh and Swamp areas | Jed Runewatcher, a rare in Blackrock Spire |
| Unearthed Barrier | Shield | 32 | Deals Nature damage every time you block, doubled in swamps | Crocolisks in Excavation Site: Wetlands, rare drop |
| Swamp Roamer's Band | Ring | 39 | 3% movement speed in Dustwallow Marsh and Swamp of Sorrows | No source recorded yet |
| Defias Enforcer's Garb | 5-piece leather set | 53 to 55 | 5 pieces: +2% critical strike chance on a melee proc, doubled in swamps | Alcaz Prison |
Briarwood Reed is the strongest of them: a caster who farms The Temple of Atal'Hakkar or Maraudon gets 30 spell power from one trinket.
Wasteland and Haunted Items
Wasteland and haunted areas overlap in the Plaguelands, Tirisfal Glades and Silverpine Forest, and both types cover Stratholme. Several items reward both at once.
| Item | Slot | Item level | Area bonus | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uther's Strength | Trinket | 52 | 2% chance when struck in melee to gain a 216 damage shield, chance doubled in Wasteland and Haunted areas | Mith'rethis the Enchanter, a rare elite in The Hinterlands |
| Sanctified Orb | Paladin trinket | 52 | Use: restores 319 to 361 Mana, doubled in Wasteland and Haunted areas | Quest Forging the Mightstone |
| Royal Seal of Eldre'Thalas | Paladin trinket | 62 | 9 Mana per 5 sec in Haunted areas | Quest The Light and How To Swing It in Dire Maul |
| Wastewanderer Rations | Trinket | 40 | Well Fed buffs wear off 50% slower, and another 50% slower in Wasteland areas | No source recorded yet |
| Rotmender's Raiment | 5-piece cloth set | 22 to 24 | 4 pieces: 200 Mana when you drop below 15% Mana, doubled in Haunted and Wasteland areas | Ruins of Lordaeron |
For a Paladin healer, Sanctified Orb restores about 700 Mana per use in Stratholme and Scholomance, which is why it stays in the bags long after level 60.
Forest and Grassland Items
Forest and grassland is the largest type, from Elwynn Forest to Ashenvale and Feralas, and it includes Alterac Valley, Arathi Basin and Warsong Gulch. That makes the battleground trinkets below stronger in the battlegrounds themselves.
| Item | Slot | Item level | Area bonus | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rune of the Guard Captain | Trinket | 51 | +14 Attack Power, tripled in Forest and Grassland areas | Quest Job Opening: Guard Captain of Revantusk Village, Horde |
| Jewel of the Guard Captain | Trinket | 51 | Spell damage and healing, tripled in Forest and Grassland areas | Quest Job Opening: Guard Captain of Revantusk Village, Horde |
| Cleansed Vilebranch Medallion | Trinket | 51 | +14 Attack Power, tripled in Forest and Grassland areas | Quest Saving Sharpbeak |
| Cleansed Vilebranch Icon | Trinket | 51 | Up to 8 spell damage and healing, tripled in Forest and Grassland areas | Quest Saving Sharpbeak |
| Golden Banana | Trinket | 50 | Use: +16 to all attributes for 15 sec, effect and duration doubled in Forest and Grassland areas | Quest Message in a Bottle |
| Mysticbloom Seed | Trinket | 40 | Use: stuns you and heals 1,480 over 8 sec, plus 10 Stamina for 10 min in Forest and Grassland areas | No source recorded yet |
| Wisdom of Ursol | Trinket | 57 | 4 Mana per 5 sec in Forest and Grassland areas | Quest The Twin Bears |
| Royal Seal of Eldre'Thalas | Druid trinket | 62 | +16 Spirit in Forest and Grassland areas | Quest The Emerald Dream... in Dire Maul |
| Predaceous Band | Ring | 60 | +18 Attack Power against Beasts, 2% movement speed in Forest and Grassland areas | No source recorded yet |
The battleground reputation trinkets add their bonus in forest and grassland too. The Warsong Gulch runes come from Illiyana Moonblaze in Ashenvale for the Alliance and Kelm Hargunth in The Barrens for the Horde, and need Friendly with your Warsong Gulch faction. The Darkspear Islands seals come from Bryanna Embreeze for the Alliance and Creeg Bothunk for the Horde, at Friendly with your side of the Darkspear Islands battleground.
| Item | Slot | Item level | Area bonus | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rune of Duty and Rune of Duty | Trinket | 25 and 45 | +4 or +7 to all resistances in Forest and Grassland areas | Warsong Gulch vendors |
| Rune of Perfection and Rune of Perfection | Trinket | 25 and 45 | +4 or +7 Spell Piercing in Forest and Grassland areas | Warsong Gulch vendors |
| Volunteer's Lucky Seal and Volunteer's Lucky Seal | Trinket | 38 and 53 | +5 or +8 to all resistances in Forest and Grassland areas | Bryanna Embreeze, Alliance |
| Enriched Seal and Enriched Seal | Trinket | 38 and 53 | +6 or +10 Mana per 5 sec in Forest and Grassland areas | Bryanna Embreeze, Alliance |
| Relentless Raider's Seal and Relentless Raider's Seal | Trinket | 38 and 53 | +5 or +8 to all resistances in Forest and Grassland areas | Creeg Bothunk, Horde |
| Darkspear Voodoo Seal and Darkspear Voodoo Seal | Trinket | 38 and 53 | +6 or +10 Mana per 5 sec in Forest and Grassland areas | Creeg Bothunk, Horde |
Mountainous, Snowy and Volcanic Items
Mountainous areas run from Dun Morogh and Redridge Mountains to Stonetalon Mountains and Mount Hyjal, while only four places are snowy: Dun Morogh, Alterac Mountains, Winterspring and Alterac Valley.
| Item | Slot | Item level | Area bonus | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Wind | Trinket | 59 | Use: 63 Mana every second for 10 sec, doubled in Mountainous areas | Golem Lord Argelmach in Blackrock Depths, about 35% |
| Frozen Heart of the Mountain | Trinket | 55 | +0.9% chance to hit, doubled in Snowy areas | No source recorded yet |
| Everlook Delivery Bot | Trinket | 55 | Use: after 6 to 8 spells or attacks on the marked target, deals 467 Fire damage, half as many hits needed in Snowy areas | Zippie Fizzbolt in Winterspring, Everlook Honored |
| Molten Heart of the Mountain | Trinket | 55 | +2 weapon damage, doubled in Volcanic areas | No source recorded yet |
Second Wind drops in Blackrock Depths, but its bonus works in the mountains outside, so it shines while questing in Mount Hyjal or farming in Winterspring, which is mountainous and snowy at once.
Desert Items
Desert areas are Tanaris, Silithus, Thousand Needles, The Barrens, Durotar, Desolace and a few more, together with Uldaman, Zul'Farrak and Ahn'Qiraj.
| Item | Slot | Item level | Area bonus | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Desert Rose | Trinket | 47 | 7% mount speed in Desert areas | Sergeant Bly in Zul'Farrak, about 36% |
| Mirage Mirror | Trinket | 40 | Use: 25% movement speed for 10 sec, and out of combat in Desert areas another 25% and invisibility | Quest Mirage Mirror |
| Winds of Tanaris | Trinket | 53 | Use: slows nearby enemies by 50% for 10 sec, 80% in Desert areas | No source recorded yet |
Strongholds, Cities and Underground Items
Strongholds and cities is the type you meet most often, because nearly every dungeon belongs to it, from The Deadmines to Scholomance, along with the capitals and towns like Booty Bay, Gadgetzan and Everlook. Its items are therefore dungeon gear in practice.
| Item | Slot | Item level | Area bonus | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark of Tyranny | Trinket | 63 | Use: +620 maximum health for 15 sec, doubled in Strongholds and Cities | Quest For The Horde! or General Drakkisath's Demise |
| Toy Soldier | Trinket | 58 | Use: higher chance to dodge for a short time, doubled in Strongholds and Cities | Quest Soldier's Solace |
| Defender's Grip Stabilizer | Trinket | 65 | Defense +13. Use: higher chance to block for a short time, doubled in Strongholds and Cities | Pix Xizzix in Stranglethorn Vale |
| Black Horn Necklace | Neck | 43 | Up to 11 healing and 4 damage, doubled in Strongholds and Cities | Kroog, a rare elite, about 73% |
| Krol'dok Battlegear | 5-piece plate set | 45 to 46 | 4 pieces: heal for 14 to 23 on block, doubled in Strongholds and Cities | Krol'dok Stronghold |
| Violet Sorcerer's Vestments | 5-piece cloth set | 32 to 35 | 4 pieces: 15% of Mana regeneration while casting, doubled in Strongholds and Cities | City of Dalaran |
| Royal Seal of Eldre'Thalas | Priest trinket | 62 | +16 Spirit in Cavernous or Underground areas | Quest Holy Bologna: What the Light Won't Tell You in Dire Maul |
For a tank, Mark of Tyranny gives 1,240 extra health for 15 seconds in any dungeon of this type, which covers most of the level 60 dungeons and the raids from Blackwing Lair to Naxxramas. Our WoW Forever dungeon sets guide covers the two sets in this table piece by piece.
Day, Night and Other Conditional Bonuses
A few bonuses depend on something other than the zone. According to the game files, the classic Spirit of Eskhandar set now doubles its critical strike bonus at night, so it is worth more in the evening hours of the server's clock. And the classic The Gladiator set from Blackrock Depths activates its attack speed bonus twice as often when no allies are within 20 yards, which favors soloing and world PvP over group play.
The game files also contain new items with day, night, snowy, mountainous and haunted bonuses that are not on Wowhead and have not been found in the game yet. We will add them here once players find them.
Where Area Bonuses Pay Off Most
Area bonuses are small on paper, but they double or triple exactly where you spend the most time. These pairings get the most out of them:
- Dungeon tanks: Mark of Tyranny, Toy Soldier and Defender's Grip Stabilizer work at full power in almost every dungeon, because nearly all of them count as strongholds.
- Healers in the Scourge dungeons: Stratholme is a wasteland, haunted and a stronghold at once, so Sanctified Orb, Uther's Strength and Royal Seal of Eldre'Thalas all get their bonus there.
- Casters farming swamp dungeons: Briarwood Reed doubles in Maraudon, The Temple of Atal'Hakkar and Wailing Caverns.
- Battleground players: all three battlegrounds count as forest and grassland, so the reputation trinkets give their full resistances or mana there.
- Travel and gathering: The Desert Rose speeds up your mount in Tanaris and Silithus, and Mirage Mirror lets you cross the desert unseen.
Our WoW Forever stats and itemization guide explains how these bonuses compare with the normal stats on your gear.
More WoW Forever Gear Guides
The dungeon sets guide covers the five sets with area bonuses, and the guides below help you plan the rest of your gear.
WoW Forever Area Bonuses FAQ
These are the questions players ask most about area bonuses in WoW Forever.
What counts as a swamp in WoW Forever?
Dustwallow Marsh, Swamp of Sorrows, the Wetlands, Darkshore, Feralas, Un'Goro Crater and the Riverglades in the open world, plus Wailing Caverns, Maraudon, The Temple of Atal'Hakkar, The Drowned City, Excavation Site: Wetlands and The Shaper's Terrace.
Do area bonuses work inside dungeons?
Yes. Dungeons and raids belong to area types too, and players have seen the swamp bonus of Defias Enforcer's Garb doubled inside The Temple of Atal'Hakkar.
Can a zone count as several area types?
Yes. Tirisfal Glades is forest, wasteland and haunted, and Undercity is a city, a wasteland, haunted and underground. Every matching item gets its bonus there.
Which dungeons count as Strongholds and Cities?
Almost all of them, from The Deadmines and The Stockade to Stratholme, Scholomance and Blackrock Spire, plus the raids from Blackwing Lair to Naxxramas. The full list is in the table above.
How do I check if an area bonus is active?
Open the item tooltip where you stand. Inside the right area it shows the doubled or tripled value.
What are Volcanic areas in WoW Forever?
Only Molten Heart of the Mountain uses them, and the game files do not list them yet. Burning Steppes, Searing Gorge and Molten Core are the likely ones.
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