Theory on post-artifact weaponry.

[Soulfighter101]

With the coming of legion, we're getting various artifacts that heroes through the ages have wielded. From the Ashbringer that took down the Lich King, the Scythe of Elune that created the Worgen and contains the blessings of a demigod and god alike (Goldrinn and Elune), all the way to lost artifacts such as the staves of Tirisfal Guardians past. It's now common knowledge that we're getting a majority of the most powerful weapons and artifacts on Azeroth, and it has been stated by Blizzard that artifacts will not carry over into the following expansion.

This left many people wondering what will happen, with some worried that we'll replace the Scepter of Sargeras with a green quest reward at level 112. However, I'm curious as to theories of what we'll get that are a little more interesting.

My theory (and probably shared by others) is that we'll have to go off-world for our next tier of weaponry. We're already doing this for a few of our artifacts, so it would make sense that the only thing more powerful then the artifacts of azeroth would be the artifacts of far more advanced worlds. OR we uncover parts of Azeroth that haven't been touched since the titans themselves were here. In essence, the next expac would have to involve titans, off world shenanigans, or old gods in order for us to surpass the power of our artifacts.

Anyone else have viable theories of where we go from the end of Legion?

[Triggered Fridgekin]

As far as Artifacts are concerned, we'll probably end up throwing them in to a cauldron to use their raw, combined power to stop the Legion invasion once we've dealt with Gul'dan in the pre-8.0 event to be replaced by generic weapons.

[Deleted]

As far as Artifacts are concerned, we'll probably end up throwing them in to a cauldron to use their raw, combined power to stop the Legion invasion once we've dealt with Gul'dan in the pre-8.0 event to be replaced by generic weapons.

Something like this.
We will use the artefacts power to "do something" at the end of Legion but we will keep some of the artefacts abilities as our own abilities or passives. Just think of it as us absorbing some of the artefacts power through tapping it all the time.

[Ryzael]

You have become so strong that any weapon would shatter in your grip and so you learn how to concentrate your raw power into a physical form and create a weapon that is literally a part of you. Maybe it will even be a new high level profession.

[Noitatohtori]

Or.. OR! Legion is the final expansion and WoW will die with it. Either after 10 years of patches or instantly after original content is out, depends on the money they can haul in.

[Morae]

We will save Azeroth from the legion. Then we will go forth and battle against the legion on other worlds! On one of those worlds, just when the next expansion starts.... you will meet a farmer. That farmer will tell you that a demon pigs have been eating his sheep. He asks you to slay 10 of them. Afterwards he will give you a demon pig tooth that has some really bad caries on it. It will be a weapon much greater than the legendary artifact you are holding. You see your artifact to the farmer for 13g56s and 1c.

That is how it will happen.

[Therris]

The next expansion will most likely be an Old God Expansion (As the legion attack is most likely going to break open their prisons) they don't know what they're going to do with artifact weapons as of yet.I would love them to just carry over personally.

[DriftChicken]

Or.. OR! Legion is the final expansion and WoW will die with it. Either after 10 years of patches or instantly after original content is out, depends on the money they can haul in.

I've been thinking about this lately. It seems that there's a trend with the past few expansions of the Horde and Alliance coming together to battle a bigger enemy, while still arguing among themselves of course. I mean it's always been Horde vs final raid boss AND Alliance vs final raid boss as the overall story line but it seems that lately (over the past few expansions) it's been the Horde joining forces (a shaky proposition at that) with the Alliance to battle the common enemy. In my opinion, this sets the tone for a final expansion... one in which both factions finally down THE final boss and find a way to live together if you're into the happy ending thing... or they finally kill the final boss but end up blowing up the world to do it...if you're looking for a sad ending.

Just ideas...

[Draeth]

I've yet to think of or read a single satisfying theory about what will happen to the Artifacts. Blizzard is seriously considering breaking one of the cardinal rules of RPGs (don't just take away something the player has invested a ton of time and effort into) and I'm already expecting fallout for it.

[Otimus]

Since Blizzard is allergic now a days to carrying over ideas, I can't imagine anything carrying over into the next expansion after Legion.

Also: Expect wildly swinging design decisions in reaction to anything people didn't like.

[Darkulous]

We'll probably get a scenario for each weapon at the end of the expansion, or 8.0 pre-patch, that finishes the artifact storyline. I'm guessing their power will be broken (for levels 111+).

[kaid]

The next expansion will most likely be an Old God Expansion (As the legion attack is most likely going to break open their prisons) they don't know what they're going to do with artifact weapons as of yet.I would love them to just carry over personally.

Old god/titan I would have to guess. After fighting off the legion I am not sure where you really go for increased challenge if not old gods/titans or the combination there of.

[Serissa]

Or.. OR! Legion is the final expansion and WoW will die with it. Either after 10 years of patches or instantly after original content is out, depends on the money they can haul in.

Do you really believe that Blizzard will kill their Golden Goose?

[SoulSoBreezy]

I'd like to think that some event(s) in Legion will cause our super awesome status to diminish. A prestige squish, if you will.
It'd be interesting to see a big contrast from the previous starting experiences (big battles) and instead, the starting experience is a solo scenario where we forfeit our artifact (case we don't deserve it anymore) and lay low in a more remote part of Azeroth, meet some characters, unravel the crumbs for the next plot then arrive at our new major hub, rejoining other players.

I certainly wouldn't mind it if it meant not having to deal with early expansion bottlenecks.

- - - Updated - - -

I've yet to think of or read a single satisfying theory about what will happen to the Artifacts. Blizzard is seriously considering breaking one of the cardinal rules of RPGs (don't just take away something the player has invested a ton of time and effort into) and I'm already expecting fallout for it.

Depends. They could bake the abilities into the player's spellbook and unlock the transmog.

[Shammyrock]

Id kinda like to make our own legendary weapons

[Deleted]

As far as Artifacts are concerned, we'll probably end up throwing them in to a cauldron to use their raw, combined power to stop the Legion invasion once we've dealt with Gul'dan in the pre-8.0 event to be replaced by generic weapons.

Could be but another legendary weapons can be forged by new heroes and we can get them again, eheh

[Soulfighter101]

Could be but another legendary weapons can be forged by new heroes and we can get them again, eheh

It's also possible we reforge our weapons, or use them as the base to make other stuff. As long as they could find a catch-up mechanic, else that idea would go the way of the attunement quest.

[Tatzi]

If people really like how the artifact system work, maybe they'll keep them for future expansions. Every expansion/patch they'd add a couple more cosmetic options for the weapons/skills and from now on, the relics will drop instead of full-on weapons.

Assuming the artifact system works and people love it, this would be a smart way to keep it going, as well as a storyline for our characters that we are really changing and making these weapons of power ours.

[Deleted]

Hopefully they wont carry over into future expansions. As much as I look forward to playing my DH, getting the glaives and slowly empower them.. I can't help but to think it'll get boring real fast. Sure you will unlock different skins, but they are much alike to the original ones. What then when you've gotten all the skins? All you will do is farm random mobs, rares, bosses etc for them to drop artifact power. There are a handful of interesting nodes in the Artifact trees, but beyond that you will mostly get boring shit as -5% damage taken, +5% increased X damage etc.

It is fun to replace gear and get stronger. Weapons have always been a major point in WoW (both in PvP and PvE), on one hand due to the stat increases but also the looks. The legendary ring felt terrible for me, yay for getting a couple of ilvl on the same item every week, which is basically what artifact weapons will be like - It'll be amazingly fun at first, but then it will die down.

[yetgdhfgh]

More than likely it will be replaced by a blue 5man and you stick it in your bank hoping blizz will let you mog the skin

The talents will be removed from it and incorperated into your talent tree and we go back to weapon drops