Item buffs in 2.1, will they be retroactive?

[JPaterson]

As I'm sure everyone knows, a ton of items are getting buffed in 2.1.

So my question is, if I buy an item that's getting buffed prior to 2.1, will the buff take affect on that item? I want to buy the Runic Spellthread, one of the to-be-buffed items. But people are telling me to wait until 2.1. If I don't wait, will I lose whatever buff the spellthread gets, or will it be retroactive?

[Valshenna]

Yup! As far as I know, whenever Blizzard upgrades or otherwise changes the stats of an item, it doesn't matter if you acquired the item before or after the change. The stats will always be whatever the most current version of the item is.

[Fursphere]

Yes. Think of it this way.

Your character profile says you have "bob - axe of destruction"

It doesn't say "bob - axe of destruction - 200dps +10 cool guy points +44 l33tness -10 nub points"

It doesn't care about the weapons stats. It pulls that from the "item database"

So when Blizzard updates the items stats in the item database, your character profile just pulls the new stats.

[Valas Azuviir]

Not so fast chaps, this doesn't always apply. Good example are those Green Lenses of the ....random name.... that you can make as an engineer. There were a couple of older versions, which are no longer applicable due to changed coding, but those folks who saved their old ones still have them. Nothing was changed with their stats. (This was back when green lenses were green and not blue items and some of the stats were indeed a wee bit on the unbalancing side for a green item).

Couple of other items, same deal afaik.

[Justinledwards]

I guess it depends if they are buffing items, or actually changing the item itself, creating a new version.

Everything I've read says it is buffs....

[WatcherZero]

All item changes are retroactive. The exception is items with random stats as those random stats are generated when it drops and never change.

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

Every item has an ID associated to it, to reference to the item database. Blizzard can buff items in two ways -- upgrade the existing stats in their databases for existing items, or effectively "discontinue" making new items of a particular ID, and replace it with items of a different ID. The former results in retroactive upgrading of items for players, while the latter does not.

[Telmar]

Not so fast chaps, this doesn't always apply. Good example are those Green Lenses of the ....random name.... that you can make as an engineer. There were a couple of older versions, which are no longer applicable due to changed coding, but those folks who saved their old ones still have them. Nothing was changed with their stats. (This was back when green lenses were green and not blue items and some of the stats were indeed a wee bit on the unbalancing side for a green item).

Couple of other items, same deal afaik.

The stamina ones for example? :P

[swaldman]

Aye. Two mechanisms, as people have said. So the answer is "we don't know".

My personal guess is that the changes will apply retrospectively, but no guarentees.

[mesonm]

As I'm sure everyone knows, a ton of items are getting buffed in 2.1.

So my question is, if I buy an item that's getting buffed prior to 2.1, will the buff take affect on that item? I want to buy the Runic Spellthread, one of the to-be-buffed items. But people are telling me to wait until 2.1. If I don't wait, will I lose whatever buff the spellthread gets, or will it be retroactive?

You don't have to wait...

2.1 is out...

[swaldman]

You don't have to wait...

2.1 is out...

....for some.

[oramac]

it damned well better be retroactive! im gonna be pissed if my pre 2.1 Hammer of the Naaru doesnt get its correct buff!

[amgyn]

it is retroactive


the only time it isnt is when the item name changes....

ie: like "warhammer of the beast" can be "warhammer of the eagle" (like somebody said these items get their stats on drop) or when they changed pvp armors (58 set vs 60 set) i think it was bloodguards footguards to bloodguards slippers or something like that.