Binds to Warband until equipped

Binds to Warband until equipped (WuE) is a form of item binding that extends the Binds to Warband. Items with this binding will soulbind after getting equipped by a character, meaning it can no longer be sent to other characters on the same account. In The War Within, items that were previously BtA will now drop as WuE. Drops in the world have a chance of additionally dropping a WuE version of the same item on a lower upgrade track (Hero → Champion). These items can be placed in the Warbank and sent to alts, then when equipped will bind to that character.

In the past, high item-level account-bound gear hasn't been available because it could be used and freely traded across characters. For example, it would be too easy to transfer a high item-level account-bound ring between characters if it did not bind to a character when equipped. Players would be tempted to trade between all their alternate characters depending on who they were playing. This isn't the type of gameplay that Blizzard wanted to encourage or support.

With the introduction of Warbound until Equipped (WuE) gear, Blizzard is excited to start providing this much higher item-level gear more often in a manageable and beneficial way.

The current plan is to have WuE gear available within raids, dungeons, and the new Delves feature. Whenever players earn loot, they will have a small bonus chance to gain an additional piece of WuE gear as personal loot. This gear will be at least one lower tier than other loot from that source (currently a full upgrade track lower (e.g., Hero-> Champion), and it could be gear usable by any class.

Simply by playing, players will occasionally collect gear a single tier lower than their current gear, which could be sent to help an alternate character or even to use for a new class they've been meaning to try. Players will also occasionally stumble on Warbound until Equipped gear elsewhere while playing, so keep a look out.

Patch changes

• Patch 11.0.0 (2024-07-23): Added.