Season 4 Start Date Announced

If this season seemed like it’s been going on for an eternity, well that’s because it has. But at long last Blizzard has finally given us the 2 week warning.

We’re currently planning to end the third Arena season and begin Arena Season 4 on June 24, 2008. This exciting Arena season will introduce the Brutal Gladiator set, and will also allow players to purchase Arena Season 2 items using the honor system. Please note that we will be resetting all Arena team and personal ratings. Players will still retain their Arena points and teams with this reset. The team and personal rating will simply be reset to the default 1500, allowing all teams to once again compete for top honors with a fresh start.

Also, with the end of the third season, players on the top teams from each battlegroup will receive their end-of-season rewards. These include Arena-specific titles that they can display proudly until the end of the new season, and, for the best of the best, an Armored Nether Drake. Please also be aware that with the end of the current season, all previous end-of-season titles will be removed.

In addition, in case you missed out on any of the changes headed our way for season 4 I’ve got them all listed below.

Season 4 Arena Weapons
Season 4 Arena Armor
Season 4 Honor Items

Also, don’t forget that rating requirements are being implemented on all of these pieces.

]Season 4 Arena Item’s with rating requirements:
Shoulders: 2200
Weapon: 2050
Head: 1700
Chest: 1600
Legs: 1550
Gloves: none
Off-hand: none

Season 4 Honor Items with rating requirements:
Boots: 1700
Ring: 1650
Bracers: 1575
Belt: none
Necklace: none
Trinket: none

Season 3 Arena Items with rating requirements: (keep in mind these values don’t go in effect until S4 begins)
Shoulders: 1950
Weapon: 1800

Season 4 / Patch 2.4.2 Information (Compiled)

With patch 2.4.2 well on its way we’ve finally started to see some real substance start to come off the PTR. Earlier today a load of new arena and honor items hit the test server, which leads me to believe it might be a little sooner than we all though. Stay tuned for continual updates.

New Items
Season 4 Arena Weapons
Season 4 Arena Armor
Season 4 Honor Items
Note: All arena point prices will remain the same

Patch Information
Season 4 Rating Requirements for arena and honor armor

Additional Information
Season 4 Start Date?
Currently, Blizzard has not released any start date for the season. All they have said is “we’ll give you a 2 week notice”. My personal estimation would be early to mid June.

What happens to old items and prices?
What season 4 begins the following happens:

Season 1 honor set: Removed

Season 2 arena set: Moved to honor, no rating requirement

Season 3 non-set honor items: Staying
Season 3 arena set: Arena rating and cost requirements lowered

Season 4 non-set honor items: Added with rating requirement
Season 4 arena set: Added to Arena with increased rating requirement

Why are these new rating requirements in place?
Official Blue response…

The non-set items are there to fill out the arena sets, they’re essentially placed there specifically so that arena players have a reason to participate in other aspects of the game. We want to see their faces around, we don’t want them just standing on top of the battlemasters all day.

So, with them being arena items intended to fill out the current top-end arena set, and our increase to rating requirements all around, it’s actually very logical.