TL;DR
- Require 3 followers at 645+ item level to unlock initial Highmaul raid mission
- Loot quality scales with raid progression: Normal (0-14 bosses), Heroic (15+ normal), Mythic (15+ heroic)
- Missions remain available for several days with 2-week cooldown between completions
- All raid gear except weapons can drop with warforged, socketed, or tertiary stats
- Strategic follower deployment and timing optimization significantly increases success rates
Previously, we explored the mechanics of Shipyard and Naval Missions alongside the Blackrock Foundry missions within WOW Patch 6.2 PTR. Now we shift focus to the highly rewarding Highmaul Raid Follower missions, which represent a crucial endgame progression system for dedicated players seeking elite gear upgrades.
Highmaul Raid Follower Mission
For many dedicated players, completing Highmaul missions from the Warlords of Draenor Garrison stands as the ultimate objective, offering direct access to raid-quality gear without requiring immediate raid participation. This comprehensive guide provides strategic approaches to optimize your follower team composition and mission planning for maximum efficiency.
Strategic Deployment of Followers for Raid Missions
Your initial raid mission becomes accessible once you’ve elevated three followers to 645 item level or higher. This threshold represents a significant investment in follower development, requiring careful resource management and mission selection in the preceding stages.
These missions typically remain available for several days, providing flexibility to optimize your follower lineup before commitment. Following successful completion of any raid mission, subsequent opportunities emerge after a mandatory two-week cooldown period. The loot system encompasses any gear piece appropriate to your current specialization, with the notable exclusion of weapons. Similar to conventional raid drops, these items may feature warforged enhancements, additional sockets, or rare tertiary attributes that significantly boost character power.
The caliber of rewards directly correlates with your documented progression within the actual raid content:
l Normal caches (containing ilvl 655 gear) become available after defeating 0-14 bosses in normal difficulty mode.
l Heroic caches (featuring ilvl 670 equipment) unlock following the elimination of 15 or more bosses in normal mode.
l Mythic caches (providing ilvl 685 items) activate after conquering 15+ bosses in heroic difficulty.
Understanding this progression ladder is essential for planning your raid attendance strategy. Players should prioritize reaching specific boss kill thresholds before attempting follower missions to maximize potential rewards. For those struggling with raid progression, our Class Guide offers valuable insights into optimal specialization choices that can accelerate your advancement through these content tiers.
Seasoned commanders recognize that follower mission success extends beyond mere item level requirements. Strategic deployment involves matching follower abilities and traits to specific mission challenges, much like selecting the right tools for specialized combat scenarios. Common mistakes include neglecting counter mechanics or deploying followers without appropriate trait advantages, significantly reducing success probabilities.
Optimization for advanced players involves maintaining a roster of followers with diverse ability combinations, ensuring coverage for various mission types. Time investment varies significantly based on your current progression state, with initial setup requiring approximately 2-3 weeks of focused effort, while ongoing maintenance demands 1-2 hours weekly. For comprehensive strategic planning, consult our Complete Guide to garrison management and follower development systems.
The weapon exclusion from follower mission loot tables means players must acquire these crucial items through traditional raiding or alternative content. However, the gear obtained through these missions provides substantial power increases that facilitate progression through higher difficulty tiers, creating a virtuous cycle of character improvement.
Action Checklist
- Elevate three followers to 645+ item level through regular missions
- Document your raid progression by tracking normal and heroic boss kills
- Analyze mission requirements and deploy followers with matching counter abilities
- Complete raid mission within available timeframe (typically 2-4 days)
- Track cooldown period and prepare for next mission cycle
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