Curse of Ula'tek ships August 11. Season 2 and ranked Mythic+ open August 18.
Season 2 shifts the gearing balance toward raiding, but Mythic+ keeps a clean path to Myth track gear through the Great Vault and bonus rolls. Two changes actually alter how we play: the Catalyst now preserves stats, and Ascendant Venomstones drop from high keys. Everything else in the notes is aimed at raiders or solo players.
Item levels below come from the 12.1 PTR and were already adjusted once by +7. Treat them as near final, not final, and recheck after the season opens.
| Key level | What it unlocks |
|---|---|
| +8 | Hero 2/6 direct drops at item level 308. |
| +9 | Myth Mistcrests start dropping. Vault reward stays at Hero 4/6, which is where people stall out. |
| +10 | Target. Hero 3/6 direct drops at 311, first Myth 1/6 Vault reward at 318, and Ascendant Venomstones. Everything worth having unlocks here. |
| +11 and up | Identical standard item levels to +10. Higher keys buy rating, crests and Venomstones, not better loot. |
Hold at +10 for gearing purposes. Push higher only for rating and currency.
Dungeon row slots are set by your highest, fourth highest and eighth highest keys of the week. Three Myth track choices therefore requires eight completions at +10 or above. Run order does not matter.
Tier pieces can appear in dungeon row Vault choices. They never drop from the end of dungeon chest.
The "Vault rewards one difficulty above what you cleared" change applies to raid rows only. It does not scale dungeon rewards. If anyone is planning around it, correct them now.
Supply is tighter than Season 1. Rolls come from the Great Vault as a consolation option starting week two, and require at least three unlocked Vault options. A weekly source unlocks around week eight, giving one per week rather than Season 1's two.
A roll on a +10 or higher key awards a Myth track item from that dungeon's loot pool. This is the most targeted Myth track source available without raiding. Set loot specialization before rolling, and spend rolls in dungeons whose loot table holds a real long term upgrade.
Converted pieces now keep the secondary stats and cantrip effects of the item fed in, rather than receiving predetermined stats. Three consequences:
Priority is unchanged: get the four piece active as early as possible, even with poor stats, because it accelerates charge income. Optimize stats afterward.
New late season currency. Every +10 or higher key awards one. Ten Venomstones upgrade an eligible weapon, trinket or necklace to the equivalent of Myth 8, with necklace eligibility new this season. Only fully upgraded Hero gear, Myth gear and maximum quality crafted items at matching item level qualify. Bank them toward one slot rather than spreading them.
Eight dungeons, built around the new Altar of Fangs, with the entire Season 1 Midnight pool dropped. Five come from Midnight, three return from earlier expansions. Only the returning three carry existing routing knowledge, so budget time for fresh routes.
Lair boss changes, prey hunt updates, Renown catch up gear and field accolade boxes are aimed at raiders and solo players. They matter to us only as incidental Catalyst fodder.