WoW Forever Rockslicer and Partners in Crime: items that break the rules

Two Deadmines drops in WoW Forever work in ways their Classic versions did not. Rockslicer, the two-handed axe from Rhahk’Zor, can harvest Copper, Tin, Silver and Iron veins without the Mining profession. The First Mate Band from Mr. Smite is a level 17 ring that forms a set, Partners in Crime, with a level 60 band whose source nobody has found yet. A third set, the Blessing of Kalimdor, exists in the game files and speeds you up in two Kalimdor zones.

How does Rockslicer mine without Mining?

Rockslicer drops from Rhahk’Zor, the first boss of The Deadmines. It requires level 18 and gives 10 Strength with a 3.30 attack speed. Its use effect, Slicing, reads “Slice open and gather from target Copper, Tin, Silver, or Iron Vein (does not require Mining).”

Beta players report 30 charges. Each charge harvests one vein, so the axe gives a character without Mining thirty veins of ore while leveling. What happens after the last charge has not been documented yet.

The practical result is a free gathering slot. A character can take two crafting professions and still pick up the Copper, Tin, Silver and Iron that levels 18 to 40 run through, as long as the charges last.

What is the Partners in Crime set?

The First Mate Band drops from Mr. Smite. It requires level 17 and gives 6 Strength and 2 Stamina, a normal leveling ring. Its tooltip shows it belongs to a two-piece set called Partners in Crime.

The other piece, Band of the Better Half, requires level 60, and its source is unknown. Wearing both rings grants 20 Strength and “Now you’re making me angry”: a chance on each melee swing to become Angry, which increases Strength by 50 for 10 seconds.

A level 17 dungeon ring that keeps a place in a level 60 build breaks the usual leveling rule of replacing every early item. Keep the First Mate Band in your bank until the Better Half turns up.

What is the Blessing of Kalimdor set?

The Blessing of Kalimdor is a three-piece set found in the game files but not yet seen dropping in the beta. Its pieces are Mark of the Pack Leader (a level 20 necklace), Signet of the Zhevra (a level 18 ring) and Raptor Hide Cloak (a level 16 cloak). Its bonus, Kalimdor Speed, reads “Movement speed increased by 5% in The Barrens and Stonetalon Mountains.”

Where the three pieces drop is unknown, and Blizzard may still change or remove the set before launch.

Should you farm Deadmines for these two items?

Worked example: a level 18 Alliance warrior runs The Deadmines for gear. Rockslicer from the first boss is a strong two-handed axe for that level, and its charges turn every Copper and Tin vein between Westfall and Redridge into ore for your crafting professions. Mr. Smite later in the run may drop the First Mate Band. Wear it now for its Strength, and keep it after you replace it, because it becomes a set piece at 60.

Find both drops in the Deadmines loot and compare them with your current gear in the equipment list. The Forsaken paladin quest weapon uses Deadmines as one of its stops, and every WoW Forever secret found so far lists the rest.