Hello everyone. My name is SorrowSong and I am a proud member of DoD Beyond (PS3 clan). This installment of Destiny Informational is going to cover some basic steps that can help with preparing your guardian for House of Wolves. [b]Get as many Reputations as possible to at least rank 2, then stop somewhere between 2450 / 2499 reputation[/b] (just barely before rank up). --- The rank up packages are coded to reward gear from the Expansion which they were awarded in. By waiting until after HoW drops then ranking up that faction, you will receive a piece of armor or weapon from the HoW pool, not from the Dark Below pool. [b]Hold on to as many faction packages in the postmaster as possible.[/b] [u][b]ESPECIALLY Cryptarch.[/b][/u] --- The contents of those faction packages have already been assigned to come from the Dark Below pool of gear, however opening them does give a bit of exp as well as 125 faction rep. This can be used to give a boost to your reputation after HoW drops. Do not forget that the Commendations can be redeemed for 250 reputation each as well. You will get one per package giving you a total of 325 reputation per package opened. --- Engrams are coded to have gear from the respective pool of the Expansion where they are "earned". You "earn" the engrams inside the package when the package is [i]Opened[/i], [b]NOT[/b] when the package is [i]Received.[/i] Waiting until HoW drops to open cryptarch packages will give you some engrams, hopefully legendarys, that can be turned in for HoW gear. [b]Hold on to as many Public Event reward packages as possible.[/b] --- These reward random items such as shards / energy, coins or motes but each one you accept gives you 5000 exp. This can be used to gain a quick and massive exp bonus to any new gear you want to level. [b]Hold on to as many Engrams, especially Legendary and Exotic engrams, as possible.[/b] --- These engrams have already been assigned to have Dark Below pool gear in them. However each Blue engram also gives 75 rep (93 with Nightfall bonus), each Purple gives 100 rep (125 with NF) and each Exotic gives 250 rep (312 with NF). It takes 2500 reputation to level Cryptarch. [b]With that said, I do NOT recommend spending your Motes of Light prior to HoW on Exotic Engrams from Xur. Wait until after HoW drops to buy those engrams. [/b] --- Any engrams you buy prior to HoW will give you Dark Below Light Level and Damage gear. Any engrams you buy after HoW hits will give you HoW Light Level and Damage gear. I do not know if HoW era exotics need to be Ascended to 365 damage, or if they start there. Waiting will perhaps save you an Exotic Shard in the long run, and in the short run will give you more Motes of Light to work with while Reforging. [b]Spend any excess Marks you have on Planetary Materials. Still aim for 200 Vangard and 200 Crucible marks when HoW hits.[/b] --- HoW gear still requires Spinmetal, Helium, Spirit Blooms and Relic Iron to upgrade. It makes sense to dump excess marks on these things so you do not have to farm them after HoW hits. Now for some quick Q&A. [b]Q - How do I reach Max level in HoW?[/b] Any legendary armor can be Ascended to 42 Light, which is the new cap which will take you to level 34. This is done via a new upgrade item called Etheric Light [b]Q - What about the HoW vendor armor?[/b] HoW Vendor armor starts at 36 Light, which will take you to a max of level 32. This armor CANNOT be upgraded to a higher Light Level via Shards. Instead, like all other Legendary armor, it required Etheric Light to upgrade to 42 Light. [b]Q - What about Prison of Elder gear?[/b] Prison of Elder gear starts at 42 Light / 365 Attack. No need to upgrade PoE gear to reach max light / attack. [b]Q - How do I get Etheric Light?[/b] Etheric Light can be obtained via Trials of Osiris, Prison of Elders, Iron Banner and Nightfall. [b]Q - What is this about Ascending?[/b] Ascending is the process for upgrading weapons and armor to the new max values for attack and light level respectively. It costs Glimmer, Planetary Materials or Weapon Parts as well as 1 Etheric Light. Note: At this time it appears that you need to have the gear at Max prior to Ascending it. So you need to get that Fatebringer to 300 attack before you can raise it to the new max of 365. [b]Q - What about Exotics?[/b] Exotic weapons and armor can be Ascended for 1500 Glimmer and 1 Exotic Shard as well as some Planetary Materials / Weapon parts. [b]Q - What about my Shards and Energies?[/b] Currently it is unknown but doubtful that you need either Shards or Energies to upgrade HoW era gear. There are no Increase Attack / Defense nodes on any HoW gear which are the nodes that required Shards / Energies to upgrade in previous expansions. However you CAN exchange those shards and energies for each other, Motes of Light or Glimmer via the Speaker. [b]Q - What is this about Reforging?[/b] House of Wolves era weapons and House of Wolves era weapons ONLY can be Reforged via the Gunsmith. This randomizes the perks on the weapon at the cost of 1 Mote of Light and some Glimmer. Note: you lose all exp (progress) on that weapon when it is Reforged. [b]Q - Can I Reforge Armor?[/b] No. [b]Q - Can I Reforge my favorite weapon from previous eras (expansions)?[/b] No. As much as I would love to get some new perks on my Shadow Price, we cannot reforge anything except HoW era gear. [b]Q - Are you sure?[/b] Yes.