The New Ward System – An Explanation and Guide

(So they changed the name fully back to Wards, but the information here still applies so I’m leaving it as is.)

With 1.3 comes not just the much awaited Tomb Kings expansion, but also a complete revamp of what is currently the Ward system.  The new system uses the Ward system as a base but allows for multiple avenues for acquiring your new Sigils while also putting a nice visual indicator on mobs that require said Sigils.  So, here comes a breakdown of how the new system works and all the new requirements as of the time of this post.  Keep in mind, Mythic can change their mind at any time and when they do, I’ll do my best to update this to keep it accurate.

Enjoy!

The Sigil System

Basic Information

Sigils – Sigils represent powerful wards obtained by the acquisition of armor sets and pieces or the completion of certain tasks.

The major improvement of this new system is not that it gives multiple paths to obtain the Sigils, but that the Sigils are now a part of your Tome and not tied to specific armor pieces.  This is huge.  It allows for players to be able to wear any armor piece they wish to, or none at all, when participating in the content that is “gated” by the Sigil requirements.  (Naked Fortress pushes anyone?)  As most people tend to mix and match their gear sets for the best bonuses to their stats, this will allow them to keep that mish-mash of gear and not force them to wear only what had the proper Wards on it.

Another improvement of this system over the old one is that the mobs that require Sigils now have an indicator shown next to their name in your target box.  You can hover over the indicator at any time to find out what level of Sigil is required, no more guessing or having to look it up online.  This makes the new system very intuitive for the player, which is something the old system was not.

The combination of these two features actually opens up the possibility for some very interesting “gated” dungeon designs or even zone designs in the future.  Imagine areas of a zone not being accessible simply due to all the mobs requiring a certain Sigil to combat.  You wouldn’t even need instanced dungeons or portals for this, you could simply apply the requirement to any mobs in the area you wish to designate as an open-world dungeon.  You could also design dungeons with multiple levels or alternate paths for progression that are gated by Sigils as well.  Imagine shortcuts you could take only if your group had the required Sigils, thus allowing you to skip the majority of the trash and sub-bosses just to get to the next level of content or the main bosses.  While technically you could attempt to do this with the old Ward system, it just isn’t intuitive enough to make it a viable option whereas the Sigil system now is.

Enough hypotheticals though, on to the main course: 

The Sigils and their Unlock Requirements

Each Ward has five fragments and each fragment has one or more ways to unlock it.  You do not have to do all of the tasks listed, just one.

Lesser Wards
First Fragment – Equip Annihilator Boots / Acquire First Fragment of the Greater Ward / Equip Bloodlord Boots / Kill Thar’Ignan 5 Times / Kill 100 RR 35+ Players
Second Fragment – Equip Annihilator Gloves / Acquire Second Fragment of the Greater Ward / Equip Bloodlord Gloves / Complete Any Bastion Stair PQ 5 Times / Complete 20 Tier 4 Scenarios
Third Fragment – Equip Annihilator Shoulders / Acquire Third Fragment of the Greater Ward / Equip Bloodlord Shoulders / Kill Lord Slaurith 5 Times / Capture 10 Tier 4 Empire vs Chaos Keeps
Fourth Fragment – Equip Annihilator Helm / Acquire Fourth Fragment of the Greater Ward / Equip Bloodlord Helm / Kill Kaarn the Vanquisher 5 Times / Capture 10 Tier 4 Dwarfs vs Greenskins Keeps
Fifth Fragment – Equip Annihilator Chest / Acquire Fifth Fragment of the Greater Ward / Equip Bloodlord Chest / Kill Skull Lord 5 Times / Capture 10 Tier 4 High Elves vs Dark Elves Keeps

Greater Wards
First Fragment – Equip Conqueror Boots / Acquire First Fragment of the Superior Ward / Equip Sentinel Boots / Kill Warlock Peenk and/or Korthuk the Raging 12 Times / Kill 225 RR 45+ Players
Second Fragment – Equip Conqueror Gloves / Acquire Second Fragment of the Superior Ward / Equip Sentinel Gloves / Kill Necromancer Malcidious and/or Bartholomeus the Sickly 12 Times / Capture 9 High Elves vs Dark Elves Tier 4 Zones
Third Fragment – Equip Conqueror Shoulders / Acquire Third Fragment of the Superior Ward / Equip Sentinel Shoulders / Defeat Seraphine and/or Ssyridian Morbidae 12 Times / Capture 9 Empire vs Chaos Tier 4 Zones
Fourth Fragment – Equip Conqueror Helm / Acquire Fourth Fragment of the Superior Ward / Equip Sentinel Helm / Kill Grey Seer Quol’tik and/or Barakus, the Godslayer 12 Times / Capture 9 Dwarfs vs Greenskins Tier 4 Zones
Fifth Fragment – Equip Conqueror Chest / Acquire Fifth Fragment of the Superior Ward / Equip Sentinel Chest / Kill Twin Lectors and/or The Bile Lord 12 Times / Kill Lair Bosses 32 Times / Capture and/or Defend 3 Fortresses

Superior Wards
First Fragment – Equip Invader Boots / Acquire First Fragment of the Excelsior Ward / Equip Darkpromise Boots / Kill Dralel the Whitefire Matron 8 Times / Kill 300 RR 55+ Players
Second Fragment – Equip Invader Gloves / Acquire Second Fragment of the Excelsior Ward / Equip Darkpromise Gloves/ Kill Any Lost Vale Mini Boss 24 Times / Successfully Defend or Invade Capital City 10 Times
Third Fragment  – Equip Invader Shoulders / Acquire Third Fragment of the Excelsior Ward / Equip Darkpromise Shoulders / Kill Sarthain the Worldbearer 8 Times / Complete Contested City PQ in Altdorf 15 Times
Fourth Fragment – Equip Invader Helm / Acquire Fourth Fragment of the Excelsior Ward / Equip Darkpromise Helm / Kill Sechar, Darkpromise Chieftain 8 Times / Complete Contested City PQ in Inevitable City 15 Times
Fifth Fragment – Equip Invader Chest / Acquire Fifth Fragment of the Excelsior Ward / Equip Darkpromise Chest / Kill N’Kari, Keeper of Secrets 8 Times / Kill Tomb King 4 Times / Successfully Purge Enemies Players from any Tomb Kings Instance 5 Times

Excelsior Wards
First Fragment – Equip Warlord Boots / Acquire First Fragment of the Supreme Ward
Second Fragment – Equip Warlord Gloves / Acquire Second Fragment of the Supreme Ward
Third Fragment – Equip Warlord Shoulders / Acquire Third Fragment of the Supreme Ward
Fourth Fragment – Equip Warlord Helm / Acquire Fourth Fragment of the Supreme Ward
Fifth Fragment – Equip Warlord Chest / Acquire Fifth Fragment of the Supreme Ward

Supreme Wards
First Fragment – Equip Sovereign Boots
Second Fragment – Equip Sovereign Gloves
Third Fragment – Equip Sovereign Shoulders
Fourth Fragment – Equip Sovereign Helm
Fifth Fragment – Equip Sovereign Chest